52
“What the heck is that…”
I can’t understand.
No, I don’t want to.
If I understand what Mio is saying, I feel like I won’t be able to go back.
“It’s exactly what it sounds like. I know you want to get away from me, Kouya-kun. But I hate that. It’s called a difference of opinion.”
That’s why I’m trying to adjust.
Mio whispered that in my ear.
It’s as if she’s carefully rubbing it into my heart.
“Adjust…? Is this…?”
“Yeah. Normally, we should talk it out. But Kouya-kun doesn’t intend on talking with me, right? All you’re thinking about right now is running away from me.”
“…That’s”
“That’s why I’m doing this. To make you look at me, even if it’s against your will.”
Mio’s voice was serious.
It didn’t have that somewhat teasing tone from before.
I somehow understood that this is Mio’s true feelings ‘right now’.
“I don’t really want to do something like this either. There aren’t many people who want to hurt the person they like, right?”
The Mio now is different from before.
It’s not just in the sense that she changed her appearance after going on that quiz show.
It’s something more than that. Yeah, ever since that empty classroom where Mio and I had our final talk to break up—Mio has changed.
“I’m the same. I’m a girl. I want to properly date, do lots of fun things, laugh together… I want to do those things with you.”
Her hand touches my cheek.
Maybe because it was still chilly even though it’s already April, her hand is very cold.
I couldn’t feel any warmth from that hand that was touching my skin.
“But you don’t intend on doing that. That makes me really miserable. Do you understand how it feels to have the person you like really close by, yet they won’t even look at you and instead avoid you?… You probably don’t. Someone like you who immediately shuts himself in his shell probably won’t ever understand this feeling.”
I couldn’t tell if that was sarcasm or self-mockery directed at herself.
However, if she’s saying she’s miserable, there’s something I understand even less.
“Why… are you so fixed on me?”
From Noble mtl dot com
「…………」
“If it’s that painful, then give up. Understand that it’s impossible… I don’t have any feelings for Mio anymore…”
At that time, I had revealed my ugly feelings and everything to Mio because I wanted to destroy our relationship.
I wanted her to get fed up with me. I wanted her to give up on me.
I wanted her to choose a reliable guy like Shido and forget about me.
I thought that if she left me and we went our separate ways… everything would be over.
I believed that was the right thing to do at that time.
“――――I can’t.”
Yet, what is this?
“I can’t do that. You’re the only one for me.”
Why are you saying that without hesitation?
You know, don’t you, that I’m a piece of trash?
Didn’t you just say that you understand me more than anyone?
“Whyyyy…! You could go to Shido or someone else! There are plenty of guys better than me! With the way Mio is now, you could have your pick of them, couldn’t you!!?”
“That’s because I’m ‘Mio’. I don’t care about other men. I, who have inherited that girl, have the obligation to fulfill Mio’s wish.”
Obligation? Inherited?
What, is that?
“Besides, above all, I was born from your feelings for me. I wanted you to see how beautiful I’ve become. That’s where it all started. That’s why, from the very beginning, I couldn’t see anyone but you, Beniyamin. I had no eyes for anyone else.”
“What are you talking about… Don’t say things that don’t make sense! In the first place, Mio cheated on you with Shido! You can’t be saying that you can’t see anyone but me. That’s a lie !!!”
Even as I couldn’t understand, I played my trump card.
The sight of Mio walking side-by-side with Shido was burned clearly into my eyes.
That’s right, she was laughing so happily.
That was the ultimate proof, wasn’t it—!
“Liar.”
“Gah…!”
Suddenly, the hand on my cheek tightened.
“You must have known for a long time. You’re really good at looking away, aren’t you?”
“What, are…”
“I never thought that Mio cheated on you. You just jumped at the chance to use it as an excuse to break up.”
The cold fingertips dug into my skin.
“Ugh…”
“All you really wanted was to make things easier for yourself. Isn’t that right? I won’t let you say otherwise.”
“T-then, why…!”
“I was just asking for advice. How could I talk to you like before? How could I go back to our old life? Shido-kun had the ability and the status to do that… Well, we did get a little close, but even so, I really was only looking at you. You knew that, didn’t you?”
Mio’s expression was devoid of emotion as she calmly spoke.
Only her eyes flickered.
I could vaguely sense the flames burning deep within them.
“Mio was suffering too. She was trying to figure out what to do. But all you did was try to run away to an easier path. You wouldn’t accept Mio. You wouldn’t even try to face the problem and find a solution.”
She’s angry.
Mio is angry.
“I wanted you to know how many people have been hurt by you… I thought maybe if you were alone and away from everything, you’d finally understand.”
It was only then that I realized, not once had Misaki ever get angry with me.