Chapter 13: Making Love Out of Nothing at All.

- "Makoto-san, I've already treated Mariko-chan's injuries. Luckily they're only bruises that didn't affect her internal organs. The only thing that worries me is her index finger, although it's not fractured, it was so dislocated that I could barely reposition it properly. When the poor thing feels better, please try to convince her to go to a hospital." – After finding Mariko in such bad condition in front of the stairs of my apartment, I quickly called my uncle to help me take her to a hospital. But she looked too scared by the idea, panic was evident in her eyes and the trembling of anxiety dominated her fiercely.

Unable to find a way for her to accompany us, we decided to call Mrs. Matsuda, the orphanage director. She had once been a qualified nurse who worked in a modest hospital in the city. However, due to a certain incident she never wanted to talk about, she had to abandon her career and decided to focus on caring for children by assisting at the local orphanage.

- "You really are a lifesaver Sayaka-san, I was racking my brains trying to find a way to convince that girl to go to the hospital and suddenly your name came to mind."

- "Oh ho, Makoto-san, are you flirting with me right now?"

- "What? Of course not, how could you think so!" – The image of my uncle with his face as red as a tomato in front of Matsuda-san laughing at him was something I rarely got to see between the two of them. I know my uncle is interested in the orphanage director, but every time he was around her, he ended up behaving like a teenager in his school days.

- "By the way, Jinta-kun, I made some rice porridge with bonito flakes for little Mariko. If you would be so kind, could you take it to your apartment please? I would like you to allow your uncle and me some time alone." – That bold move on Matsuda-san's part took me by surprise, leaving me speechless when I saw the slight smile that appeared on his lips while he kept his gaze directly on my uncle's eyes. Who kept stuttering like an idiot, signaling me with his hand to leave immediately.

Walking up the stairs in the dim light from the hallway lamp, my thoughts left the couple at the bakery behind and began to focus on the girl who was currently in my apartment's bedroom.

For a brief moment I paused at the foot of the door, raising my face to the sky and letting out a deep sigh as I knocked on the door so as not to find Mariko-chan in a compromising situation.

- "Mariko-chan, may I come in?" – After knocking three times, I got no response from inside, making my heart race at the thought that she might be passed out inside the apartment.

"Mariko!" As I entered the apartment, I saw her sitting by the window, silently gazing outside with her headphones on. Since her clothes were dirty from the beatings, Mrs. Matusda took the liberty of giving her one of my shirts so she could dress while her clothes were being washed.

With that somber expression, my friend softly hummed a sad, English melody. It was a song about the mistakes parents make and the time that irreparably leaves childhood behind until the end arrives. At times, her voice faltered during certain parts of the song, accompanied by sobs that, after a quick sigh, she tried to regain the rhythm of the melody.

She hadn't even realized I was in the room, even though I was almost right next to her, her mind was lost in the notes of the song playing on that old MP3 player with a cracked screen.

The light coming from the streetlights illuminated her pale face; the dark circles under her eyes had become more visible, and her tears kept flowing, rolling down her cheeks until they mingled with her lips.

- "Mariko-chan, Mrs. Matsuda made you some rice porridge. Do you want some? It's still warm." – Without stopping humming the song, Mariko slightly shook her head in denial to my request. She lowered her face as she placed her hand on mine on the tatami mat. Sensing that subtle gesture, I closed my mouth and kept my hand clasped to hers for the duration of the song.

"Jinta, what did we do wrong to make our parents hate us?" The question that flowed from Mariko's lips made me feel a chill run through my body. The monotonous tone of my friend's voice surprised me. The girl who was so lively and cheerful when she spoke to me sounded so gloomy that I couldn't recognize her.

- "I don't know Mariko, I really don't understand why they could hate us" – After those words, a slight nervous laugh came from Mariko's mouth, who quickly turned her face against mine and slowly grabbed the back of my neck.

