The Salty Princess Told Me That I Was a ‘Convenient Keep’, so I Tested What Would Happen if I Introduced the Most Beautiful Girl at Another School as My Girlfriend
“—-Let’s break up”
The coldest wind blows through the air. The remnants of winter that still remained somewhere in my heart blow through my chest along with the cold wind.
Finally, I could say it.
I was finally able to let out the thoughts that I really should have put into words long ago.
“……….”
But even though I thought it would feel better to put them into words, the thoughts of the past remained stagnant in my chest. The thorn in my heart is stuck.
Of course, I have no regrets. I don’t even want to start over. Even if Sakaki-san shows some kind of favor to me now, I can no longer accept it. At that point, our relationship is probably over.
I look straight at Sakaki-san. She puts her hand on her chest and looks down. Her long hair was in the way and I could not see her expression.
“…………”
“……….”
After a few moments of silence, Sakaki-san said in a muffled voice
“Is it …… because of that person earlier?”
I shook my head.
“It has nothing to do with …… what happened with Koga-san. Even if I hadn’t seen her again, what I said wouldn’t have changed. If there was a trigger,……, though, it was that time when …… Sakaki san called me a convenient keep.”
No, if it was just those words, I might have forgiven her. But Sakaki-san laughed in front of Miwa-kun. After she laughed, she called me a convenient keep. I guess my mind was made up at that point.
“So …… it is. It’s …… my fault. I can’t blame …… anyone else.”
“It is not only Sakaki san’s fault. It’s just that if we continue …… the relationship any longer, we’ll both be losing….. No, this is just an excuse.”
I exhale. I feel like I’ve been sighing a lot lately. …Really, why did this happen?
“To tell you the truth, I can’t stand being next to Sakaki san any longer. So,……I’m sorry I confessed to you, but I want you to break up with me.”
“…………”
Sakaki-san doesn’t say anything. I continue to speak.
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to cause trouble to Sakaki-san. I won’t spread any weird rumors or get into trouble with Miwa-kun or anything like that. I’m not going to do anything like that to everyone in the class either. I’ll do my best to convey the message, so Sakaki-san doesn’t need to worry about that.”
Well, in reality, if I were to get into trouble, it would probably be me, not Sakaki-san. …Right now, there are rumors going around that I am having an affair with a girl from Mikagami Girls’ Academy. If word spread that we broke up under these circumstances, the rumors that I was cheating on her would be proven true.
Besides, today I went shopping with Koga-san in her school uniform. Since the rumor started just a few minutes before this on my way home, it would not be surprising if someone saw me this time as well. I guess I should be prepared for some trouble for a while, including the phone thing.
I let out another sigh.
“I was actually thinking of saying something a little worse to Sakaki-san, or something like that. But I felt like …… enough is enough. Sakaki-san said earlier that it doesn’t mean I haven’t done something before, and I think that’s really true. …I’m sure that the fact that I liked Sakaki-san never happened. So… it’s fine.”
Hurting her and relieving my sorrow is like throwing stones at my past self. Not that I haven’t forgive …… and not that I don’t have anger. But I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to smile if I took that out on Sakaki-san.
I don’t want to laugh at that.
“…The truth is, I wanted to be able to live on my own.”
In a muffled voice, Sakaki san said
“I’ve always been shy, and the only person I could talk to was my …… mother.”
I wondered what she was talking about, but I was in the same boat. I didn’t want to interrupt anything and waited for Sakaki san to speak.
“But then my mother left me and went out and got married to a guy. I knew that my father and mother had some kind of dispute, but I was still a child and I thought that …… she had abandoned me. Feeling betrayed, I became …… afraid to trust people.”
Sakaki-san starts to walk away. She never turns her head toward me, as if to escape my gaze.
“I began to reject people. I don’t like anyone. I lived my life thinking that way, and before I knew it, I was being hailed as a ‘salty princess’ …… and strange men started following me around.”
So, to protect herself from this troublesome man, she decided to date me. Controlling poison with poison… It’s funny, but it’s not funny from my point of view as the person involved.
