V1 - Chapter 18

Volume 1 - The Abandoned Kitten, Her, and Me.

Chapter 18

Even after entering the house, Minamino and I spent some time in silence.

I had wanted to talk to Minamino about what happened earlier, about the things Kanazaki had said, and everything. But in times like these, I wasn't sure what the right thing to say was. I didn't know where to start the conversation. Yet, deep down, I knew that I should be the one to speak up, whether it was to apologize for not telling her earlier or to tell her not to worry too much. Even though I didn't know exactly what to say, I understood that I should be the one to break the silence.

However, something within me was resisting, refusing to let the words escape.

"Little Sister-Killer."

That was a term I couldn't deny if it were used to describe me. But I couldn't imagine Minamino saying something like that.

Honestly, I thought I no longer held onto the sadness and loneliness from back then. But the fact remained that words didn't come out when I was faced with Kanazaki. And now, what swirled within me was fear. I, who would cunningly escape from having my mask stripped away by others while shedding theirs, was still stuck in a standstill.

"Actually, I was quite a daddy's girl back then."

In place of someone as pathetic as me, it was Minamino who broke the silence. My mind was filled with thoughts of what to say, what to discuss, and in that moment, I raised my head and looked at Minamino. Minamino's large eyes had been fixed on mine all along.

"Both of my parents worked, and my mom had a full-time job in a company. But they were both kind. Although my mom was more like an education-focused mom who worried about what others had to say. When I managed to do things well, it was fine with her, but she scolded me often too... And about what happened in middle school, and even when I wanted to transfer to a different high school, my decisions weren't met with her approval. Despite that, my dad always pampered me, supported me since a long time ago, and was very cool. He would always tell me that I should do whatever I like. It was like a drama, you know? A mother who was gentle yet strict, a daughter who loved her family, and a father who was sweet. I thought we were a pretty good family."

I didn't understand why Minamino suddenly started talking about this, and I didn't know what was going on in her mind. But it wasn't the usual joking atmosphere, and I wasn't in a mental state to respond.

However, I could sense that Minamino had started this conversation with some kind of resolution. I listened to her words without saying anything.

"I began to feel that something was amiss around the summer of my third year in middle school when I was working hard to study for high school entrance exams. I'd stay up late at night studying, and during that time, my parents started having more arguments. As a result, my dad started coming home later and later."

"And then, I successfully passed the exams, and spring arrived."

"When it was time to enter high school, my parents came with me. I was a bit happy about that, and I was all excited to show that I was going to do well in high school. But then rumors started circulating among the seniors and classmates that there was a cute girl in our school, and things turned out the way they are now."

"...And that was the last time our family of three could be together."

"'Don't push yourself too hard, but do your best.' I remember feeling puzzled when Dad said that to me when we arrived home. Not long after that, he left."

"My mom began to speak ill of Dad, and that's how I found out that our family was completely broken."

"I heard they're going to officially divorce this coming winter," Minamino murmured.

"..."

My mouth remained firmly shut, as if I had lost the ability to speak properly.

"I only heard bits and pieces of conversation and complaints from my mom, but it seems that the reason why Dad started coming home later and later was not only because of his work but because he was also having an affair with someone from work. It sounds stupid, right? Apparently because his partner was young, she could understand his feelings. He even started consulting with her about family problems, and then it turned into that kind of relationship, and they even had a child together. —It's really disgusting, he's seriously the worst, don't you think?"

"And, it seems like mom will get my custody. She told me that, with alimony coming in, I didn't have to worry about money, and that since she had a job, she also told me not to worry about college. She apologized and cried."

"...And yet, you know, I still kinda like my dad. Isn't that dumb? Even though he did terrible things, left us, and even though I feel sorry for my mom, I'm still a daddy's girl at heart. At home, my dad is like the villain, and it's very painful. Do I also have to wear my mask even at home, not just at school? Thinking things like that, I wandered aimlessly as I couldn't take anything anymore, then I found a kitten. And just like how you saved the kitten, I found myself leaning on you as if you had saved me too, Satou, using you as my refuge when I didn't want to go back home."

That's why, I kind of, like, hated it when I gave you the duplicate key back earlier, she said while sticking her tongue out.

"Even though I'm considered popular at school and all that, I can't even take off my mask outside except in front of you, Satou. This is the real me, Minamino Chinatsu."

"These are everything—my everything."

"Minamino..."

Why tell me this? As if to interrupt that, Minamino held her hand in front of me.

"Let me finish everything first. …Hey, Satou. Sorry for imposing, for blurting this out, for exposing all this. But I wanted you to know about me. And I also want to know about you too, Satou."

I thought I was totally uncool for being afraid how Minamino would view me, who had made her—a girl who seemed strong yet weak, lonely yet resolute, and someone who I shouldn't have had anything to do with, yet before I knew it, I couldn't help but find my gaze inexplicably fixed on her—like this.

So, I forced open my mouth, which seemed to have lost the ability to produce words.

"...I bet what I would share wouldn't be that fun, you know?"

"Wasn't mine not fun either? I want to know your story. It's fine, you can take your time."

Saying that, she looked at me straight into my eyes, but with a hint of anxiety in her trembling gaze—

—I…

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