I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 1

I, Miharu Udo, am currently at the peak of my life.

My hair and eyes are both ordinary colors, and while I’m not as perfect as a model my friends tell me I’m “reasonably cute and charming.”

I consider it one of my small assets that my expression softens when I smile.

An exclusive dinner on the top floor of a high-rise hotel with sparkling chandeliers.

For this very day, I’ve perfectly done my makeup and coordinated my outfit.

Outside the window, the city’s nightscape spreads out, twinkling like an overturned jewelry box.

And right in the middle of it all, I was sitting across from him.

On the table was a full-course French meal.

Foie gras, truffles, dishes I’d only ever heard of on TV were laid out as if they were nothing special.

My hands holding the knife and fork trembled slightly from nervousness.

Sitting across from me, Sanekoji Hiroyasu.

The heir to a major corporation, a high-spec boyfriend everyone envies.

When he proposed to me three months ago, I pinched my cheek to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

And today, he said he had “something important to talk about.”

…What else could that “something important” be but the obvious?

Yes, the next step is a marriage proposal.

In my head, I’m already wearing a white dress.

Imagining myself walking down the aisle, I can’t help but grin.

The best future being the wife of a major corporation’s president is right there.

My heart is pounding.

Sweat seeps into the palm of my hand holding the glass.

Suddenly, I’m getting nervous.

But even this nervousness makes me happy. Because today is going to be the happiest day of my life.

He gazes at the city lights outside the window, elegantly tilting his wine glass.

His profile seems to show a slight upturn at the corners of his lips, a faint smile.

The light catches in his handsome eyes, making my heart skip a beat.

Eventually, he sets the glass on the table and looks at me.

—Is it finally time…?

His lips part.

“…Hey, Miharu.”

It’s here!!!

“Wh-what?”

I answer, feigning calmness and composure.

“Thank you for coming today. …I called you here because I have something I want to say to you properly.”

“Th-thank you for inviting me to such a nice place. …You don’t have to be so formal; I’ll listen to anything.”

At my words, his eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment.

“—Is that so? I’m relieved to hear that. Then, I’ll say it here.”

My heart is about to burst. Just say it already!

—The fateful moment approaches.

His lips tremble again.

“—Break up with me.”

“…Huh?”

After the words slip out unintentionally, my mind goes blank and freezes.

What?

It’s a joke, right? Not a funny one, though…

“Call her over.”

He says that and raises his right hand.

The waiter bows and heads toward the entrance.

“…Wh-wh-wh-wh-”

My mind is in a panic, and incoherent words come out.

Soon, the waiter returns, escorting a woman.

He bows, and the waiter returns to his post.

Then he stands up, stands next to the woman, and turns toward me.

“Let me introduce…”

As he begins to speak, my heart stops for a moment.

The face of the woman standing next to him… long, glossy black hair, a slim and curvaceous figure—no, her entire appearance!

—It’s someone I know!

Why are you here?

He opens his mouth to continue.

(I don’t want to hear it… Stop!!)

“This is Rindo Kaya, the woman who will become my wife.”

He said it so boldly!

That name is very familiar to me.

—Because…

She’s the one I met in second grade, my one and only best friend.

Memories flash back of her being there for me during tough and painful times.

Right after that, she gave me a faint smile.

“You—!!!!”

A scream escapes my lips.

“Hey now, don’t shout so loud. You’ll scare her.”

The man who was once my boyfriend smirks at me with an upward glance.

“Why?! Tell me!”

No tears come out.

I manage to squeeze out the words.

“—I’m tired of you. I’m fed up…”

I feel an indescribable coldness and despair in those words.

“I packed all your belongings from my place into a cardboard box and sent them to your address.”

The two of them smirk at me.

Hiroyasu spreads his left hand to the side, pointing toward me.

Toward the exit…

“Please…”

Is he telling me to get out?!

I clench my fists as hard as I can.

If I could, I’d punch him…

—But it’s too late now.

I make up my mind and reach for my bag.

The moment I stand up, I break into a full-speed run!

—I brush past him, erase him from my sight, and run straight ahead.

I dash through the exit and head straight for the elevator!

I press the button, and the doors open.

All that’s left is to press the button for the first floor and close the doors.

Leaving it to descend, memories flash back.

The introduction from my company supervisor.

Our first date.

His kind personality.

His perfect escorting.

Our first kiss.

The night we became one…

Finally, the tears start to flow.

The two years we spent together crumble away with a sound…

—Everything is over.

◇ ◇ ◇

I step out of the hotel gate and start walking, heading home.

I didn’t want to think about anything.

As if guided, I stop at a crosswalk, where an elderly woman is starting to cross.

The light is green.

Suddenly, I glance to the right and see a sports car speeding toward us.

Running a red light?

Without thinking, I move, catching up to the elderly woman.

I grab her hand from behind, switch positions, and push her.

“Sorry!”

I see the elderly woman’s wide-open eyes as she’s thrown away into the distance.

I smiled.

Please, let my eyelids close just like this!

The sound of the sports car’s tires and engine grows louder.

Everything goes dark, and my wish is granted.

I’m gone. It’s fine now…

—My consciousness, Miharu Udo’s consciousness, cuts off right there.