“But Miwa-kun and you are childhood friends, right? You should have relied on Miwa-kun instead of relying on me, a stranger.”
“That person…that person is a friend that I’ve been with for a long time. He was the only one who didn’t abandon me when I started being harsh on those around me because of my mother. He was a dear friend. …But that’s why I didn’t want to rely on him.”
That’s why she went out with me. Not to rely on him, but to use me as a convenient keep
“……At first I thought you were just like the rest of them, just projecting your convenient desires onto me. Even though …… you didn’t try to force your way into my life. So I decided to go out with you.”
“Selfish …… is not something I’d say now either. But …… I wish you had told me a little earlier.”
If I had, we might have had a different future. I don’t think of …… that way anymore.
“Apparently, Miwa kun didn’t like the fact that I went out with you,……. But me and that guy are really just friends. There was nothing …… more to it than that.”
“Okay, enough about that. I’m a convenient keep for Sakaki-san, and Miwa-kun is a childhood friend of yours. With that said, that’s enough.”
“That …… may be so. No matter what I say now, it’s already …… too late.”
Sakaki-san stops again. Suddenly, through a gap in her beautiful black hair, I saw her profile. Such a sad expression, like a girl who has been left behind by someone important.
…… but I can’t understand what is hurting Sakaki-san. Even if I could, it’s no longer my role to support her.
I kind of understand your situation, Sakaki-san. But I can’t do anything for you anymore, so find a better man than me instead. ……No, that’s just an imposition, too. If you want to live on your own, I’ll support that.”
“Thank you …… for that.”
“But if you are having a hard time, this time you can rely on Miwa kun instead of me. I think …… he is the type of person who would probably be happy to hear you do that.”
“…. yeah”
“Yeah. Also, if possible, I’d like you to stop treating someone as a convenient keep like you did with me. I’m sure that will only hurt both of you.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful. ……”
After that, we walked in silence for a while and reached the station. I was able to say most of what I wanted to say.
I think that’s enough for now.
“I’m going now. It’s getting late, so be careful on your way home, Sakaki-san.”
“……Yes. You, too, be careful.”
She did not look at me until the end of the conversation. But there was no use talking any more. I turned my back to her and started to walk away.
“…Is there still something going on?”
I’m not sure why, but Sakaki-san grabbed my arm behind my back.
“I …… that, I …… had fun dating you ……. You said I wasn’t smiling, but I …… was …… really having a good time. But I didn’t want to …… admit it. That’s why I said such horrible things and …… put you away. ……”
“No, that’s not why I said those things…”
“Still,…… I’m sure I won’t get another chance to say it. So I wanted to apologize …… one last time.”
“Sakaki-san………”
“I’m sorry. I’m really …… sorry! I only took advantage of your kindness and didn’t …… give you anything,…… anything back!”
Her voice was emotional, not unlike Sakaki-san. But I never look back.
“I’m fine, I’ve had enough. If I could have helped you even a little, it was worth my effort. So, like I said before, the next time you have a chance to go out with someone, please let them know sooner rather than later.”
“I’m …… sorry. But I …… can’t help thinking that you’re going to be with that person from now on.”
Sakaki-san’s voice seemed to be shaking a little. …That’s sneaky, I thought. But still, I’ll never look back.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t talk any further. I can’t leave Koga-san alone for too long. I also promised to buy her a souvenir and take her home.”
“…Ah.”
I shake off Sakaki-san’s hand and start walking.
“Then, I’m going now. Thank you for coming all the way to my house today…. Thank you so much for everything. Sakaki-san too… Good luck from now on.”
I don’t know if she heard my last words. But Sakaki-san didn’t try to hold me back anymore.
“…I really don’t know what I’m doing.”
In the end, I didn’t really understand what Sakaki-san thought of me until the end. However, I thought it would be nice if Sakaki-san could find someone to talk to about her true feelings someday.
“Well, I’m going to buy both ice cream and pudding and go home.”
I muttered to myself and walked faster. When I looked up at the sky, it was covered with thick clouds and the moon was no longer visible.
-Maiban