Episode 81 – Suzuya Kenichi’s Happiness

This is Suzuya san’s part. We’ll start with a little distance from the main characters.

I personally wanted him to be happy, so I write it from his POV

I divorced my wife, and even though I know it was the right thing to do, I still feel sad.

The business I was working on at the time of the divorce has taken off, and today I was about to go out for a drink with the other representative director and a vice president, i.e., a friend.

Since it’s just the two of us and we’re having drinks in private, I figure I can take it easy. I put on a thick coat and went out.

☆

When I entered the restaurant, I was led to a room in the back. It seemed that my friend had already arrived.

“Kenichi, it’s not good to keep a lady waiting, you know?”

“I’m sorry, it took me a while.”

She, Minami Hina, turned around from her seat on the lower table.

I’ve known her since high school, and we’ve always kept the same distance and atmosphere. I trust her and most importantly, I’m comfortable with her.

When I was feeling down about my divorce, she was there for me and encouraged me, for which I’m grateful.

Although it’s a high-class restaurant for going out drinking, it’s probably a good thing considering it’s a launch party for the two presidents.

I was thinking about this as I drank the sake and eat food that had arrived.

“Hey, Kenichi.”

“Hm?”

When I got a little drunk and felt better, she called out to me and stopped me from drinking my sake.

When I looked at her, her face was a little red, as if she was as drunk as I was.

When she approached me, she didn’t say anything for a while and seemed to be hesitating in some way.

“……Well, I’m just gonna ask. Kenichi, are you interested in having a girlfriend right now?”

“That’s out of the blue. ……I don’t know what to say. It’s not that I can’t trust women, but I’m afraid that they’ll cheat on me again.”

“Hmm, I see. ……It’s not that I don’t have a chance.:

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing.”

It’s the first time she’s talked to me about love, so I think it’s unusual. We are still in our twenties, so it would be nice to have at least once, but I’m sure we have never talked about that before.

Maybe it happened in high school, but I didn’t remember much more.

It is not surprising that she had never talked about it, since she had never had a single flirtatious conversation with anyone in spite of her good looks.

“It’s unusual for you to ask me that, Hina.”

“Well, I’m well aware of the fact that it’s too late to take back what you’ve lost.”

“……?”

“Don’t worry if you don’t know. You’ll figure it out.”

I tilt my head as I feel that the conversation is not in perfect harmony. I think both of us were drunk and our brains were not working as well as usual, so I stopped thinking about it deeply.

Since we’ve come to this point, I decided to take this opportunity to ask her the question I want to ask.

“On the other hand, do you like anyone? Someone you’re interested in?”

“Hmm, I have. He doesn’t seem to be aware of it at all.”

“Well, what’s he like?”

“He’s the same age as me at our company. He is kind, cool and nice.”

I was surprised to hear that Hina had a crush on someone. And they are in the same company. Hina is not the type to get involved with employees, so I had no idea that there was someone her age.

As I was thinking about it, Hina gave me a puzzled look.

“You’re really insensitive, aren’t you? You’ve been that way for a long time.”

“What?”

“Okay, that’s enough.”

“Can you tell me?”

“……”

I asked her why I was being so insensitive, but she wasn’t going to talk. When I asked her, she turned away and wouldn’t even talk to me.

Apparently, she was both dumbfounded and angry at the same time. I don’t know why she thought so.

After that, I drank with her for a while after she was in a better mood, and went home with light steps for the first time in a long time. I’m sure this was not because I was drunk.

☆

A few weeks later. When I show up at the office, I’m approached by the manager, who is a rather good friend of mine, as if he had been waiting for me.

“Mr. President, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“No, I have a personal question…….”

“I see, okay. Let’s go.”

I go to the break room, make sure there is no one there, and start talking. The manager’s expression softened a little, unlike before, and he began to talk.

“So, what’s going on?”

“I’m really sorry, but what kind of woman is your type, Mr. President?”

“Eh?”

“Well, there are quite a few female employees who are trying to appeal to you since they know you are divorced.

So they asked me to listen to them after they found out that I was close with the president.”

“Oh, I see……”

I had no idea that the divorce story had spread and that people were out to get me. I didn’t think there were that many people who knew about me because I don’t usually show up that often.

I’m reluctant to be in a relationship right now, and didn’t know what to say. All I could think of was a vague image.

