The Boy Who Gave Up on Romantic Feelings ~I’m Done Because I Was Betrayed by The Girlfriends I Used to Date~ - Chapter 37-38

Chapter 37

“Thank you…”

“…no, I’ve said a lot of bad things to Shinozaki-san too, and you’re the one who calmed me down. I should thank you as well.”

As Hanamoto says so, she smiles, looking even more beautiful and cute than usual.

…my heart’s pounding…what’s happening?

“…!?”

Suddenly, Hanamoto hugs me from the side.

Her body is trembling, she seems like she might break if I touch her.

“I was scared.”

“Huh?”

“I was scared to think that the Shintani-kun I know might disappear. I know it’s selfish, but I can’t stand the thought of the Shintani-kun I love dissapear…isn’t that strange? Even though I once betrayed you…”

“…that’s not true.”

I naturally say so.

“—eh?”

“I’m grateful. If you didn’t stop me then, I might have ended up losing my mind, just like Shinozaki. You stopped that from happening. And Sayaka, you never did anything wrong. You’re always been on my side. Even when I misunderstood and pushed you away, you’re always there for me. I’m so happy that I can still be the person you love. Thank you.”

(TN: For those that are confused, Sayaka is Hanamoto’s first name: Sayaka Hanamoto)

As I say so, we embrace each other.

Suddenly, she pulls away from me, looks me straight in the eyes, and—

“I love you.”

I can feel that words are way heavier than her confession to me, filled with all the emotions she held. Those words are engraved in my heart in an instant.

“Please…go out with me.”

“Yeah.”

Naturally, as if it was obvious, I uttered just a single word. However, that one word holds all of my feelings towards Sayaka.

My answer has already been decided. Though I’m still lack of emotions, not yet healed, even so, I don’t want to lie about this feeling alone.

Sayaka is the one who saved me, she is the one who genuinely and earnestly worries about me all the time. Perhaps it’s because of that, for the first time in a long time, the feeling of ‘Love’ towards her arose in me.

“Thank you…”

With that words, she comes closer to me—

—gently, she brings her lips closer to mine.

Then we sit together in a nearby park. I want to bask in the afterglow of this joy, even if just for a little while.

“Speaking of which…”

I suddenly remembered Sayaka’s words from earlier.

“How did you know that Shinozaki’s parents abandoned her?”

“Ah, that’s simple. I just got a call from Karen-san. She told me that Shinozaki’s parents started to pack their things up and left home right away.”

“Eh, you guys are still keeping watch?”

“Yeah, just in case, they said.”

“Just in case…”

“Well, it’s all good…for now…”

“Yeah…”

With that, we share another kiss and laugh together.

The beautiful moon in the sky and the city lights illuminates us as we sit together.

Chapter 38

Third Person’s POV

Akito Otsuki was arrested and later released on probation after his trial. However, he is now forced to live his life as a convicted criminal. Because of that, he is in despair.

“Why does this have to happen…”

His life has changed dramatically just because a single video.

“…it’s all because of that video.”

Unconsciously, Akito forgot all of the things he had done and believes that he is not in the wrong.

It is similar to the escapism that Shinozaki did.

When he returns home alone, he found a letter waiting for him.

That sight alone reminds him of the tragedy from that time.

Just like when his mother disappeared.

“This can’t be true…even dad…this can’t be true, this can’t be true, this can’t be true…”

Akito can’t help but to imagine the worst. Then, he picks up the letter and opens it.

“…!?”

There is only one sentence written in the letter.

‘I can’t do this.’

Like Akito’s mother, his father has also left him. When Yasuhiro looked at his son, he left like he was looking at his past self, and it scared him. Perhaps it was because Yasuhiro has a similar personality to his son, which made him think ‘this is you’. Since he can’t stand the suffering, he decided to escape from the pain. It might be selfish and unresponsible, but Akito has no way of knowing such things.

“…this can’t be happening…”

Yet, he still believes that everything would be okay. He thought that his father would surely come back soon. Little did he know that such thought would soon disappear.

Several days later, Akito saw on the news that his father’s body, Yasuhiro, has been discovered.

“—hah?”

After leaving the house, Yasuhiro filed for divorce and claimed custody of Akito. Then, he committed suicide.

Akito is now left without parents.

As months pass by, Akito finally runs out of the money he has been holding onto.

“Ahhh…ahhhhhh…”

Akito is already at his limit, emaciated, covered in grime, and with eyes that has lost its light. Several days earlier, the water, gas and electricity has been shut off. Akito is left in a pitch-black room, just lying there.

Whenever he sleeps, he always has the same dream.

—a dream where his girlfriend is being taken away from him.

The dream starts with scenes of happiness at first, then abruptly transitions to him being cuckolded. It oddly resembles what Shintani Maeshima experienced. Then ultimately, in the end of the dream, Akito’s girlfriend betrays him. He sees it over and over again. Each time, it follows a similar pattern, ending in despair. His mind is already at its limit.

Each time he sees the dream, his mind resets. Regardless of knowing the outcome, the pain he feels remains unchanged.

From the one who cuckolds to the one cuckolded. Even witnessing that dream countless times, he feels no sense of apology towards Maeshima.

“Why…does…this…happen…to…me…?”

With those last words, Akito passed away.

Died at the age of 18.

He never realized that his actions are to blame, right up until the very end.