- "You know, Jinta, I think I know the answer. Do you want to hear it?" – With a smile brimming with sadness, Mariko's eyes were dull, as if the light of her hope had been extinguished like a candle flame against the wind.

- "Jinta, are you listening to me?"

- "Mariko, you need to calm down a bit. You've been through a lot today, and I think you need to rest."

- "I'M TELL YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!" – With an angry tone, Mariko raised her voice as she moved away from me, ducking her face with her hands clenched on her bare thighs.

- "Our parents hate us… because we made the mistake of being born. If that weren't the case, why would they so easily say they'd remove us from the family registry?" Mariko's face had a hollow smile, her tears welling up more and more, those eyes, moistened by pain, searching for mine, waiting to hear my answer.

- "Do you really believe that, Mariko-chan? Are we just a mistake? If we didn't exist, do you think everything would be better?" - I knew that Mariko's words were those of a girl consumed by pain and agony. I know this very well because that's how I felt the day my mother disowned me. However, unlike that night, hearing those same words pass through my mind from the lips of my best friend made me feel deeply angry .

Grasping Mariko firmly by the shoulders, I leaned my face toward hers, my gaze filled with anger. Seeing me with that expression, she threw her head against my chest and began apologizing repeatedly while continuing to cry.

- "Mariko-chan, we are not a mistake. Our existence is not an accident, and much less should we feel guilty for people who could never even be called parents. They are less than animals, because even animals, in their ignorance, are kind to their young."

Listen to me, we could never be a mistake. Because if we were, we'd be the most wonderful mistake there could be, because life allowed us to meet." Gently hugging that plump body, I rested my chin on his shoulder and whispered in his ear that everything would be okay. That no matter what happened, we'd always be there to support each other, no matter what might happen.

After calming down a bit, I led Mariko to the table and began eating the bowl of porridge that had already cooled down.

- "Is it good?"

- "Sorry, it's a little salty."

- "Pfff, I think it's because of your tears, crybaby."

- "He he he. It's true." Mariko's face looked swollen from crying so much that she could barely smile a little without difficulty due to the pain that still remained from the blow to her cheek.

Gazing at her with my arms resting on the table, I could see nothing but a vulnerable, abandoned, and completely broken girl. That image shook my heart, but I tried to hold back my tears so as not to disturb the little peace of mind Mariko had achieved.

- "Jinta, what time is it?"

- "It's almost 11 at night"

- "Wow, it's already so late. If I don't hurry, I won't be able to get back home…" – Just as she was about to stand up, Mariko stopped dead in her tracks and sat back down at the table, putting her hands to her head and beginning to laugh.

- "How silly, I don't know what was going through my head. Where the hell could I go back to… I don't have a home to go back to anymore." – Bringing her right hand to her face, Mariko began to cry again and stretched her left arm across the table, reaching for my hand.

- "Stay here in my apartment for today. I'll borrow a futon from my uncle and put it in the living room, and you can sleep in my bedroom."

"Jinta, I don't want to be alone. I'm scared. Sorry for being so immature, but, just for tonight, could you sleep next to me?" Surprised by her request, I hesitated for a moment. But seeing her in such bad shape, my thoughts aligned with my heart, and I said yes.

- "It'll only be for tonight. Remember, you're a woman and I'm a man; it's not a good idea for a boy and a girl to sleep together." Trying to speak with maturity and firmness, my facial expression was so stiff with nervousness that I could barely hide my thoughts through my facial expressions.

- "Pfff, sorry, Grandpa. I promise your chastity will be safe from this lascivious and shameless woman."

- "Mariko-chan!"

- "Ha, ha, ha, ha." – Seeing her laugh like that calmed me down a little. If she was able to joke in that situation, that meant her mood was improving compared to how I had found her.

After chatting for a while, I went down to the bakery to ask my uncle about the extra futon we had in storage for the days when we had a heavy load of orders. Just before knocking on the door of the small office behind the counters, I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard the heated exchange between my uncle and Mrs. Matsuda.

