I Got Into a Secret Relationship With a Girl Who Was Out of My League
Since that day, Nanamori hasn’t been seen at school.
The homeroom teacher only said it was due to family circumstances, and I couldn’t get any more details.
Even when I sent messages, I didn’t receive any replies after that day.
No matter how long I stared at my smartphone, the message never showed as read.
If there was a reason, it must have been something that happened that day.
On that day, Nanamori had a conversation with her father about talking after she returned home.
But she ignored that and stayed at my house.
Because of that, I couldn’t help but worry that something had happened to Nanamori.
I was so worried that I couldn’t stand it.
But she couldn’t possibly keep skipping school forever.
So for now, I decided to wait patiently and listen to her properly when she came back, with the faint hope that I could apologize to her.
…But.
“──Regarding the next item on the agenda. Nanamori, who has been absent due to family circumstances, has decided to transfer schools.”
“…..!?”
During morning homeroom, after finishing the announcements, the teacher delivered the shocking news.
I was so stunned I couldn’t speak, and the classroom buzzed with commotion.
◆
Nanamori is transferring schools.
According to the teacher, Nanamori won’t be coming to school anymore. The others didn’t seem to know about it either, and they were stunned when they heard the news, asking the teacher questions.
After hearing that, I felt completely drained of energy.
“It’s my fault…”
I was too naive. That day.
Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t stop it at the time.
There’s no doubt about it—it’s my fault.
Because I wanted to be with Nanamori a little longer.
If my mistake caused Nanamori to transfer schools?
If I took away her place?
Thinking that, I couldn’t muster the energy to do anything, fearing that any action on my part might worsen her situation.
I sent her another message, but there was still no reply.
I have no memory of how I spent that day at school.
I desperately tried to hide my true feelings from Shinji and the others, pretending everything was fine, and returned home.
Lying in bed, I recalled that day.
She was crying. I held her close to comfort her. We embraced each other.
Was all of that a mistake?
I couldn’t think straight. Like a lifeless body, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
—Ding-dong.
“Hm…?”
The intercom rang softly.
Looking at the clock, only a few minutes had passed.
—Ding-dong.
The intercom rang again. Still a bit dazed, I sat up and looked at the person on the intercom.
“N-Nanamori !?”
“Ah, Yagami kun. You’re here. Can you open the door?”
Startled by the unexpected visitor, I hurriedly opened the front door.
“Hey.”
There was Nanamori, dressed in her usual uniform, smiling gently.
“Why are you here?”
“Can I come in for now?”
“Ah, sure…”
“Excuse me.”
Nanamori took off her shoes as usual and entered without waiting for my guidance.
She opened the door to the living room and seemed to be waiting for me to come in.
“Can I sit here?”
Without waiting for my reply, Nanamori sat down on the sofa. She stared at me silently. It seemed she was telling me to sit next to her.
I obeyed and sat down next to her.
The sound of the clock’s second hand echoed through the room.
I knew what I had to ask.
“Nanamori…are you really transferring schools?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Surprisingly, Nanamori answered brightly. But even though she was smiling, I felt a hint of sadness in her expression.
“Is it because of me?”
“No, it’s not. It’s my fault. You didn’t do anything wrong, Yagami kun.”
Nanamori shook her head slightly while smiling.
It was clearly a lie.
Maybe she doesn’t think it’s my fault. But on that day, even though her father was watching, she let me stay at her house. There’s no doubt that was the trigger.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing, Yagami kun? It’s my own fault. That’s all.”
“Even so. I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything.”
“Don’t apologize anymore ! It doesn’t matter.”
“…Are you okay with that, Nanamori?”
For a moment, I thought I saw her eyelashes tremble. But she quickly turned her face toward me with her usual composed expression.
“There’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Nothing you can do…?”
“Yes. I’m fine with it. I’m sure my father will be more at ease this way.”
“…..”
Her voice was so calm. Her forced smile felt strangely distant.
“Are you sure? Didn’t your father force this decision on you?”
“No, that’s not it. It’s true that my father decided it, but I accepted it. So this is also what I wanted.”
“……”
My mouth was dry, and I couldn’t speak. My voice caught in my throat.
“And you know, I think I’m going to get engaged.”
“…”
This time, I heard a ringing in my ears, and my mind went blank.
Engaged…?
Is it really over with Nanamori…?
“The candidate is the man you met at the park before. At that time…I didn’t want Yagami kun to find out, so I lied.”
I won’t ask why she didn’t want me to know.
But is there really nothing we can do? Not even our relationship…
“Hey… Our relationship—”
“Just a casual fling. There’s nothing else, right?”
Nanamori looked at me with a gentle smile. Her eyes were strong, as if she had already made up her mind, and I could only nod slightly.
It was different from that time.
It should have been just as painful to hear, but it was heartbreaking and frustrating. I was filled with regret.
“I came here today to say goodbye. I was told not to see anyone, but I was given special permission.”
“………..”
“Don’t worry about me anymore, okay? The contract is over. It was good to have you as my lover, Yagami kun. Thank you.”
“… Nanamori !”
Nanamori stood up, glanced at me as I called out to her, and then headed toward the front door.
“Thank you. Goodbye.”
She turned around to face me as I chased after her, said those words, and then left the house.
I was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness.
It was like that time again. Like when my parents and family fell apart, I felt so helpless that all the strength drained out of my body.
I could only stand there in a daze.
◆
“Miss. Are you sure this is okay?”
“……About what?”
“Are you really sure this is okay?”
In the car on the way home, Minami in the driver’s seat asked me.
When our eyes met in the rearview mirror, she looked pained.
“Yes. It can’t be helped.”
That’s right. It can’t be helped.
Even if I were to voice my opinion to my father now, it wouldn’t change anything.
Given the current financial situation of the Nanamori family, it was already decided that I would be engaged.
Besides…if it makes my father happy, I will accept it.
“Then why are you crying?”
“This…is…..not.”
I wiped the tears from my eyes as quickly as possible so that Minami wouldn’t see.
I’ve already made up my mind. It was just a game to begin with. That’s all it was.
“Come on, you have to look ahead and drive carefully.”
“Miss…”
I looked out the window and let out a small sigh.
I was able to say goodbye properly. That was enough for me right now.
Maitoshi