The string of balls - Chapter 3

“Now you understand, right? Kotonoha loves me. Not you, you know.”

Of course, he doesn’t say such things out loud, but he smiles to himself as he feels the warmth of her arms.

Fufu, the shocked look on Hayama’s face…it’s still nothing compared to the pain I’ve suffered, but if I say it out loud, Kotonoha will become disillusioned with me.

Although I wanted to settle this, as I was thinking about what to do, Kotonoha quickly released my arm and took a step forward to face Hayama.

“I’m sorry, Fumi. I… like Kotone. I can’t go out with you. Let’s… put an end to this.”

At those words, which were a clear sign of rejection, Hayama’s face twisted and he trembled as he reached out his hand to Kotonoha.

This is… I shouldn’t have anything to say about it.

The two, who had said they had been together since they were old enough to understand, could no longer go back to being childhood friends. They probably couldn’t go back to being friends either. If this was just a falling out, it would be one thing, but with a love affair, it would be more accurate to say that their relationship has simply vanished into thin air, rather than cracking.

“What are you… saying? You like me, don’t you? You’ve said you liked me since we were little…”

“I like Kotone more than Fumie. I don’t want to betray her again. No, I won’t betray her.”

Kotonoha is strong.

He speaks clearly and without hesitation, trying to settle things. He faces his weaknesses without running away from them.

I realized once again that my choice was not wrong. womanpeople

“Haha, what’s that? You told me you loved me so much, and now I’m going to betray you? Things are good for you. I have Kawasaki-san.”

I don’t feel sorry for him, but… I think he did a terrible thing to Hayama.

The fact that he had accidentally kissed her in front of her was probably one of the reasons why he had started to fall in love with her. He had thought that Hayama would get jealous and realize his feelings immediately, but this was unexpected. He never expected it to turn out like this.

“……sorry”

“It’s not that I’m sorry… Just say that you love me like you always do… You actually like me more, don’t you? I know it’s hard to say it in front of Kawasaki-san, but don’t lie to me and tell me the truth… That you love me… Yes… Just say it…”

“…I love you, Kotone.”

Hayama, who had been smiling dryly, turned pale the moment he heard Kotonoha’s reply.

He gritted his teeth so hard you could hear them grinding, and glared at Kotonoha with a sharp look that was hard to believe he was looking at someone he loved.

I wonder if I had looked like that just now…

“You love me… what does that mean? You’ve never said that to me, have you? When you told me you loved me, were you thinking about that girl? When we were kissing and touching each other’s br3asts?”

“……sorry”

I think I heard some hard-to-hear words… I’ll have to punish you later.

That aside…didn’t he just say that one word while he was cheating on her?

…Hehe, it seems I was the one living in a dream. I guess I’m more of an easy woman than I thought. Even though he cheated on me, I’m still happy just because of that.

While I was enjoying myself, the two of them continued their conversation.

“Hmm… I get it. So just throw me away… You won’t regret it even if you do.”

“Text…”

“Just like you wished, I’m going to have s3x with Shinobu. It’s okay if I have s3x with anyone, right? You won’t feel anything if I give you your virginity, right? You don’t like me, do you?”

I see… It finally makes sense. Did he use his chastity as a shield to approach Kotonoha?

He threatened to leave her, fueling her possessiveness and rekindling her smoldering feelings of love. He admired her determination to get the person she loved, no matter what the consequences, but it left her exhausted.

No matter how generous I am, I cannot forgive that. I had intended to wait and see how things would turn out, but I could not bear it any longer and spoke up.

“When Kotonoha was alone with you, was she laughing from the bottom of her heart? Did she look a little haggard and have an unnatural smile on her face?”

“……noisy”

“You know too, don’t you? Kotonoha–”

“I told you to be quiet!! If you weren’t here, Koto would be with me!”

As soon as he let out an angry yell, he rushed towards me and grabbed me by the collar with both hands.

His hand quickly tried to brush it away, but when he saw Hayama’s expression, he stopped.

“Give it back! Don’t take my things!”

There was not a trace of hostility in the eyes that looked up at me.

The water flowed like a waterfall, making a puddle on the floor with a splashing sound. The puddle seemed to express his feelings, and it was clear to him that he was serious about Kotonoha. He flinched and was at a loss for words.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel guilty…but there are some things I can’t give up.

Hayama clung to my legs pleadingly, then collapsed and began to sob.

