Chapter 41: Thunderbolt
Suqin was stunned.
Bad timing.
I wonder what Suikoto-san thought when she saw Kaho hugging and kissing me.
You must have misunderstood.
Suikoto-san looked at us sadly and then let a big tear fall from her eye.
“I knew it… I don’t belong anywhere.
After saying this, Suikin-san wiped away her tears and opened the front door once more with great force.
And then he just drove off.
It’s late, and it’s raining hard outside.
Where do you think you’re going?
I rushed out to stop her, but Kaho grabbed my arm.
“Are you going after Suqin-san?”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Is Suqin-san more important than me?”
I didn’t say that.
“Even if I told you that I like Haruto, would you still go after Suikoto-san?”
I stared at Kaho.
Her face flushed, Kaho hugged her shoulders with both arms.
“I’m Haruto’s sister, so I’ve always suppressed my feelings. It would’ve been better if we’d just been childhood friends.
I don’t think it’s possible that my dad is Kaho’s father.
It’s true that Kaho’s mom and my dad used to be close.
They were more than just friends from school, they were also childhood friends.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t believe that her father had an affair and became Kaho’s father.
Anyway, it seems Kaho dumped me because she’s related to me.
I don’t know if it’s true that I’m related to Kaho.
All I know for sure is that Kaho really liked me.
Oh, my God.
I said…
“You should have told me earlier.”
“I can’t say it. There’s no way I can say this. But when I saw you and Haruto getting along so well… I couldn’t stand it anymore. Seeing you care more about Mizukoto-san than me hurts my heart. So… Don’t go after Suikoto-san.”
“I’m not trying to weigh Kaho and Suikoto-san against each other.
“But you’ll have to pick the right one. Someday.
“Yes. But we’re going after her now. I said I’d stand by her. She’s moving to a dormitory in Tokyo.
Kaho gasped .
I briefly explained the situation to Kaho.
“If that’s what Suikin-san really wants, I think it’s fine, but it’s probably not.”
“I think… I think so. Because she seems to really like you. I don’t think she’ll say she’ll leave this house.
I nodded and went to the door to put on my shoes.
And looking back at Kaho .
“There must be some mistake if you say me and Kaho are sister and brother. So we’ll definitely check it out together next time.
Kaho’s eyes widened and she nodded.
I’ll wait for you.
I opened the front door and walked out.
The drain in the corridor of the apartment was clogged and water had begun to accumulate.
The rain was getting worse, and for a moment there was a flash of light in the dark sky.
Without a pause, a terrible noise rings out.
Lightning.
I thought about where Suikoto was going.
Where would Suqin go?
School? Nearby parks? Pharmacy? Bookstore?
But it was none of those things.
On the slope just outside the apartment, Suikin-san was crouching trembling.
Without an umbrella, Suikin-san is shrinking her body as if she’s frightened.
And he covered his ears with his hands.
I bent down and gently hugged Suikoto from behind to protect her from the rain.
Mizukoto-san jerked and looked back at me.
“Akihara-kun?”
“What are you doing sitting here? You’re gonna catch a cold.
“I’m afraid of… I’m scared.”
Suikoto looked up at me with teary eyes.
I didn’t expect you to be so scared.
I think Mizukoto is cute because she has a gap from her usual personality.
I whispered as softly as I could.
“It’s okay. I’m not afraid.
“That way, it sounds like you’re treating me like a child… But Akibara-kun’s body is so warm.”
Suikin-san sighed in relief.
I looked at it and smiled.
“Let’s go back to our house. That way there’ll be no lightning or anything else to frighten Mr. Suikin.
“But there’s Sasaki… Akibara-kun and Sasaki-san… they’re in love after all. I feel like an idiot. Akibara-kun was so nice to me… and I got all excited by myself… and let him pretend to be my boyfriend… All of this was just a nuisance to Akibara-kun, wasn’t it?”
I’m not trying to be a nuisance.
“Liar.”
“I said I wanted to be with you, Suikin. That wasn’t a lie. Pretending to be your girlfriend was a lot of fun.
Suqin-san opened her eyes wide.
I explained the situation with Kaho.
That Kaho dumped me because she thought I was her blood brother.
It means Kaho suddenly acted like that because she was jealous of Suikoto.
Suqin-san shakes her head in disbelief.
“Is Sasaki-san jealous of me?”
“Because, from a third party’s point of view, I and Suikoto-san looked like a perfect boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Suqin-san looked surprised and then smiled weakly.
That’s a little… That would be nice.”
“So it’s not like me and Kaho are dating. I wasn’t cheating on you, Suikoto-san.”
“So… Is it true that Akihara-kun and Sasaki-san are sister and brother?”
“I don’t know what Kaho is basing that on, but I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”
“If it’s a misunderstanding… If it’s not a blood relationship, and the misunderstanding is cleared up, will Akihara-kun go out with Sasaki-san?”
I thought about it, and I answered.
“I don’t know. I’ve always liked Kaho, but I’m not sure if I still do.”
“Do you love someone else?”
“If you like someone…”
Mr. Sakurai?
I shook my head.
It’s not Yuki.
I haven’t had the courage to tell her I might like the guy in front of me.
Maybe I like Suikoto.