- "Makoto-san, please calm down. I know what that man said was unforgivable, but you must remain composed."

- "Sayaka, how can you expect me to calm down after listening to that damn jerk? If he were standing in front of me, I swear to God I'd beat his face up. How could that bastard have beaten Mariko-chan like that! He even kept calling his own daughter a vulgar whore and saying he never wanted to see her again?"

"And what would you gain by hitting that man? Would you make him reconsider and admit his mistakes? Please, stop! Makoto-san, you're not that kind of man. I've known you very well for many years. Now what the poor girl needs isn't an avenger, but a support in which to find refuge."

- "I know, Sayaka. I swear I understand. But despite everything, I can't help but feel so angry for that damn guy, and especially for that brat, Jinta's girlfriend. How could she make up the lie that her own sister was having an affair with her boyfriend? Not only did she cause her sister to be kicked out of the house, but she also implicated my nephew in making him look like trash." – After hearing those words, I couldn't hold it back any longer and entered the office, slamming the door open due to the exasperation I felt in my chest.

- "Uncle Makoto, please explain to me what's going on."

- "Jinta-kun? Since when were you behind the door?"

- "Long enough to listen to the entire conversation, uncle. Please, I don't want you to hide anything from me. Tell me what's going on with Mariko-chan." Mrs. Matsuda's expression was disgruntled, as she clasped her hands on the table and looked away from me. My uncle, on the other hand, stood confidently in front of me, taking me by the shoulders and dragging me to one of the chairs in front of the small dining room table. His brows furrowed, his eyes were slightly red-rimmed, and the fingers on my shoulders clenched slightly in an attempt to contain his anger.

- "Jinta, my boy. I've raised you like my own son since you were a brat, so I think I know you better than anyone in this world. I might even go so far as to say I know you better than your own mother. That's why I want you to be the one to tell me the answer to this question, straight out of your own mouth: Do you and Mariko-chan have anything more than friendship?"

- "Uncle, in your eyes, am I the kind of trash who would play with a woman's feelings?" – I don't remember the last time my uncle and I had a fight, except for our argument in the car after I was discharged; we had always had a very calm relationship without complications, but at that moment, I don't know what kind of expression I had on my face. But my uncle's face looked contrite, as if he were regretting even having doubted Mariko-chan or me, even if it was for a brief moment of weakness driven by anger.

- "I'm sorry, kid. I was too impulsive, and I think I took my frustration out on you. Of course, you'd never do something like that. You're a good boy." Mrs. Matsuda stood behind my uncle and placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down and help him sit at the table so we could continue our conversation.

Calmly and slowly, we began to talk, accompanied by the aroma of the coffee steaming in our cups, explaining in detail everything that had happened that day at Mariko's family home.

She had gone to visit her grandmother's grave that morning, and until after noon, her entire day had been peaceful until it was time to return home. As she walked through the door, her father was already waiting for her, his attitude aggravated, accusing her of telling them that her sister had been cheating on her boyfriend.

Without giving her time to explain herself, they simply attacked her without the slightest consideration, throwing everything that belonged to her into the trash and expelling her from the home with the intention of repudiating her from the family.

- "Tell me, Jinta, after hearing everything we just told you, what do you think of your girlfriend, Hana?" At that question, my mind was in turmoil like a raging river after a storm. On one hand, Hana had been my girlfriend for two years; we had spent many moments together and shared dreams, but on the other hand, there was the evidence of her vile actions, reflected in the wounds on Mariko's body.

It was a given that the relationship between the sisters was tense. I was aware of this throughout our relationship, trying to mediate between them as much as possible. However, things had never escalated as abruptly as they did now.

The Hana-chan who existed in my memories was so different from the image of Hana I'd been seeing these past few days. Things didn't feel right; it was so strange, I wasn't comfortable with her haughty, overbearing attitude.