“Uuh… sob… I’ll do anything… I promised to be with you forever… please… I love you… please… give me back…”

“…I’m sorry, Fumi. But I’ve decided to stop. So, it’s fine. I won’t stop you from having s3x with anyone. I… don’t like you.”

To break it off, perhaps?

…I know. At least you still can’t forget about Hayama Fumi. Usually, affection grows deeper in proportion to the amount of time spent together.

Especially since you’ve always loved me so wholeheartedly, it’s not going to be easy to erase it.

But still, he is trying to move forward for me, for us.

I was overwhelmed with emotion and my eyes began to tear up.

“Why… did you say that… no… no… I finally realized…”

“I wish I hadn’t been swayed and had properly refused. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings even more.”

“Don’t apologize… I’m serious. I’m going to have s3x with someone I don’t know… You don’t like that, do you?”

“…I said it’s fine. If that’s what you want to do, then go ahead.”

“You lied again! Even though you like me! Even though you want to have s3x with me! You promised not to lie! I won’t lie, so please stay with me forever!”

Kotonoha understood what it meant to break a promise.

And that I probably knew what Kotonoha was really thinking.

It seemed Hayama had also had an idea, and with tear marks on his cheeks and the floor, he crept closer to Kotonoha.

“…Eh…huh? Then why…until now…it’s different, right…?”

“I want to be by Kotone’s side. Not you, Fumie.”

“…sniff…no…ugh…hiccup…I’m going to be with Koto forever…no, no…”

“…I’m sorry. This is really goodbye. Bye, Fumie.”

Kotonoha gently removed Hayama’s hand from the hem of her uniform and announced their separation.

I guess she was reluctant to leave. But Kotonoha was looking forward. She chose to face me instead of running away from the warm and kind person she had loved in the past.

…I’ll spoil her to her heart’s content later. I was thinking of teasing her about cheating and forcing her to kiss me, but those thoughts were blown away.

I just love them. I want to praise them for their hard work. I want to tell them that I’m right there with them.

I want to make it so that you can’t live without me.

“No!! …I’ll tell everyone. He… That Koto likes girls. That he was cheating on me…”

“Do whatever you like.”

He brushed off the nasty threat with ease, turned his back on Hayama, and looked at me.

His beloved’s lips were trembling as if she was enduring the pain in her heart, and tears were filling her eyes, but she never shed any tears, nor did she even look back.

He took my hand and walked to the door in silence, ignoring the constant voices that kept coming from behind me.

“……from”

Kotonoha was about to put her hand on the door when she suddenly dropped it and froze.

I couldn’t believe my ears either…this little brat…

He turned on his heel and stood in front of the coward who was slumped on the floor, looking down at him.

“If Koto isn’t here, I’ll die.”

With a dry thud, he swung his right hand with all his might.

“You can’t even tell the difference between what is right and wrong to say!”

“Uhh… ugh… sniff… no… please… don’t come… I love you so much… wah”

Holding his cheek, he acted like a child… no, he was a child himself.

He threw a tantrum and cried, saying no, no, and it seemed like déjà vu, as it was the same last time.

“If you have feelings for Kotonoha, then take her from me fairly and honestly!”

“Kotone, it’s fine. …Fumi, just watch.”

Before I knew it, Kotonoha was next to me, her arms around my neck, and she pressed her lips against mine in a showy manner.

The lips pressed against his were wet and trembling slightly.

“…Phew…Do you understand? I love Kotone. And you’re the worst kind of woman who got carried away and cheated on me. Hehe…Are you disillusioned?”

The sight of them trying as hard as they could to act tough and cut off all their lingering attachment to each other… was painful to watch, and I couldn’t bear to watch.

Even though she pretends to be a bad girl, she is a kind girl at heart. If she does something like this, she will blame herself again and cry alone. I told you to face it, but there is no need to willingly shoulder the burden.

Hayama and I live next door to each other, so there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about it. Can I endure the endless days of blaming myself…?

“Stop it…sniff…Kiss me…tell me you love me…”

“No. Don’t you understand yet? I love you, Kotone. Shall I say it again? I–”

“Waah… No way…”

…It’s no good. If we break up like this, Kotonoha will be crushed.

Even if I’m by his side, not only will I not be able to support him, but I might even end up becoming a burden to him.

Seriously… being too kind is also a problem.

Even after being treated so badly, Hayama still shows no signs of giving up, showing admirable spirit.

They’re childhood friends and such troublesome girls. I thought they were complete opposites, but it turns out they’re the same in that they’re both stubborn.

It’s a tough decision, but…I have no choice.