Is It Permissible To Abandon a Childhood Friend Who Has Become a School Idol and Be Happy

36

“Wha, what…?”

Mio had a dumbfounded expression.

Her tears hadn’t stopped yet, and the drops that ran down her cheeks glittered as they reflected the setting sun.

Her skin was whiter than pale, making her look like a doll.

Mio was so fragile and ephemeral at that moment that she seemed as if she might break.

(――――She’s beautiful.)

Looking at her, I thought she was beautiful.

I know it’s not the right time to be thinking that.

I know it’s irreverent and pitiful, I understand that in my head.

But I really thought so.

Because this would probably be the last chance for Mio and I to face each other head-on.

Thinking that, I wanted to burn her image into my eyes.

Because Mio and I would never cross paths again.

“…That’s all. I’m going home.”

After looking straight at Mio’s face once more, I said that and nothing else.

“Wa, wait a minute, Kou-kun. I still…”

“I have nothing more to say.”

Saying that, I turned my back on Mio.

There was no point in saying anything else.

My resolve wouldn’t waver, and it wouldn’t change.

I felt guilty for treating her so coldly, but if I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t be able to get over her.

“Please, listen to me. This can’t be happening…”

I thought I heard a voice nearby.

At the same time, I heard unsteady footsteps.

She might be approaching me with that tear-streaked face, tottering.

I felt the sensation of an arm reaching out towards my back.

“That’s not right.”

I take a step forward.

With that alone, Misaki’s arm swings through empty air.

“Ah…”

It’s not reaching me.

It couldn’t reach me.

An invisible line had been drawn between us.

“It’s over between us. There’s nothing we can do about it anymore.”

That’s right.

It really is hopeless now.

Our relationship ended here.

“I was wrong too. I should have told Misaki properly that I didn’t want her to change. But Misaki lied to me too. We can’t start over.”

“No! I don’t want to!!!”

And yet, Misaki doesn’t understand.

I’m trying to be so calm about this, to somehow reason it out, so why doesn’t she get it?

I’m at my limit too.

“I’ll change what’s wrong with me! So please, just one more chance…”

“That’s why!!! I can’t trust you anymore!!!”

Before I knew it, I was shouting.

My voice was trembling, my shoulders hunched.

The feelings I had been trying to hide came flooding out like a tsunami, sweeping away all reason in an instant.

“Do you know how I felt when I saw you walking with another man, looking so beautiful? It was awful! Oh, it was awful! But I didn’t want to say anything like this, so I tried to break up with you amicably! So why don’t you understand!!!”

For once, I wanted to part ways without making a fool of myself, but I ended up pouring my heart out, letting my emotions get the better of me.

“To begin with, you just went and got all pretty! I was fine with just spending time with the old Misaki, so why did you do something I didn’t ask for!?”

“Ah, ah… Ko-ko-kun…?”

“When did I ever tell you I wanted you to get pretty? I never said a word about it! I never even complained about it before, so why are you acting so selfishly!?”

I didn’t want to say these things.

They weren’t going to change anything, so why was I saying them now, at this critical moment?

“Do you know how I felt, watching Misaki gradually becoming someone I didn’t recognize? I felt pathetic and miserable! That’s why it’s impossible now! I’ve reached my limit! If I stay with Misaki any longer, I’m going to lose my mind! That’s why we have to break up! Please understand! Please! Just forget about me and be happy with Shido!!!!”

“Ko-kun…”

“I don’t need Misaki anymore!!!! Please, just disappear from my life!!!!”

The truth came pouring out.

It was dark and ugly.

“Haa, haa…”

I finished speaking and let out a ragged breath.

Misaki wasn’t saying anything anymore.

All I could hear was the sound of my own breathing, as if time had stopped.

(Damn…)

I said it.

This time, I really did it. I destroyed everything beyond repair.

I feel terrible.

I probably won’t be able to face Mio for a while.

But a part of me felt relieved that I had finally gotten it off my chest.

(It’s all over now.)

She’ll definitely be fed up with me now.

She’ll probably dump this piece of trash and go to Shido.

I had finally said it. With this, I’m done with Mio—

“—Okay, I’ll delete it.”

In an instant,

I felt the air change.

“Eh…”

“It’s a bit forceful, but it will change. So I can rest now. Nice and slow.”

The voice coming from behind me was Mio’s.

Yes. It was definitely her voice. No doubt about it.

“’I’ will take over from here.”

But then why?

She had been so upset and crying just moments ago, but her voice was so calm now.

“I’ll do your share too, so don’t worry.”

She sounded like a completely different person.

“—Hey, Kou-kun.”

“Eh, ah…”

“Can you tell me again?”

“—Are you really going to dump me?”