At a cafe in the Six Days Shopping Mall, which had opened less than two months ago, Utaha and Tomoya sat facing each other.
On their table was a cup of coffee.
Tomoya looked at Utaha: "Senpai, why did you call me here?"
This was the first time in a while they were alone together.
Tomoya actually couldn't guess why she had asked him out.
"Aki, you like Sawamura, don't you?"
Utaha's slender fingers gripped the cup, she lifted the cappuccino and took a sip, then spoke slowly.
Tomoya was about to take a sip of his coffee as well but froze momentarily, then quickly regained composure: "Senpai, what are you talking about?"
"Don't pretend to be ignorant."
Utaha slammed down her cup heavily, her gaze colder than before.
"Did you really not know my feelings for Sawamura before?"
Having experienced how openly and straightforwardly Watanabe Takashi liked her, she despised Tomoya's behavior—knowing her feelings, giving her hope, but refusing to give an answer.
"Aki, don't treat people like fools."
"I'm no longer the Utaha who liked you so much that I found excuses for your behavior."
"I don't like you anymore."
"Answer me—do you like Sawamura?"
Tomoya did not answer, picking up his coffee and drinking it to cover the turmoil inside.
Utaha didn't push; only her legs started shaking uncontrollably.
Tomoya dragged out every answer, which made her very uncomfortable.
But at the same time, Utaha was surprised by how much she had changed.
Just a few months ago, being alone with Tomoya wouldn't have made her feel irritated.
She would even have been a little happy that it was just the two of them.
She used to find everything about Tomoya pleasant.
Now, no matter how she looked at him, she only felt dislike.
Has Tomoya changed?
No, he hadn't.
Just like Hanazako, he had always been like this all these years.
The change was purely because Utaha no longer liked him; her mindset had shifted.
"Can I ask you a question, Senpai?"
Tomoya put down his coffee cup and looked at Utaha.
"Go ahead."
"Do you still like Watanabe Takashi?"
"I do."
Utaha answered without hesitation.
Unlike Tomoya, when she liked someone, she would actively pursue them and wouldn't be afraid to admit it.
"..."
Tomoya didn't expect such a quick answer from Utaha. He was stunned for a moment, then took another sip of coffee: "What do you like about him?"
"We've known each other longer and spent more time together, haven't we?"
From beginning to end, Tomoya never understood what exactly made him lose to Watanabe Takashi.
They looked about the same.
He was even at the same school and club as Utaha, seeing her every day.
What about Watanabe Takashi?
At first, he was just a substitute that Senpai had found. They didn't meet often, and Senpai had even bailed on him once for her own sake.
Tomoya didn't understand how he lost.
"What does time mean? I've known you longer, but did you accept my confession?"
Utaha snapped at him.
"Yes, the you I want to know and the meetings with Takashi are incomparable."
"But do you know what I like? Do you know what flavor of food I prefer? Do you know when my period comes?"
"You don't know any of that."
"And for these questions you can't answer, Takashi can."
Utaha thought of Watanabe Takashi, who clearly wasn't interested but made an effort to understand her preferences.
She thought of how before every date he would start planning, scouting restaurants, taking her to try delicious food.
She thought of Watanabe Takashi bringing her brown sugar water during her period.
"I liked you and confessed to you, but you neither rejected nor accepted me that day—you just strung me along."
"If it were Takashi, he wouldn't do that. He would give me a clear answer, and every day with him I'd feel he was there just for me."
Watanabe Takashi's love was sincere and passionate, simple and pure—not like the man in front of her whose love was full of calculation and self-interest.
"Think about it, Aki, you never gave me anything."
"Compared to Takashi—"
Utaha's red lips curled with a mocking smile: "Are you even worthy?"
Are you worthy?
Three simple words struck him like a hammer, shattering his pride.
"Watanabe Takashi treats you so well, and you still left him? Do you think he'd still like you?"
Tomoya gritted his teeth, trying to hide the anger from humiliation.
"If he doesn't like me, it's fine. This time, I'll be the one to win him back."
Utaha was not angered by Tomoya.
She had long seen through the despicable side of the man named Tomoya.
"I called you here today for that."
Seeing Tomoya still unwilling to admit he liked Sawamura, she didn't want to wait for his answer.
"You want me to help you?"
"I don't think it's help. We can only call this mutually beneficial cooperation."
Utaha smirked coldly.
If it were helpful, she would owe him a favor.
And favors must be repaid.
"I want Takashi. Your childhood friend is yours."
"I'm sure you wouldn't want your first love to be dominated by another guy."
To make Tomoya make up his mind, Utaha deliberately said something to provoke him.
Thinking of that scene, an uncontrollable anger surged in Tomoya's chest. His fists clenched tightly, his body trembling slightly.
Ding dong!
Just then, the phone placed on the table rang.
Utaha opened it and her face turned extremely pale.
She threw the phone down in front of Tomoya: "You can look for yourself."
Tomoya lowered his head to see, and what followed made him completely resolute.
Under a white birch tree, Eriri leaned her slender body against his chest. Among the flowers and grass, their arms intertwined.
Her head rested on the boy's chest, her cheek rubbing against his neck, and the two of them closed their eyes, sleeping closely together.
"Let's cooperate."
…
By Tokyo Bay, Eriri lay asleep in Takashi's arms.
Takashi kept his eyes open, looking at the extra +1 visitor record, smiling with satisfaction.
That photo of him and Eriri was deliberately sent to Utaha to see.
Even if Utaha didn't see it, it didn't matter—he also sent it to Eriri's phone.
As long as either Tomoya or Utaha saw it, that was enough.
All the preconditions for breaking up were now prepared, and they were just waiting for the show to begin!
___
20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics
Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!
Don't forget to leave a review too~
Check out the other translations too
___