- "Uncle, you once told me that people don't change over time, but rather that time allows us to see who they really are. While Mariko-chan has shown me how she's gone from being an introvert to a cheerful and kind girl, Hana has turned out to be the complete opposite of what we've been doing in the past few months. If I had to put it more simply, Hana-chan isn't the person I thought she was."

And the proof of this is that he has not only abused his sister almost to the point of destroying her life, but he has also taken my name and person, our years of relationship, as if it were a mere toy to be made fun of" – My hands tightened around the cup of coffee, I felt my legs tremble a little as I said that and my mouth had a bitter taste despite the fact that the coffee was loaded with sugar.

For her part, Mrs. Matsuda brought her hand closer to mine, patting it gently to reassure me, while turning to look at my uncle with an expression on her face as if she were asking him to be less harsh with me.

- "Little Jinta, when you moved in with your uncle 13 years ago, I met you as a smiling little boy, but with sad eyes. The first impression I had of you was that of a little boy desperately longing for love, as if you were screaming it with those innocent little eyes.

When you began participating in the orphanage's activities with your uncle, I felt that helpless child gradually become stronger and more self-confident. So much so, that the children in the orphanage began to see you as a reliable and self-confident older brother.

"Jinta, my child, you are like a sun that attracts everyone with your shining inner light. However, because of this excessive kindness, you become a target for people who only seek you out to selfishly fill their voids." I knew Mrs. Matsuda was referring to Hana with that last statement. From the day we decided to share our dreams with each other, I tried my best to find ways to help her achieve them; however, while I did everything in my power for her, I only received words of encouragement from her that were not accompanied by actions.

Both Hana and Mariko accompanied me on competition days, but while Mariko made an effort to make the posters herself and even help me buy the supplies I needed for my training, Hana surreptitiously took photographs sporadically and then left under the pretext of taking calls from work.

If I asked for time alone, she'd claim I was being too possessive; but if I told her I had to work out, she'd say I was neglecting her.

As we chatted around the table, the veil over my eyes began to fall away, and I could see the girl I was in a relationship with without masks, without idealizing her or putting her on a pedestal, just a simple human being with more flaws than virtues.

"Jinta, my boy. As your uncle, I can only hope for the best for you because I love you. Nothing in this world would hurt me more than the thought of something bad happening to you. I know you love that girl, and I also know that she asked you for time to think things over. But tell me, son, even if you were to think about fixing your relationship, how could you face the fact that she has unjustly accused you of being unfaithful to her with her sister? Do you think if you go back to her, her parents will agree? Do you think they will welcome you with open arms and let you explain things? Look what they did to poor Mariko, even though she was their own flesh and blood. Do you think they will hold you in higher regard as an outsider?" Despite the harshness of Uncle Makoto's words, my mind understood that everything he was saying was for my own good, trying to make me reconsider and understand the situation I found myself in. Not only did I have to face the seriousness of my illness, but I also had to deal with the problem that Hana herself had gotten me into.

- "You're right, man. I can't just brush aside everything that's happened as if it never happened. Not only would I be naive and stupid, but I'd also be hurting Mariko-chan if I tried to get back with Hana."

- "So what you're trying to say is that…"

- "Yeah, man. I think it's time to finally break up with Hana-chan. There was a time when we could have worked things out, but after everything she did, I don't think it's possible to go back." Without realizing it, tears began to well up in my eyes and fell onto the dark coffee in my cup.

- "Oh. What?" My voice broke and my lips trembled. I brought my hands to my eyes, trying to dry my tears, while my uncle and Mrs. Matsuda hugged me to try to comfort me.

"Little Jinta, cry all you want. You've been through so much these past few days, and you've acted strong so as not to worry your uncle and the people around you. My child, you are not alone. Stop struggling with your own strength and lean on all the people who love you." Matsuda-san's comforting voice had the warmth of a mother seeking to console her child. Her gentle embrace and the gardenia-like scent of her perfume reminded me of the beautiful moments before my father's death, when my biological mother still loved me.

