Author: Inaida Sou
Translator: Sluggish Kei of ChocoCats
Proofreader: Cinnamon-san ;w;

Thank you to Lene, Impostor, Amethyst429, Haru, and Jesein for the Ko-fi! I really appreciate all the support, comments, and words of encouragement from you guys!

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● 30 DAYS AGO

(This is Makoto’s POV)

I had heard that people lose their composure when they feel a sense of crisis. It seemed that this way of thinking also existed within me. Please read this at ChocoCats.

Hase’s desire for Mai was something I hadn’t anticipated, and it was enough to make me imagine what would happen if Mai developed feelings for someone else.

Driven by a never-ending sense of impatience, every time I closed my eyes, I saw the moment when Mai would run towards someone else. However, it was Mai’s classmate who had been close to her all along that made me consider killing Mai, ever since I saw him confessing his feelings to her.

On that day, there was a terrible downpour of rain, causing delays on the train ride home and making Mai wait longer than expected. I could have called her phone, but using smartphones was forbidden in middle school. Fortunately, even after I had graduated, I was still allowed to enter the school, so I entered the building with borrowed slippers as usual, without having to display a school entrance permit.

Mai was usually in the home economics room. She was good friends with the girl from the temple, who was in the sewing club. When I reached for the doorknob as usual, I heard a familiar voice saying, “It’s you, it’s you whom I like.”

“Huh?”

Then I heard Mai’s dumbfounded voice. Looking through the window, I saw her sitting in the corner seat of the classroom with her back to me. Next to her was a male student wearing a baseball uniform, and I could see his serious profile as he gazed at Mai. Please read this at ChocoCats.

“I’ve liked you since elementary school. Will you go out with me?”

“I, Iwai…”

“I know you don’t see me that way. But I want you to acknowledge my feelings and see me as a man from now on.”

Straightforward words. Strong-willed eyes. Something that I couldn’t give to Mai. His voice alone conveyed more sincerity than I could bear. While I held my breath and waited, I desperately wanted to hear Mai’s answer. Before long, she shook her head and said, “I’m sorry.” Please read this at ChocoCats.

“I can’t go out with you, Iwai.”

I was surprised at how relieved I felt when she said those words. I felt sweat pouring down my forehead and hurriedly wiped it away.

“Is there no chance for me?”

T/N: my poor baby Iwai ;w; | E/N: I ACTUALLY CAN’T. HE GIVES ME SECOND LEAD SYNDROME SO BADDDD.

“Iwai, I… I’m sorry.”

Mai lowered her head. It was good she rejected him. But at the same time, I felt anxious about what I would do if I confessed to her and she rejected me. Until now, I couldn’t imagine being rejected by Mai, but now that I had actually witnessed it, I could vividly picture it.

If Mai chose another man and parted ways with me…

I knew I shouldn’t have imagined it instinctively. If I imagined it, I couldn’t go back. After all, I didn’t even have a sane way of thinking.

“However, I still want us to get along as friends in the future.”

However, I still want us to get along as siblings in the future. 

Strangely, I could imagine it so vividly that it felt like I was the one being told that.

T/N: Dang, that’s kinda hurt…

And the next thing that came to mind was killing Mai. That night, I had a dream, so vivid that I could even see the detail of her blood flowing from her cut throat. Please read this at ChocoCats.

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T/N: Hello, this chapter is pretty short so I can immediately translate it and update.

A little bit about the story, I feel bad for Iwai. I know he’s just a 2nd ML and rarely showed up in the story but I still pity him. The fact Mai never even mention anything about Iwai’s confession in her POV, was really sad… Author-sama is too cruel to my baby Iwai. TwT

Also, I’m very very very happy with all of your comments and support towards me, I can’t explain how grateful I was when I read them all one by one. I can’t say thank you enough for you all, so I decided to finish the chapter as soon as I could. It’s not the fastest I know but I will do my best again like usual, thank you everyone and I really appreciate your support for this series.

Anyway, see you in the next chapter, and have a great day.

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