When I Go Back in Time, My Ex-wife Is Making a Passionate Approach to Me, and I’m Having Trouble With It
Tachibana came back from the hot spring and we went out for dinner. After returning from dinner, we were relaxing in our room.
“Since we’re here, why don’t we play some games?
Tachibana suggested and spread a game on the futon.
“It’s a game like the King’s Game. The person who becomes the king draws a card from the deck, and the king has to execute the actions written on the card.”
“This kind of game sounds like a blind date.”
“There is no doubt that this is a game for a blind date. Well, let’s give it a try anyway.”
Tachibana shuffled the cards and dealt them to us. I opened the card and saw that it said “King.”
“I am the king.”
“Then, please draw an order card.”
Following Tachibana’s instruction, I rolled the card from the deck.
“Confess to the king.”
“I was surprised that he suddenly drew a card like that. Well, that’s okay. I’ll go first.”
Tachibana looked me in the eye with a single coughing sound.
“Shinohara-senpai, I like your sincerity in writing novels. Please go out with me.”
Tachibana’s confession was simple. But it was certainly teasing that she was finding out the good parts of me. Tachibana is cute, and when Tachibana confesses her feelings for me, I am moved.
“Senpai, it doesn’t seem like you’re completely opposed.”
Tachibana looked at me with a smirk on her face.
“I’ll be next.”
Haruka looked me in the eye and spun the words in a passionate voice.
“Do you hate me?”
“No, I don’t hate you.”
“I like you, Shinohara-kun. I like your single-mindedness, I like your sleeping habits, and I like the fact that you wear pajamas all the time on your days off. I also think it’s cute and endearing that he was so aware of my body in the bath.”
Even though it’s a game, I’m upset because this is the first time Haruka has ever said anything like this to me. My heart shook as if I had been hit from the side with a gulp.
“Now, senpai, which will you choose?”
“Eh? Choose?”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s impossible for a girl to just confess her feelings and not choose.”
I had to think about which confession was the most impressive and choose one. My answer was already decided. I took Haruka’s hand.
“Me?”
“Yeah. I choose Kurosaki-san.”
The reason I chose Haruka was simply because she was the easier choice. I felt embarrassed about taking Tachibana’s hand, and I didn’t know how to handle the situation. Haruka was married to me, so I thought it would be easier to handle.
“I’m so happy.”
Haruka’s cheeks flushed red and she smiled thinly. I looked at Haruka with surprise at her reaction.
“Kurosaki-san. It’s a game, right?”
“I know. It’s a game, isn’t it? It’s a game.”
Haruka shuffled the cards in a good mood. The cards were dealt, and when she rolled them up, there was nothing on them.
“I guess I’m next in line to be king.”
It seems that Haruka drew the king. Haruka rolled an order card from the deck.
“Tell me what you like about the king.”
Haruka’s favorite part? There used to be a lot of them. As time went by, the things I disliked became more noticeable and I stopped looking for the things I liked. It is difficult to find something I like about Haruka once again.
“I like Kurosaki-senpai’s competitive nature!”
Tachibana completes the task in no time.
“How about you, Shinohara-kun?”
Haruka looks me up and down. I think about it. What do I like about Haruka? I definitely liked Haruka in high school. Everything about her was dazzling. Remember the memories of that time.
“What I like about Kurosaki-san is that she’s kind.”
“That’s too abstract.”
“When I said I was going to write a novel, she would lean in and give me advice. But it’s still true. Yes. I like the way Kurosaki-san smiles.”
When I said that, Haruka’s eyes widened. I certainly liked her kindness, but what first attracted me to her was that carefree smile. I think I worked so hard and kept chasing her just to see that smile.
“My smile……”
Haruka turned her head down, her face reddening as she muttered something small.
“I wonder if it’s like this.”
Haruka looked at me with a dazzling smile.
“Yeah. You’re very attractive.”
“Thank you.”
Haruka doesn’t fake a smile. When she smiles, it’s a sincere smile.
“I’ve heard good things. I’ll try to smile more from now on.”
“If you smile too much, my heart won’t be able to take it.”
Since her time leap, Haruka has been smiling a lot. The Haruka I knew in high school never smiled much. So I desperately tried everything I could to get her to smile.
We continued playing games for a while, and then it was time to go to bed.
“I guess I should go to bed.”
“I guess so. It was fun, let’s go to bed.”
Tachibana put the game away and turned off the light. I was thinking about it as I got into my futon.
To be honest, I was surprised when Haruka told me how much she liked me. This camp has definitely brought Haruka and I closer together. But I refused to accept it. Haruka doesn’t seem to have any intention of giving up on me, but I have my own reasons for not backing down. I wanted Haruka, whom I loved, to be happy. I couldn’t do that. There is nothing more convenient than starting over and making things work out. So what should I do?
After all, we shouldn’t be together.