As the minutes passed, my heart calmed and my thoughts gradually reorganized. Everything was decided; my relationship with Hana was over, and now, like a good friend, I had to side with Mariko-chan. That girl who had always been there for me, accompanying me through the most painful moment of my life even though she owed me nothing. To do otherwise would make me worse than a dog; because even though they are beasts, dogs know how to express gratitude to those who have been kind to them.

After getting up from the table, I asked my uncle if he could lend me one of the futons we had stored in the employee break room. Smiling knowingly, he whispered in my ear so Mrs. Matsuda couldn't hear us: "Go on, go with her. That girl really needs your support right now. But remember, I'm still too young to become a grandfather."

My face turned red with embarrassment, even more so with the glare that Matsuda-san threw at my uncle when she realized what he had said despite his efforts to speak softly.

- "Makoto-san, you are a lost cause."

- "Sayaka-san! It was just a little joke, don't get me wrong." – Standing up from her chair to slap her back, Mrs. Matsuda smiled at me and gestured for me to go back to the apartment.

Unlike the first time, this time I didn't knock on the door and just turned the lock with overconfidence, finally making what I feared most the first time happen.

- "Jinta-kun! For God's sake, don't you know how to knock?"

- "MARIKO-CHAN!" – As the day wore on, my small apartment had become unbearably hot. And without telling Mariko where the air conditioning control was, the poor girl felt like she was being roasted over a slow fire, forcing her to take off my shirt. She was left almost naked, except for her panties, sitting on her knees at the foot of an old fan.

- "Don't look, fool!"

- "I'm not seeing, I swear I'm not seeing" – Turning my face covering my eyes, the sense of shame drilled into my subconscious since I had seen my friend's naked body bathed in sweat.

Even though she denigrated herself by calling herself undesirable to any man, in my eyes, her plump body caught my attention in a sensual and provocative way.

- "What are you thinking, idiot? She's just a friend. A good friend." Slapping myself to regain my composure, I realized I was no different from the other boys who fantasize about their classmates. I don't know if it was because of the altered hormones caused by the cancer treatment, but my heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest at any moment.

- "You can open your eyes now." – When I turned my face and opened my eyelids, Mariko was just a few steps away from me with her smiling face, with my shirt on covering her up to her thighs.

- "Ma, Mariko-chan…"

- "Oh ho, has little Jinta gotten nervous?"

- "Mariko-chan, we shouldn't…"

- "Pfff, ha, ha, ha, ha. Oh my, you really are a sweetheart, Jinta-kub. Your face is so red you look like a caramel apple." Mariko couldn't stop laughing, her hands on her stomach, her laughter so intense it made a few tears fall.

- "Calm down Jinta, I just came over to take the futon you're carrying in your arms. Isn't it for me?" – Realizing that my best friend was playing a practical joke on me, I made a playful angry expression and took her hand, dragging her into the room.

- "Ji, Jinta-kun. I was just joking, really. It was just a little trick to break the tension." With a nervous laugh, Mariko tried to drag her feet a little, trying to stop my momentum. But it was too late; now it was my turn to return the joke and make her feel as embarrassed as I did.

As we crossed the threshold of my bedroom door, my foot stumbled on the fold of the carpet and my body pulled Mariko's body with momentum, causing us both to fall onto the padding of my futon.

"Jinta-kun," Mariko's voice reached my ear, shaking my senses. Beneath me, my friend's silhouette stood out against the shirt, highlighting her bust and leaving her thighs completely exposed with her leg slightly bent.

The sensation of her sweat-dampened skin touching me made my heart race once again, leaving me breathless for a moment, while my eyes restlessly gazed into Mariko's eyes.

- "Sorry, Mariko-chan. I'm going to get up." The moment I tried to peel my body away from hers, Mariko's hands firmly gripped my arms, preventing me from getting up. Her eyes shone with the reflected glare from the nightlight on my nightstand, her lips looked slightly trembling, and her breathing seemed to slowly become agitated.