“Someone who wouldn’t cheat on me, or rather, someone who wouldn’t be easily dazzled…… I’m sorry, I don’t really know.”

“No, I’m sorry to ask at a time like this.”

[…….]

The atmosphere became awkward, and I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I decided to change the subject.

“The other day, when I had a drink with Hina, she told me that the guy she likes is a guy in the same company, same age, kind and cool.”

“Huh, I don’t have any idea what that means……”

“I’m sure you have. Who is he?”

“Well, I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you this.”

“Yeah, I’m curious. I’d be happy to know.”

When I said that, the manager started to look around even though no one was there. He looked as if he were a small animal on the lookout for enemies, or rather, he looked frightened.

As if determined, the manager taps his chest a few times and looks me straight in my eye.

“Mr. President, no, Suzuya san. I think Vice President Minami likes you.”

“…..Eh?”

“The only person in this company who is the same age as the vice president and has a good face is Suzuya san. There may be others that I just don’t know, but the vice president rarely comes to the office. I think she is always with you, Suzuya san.”

“No, but……”

“It’s not a but. I’m sure it’s just Suzuya san being insensitive.”

The strong eyes of the manager stared at me, and I was speechless. I didn’t expect him to say that much, and I couldn’t believe that Hina might like me.

I Needed some time to think about it, so I thanked the manager and let him go. As he makes his way to the exit of the break room, his movements suddenly freeze. As I wondered if something had happened, Hina came in to replace the manager who was leaving, and I involuntarily looked down.

“It seems you were having a good time talking without me.”

‘No, I mean-…..”

“I heard the whole thing.”

“From where…..?”

“From about the time Kenichi told me what his type was?”

It seemed she was listening to me quite a bit. From the beginning.

I looked up from my gaze on the floor and saw that for some reason Hina’s cheeks were a little red. I wonder if she was embarrassed by the fact that I told her she likes someone. If so, I’m sorry.

I was at a loss to say anything, and as I looked from one side to the other, even though no one was around, Hina spoke up.

“I’ll never cheat on you and I’ll never be dazzled by anyone other than you, Kenichi.”

“….Eh?”

“Am I not good enough for you, Kenichi? I’ve been in love with Kenichi ever since we were in high school. You were special to me , Kenichi. Can’t I be special to you……?”

I was told this by a Hina with moist eyes who looked like she was about to cry at any moment. Hina is getting closer and closer, and I finally have nowhere to run.

“Kenichi……please answer me. If you want to shake it off, that’s fine. I’m in love with you. If you do, please release me from this curse as soon as possible.”

Tears were falling from Hina’s eyes.

“Does it have to be now? I’ll think about it some more.”

“No. Answer me here and now.”

“Erm……..”

I closed my eyes and thought back to what I’ve been through.

I think back to when I was in high school. We started talking because we were kindred spirits, and every day we talked about many things until just before the library was open.

Around college. When I told her I had fallen in love at first sight, she looked down at me a little and said, [Good luck].

When I told her I was getting married, she again looked me in the eye and said, [Congratulations].

When I told her I was getting divorced, she twisted her face and comforted me by muttering, [I’m sorry you’ve been through so much].

It was Hina who had been there for me all this time. I had done many terrible things without realizing how she felt, but was I really qualified to be in a relationship with her?

I pondered for a while. After a while, I opened my eyes. Hina had made up her mind, her tears had stopped and she was looking straight into my eyes.

“Hina, I didn’t realize your feelings, and I said and did something that hurt you. I didn’t know if I was qualified to be by your side. But I’m going to be honest with you. ……Hina.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice even though you were by my side the whole time. Will you still go out with me now?”

“Of course !”

Hina hugged me as soon as she heard my answer, and I gently wrapped her in a hug. I could feel her warmth.

Hina looks up and sees me and gives me a light kiss, just a touch of her lips on mine.

“Ahaha, it’s my first kiss.”

“I love you, Hina.”

“……Yeah, me too. I love you.”

When Hina said so, she cried and smiled broadly. I swore to her that I would not make a mistake this time.

A year later, they had a big wedding ceremony. Both the bride and groom had big smiles on their faces.

(TL/N : Thank you for reading,I decided to translate this novel’s extra chapter from time to time, because it’d be a waste if I don’t, hope you enjoy it.)