Dumped by One, Chased by Another? My Ex's Sister Is a Gal and She's Coming for Me - Episode 13

It had already been a week since our first date.

After syncing up our schedules over RINE, we met again.

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“Sorry to keep you waiting. Were you here long?”

“No, I just got here.”

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We exchanged the classic lines and started walking together.

Today was our second date.

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“We’re heading to that café you mentioned before, right?”

“Yep, the cat café!”

“Now that I think about it, I’ve never been to one. Have you?”

“Sure have! I actually go there sometimes with my mom.”

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Haruki had chosen a cat café for our date.

It was a place I’d never been to before.

She probably chose it to avoid triggering any memories of Fuyumi.

That thoughtfulness made me genuinely happy.

As we walked to our destination, we chatted about what we’d been up to.

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“You quit your part-time job?”

“Yeah… I did. My senpai works there too, you know?”

“Ugh.”

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It was a tutoring job.

Natsuyama-senpai held a kind of leadership position there.

So, I hadn’t gone back since everything happened.

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“I see. By the way, do you have any friends at that job?”

“I do, but…”

“Then why not go see them sometime?”

“Huh?”

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I tilted my head, totally puzzled by what Haruki meant.

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“Hey, Onii-san, do you know why I’m doing all this?”

“All this?”

“Yeah, the dates, spending time with you like this. What do you think my goal is?”

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I touched my chin and thought for a moment.

What was the point of dating like this?

Or rather, all of this didn’t make much sense to begin with.

Why the drastic change in appearance?

Why even change her way of speaking?

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“No idea.”

“It’s because I want you to move on. Well, that’s one reason, at least.”

“Ah… I figured.”

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It was true that the Yokohama date had helped me feel a little better, but I couldn’t say the wounds in my heart had healed.

What I really wanted to know was why she had gone as far as transforming into a gal.

Could it be that her becoming a gal had nothing to do with me?

If so, that was fine… but now I was just curious.

Why go through the trouble of a makeover?

…The only reason that comes to mind is love.

It’s pretty common for people to change their style because of someone they like.

But if that were the case, then this—her being alone with me like this—wouldn’t make any sense.

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“Does it bother you?”

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She looked at me with a bright, eager face.

I didn’t know why, but—

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“Not really.”

“Hmph.”

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Now she suddenly looked annoyed and turned away from me.

Why, though?

I didn’t think I said anything weird.

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“Anyway,” she continued, “I want you to move on. And I think the best way to do that is to be around people. I mean, spending all your time alone when you’re hurting doesn’t really help, does it?”

“Yeah… I get that.”

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Honestly, if Haruki had shown up even a little later…

I probably wouldn’t be here anymore.

My apartment was on the fifth floor, after all.

But her voice brought me back to the present.

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“That’s why I think it’d be good to start seeing people again. I’m not saying you have to force yourself, of course.”

“Yeah… maybe you’re right.”

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Depending on Haruki for everything wasn’t healthy.

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“Are you coming with me too?”

“Of course. I mean, unless you don’t want me to.”

“I don’t mind, but… why?”

“Because there are still things I want to do.”

“…?”

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Well, it’s probably fine.

I felt like I shouldn’t press her for answers.

Still, it was strange.

After being betrayed by the person I trusted most, I thought I’d never be able to trust anyone again.

But now, somehow, I trusted Haruki.

The very girl who used to remind me of Fuyumi the most…

Now, I trusted her more than anyone.

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“Thanks, Haruki.”

“You’re welcome.”

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While chatting like that, we finally arrived at the cat café.