The Fate of the Protagonist Who Chose the Harem Ending - Episode 8

The Moment Hearts Drift Apart

“…Enough.”

Shizuku took off running.

“Hey, go after her,” 

Kanefune-senpai had somehow appeared next to me. She urged me to chase after Shizuku. 

“I’m sorry. I went too far,” 

She muttered, sounding genuinely regretful. 

Was she saying she hadn’t meant to make Shizuku this angry? 

But that didn’t matter right now. I was worried about Shizuku. 

I started running after her. 

Ichijou, meanwhile, stood frozen like me moments ago. He was murmuring something like, 

“Wait, why?” 

I hated him to the core. He didn’t even realize the damage he had caused. 

—

I couldn’t tell where Shizuku had gone. 

But knowing her, she’d likely retreat somewhere out of the way, like behind the school building. 

I trusted my instincts and headed there. 

There she was, crouched down behind the school. 

She must have heard my footsteps because she looked up. 

Her expression said it all: 

“Oh, of course it’s you. Looks like I waited for the wrong person to chase after me. I should’ve guessed it would be you, Haruka.” 

“Would you have preferred it if Ichijou came?” 

“…No, for now, I’m glad it’s you who came.” 

She muttered under her breath, sounding resigned and disillusioned about Ichijou. 

Shizuku seemed so fragile, far more than I’d ever seen her before.

I didn’t say anything. Instead, I sat down beside her and looked up at the overcast sky. 

Shizuku wasn’t her usual self—she seemed almost afraid. She glanced at me hesitantly as if unsure of what to do. 

Her strange behavior was concerning. I decided to ask. 

“What’s wrong, Shizuku?” 

“………..Will you listen to me?” 

“Of course.” 

“I’ve been talking to Yuri-chan about a lot of things, trying to sort them out. Even so, I thought I’d keep going, but…….

I’m just… tired of chasing after Ichijou-kun.” 

Shizuku’s words were like a surrender, a sign she was giving up on him. 

“I see. You’re tired of it, huh?” 

“Yeah…” 

“If that’s the case, then why were you acting so weird earlier?” 

“Th-that’s because…” 

She hesitated. She was struggling to put her feelings into words. 

But I didn’t rush her. I simply waited for her to find her voice. 

Finally, she spoke. 

“I thought that if I stopped, it would mean all the effort you’ve made for my sake would be for nothing…!” 

But even that thought exhausted me. 

I tried so hard myself, but… was it all meaningless? 

Shizuku’s tears began to fall as she trembled, her voice breaking with anguish. 

I knew how much effort she had poured into trying to win over Ichijou. 

But all her hard work had been ignored. 

Now, weakened, she was even starting to deny her own efforts. 

I couldn’t stand by and let her do that—not even to herself. 

“That’s not true.” 

“Huh?” 

“Making lunches you weren’t used to, trying to like the things he liked—I saw it all. If that still wasn’t enough, then it just means he wasn’t the right one for you.” 

And with that, the seeds that had been inside me all this time started to sprout. 

Though it was late, they finally began to bloom. 

“I’d never hand over my precious childhood friend Shizuku to someone who only knows how to hurt her.” 

“Are you… confessing to me while I’m heartbroken? Precious childhood friend, really?” 

Her face turned red as she said this. 

………….Well, when she put it that way, it did sound like a confession. 

“Yeah… I guess this is a confession.” 

“Wha—! Aha, haha! Did you just confess without realizing it? You’re such an idiot! A complete idiot!” 

Laughing, Shizuku slapped my shoulder while calling me names. 

But seeing her like this, so lively, was far better than seeing her cry. I accepted it gladly. 

When she finally stopped hitting me, she whispered, 

“You’re not denying it, huh?” 

I wasn’t dense like Ichijou. 

So I answered her. 

“It’s true. I can’t stand the thought of someone like him having someone as amazing and precious as you.” 

“Ah……

Haruka, I have one last favor to ask of you.” 

She said it with determination, as if she had made up her mind. 

She didn’t want to see Ichijou again, but this request involved him. 

I was happy to accept it, and I’d deal with Ichijou for her. 

The Shizuku who made this request wasn’t the weak flower I’d seen earlier. 

She was radiant, blooming with confidence. 

It was the expression I liked most on her.