I Was Helping My Friend When His Wife Cheated On Him, But He Claimed He Would Forgive Her Once, But The Bad Luck Keeps Coming - Episode 9

The story goes back a little.

When Tsuyoshi’s surgery was successfully completed, but he still didn’t regain consciousness for almost three days, my legs started to tremble.

Ayaka’s mother, for me, I think I felt ‘fear’ more acutely than when my own mother-in-law passed away.

More than me, Akari must have had it much harder.

No matter what anyone says, I knew that the two of them were casually seeing each other.

“I’m glad, there was no accident with Takeshi.”

“Of course not, there’s no way I’d die just from being stabbed by Tomoya.”

“Idiot Takeshi. You really could have died, you know.”

Even though she spoke in a scolding tone, Akari was on the verge of tears.

Seeing that, Takeshi reached out from the bed and held Akari’s hand, who was sitting in a chair.

“…How could I die leaving you behind, idiot? Don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying…”

Since Gou’s consciousness has recovered, it seems that Akari always goes to take care of him under the pretext of a visit on visiting days.

“I’m really glad, over here…”

“How are Tomoya and Sumire?”

“Tomoya is being interrogated by the police. We don’t know what will happen next, but… thanks to you, we might be able to avoid the worst.”

“I see…”

What can we use to say that we have avoided the worst?

It seems that Sumire-san has heard all the details.

“Seriously… were you okay?”

“The shock must have been great… I hear the hospitalization is going to be extended.”

“One ear doesn’t respond to sound at all, so it might be no good. The other one hears, so there’s no problem living normally. Ayaka and I have to help as much as we can.”

Akari is the most active, going back and forth between both Tohru’s and Sumire’s hospitals.
It seems that while Tohru is focusing on his side, Ayaka is taking care of Sumire-san’s side.

“It’s tough, isn’t it…? Your mental state must be worn out.”

“I guess we just have to believe that things will work out somehow.”

In the heavy atmosphere, Akari stood up and looked at the faces of the two men.

“Excuse me, I’m going to step out for a bit.”

“Akari, please pass the newspaper~”

“Okay, okay, just wait patiently.”

Where there is hardship, there is ease.

Having suffered this much, I don’t want to think there is still more suffering to come.

I am angry about what Sumire-san did, but do I really have to be pushed further and suffer even more…?

“I told Akari too, but you know what, Koichi? I’ll tell you as well.”

“What is it?”

“Forget about that guy, Fuwaki.”

Just hearing that name makes my anger rise.

“You… do you even know what he did? Are you really going to let this slide after everything he’s done?”

“I caught a glimpse of him. It gave me a bad feeling…”

“Of course I know that…”

“Just listen. Remember when we went to see the dam together back in the day?”

“That doesn’t matter!”

“Koichi”

Tsuyoshi quietly looks at me and silently urges me to listen with his eyes.

I let out a light sigh and nod.

“When we looked down from the railing at the regular spillway from the top of the dam back then, everyone was like, ‘This is bad, isn’t it?'”

“Ah… I was already freaked out by the height. That feeling of being sucked in…”

“I feel like if we don’t get too close to that guy, Fuwaki, he won’t be a threat. Sumire-san got too close and crossed the line.”

“The opponent is human, not a dam.”

“…You know it, right?”

Regarding what I said in a sulky manner, without showing even a hint of his usual lightheartedness, Go talks to me seriously.

“In terms of the fear of the unknown, it’s the same. Just stay out of it.”

At that time, I was… no, even now. I’m still an idiot.

Tomoya, Tsuyoshi, and even Sumire-san have all treated my friends terribly, and Ayaka and Akari are also heartbroken. Whose fault is it?

It’s that bastard Fuwaki’s fault, of course.

I seriously thought so. How many times did I go to that bastard’s hospital room… That’s why I only half-listened to Tsuyoshi’s advice.

If I had known Fuwaki’s face and met him at that time, I might have half-killed him.

But fortunately or unfortunately, I didn’t know Fuwaki’s face.

Of course, we had never met before.

That video didn’t clearly show the face, and the audio was hard to hear.

