The Reason Why I was Cheated on By My Girlfriend - Chapter 32

Sakashita Kaguya’s Pure Sightseeing

Haru’s POV

We arrived at the editorial office around 10 AM.

Then the interview continued until 2 PM, with a lunch break in between.

After thanking the staff at the editorial office, we left the building.

With the social studies field trip has now ended, all that’s left is to do is prepare the presentation materials and practice for the presentation.

So, I intend to head straight home without making any detours.

—which isn’t going to happen.

We don’t have a supervising teacher with us.

Although there is a set return time, it basically means we just need to go back before that time.

In other words, we have free time from here on out.

Earlier, things ended peacefully because Kaguya has her most effective weapon, books, but now it’s different.

I feel nervous again.

When we were discussing about this field trip the other day, the most heated topic was about where to go during free time.

Kaguya really wants to go to the Edo Castle ruins, while Yua wants to visit the Tokyo Skytree.

“If it’s a castle ruins, there are local ones too!”

Yua argued so.

“I’m not going because I’m afraid of heights!”

Kaguya refuses so.

“Which one do you prefer, Haru-kun?!”

“You also think Edo Castle ruins are better, right, Haruki-san?!”

Honestly, I don’t mind either option.

However, choosing one would definitely lead to conflict.

“Considering the time, isn’t it possible to visit both?”

Although I was glared at with narrowed eyes for some reason, my suggestion was ultimately accepted.

However, it’s clear from their attitudes that neither of them is fully satisfied.

In fact, there was even a light argument that broke out on the Shinkansen.

…it’ll be okay, right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Edo Castle Ruins *

Edo Castle ruins is within walking distance from Tokyo.

As we walk through the beautifully modern streets surrounded by skyscrapers, the scenery suddenly changed.

“Ohh~”

The three of us have the same reaction.

It’s oddly amusing.

We exchange glances and chuckle.

I’m genuinely moved by the view. I have seen photos beforehand, but seeing it in person is different.

It feels like a space where a facility from the Edo period suddenly appeared amidst the skyscrapers.

Until a moment ago, all I saw when looking up at the sky was tall buildings, but when I look up at the sky here, I can see the vast blue sky.

A beautiful river…no, are those castle walls beyond the pond?

Overall, it feels like it’s designed with a different aesthetic from modern times. It’s quite interesting.

“Haruki-san! Photos! Please take a photo!”

I take the smartphone from Kaguya.

It’s unlocked and the camera app is opened.

She runs to the front of the pond and pose with a peace sign.

I quickly adjust the smartphone and snap a picture.

Her flowing black hair looks ethereal, and I managed to take a great photo.

“Why don’t you take a photo too, Yua?”

“No, I’m fine. Actually, it would be better if I take a picture of you, Haru-kun.”

As Yua and I are arguing about it,

“Shall I take it for you?”

A passerby who happens to be nearby suggested so.

I make eye contact with Yua and hand the smartphone to the guy.

Then, Kaguya, Yua, and I line up in front of the pond, and he takes several pictures of us.

We take a lot of photos even after entering the Edo Castle ruins.

Personally, there isn’t anything particularly breathtaking about the scenery, but it’s enjoyable to see Kaguya so excited.

Later, I learn that this location is the setting of one of her favourite books.

It seems that her goal is a pilgrimage to her ‘sacred sites’.

For now, I feel relieved.

Even Yua, who had a serious expression on her face when arguing about where to go, now looks like a parent watching over a child as she observes Kaguya running around in high spirits.

(…it’s peaceful.)

Perhaps the thought crossed my mind because I have been on edge lately.

Though it’s more about watching Kaguya enjoy herself than actual sightseeing, it’s truly soothing for my soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Tokyo Skytree *

After visiting the Edo Castle Ruins, we travel by train for about thirty minutes.

The only thing I know about the Skytree is that it’s 634 meters tall.

However, we can only go up to the Tembo Deck, which is at 450 meters above the ground.

“…Haruki-san, c-can you please walk a bit slower?”

Kaguya is trembling like a small puppy.

She was grabbing my sleeve when the elevator started to go up, but now, she is clinging tightly to my arm.

(…this is the best.)

As I’m getting excited because of impure reasons,

“Haru-kun! Is that Mount Fuji over there!?”

This time, Yua’s eyes are sparkling like a little child’s.

Suddenly, I remember that Yua has always liked high places.

It feels really nostalgic.

Back then, she would often hold my hand.

“What’s it like down there?”

As I walk towards Yua,

“W-wait a moment! Please, could you go a bit slower?”

Kaguya pulls my hand tightly.

Seeing this, an idea suddenly pops into my head.

“Yua, how about taking a photo?”

“Sure! What kind of pose should we do?”

“No, I mean with Kaguya.”

“…ah, yeah, sure.”

Hmm? Am I being misunderstood?

“I’ll take a picture of Kaguya and Yua together.”

I said so just to be sure.

Yua’s expression relaxes for a moment, and then she grins.

“Sakashita-san! Come over here!”

“Stop, please stop!”

Kaguya said so incredibly fast in a high-pitched voice.

Kaguya pulls her hand away from Yua and hides behind me with a grumpy expression, she looks like a cat in a bad mood.

“Haru-kun, let’s give up.”

Yua said so with a wry smile on his face.

I was about to agree, but I decided to ask Kaguya again about it.

“Kaguya, is it really impossible?”

Kaguya looks at me with tearful eyes.

“…Haruki-san, why are you trying to make Yua-san and me take a picture together?”

As I’m about to answer Kaguya, I look at Yua.

(…is it okay to say this?)

It’s not that I’m about to say something bad. However, I feel like it might make Yua uncomfortable if she hears it.

I just want the two of them to get along.

The best way to achieve that is…

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

Before I can find the words to say, Kaguya seems as if she has realized something.

“Yua-san.”

Kaguya called Yua’s name with a frightened look on her face. She then closes her eyes and reaches out with one hand.

“…okay, I get it.”

Yua sighs and takes Kaguya’s hand. The two of them then move to the window. In an instant, Kaguya hugs Yua.

Yua’s eyes widen in surprise because Kaguya suddenly hugged her, but her expression quickly softens into a gentle expression.

She then hugs Kaguya back tightly and makes a peace sign towards me.

“Kaguya-san, can you look at Haru-kun?”

“…I’ll do my best.”

And so, I managed to take a picture of the two of them with the most exquisite expressions on their faces.

(…it turns out I was just worrying for nothing.)

Because of my clumsy attempt to handle the situation, the two of them figured out my intentions.

Even so, they managed to get closer to each other. There might be some reluctance…but the cheerful atmosphere you can sense in this photo is certainly not a lie.

Someday, they will become close friends.

In the tallest building in Japan, I truly feel that way.