“.... A-awkward.”

I had been muttering to no one in particular.

The past few days.

The relationship with Asuka was somewhat awkward.

Asuka has been trying to get in touch with me for some reason or another, but our conversations have not been very lively, and the atmosphere has been very subtle.

This is a problem that I did not have when we were dating.

Especially, Asuka is paying attention to me in a strange way, which makes me feel uncomfortable.

This is not the time to start over from scratch.

This is a negative start.

In the first place, what do I want to do with Asuka?

Do I want to completely cut ties with her?

No, I don’t think so.

If I wanted to cut ties with Asuka, I would not have gone out with her for two years.

As soon as Asuka said, “We’re breaking up,” I would have broken up with her immediately.

So do I want to get back together with her?

I don’t know about that either. I really don’t know.

“Hey, Hiro-kun. What a coincidence!　Back from school?”

“.... Chinami-san.”

I was walking at a slow pace with mixed feelings when a voice called out to me from ahead.

Called from the front.

When I looked up from my downward gaze, I saw a woman who looked a lot like Asuka.

She was Asuka’s older sister — Chinami Nomi , who was in her first year of college this year.

Her chestnut-colored hair is cut just below her shoulders.

She put her hand on my right shoulder.

“I heard. You broke up with Asuka, right?”

“A-ah, well, yes.”

I nodded a little reservedly.

“Why did you break up?　Asuka didn’t seem to want to tell me herself, so I couldn’t ask her.”

“You’re going to ask me that ....”

“Oh, it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”

“No, I mean, I don’t think that’s what Chinami wants to —-“

I was about to say that much when my voice trailed off.

Why am I assuming that this is not what Chinami-san wants to hear?

Takase just pointed out to me that I’m assuming too much. It’s a bad habit. ....

“Hmm?　Something wrong?”

“Oh, no, I think we should go to the park over there and have a little chat.”

“Okay.”

I pointed to a nearby park.

It was a small park with only a slide and benches.

There are no other people using the park, so using the benches would not be a problem.

“—-I can’t take it any more. Then I ran out of patience.”

After moving to the bench, I told her the story of how we had broken up without hiding the details.

After Chinami listened to the story, she scratched her temples with her fingers, a bitter look on her face.

“That’s .... disgusting, even for my sister.”

“Right?”

Chinami is always cheerful, but her voice was more subdued this time.

“If it were me, I’d break up with her immediately. ....”

“I think it was because I liked her. I hated it when she threatened to break up with me, but I was pretty besotted with Asuka.”

“I see. So you don’t like her anymore?”

“I’m not sure. Mou, I don’t know how I feel anymore. What do I want to do in the future?”

It was a true intention from the bottom of my heart.

“Are you saying that you also want to get back together with Asuka?”

“I don’t know. The only thing is that I think it is possible to try to start all over again. I got some advice from a friend of mine .....”

“Yes....Asuka is going to hate me for saying this, but that is awfully personal, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Hiro-kun is very kind. Or rather, sweet. In this case, you have already lowered your reservations by revealing your heart once, even though you had already reached the limit of your patience and exploded. So when Asuka shows her remorse, you feel lost. I think it makes you feel bad that you are the only one who is angry at her. The feelings of wanting to forgive her, but also the feelings that you have been holding back, get mixed up .... so you don’t really know how you feel anymore.”

....That may be the case.

At the sharp point of view from Chinami, I gulp.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I know you don’t want me to tell you this.”

“No, not at all.”

“Hiro-kun, have you ever been with a girl other than Asuka?”

“N-no I have not. Why all of the sudden?”

“I thought you should try going out with other girls. Don’t be too tied down by Asuka.”

“That being said,....,I don’t think I can get a new girlfriend.”

I don’t think I have the energy at the moment to be actively looking for a girlfriend.

“So, how about I become your new girlfriend?”

“P-please stop teasing me.”

“It’s a waste. This is a great chance for you to feel the receptiveness of an older woman.”

“......... Are you sure?　I’m going to take you seriously, you know?”

“Sure, but only if you can kiss me.”

“K-kiss?”

“Ah I’m sorry. I know it’s difficult for you, Hiro-kun, who is a chicken.”

“....I’m the type of guy who takes fights when they’re offered.”

“O-ou. Surprisingly a predator.”

“It’s too late for regrets.”

I gently place my hand on Chinami’s shoulder.

Of course, I don’t mean to be serious. I am used to being joked with by Chinami.

So we both know what I’m talking about.

I wonder if I can really do it.

“It’s you, Chinami-san, I’ll forgive you now, okay?”

Chinami-san smiles softly and gently drops her eyelids.

If I keep my face close to hers like this, I can kiss her in a kissable situation.

But, of course, I would not do such a thing. In the end, I am in Chinami’s hands again.

If I could kiss her here, I might be able to give her a blow, but it might hinder our relationship in the future.

And that was when I was about to remove my hand from Chinami’s shoulder.

—BAM

I heard the bag hit the ground.

Chinami’s eyes snapped open and I immediately turned around.

“Eh....,l-lies....what is this”

Then, there was the figure of Asuka, with her face distorted and her eyes swimming with suspicion

When her eyes met mine, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and ran away as if to escape..

Instantly, silence filled the place deeply

While sitting on the bench, both Chinami and I stiffened like a stone statues

Once Asuka disappeared completely, we started to move almost at the same time.

“....W-w-w-what should we do, Hiro-kun!　I-It was like I was cheating on my sister’s boyfriend!?”

“I-It was!　No, we’ve already broken up, so there’s that!”

Asuka and I are not lovers.

If something happened with Chinami, there is no reason to blame her.

I think this may have gotten complicated in a very troublesome way. ....