Seeing Tsuyoshi’s face made me feel relieved. I entrusted Tsuyoshi to Akari, who had returned, and now headed to Sumire-san’s hospital. I intended to meet up with Ayaka, who had gone to visit earlier.

Without the bad feeling going away, I end up driving a bit more recklessly than usual.

Recalling what Gou said, I can understand it, but… my emotions don’t agree.

While suppressing such irritation and driving, something caught the corner of my eye, causing me to stop the car.

It seemed that a young man was speaking to an old lady who was carrying a bag wrapped in a furoshiki and holding a large bag in both hands.

That’s so Showa, I thought to myself, while rolling down the car window and calling out.

“Is something wrong? Are you having any trouble?”

“Um, excuse me. I would like to take this elderly lady to the station, but… her luggage is surprisingly bulky.”

“I’m sorry. If you just tell me the way, I can go by myself.”

“It’s impossible, Grandma. I mean, how did you even carry this luggage all the way here…?”

The young man was scratching his head, exasperated, wondering what to do.

It’s just my nature, I guess. Once I see something, I can’t just leave it alone.

Since I stopped and called out to you, saying something as rude as “call a taxi” would be pretty lame, right?

“If it’s okay with you, would you like a ride? It would be a problem if we crossed prefectures, though.”

“Is it okay? It’s Takazouji Station.”

“It’s just a shortcut, so it’s fine. Oh, but does it look suspicious?”

“If you go out of your way to stop your car and do something to an old lady like this, then this country is finished.”

The only response I had to the grandmother who was laughing heartily, which made me feel good, was just one thing.

“That’s a generous old lady… I like her, hop on. And you too, the guy next to her, your load looks heavy.”

“No, I…”

“Since it’s a special occasion, let me give you a ride. I know it’s a bit presumptuous of me to say this, but you did mention that you just got out of the hospital, right?”

“But, it would be a bother…”

“Whether it’s one person or two, it doesn’t matter. Get on, get on.”

“…I’m sorry, then I will take you up on your kind offer.”

Saying that, the young man bowed his head.

After getting the two in, I put the clean ashtray with not a single cigarette butt back in its place and then start the car.

Even though I quit smoking, I can’t seem to break the habit of pulling out the ashtray.

When we arrived at the intended station, the old lady thanked me repeatedly as she walked to the station.

Despite her small stature, she skillfully carried and shouldered that load, and I couldn’t help but think that this might have been what a Showa-era female peddler was like as I watched her figure from behind.

The young man who got on with me also tried to get off at the station, but it seemed it wasn’t his destination. When I asked him where he was going, it turned out to be near the road I had recently learned about.

Since I know the area, I said I’d take him there, and he hesitated, saying he didn’t want to trouble me that much.

But since the young man had just been discharged from the hospital and was probably still weak, he shyly said, “I’m sorry, please,” and accepted my offer. This guy is such a softie…

Since there is personal information, I asked if it would be okay to drop them off nearby, and they shyly replied, “Please take me all the way home.”

They have a charming, endearing quality that makes you want to take care of them.

There are good people and bad people in this world. It’s not all bad, right…?

Maybe because I’m feeling even better, the steering wheel feels lighter too.

I find my own gullibility amusing, but it’s not bad.

I couldn’t laugh right away…

Living in the same apartment as Fuwaki… Is there really such a coincidence?

The good mood I had just a moment ago has long since faded, and sweat is starting to bead on my palm as I grip the steering wheel.

“Thank you very much. This is fine here. It seems I made you take a detour.”

(Quickly)

“No, it’s not that big of a deal, so don’t worry about it.”

(Hurry up…)

“Normally, I should invite you for tea or something, but I’m embarrassed to say I live in a rundown apartment.”

(Get out of here)

“It’s fine, you’re being too considerate. … Can I ask your name?”

Without doing unnecessary things

“Oh, I’m sorry for not introducing myself. I should have done it sooner. My name is…”

My name is Fuwaki Yuki.

(I’m leaving)

Whether one wishes for it or not
If you get involved even once
You cannot go against the fate that comes around.

Absolutely.