The Reason Why I was Cheated on By My Girlfriend - Chapter 23

A Sleepless Night, Talking Until Dawn

Haru’s POV

I thought that I would be sleeping soundly tonight.

But how long has it been since I got into bed?

(…I can’t sleep.)

My girlfriend, ‘Kaguya-nyan’, is so amazing that I can’t sleep.

(…is this really okay?)

She’s really cute, smart, and devoted.

She’s truly the best. I might never meet someone better than her in my life.

However, our relationship is very twisted.

I’m being saved and comforted by Kaguya.

But what about her? What can I do to repay her?

Our relationship isn’t exactly healthy.

It won’t be surprising if we break up over something trivial.

I’m sure Kaguya feels the same way.

I can tell she’s trying to hold on to me every time we meet.

And it’s working wonders.

I find myself drawn to her more and more each day.

So, I think it’s just a matter of time.

If we give it a little more time, we’ll surely become a normal couple.

(…a normal couple, huh?)

—suddenly, I hear the sound of my door opening.

Quiet footsteps are approaching.

(…this feels oddly familiar.)

I slowly open my eyes.

What comes into view is Yua holding her pillow.

“…isn’t the security in this house too weak?”

“Ehehe, I have free access to this house.”

Yua laughs with a forced smile on her face and looks down.

She then glances at me as if asking for something.

This feels familiar.

It’s almost the same when we were a little younger…I think it was after we watched a horror movie.

“It’s fine. I can’t sleep either.”

I get up and sit on the edge of the bed.

Then I pat the spot next to me and say,

“Sit down. You must have something you want to talk about, right?”

“…sorry.”

The conversation feels awkward.

Recently, Yua has been apologizing a lot.

During the few seconds it takes for her to sit down, I ponder.

What does she want to talk about?

What kind of expression should I have right now?

I have no idea at all.

Our relationship will probably never go back to the way it was.

Just thinking about it…makes me feel really lonely.

“…did you enjoy your date?”

Yua asked me so in a soft voice.

There’s probably something else she really wants to talk about.

Even though she can’t put it into words, I can tell.

“It was the best.”

This is the time to ease the tension between us.

If I were to use a smart term, it would be an icebreaker.

“…where did you go for your date?”

“We went to a cat café.”

“…ehh, so Sakashita-san likes cats.”

“Yeah. Kaguya-nyan—no, I mean Kaguya really loves cats.”

“Sorry, I really can’t ignore it. What’s with that ‘Kaguya-nyan?”

I can’t get ‘Kaguya-nyan’ out of my head.

If someone else did it, I’d probably think, ‘Ugh, is she trying to be cute or something?’.

But thinking about how Kaguya, of all people, was embarrassed doing that somehow makes it really endearing.

“I want you to forget it, nyan.”

“…uwaaa.”

When I joked so, Yua is genuinely put off.

It’s so embarrassing. I never want to do that again.

“…but, I see.”

Yua says so.

“…you had a lot of fun, huh?”

Her words are full of meaning.

When I glance at Yua to look at her expression, our eyes immediately meet.

“That’s good to hear.”

Yua says so with a smile on her face.

“It seems like things are going well.”

I’m at a loss for words.

“…yeah.”

That’s all I can squeeze out of me.

I probably responded so with an expression similar to Yua’s.

“……”

“……”

We both fell silent.

The silence that follows feel incredibly uncomfortable.

I have to talk about something.

I desperately search for words.

“How’s your recovery?”

I asked in desperation.

For a moment, Yua’s expression stiffens.

“I’m feeling better. A lot better than before.”

I’ve chosen the wrong topic.

I shouldn’t have brought it up.

I lower my gaze with regret.

Then, I notice that Yua is hugging her pillow tightly.

“Haru-kun”

Yua calls my name.

The moment our eyes meet, I know what she wants to say.

“Just for today…can we sleep together?”

Her suggestion is giving me a headache.

I want to ask her why.

I want to refuse by reminding her that I already have a girlfriend.

Many words come to mind.

But after thinking about it, I finally get it.

Yua must have thought about this much more than me.

She must have worried and suffered a lot just to say those few words.

I have made the choice to support her…I can’t go back on my words.

That’s why, I have no choice but to answer to her request.

“Just for today, okay?”

“…is it really okay?”

“We won’t be sleeping in the same bed. But if that’s fine with you, I’ll stay next to you until you fall asleep.”

This is the best compromise I can offer.

If Yua asks for more, then I’d have to make her understand that it is not possible.

“…sorry.”

Yua apologized again.

“…then, where should I sleep?”

“You can use the bed.”

“…what about you, Haru-kun?”

“I’ll sleep on the living room sofa after you fall asleep.”

After saying so, I stand up, take my pillow and tell her to sleep on the bed.

“…then, I’ll borrow your bed.”

“…yeah.”

Yua places her pillow and lay down on the bed.

I then lean against the bed and sit on the pillow I’ve placed on the floor.

“…it’s been a while since we did something like this.”

Yua said so.

“We used to do this every day when we were little.”

“…yeah. Every day.”

“Wasn’t the last time around when we were in fourth grade?”

“…yeah, it was around that time. You remember it very well.”

I can feel Yua’s gaze on my back.

I deliberately ignore it and continue reminiscing our past.

“Have you gotten over horror movies?”

“…I’ve been avoiding them.”

“Then how about watching one again next time?”

“…I’m not watching them. Baka Haru-kun.”

Honestly, I still can’t grasp the distance between us.

But maybe that’s why…I feel reassured.

Our relationship may have changed, but that doesn’t mean the time we’ve spent up until now has disappeared.

Our memories remain in our minds. They haven’t faded or anything like that.

It’s a simple truth, but realizing it make my heart feel a little lighter.

I take a short breath and continue the conversation.

“Do you remember our middle school cultural festival?”

“…which one?”

“Second year.”

“That’s the one I want to forget the most.”

“I still have photos of it on my phone.”

“I told you to delete them.”

“No way. I’m going to use them as reference for the next cultural festival.”

“…you’re the worst. Baka Haru-kun.”

About the past, about the near future…

We talked a lot until Yua fell asleep.

It’s been a long time since I last felt this way, and even though I should’ve been happy, my heart aches inexplicably.