243: Moving Out

Chisato didn't answer.

She couldn't tell if he didn't know how to respond or if he was deliberately keeping silent.

Why won't you answer me?

It's clearly your fault, and I even planned to forgive you, but now you don't even want to talk to me?

Now you're leaving… where do you think you're going?

Are you going to that Kazusa's house, or to the other girl you mentioned?

Utaha clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth to prevent the thoughts in her heart from spilling out in words.

She couldn't accept this suffocating silence.

In a moment of dread, she took a deep breath to adjust her emotions, then slowly raised her head to look at Chisato.

She had made up her mind that no matter what happened after she raised her head, she would maintain her composure and make Chisato abandon the idea of leaving and stay here.

However, when she looked up, she caught sight of the apartment key on the table at the entrance, with a letter beneath it.

Suddenly, memories surged forth without warning, tightening their grip around her throat.

Such a familiar scene had repeated itself in reality.

However, the roles of the two characters had been switched in this reality.

Utaha felt it hard to breathe; her eyes became hollow, her body weak as she slowly slid down against the door.

A pair of strong hands held both sides of her shoulders, supporting her body.

The two additional life experiences in her mind allowed her to try her best to stop the tears of bitterness from flowing out of her eyes, but she couldn't prevent the emotions of despair from expanding and spreading within her heart.

"…No… Don't leave..."

A low and painful plea escaped Utaha's lips.

She pitied herself for being in such an embarrassing situation, but at the same time, she was even more afraid that the man in front of her would leave without looking back.

Compared to that, a little self-esteem meant nothing at all.

She didn't want that to happen… she didn't want it, not at all.

The despair from the first dream had been so overwhelming that she never wanted to experience it again.

Chisato sighed softly and wrapped his arms around Utaha, who was trembling, acting completely unlike herself.

"...I'm not leaving."

It worked!

He still cared about me!

Through Chisato's actions, Utaha became acutely aware of this fact.

Therefore, when she spoke again, her tone was more delicate and helpless, and she let out a sympathetic cry without hiding it.

Utaha's mood gradually brightened.

She could feel the strength of Chisato's hold on her slowly strengthening.

Moreover, he gently rubbed his face against hers and whispered what she had longed to hear in an extremely soft tone:

"Utaha, don't worry. I won't leave you."

The reassurance in his words made Utaha's heart, which had been hanging by a thread, fall gently.

She allowed him to hold her, whispering loving words in her ear that made her feel at ease.

After her emotions calmed down a little, Utaha slowly pushed Chisato away, and they separated to face each other again, leaving room for conversation.

"I do want to leave, but I definitely don't mean to abandon you, Utaha. Rather, even if you don't want me, I will do my best to stay by your side."

Seeing Chisato's expression that didn't appear to be lying, Utaha felt a wave of happiness. 

She pursed her lips and glanced at the letter pinned down by the key not far away with some concern.

If it wasn't what she thought it was, then what was in that letter?

Chisato turned his head to look along her line of sight and took the letter without much hesitation.

"I think these words might seem a bit pretentious for me to say in person, but they truly reflect what I've always felt in my heart."

Utaha took it and opened it after the other party nodded slightly.

A short paragraph was written inside.

[Utaha, when I stay with you and Eriri, I realize more and more how excellent and irreplaceable you are.] 

[However, I still can't live comfortably in the apartment you arranged for me.]

[I'm also afraid that I might lose myself and give up my position, so please give me some time to prove that the man you're looking at is not someone who only relies on women to survive.]

Utaha glanced at it, and in just a moment, she scanned the contents of the letter.

"So, it's not because of what happened today…"

"It has nothing to do with what happened today."

Chisato shook his head.

"It's just that today seemed like a good time to confess to you, Utaha."

After a moment of silence, he apologized again.

Utaha shook her head subconsciously. It was a relief that the situation wasn't what she thought it was.

"If you go out now, Chisato, where are you planning to go? Have you already given up the previous apartment?"

"I'll stay in a hotel for one night first. I'll look for a suitable apartment after school tomorrow. In fact, I saved some money while working part-time."

Seeing Chisato's confident expression, Utaha's mood quickly shifted in a completely different direction than before.

"…Do you really have to leave? Neither Eriri nor I have ever felt that you rely on us to live your life. Everything we do is out of our own free will…"

"It's precisely because of this that I can't allow myself to accept all of this with peace of mind."

Chisato interrupted Utaha's words.

Utaha fell silent for a long time.

"At least, wait until tomorrow. It's too late today. If you go now, it will be troublesome if a hotel refuses to let you stay."

Both of their gazes fell on Dark Wings at the same time.

This time, Chisato didn't insist anymore. He nodded slightly after thinking for a moment.

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(6/22)

50+ advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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