- "Mariko…"

- "Shhhh, Jinta. Just stay like that a little longer, please." – Suddenly, the strength in my arms began to give way and in response, Mariko wrapped her arms around my back, pressing my chest against hers, bringing her lips close to my ear to whisper a few words.

- "You were right, Jinta-kun. I was reflecting on what you said to me an hour ago, and I was truly foolish. I don't know if there is a god, but if there really is one, I am grateful for being born. Because even if my birth was a mistake, it gave me the joy of finding you along the way."

"I don't care if I can only love you from a distance; just being your friend is enough. As long as I have a future where I can be close to you, I will have been the luckiest woman on earth. Thank you for being a part of my life." – Mariko's tender words made me feel ashamed of my primitive instincts. That sweet girl who was my best friend loved me in such a pure way that I could only feel gratitude toward her.

"I'm also lucky to have you by my side. If fate allows me to have a future, rest assured I want you there. You for me and I for you, no matter the adversity." Mariko's hug deepened, sobbing softly in my ear, making my heart flutter and I begin to cry along with her. Like a pair of fools, we comforted each other like abandoned dogs licking each other's wounds.

The night was at its peak, and with that, we began to chat, sitting across from each other, amid funny anecdotes and some bittersweet memories.

- "Jinta-kun, do you remember the first day we met? I was so distracted looking at the admissions board results that I ended up bumping into you."

- "Hey, hey, hey. How could I forget, Mariko-chan? You had a look on your face like you wanted to stab me when I picked you up."

- "Of course not! How do you think I'd see you like that? I was sore because I fell on my butt on the floor and hurt myself a little."

- "Are you absolutely sure you weren't even a little bit angry with me?"

"Mmmmm, maybe just a little. But I was really mad at Hana; when she made those comments about me, I felt really embarrassed around you. But that was to be expected; she never liked me." Looking down slightly, Mariko fiddled with the hem of her shirt, clumsily moving her fingers. Seeing her like that, I stroked her head, tousling her hair a little to ruffle it.

- "Oh, Jinta-kun. Stop that."

- "Mariko-chan, I'm going to break up with Hana." Suddenly bringing up the subject, Mariko's face showed a look of surprise, unable to believe my words. Her eyelids opened completely, revealing her astonished eyes as she brought a hand to her head.

- "Wait, Jinta. Are you serious? Or is this a joke to surprise me?"

- "This isn't a joke, Mariko. I'm completely serious. After much consideration, I think this is the best thing for both of us."

- "Wait a minute. Are you doing this because of what he did to me? Jinta-kun, you shouldn't!"

- "It's partly true that I'm doing this because of what Mariko-chan did to you. However, the decision I'm making is one I've made after reflecting on everything we've been through as a couple over the past few months. I refused to face reality; my love was blinding me, preventing me from facing the fact that Hana wasn't the girl I thought she was. Our relationship deteriorated over time, and we didn't know how to handle it properly.

"His possessiveness, his selfishness, and his detachment over the past few months were a big part of my decision. What happened to you was just the final straw, but you shouldn't feel guilty." Finishing speaking, the two of us stood in silence facing each other, only the sound of our breathing echoing in the room.

At times the situation felt uncomfortable, almost to the point where I felt I could hear my heartbeat pounding against my eardrums.

- "Hey, Jinta-kun. If you've already decided, then there's nothing more to talk about, right?" – With her low voice, Mariko stared into my eyes, making my mouth feel somewhat dry. A subtle nervousness hit my body, making my legs cramp, making me unable to stand.

- "Yes, that's right, Mariko-chan. I don't think we need to talk about it. I think it's best if we go to sleep." Trying to gain momentum on my feet to get up, I was stopped in my tracks by Mariko, who, without giving me time to react, kissed me hard.

- "Mariko! What do you think you're doing?"

- "What am I doing? It's simple, Jinta-kun, I'm making my declaration of principles. I no longer want to deceive my heart or my mind; I just want to express everything I feel for you, since the day we met."

