The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 50: Natsume Shina and Her Toxic Parents.

Natsume Shina and Her Toxic Parents.

Natsume Shina’s POV.

I was overflowing with happiness. I went on a date with Dai-chan. I clung to his arm, held his hand with our fingers intertwined, and he didn’t get mad. If anything, halfway through he started holding my hand on his own. He even picked out clothes for me—this cute pink top, the adorable mini-skirt, and pumps. A brand-new discovery.

More than anything, every time Dai-chan told me I was cute, my chest grew warm all over.
He even chose underwear for me. He looked embarrassed, but I’m glad there was something he liked. It makes me happy, becoming dyed in Dai-chan’s taste.

And then I told Dai-chan “I love you,” and kissed him on the cheek. I’m not very smart, so I don’t really know—but is this what it means to love someone?

What does it mean to love, anyway? But at least one thing I know for sure—my feelings for Dai-chan won’t change.

He might reject me. But I had to tell him how I felt. Even though I got scared, and ran away like a coward…

The fun times went by in an instant. After parting with Dai-chan, I went home. When I arrived, I heard shouting. Dad’s car was in the parking lot. And parked a little further away was Mom’s boyfriend’s car.

“No… you’ve gotta be kidding…”

The worst case scenario. Dad and Mom hate each other. When they run into each other, they always fight. So right now, Dad and Mom must be together, and must be fighting. Ugh… this is the worst feeling.

I opened the front door. And I immediately understood the reason behind the argument.

“Where on earth has Shina been wandering around this late?! And you—would it kill you to be stricter with her as a mother!? If the police picked her up, they’d call me! Don’t trouble me with such nonsense!”

“So all you’re worried about is your pride getting hurt! Stop dumping everything on me! You ignore Shina completely!”

“I’m busy working! Child-rearing is the woman’s duty!”

They were fighting because of me. It was only eight o’clock. I didn’t think I was that late.
Quietly, I stepped into the living room.

Dad glared furiously. Mom came over to me. And that woman was here too. Of course it would become a fight.

“Shina, where have you been!? We were so worried!”

That’s a lie.
There were times when I came home while she was just out buying snacks at the convenience store, and she didn’t care at all.

No matter what clothes I wore, or how I dyed my hair—no concern, no scolding.

“I went to the mall with a friend.”

“Come home earlier next time!”

“…okay.”

“Hmph! A grown girl dressed so frivolously, out this late… must be nice. Proof she’s been spoiled rotten!”

“She’s in high school. This is normal. And what about you dragging your mistress around without thinking about your age—now that’s a luxurious lifestyle. How much have you spent on her?”

“Hey, don’t drag me into this, alright?”

“She has nothing to do with this!”

“Then don’t bring her into this house!”

“This is my house! I can bring whomever I want!”

“What do you think your daughter feels, seeing you parade your mistress around!? Even I feel sick!”

“Oh my, then maybe you should’ve done a better job keeping him satisfied. No wonder he ran away—you’re hysterical.”

“What did you say!?”

Mom and that woman began fighting now.
Why is it that everyone who comes to this house only ever fights? But Mom is right—this over-perfumed hag is irritating. I hate having strangers brought here.

“You’ve always had rotten luck with women!”

“You used to be nothing like this! You were cute—now you’re just loud!”

Their fighting didn’t stop.
The more they yelled, the more suffocated I felt in this house. Even if I ran to my room, I could still hear them. I wanted to escape. But the worst part was—they were fighting because of me. So I couldn’t run at all.

“Hmph. No charm at all, the women in this house.”

“Oh~? Me too~?”

“You at least have some charm.”

“What!?”

So Dad chose her over Mom and me.
Then why are they even still married?
Isn’t marriage supposed to be because people love each other?
Have children? Raise them?

Watching my parents… I don’t understand what “I love you” even means anymore.

“Shina. From now on, come home earlier. Understand?”

“…yes.”

(He’s yelling. Just listen. Don’t trouble me any further.)

Mom whispered in my ear.
She wasn’t worried about me—she just didn’t want Dad yelling at her. See? She doesn’t care about me either.

Ever since I was little, it’s always been like this.
Listen to Dad to avoid trouble. Do this so he doesn’t complain.

I got used to it.

“Yes, children should just obey quietly!”

“You only ever want people who bend to your will! Don’t force that on Shina!”

“You’re the one who can’t control her! Someone has to say it!”

“And when have you ever raised her!? You’ve never done anything!”

Another fight. Again, because of me.

Why?

What does “control” mean?

What am I to them?

Why get married and have me if they’re just going to fight?
Why bring me into this world?

I don’t mean anything.

“I’m done! Divorce! I’ll get the papers—sign them!”

“Fine! I’m through with you anyway!”

Divorce.
How stupid.

That woman was laughing.
Seriously disgusting.

“Hmph. Fine. I’m taking Shina.”

“What!? You can’t do anything for her! I’m taking her!”

“Hah! So you can squeeze child support out of me!? How low can you get!?”

“Oh please! You want to act like a tragic single father who nobly raises his daughter—don’t make me laugh!”

“At least that’s better than someone who only wants her for child support!”

“You just don’t want to pay anything! Cheap bastard!”

“What was that!?”

I couldn’t take it anymore. To them, I’m just… money. A bargaining chip.

Dad and Mom disgust me.
I don’t know why I exist.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to live for.

My tears spilled uncontrollably.
I grabbed everything I bought today and fled the house.

I heard Mom calling my name. And Dad yelling to ignore me.

They weren’t going to follow.

I was done.
I didn’t know what to do.
I just ran, crying.
My face a mess.
My head a mess.

I wanted to disappear.

Somebody help me. Please… help me…

I ran to the park near the station where I’d met Dai-chan this morning.

The person I wanted to save me.

Sorry, Rin, Mio. Before either of you… the first person I thought of—

was Dai-chan.

Tears blurred my screen. My hands shook. But somehow, I pressed the call button.

The line rang.

Please… pick up… Pick up…

The ringing stopped.

And then—

“Hello? Shina?”

The voice I loved most in the world reached me.

And I cried all over again.

“Hic… ngh… ugh… aaah…”

“Shina? What happened?”

Everything was a mess.

I forced out only one word—

“Daai-chaaan…”