Dumped by One, Chased by Another? My Ex's Sister Is a Gal and She's Coming for Me - Episode 36

“…Is that so?”

As I rolled up the cuff of my pants, I offered a half-hearted excuse.

Even though I knew it would be pointless.

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“It is,” she said. “Because you, big brother…”

“You can’t show weakness to anyone, can you?”

“…………”

I didn’t answer.

Because she was right.

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“You were going to carry everything about your sister all on your own, weren’t you? If I hadn’t been there.”

“…Yeah. You’re right.”

I nodded heavily.

Because everything she said was true. I had no room to argue.

When Fuyumi cheated on me, I didn’t even think of blaming her.

I didn’t want to confront her, nor did I want to tell anyone and shame her.

I didn’t want to burden anyone else with my pain.

If Haruki hadn’t visited my room that day, I probably would’ve carried it all with me to the end of my life.

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“You’re too kind, that’s why you’re always falling apart.”

“Am I?”

“Well, from what I know, you scraped yourself all over just to get a balloon for a kid, or spent three whole days looking for a friend’s lost item.”

“Oh yeah… that did happen, didn’t it…”

I remembered every single one of those things.

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“You even got late to cram school once because you insisted on walking a girl all the way home.”

“Ah, yeah. That brings back memories.”

That was the day I first met Haruki.

Also, the day I met Fuyumi.

By the way, the balloon and the walk home were with Haruki, while the lost item was Fuyumi’s.

We were still just friends back then. Feels like a lifetime ago.

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“I remember your parents got mad when you came home late from cram school.”

“Well, of course they did. Still, I’ve always ended up getting hurt because of that kindness. Just like today.”

Haruki sat down beside me on the bench and looked intently at my knee.

Maybe it was the bandage, or just the placebo effect, but I didn’t feel any pain anymore. It was just a scrape to begin with.

But still, to her, it probably looked painful.

Or maybe, what she was seeing wasn’t the wound on my leg—maybe it was the one on my heart.

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“That’s what I mean. You’re too kind, big brother. Even now, you can’t bring yourself to blame her. If you wanted to, you could’ve taken revenge. But instead, you’re still thinking about how she feels, what her situation might be.”

“…Yeah, I guess I am.”

To be honest, I had no intention of doing anything to Fuyumi or Natsuyama.

Part of it was because I had found a new kind of happiness.

But maybe, like Haruki said, it was also because of this kindness of mine.
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“I hate her.”

The words slipped quietly from Haruki’s lips.

Maybe she had been holding that in for a long time, and only now was finally letting it out.

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“I’ve always known, you know. I heard all about how close you and she were… how much you cherished her. I know everything.”

“…Haruki.”

Of course, I don’t think Fuyumi ever meant any harm.

Maybe she thought Haruki was more interested in me than she actually let on.

Though, she probably never really understood the reason for that interest.

Honestly, I didn’t either—at least, not until recently.

That’s how good Haruki was at hiding her emotions.

When it really mattered, she would suppress herself for the sake of others.

I know better than anyone just how deeply kind she is.

And now, this mirror-like girl—

Let a single tear fall.

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“I told myself it was okay. If the two of you were happy, then I had no right to complain. But still… still!”

That day, she learned of Fuyumi’s betrayal.

She had given up, entrusted her ideals to her sister.

And when she realized that her sister had trampled those ideals—it must have been a devastating blow.

Maybe… Haruki was hurt even more than I was.

She’d never admit that, of course.

And just as she said all that, Haruki suddenly froze, her expression turning to one of realization—as if regaining control.

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“S-sorry… I don’t know what I’m saying.”

“Haruki.”

I silently held out a handkerchief.

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“Th-thank you…”

She gently took it and wiped her tears.

I stayed quiet, letting her calm down.

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“Feeling better now?”

“Yeah… Thanks.”

Her makeup was slightly smudged.

Still beautiful, though.

Now then… what should I say?

It’s true that my kindness has often caused me pain.

The examples she gave just now are only a few—there were countless others.

I was never the type who could sit back and do nothing.

Even when I knew it might hurt me, I’d still reach out anyway.

Just like earlier today—one wrong move and I could’ve died.

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“Maybe I have been hurt because of my kindness.”

“…………”

“But that’s not all there is to it.”

I turned slightly, facing her.

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“Because… if I hadn’t been like that, I never would’ve met you.”