- "Mariko, I don't think this is the right time…"

- "Please, Jinta-kun, let me finish. Ever since that day we met, I felt like fate had allowed us to meet. A klutz like me had never fallen in love even once, yet when our eyes met, I felt like I'd known you for a long time. My heart was beating so fast; it was a feeling I'd never experienced before."

When I barely tried to talk to you, Hana interfered and blocked any possibility at that moment. With my low self-esteem, seeing you two together made me feel insignificant; unable to take a single step, I settled for being the close friend. The fat girl who was happy just seeing you from afar, sighing for you, dreaming about you, and losing my thoughts.

"I thought I'd given up, that I'd accepted the fate of being the flowerpot on the side of the hallway. But I can't. I swear I tried, but I just can't. Touch my chest and feel my heart..." Taking my hand and dragging it against the center of her chest, I could feel Mariko's racing heartbeat. Her eyes were moist, her mouth was set in a fearful smile, and deep down, I somehow sensed that she harbored hope in my reciprocation of her feelings.

It was a given that I'd decided to break up with Hana, that was immutable. But I hadn't contacted her yet, and we were still officially dating. Deep in my heart, I felt a deep sense of guilt upon hearing Mariko's words. Just a few hours ago, her father had kicked her out of the house, accusing her of being in an unfaithful relationship with me.

- "Mariko-chan, I appreciate your feelings. But I don't think it's appropriate."

- "Why Jinta-kun? Why is my love for you inappropriate?"

- "Please, Mariko, react! They've accused us of being unfaithful; if we start dating, we'll only prove those people right."

- "WHO MATTERS WHAT THEY THINK! Will they say I'm a whore? A vile harlot who seduced their sister's boyfriend? THEY ALREADY DO, JINTA! No matter how good a person I am, in their eyes I'm nothing but trash. Why should I care about their opinion? Jinta, the only person I care about who thinks of me is you. Please allow my love for you to blossom. Don't wither the bud in my heart." – Holding her hands to her face, Mariko wept hard.

Crouching down, that expression made something inside me completely break. In my heart, the feelings I had for Mariko didn't go beyond what I would feel for a good friend. However, the cowardice of facing the thought of shattering the girl's soul in front of me overwhelmed me.

My uncle once told me that love could blossom over time, something that happened very often in the arranged marriages of his time. Time and living together bore fruit, and with it, what had once been a mere family commitment matured into a love that lasted for decades.

Thinking about giving Mariko a satisfactory outlet for her feelings, I made a decision that night and with my heart on the line, I took her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes.

- "Mariko-chan, could you wait until I break up with Hana to give you my answer?"

- "Jinta-kun, so you accept my feelings?"

- "I don't want to deceive you, Mariko. It makes me happy to know you feel for me. But in my heart, right now, I can only see you as a great friend. But if you give me the chance, I'll more than make it up to you and try to respect you and make you happy." – I couldn't help but feel like garbage. Looking into her eyes, my heart felt as heavy as a rock, even more so with the silence that followed my clumsy declaration.

I expected her to slap me and insult me at any moment. If that happened, I'd accept it without question and take the spare futon to the living room. However, a long sigh escaped her lips, and she suddenly grabbed my hands.

- "Deal, silly. I don't think I've ever seen such a statement even in the shoujo rom-com manga I've read. But it doesn't matter if you love me as just a friend, because I'm going to win your heart and make you love me as a woman." Kissing me on the forehead, Mariko smiled sweetly while continuing to hold my hands.

- "So everything is okay?"

- "Yes, Jinta-kun. Everything is fine." Keeping the smile on her lips, Mariko stood up and took the futon she had brought with her, taking it to the living room.

- "Mariko-chan, didn't you want me to keep you company?"

- "Aaaaaaah, honestly Jinta-kun. I feel a little uncomfortable right now, so I'll go sleep in the living room." – After hearing the tone with which he said that to me, I didn't have the courage to answer him.