She grabbed me by the shoulders and asked me what was going on, as my footing was dazed. What on earth was Karen surprised by? I was just walking around in a daze.
「…Nothing’s wrong. There’s nothing for Karen to worry about.」
There is no way I could tell my junior that I was shocked when my best friend cuckolded my girlfriend. So I responded in a matter-of-fact way. However, Karen doesn’t seem to be convinced, and she squeezes my hand and pleads with me with a truly worried expression on her face.
「How can there… be nothing? Then why did you… You’re going to throw yourself out on a road with no traffic lights…」
…I see. That loud noise I heard earlier was the sound of a horn honking. I didn’t realize it at all, no, perhaps my body instinctively wanted to die. Hahah, It would certainly have been easier to die.
But Karen saved me. I should be grateful for that fact.
「…It was. Thanks, Karen, for helping me out. But really, I’m fine, don’t worry about it——」
「If you are alright, then why are you crying! Why, why do you look so in pain!」
With eyes so wide that they almost popped out of her head, Karen’s voice was hoarse. Hearing that, I realized for the first time that I was crying. Ugh, I don’t seem to feel alive now, as if my body and soul have already separated.
「Tell me, senpai, if you’re holding a gift in your hand, that means… something happened with Hidaka-senpai?」
「…!」
Karen’s intuition is sharp and she names the very person who made me despair. I wonder if it would be easier if I just told Karen everything. But I don’t want to talk to Karen about this kind of delicate stuff. I wanted to spend my days in the club room as if nothing had happened, without any unnecessary worries.
However.
「…If you can’t talk, at least let me do this. I can’t leave Senpai suffering!」
As if to wrap me up, Karen hugged me gently. It was so comforting to me, who had suffered a serious wound, that before I knew it, I was crying aloud. Really, as a Senpai, I am pathetic. I never wanted to show this kind of appearance to Karen, but I would show such an abomination at the closest distance.
「Cry until you are satisfied. I will always be by your side.」
Karen says the words I want her to say now, as if she can see right through me. It seeped into my wide open wound and the tears just kept coming and coming.
I’m the one who was betrayed by the girlfriend I loved and the best friend I trusted. I was really happy to have only one kouhai who was by my side now.
「…Thank you, Karen.」
After all the tears, I finally regain some composure and thank Karen for her help.
「You’re welcome. Here, water… Can I talk to you?」
「…We’ll do it in the park.」
I thought it would be rude not to tell her what had happened after she had cried and screamed so much, so I headed to the park to tell Karen what had happened. Then, when we arrived at an empty park, I sat side by side with Karen on a deserted bench and told her about the scene I had seen.
That Mai was having sex with Natsuki. That they had been having an affair for a while. That they had no idea what the future held for me. I saw it, and I was so shocked that before I knew it, I ran out into the street, all the way to the fact that I was saved by Karen.
「…It was really hard for you, Senpai.」
Karen rubbed my back the whole time and listened to me. Usually she can be a bit cold and mean, but this kindness that she shows me in times of need is really helping me now.
「…Sorry, for me tell you a story like this.」
「I don’t mind. Thank you Senpai, for sharing your painful stories with me.」
「…That’s kind of you, Karen.」
「I don’t have a taste for hurting people who are hurt. So, Senpai, are you going to let this happen?」
「Eh?」
「Is it okay if the two of them continue to live in obscurity without any punishment?」
I choke on my reply to those words. Even if those two are punished, those days when I felt happy will never come back. I guess me and her will never be happy with each other. So revenge is useless.
But my true intention was different. Deep in my heart, I wished they would suffer the same way I had suffered.
「I think I should take the case.」
Karen affirms my true feelings, as if she can see right through me.
「Senpai, you’ll have to wait a bit.」
Getting up from the bench, Karen tries to go somewhere. Intuitively, I had a bad feeling about it. I tried to stand up, thinking I should stop her, but suddenly there is a thump behind my neck, and my consciousness fades away.
「Let me take care of the rest.」
In my fading consciousness, I heard only the faint sound of Karen’s voice. I fainted.