Chapter 17

“U-uh, w-what do we do?”

“C-calm down….it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong.”

Even though I said that, my voice was stuttering and me and Rina san were leaning to each other.

It’s because Yuika came to the restaurant with a man.

And what’s more, they were guided to a seat directly behind us.

So far, our presence has gone unnoticed.

Since the sofa is made taller than the rest of the room, the other side can only see the top of my head at the most.

“Y-you’re right….I should be confident.”

“Y-yeah. I don’t think that’s a problem.”

However, even so, the situation still made me shrink.

For example, if Yuika had come to the family restaurant with her female friends, I wouldn’t have cared so much.

However, she was accompanied by a man.

I don’t know the nature of their relationship yet, but they are close enough to come to the family restaurant alone together.

For the time being, I guess I’ll just have to watch them secretly.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

Tension ran through my body and Rina san’s.

The man started to speak.

His words were filled with anger.

“As expected, I can’t do it. You can’t replace Takuto. So let’s break up.”

“A replacement, huh. So you’ve been thinking of him as a replacement for your ex-boyfriend from the beginning?”

“Not really. But after I broke up with Takuto and he started going out with my sister, I thought to myself. I still like Takuto after all.”

“So, you’re saying that you didn’t need me anymore.”

I can overhear the conversation between Yuika and the man.

As expected from this distance, I can hear it all…

“Whether it’s useful or not, it was originally a trial period. Anyway, I don’t have time for you. I have to think about how I can get Takuto back.”

“That’s pretty selfish, isn’t it? I mean, didn’t you got tired of your ex-boyfriend?”

“I just don’t know anymore. Now, I realize how I feel about him again.

“Hmm. What a selfish girl.”

Rina san squeezed my hand.

She squeezed it tightly, so strongly that it feels like it will leave a mark.

“Well, you’re the one who said that we should try going out on trial basis. That’s why I broke up with Takuto and decided to sort out my feelings by going out with you. And now that I’ve sorted out my feelings, I’m saying I’m breaking up with you. Is that strange?”

“Well, I think it makes sense? Well, that’s fine. I don’t have time to deal with a self-centered woman like you anyway.”

“Yeah right.”

“It’s kind of cold, so I’m going home.”

The man stood up quickly and left the family restaurant with rough steps.

I understood the situation a little bit..

Yuika and I were ex-lovers.

So, I had no intention to get into Yuika’s private matters, and unless she told me, I was going to pretend that I had seen nothing.

I had overheard something I didn’t expect…….

The man disappeared, leaving Yuka all alone.

Rinsa san let go of my hand and stood up.

She turned in her heel and headed straight for Yuika.

“Hey.”

“Eh, O-onee chan….?”

Maybe she didn’t know that Rina san would be here at all.

Her face was distorted and shocked, as if she had seen an alien.

“About what you said earlier, is it true?”

“H-huh? What about?”

“I was sitting in the back seat here. Then Yuika came to this seat later.

“You were eavesdropping?”

“Not by my choice,”

“Hmm. So Takuto is here too……”

I’m not going to hide myself at this point, so I stood up.

When Yuika recognized me and my existence, she muttered while gasping.

“My bad, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“……It’s fine, No need to apologize.

Yuika gently lowered her gaze.

Rina san tilted her head with irritated eyes.

“I won’t hand over Takuto. I will never hand it over.”

“Huh? Last time you said something like ‘come and take it back’.”

Rina san clenched her fists so hard that her fingernails were digging into them, and she looked down.

“I feel sorry for Takuto kun.”

“Eh?”

“Being dumped by Yuika, and he was depressed like never before, and I seriously thought he was going to die.

“Then.”

“But, Yuika, you’re being too selfish…..  You broke up with Takuto kun one-sidedly without even consulting him, and then started dating another man, even if it’s just a trial, and said that you like Takuto kun after all. I can’t overlook that… there’s no way I can do that !”

She clenched her teeth and glared at Yuika with a frown look.

Tears slightly appeared at the corners of her eyes.

Rina san thinks about me more than anyone else.

That’s probably why she can feel my emotions so easily.

It’s like she’s speaking for me.

Everything I wanted to say had been said.

Yuika’s eyes were spinning.

“I-I don’t want Onee chan to tell me-“

“No, I feel the same way.”

“Eh….?”

“Rina san, let’s go back to our seats.”

I took Rina san’s hand, it seemed like she was about to cry.

It’s not like I don’t have a lot to say about Yuika.

However Rina san said most of it.

Maybe that’s why my heart felt like a weight had been lifted.

I felt as if the slight amount of lingering feelings I had for Yutaka had been released just now.

“W-wait…. N-no. I’m sorry Takuto. I was in the wrong-“

“I told you before.”

“Eh?”

“I like Rina san. I  don’t want you to get in my way.”

In a gentle, speaking tone, I clearly expressed my current feelings.

It’s not that I hate or despise Yuika.

It’s just that my feelings right now are for Rina san. Regardless of the circumstances, I have no intention of getting involved with Yuika ever again.

I decided to convey this intention once again so that there would be no misunderstanding.

Yuika bit her lower lip and left the family restaurant in a rush.