I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 13

That night.

I suddenly noticed the cardboard box left untouched in the corner of my room.

It contained my belongings that Hiroyasu had sent back to me.

Though I’d accepted the delivery from the courier, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to open it until now.

“…I should sort through this soon. It’s just taking up space anyway.”

Steeling myself, I sat down before the cardboard box.

When I opened it, I found it packed with more items than I’d expected.

Clothes, accessories, and cosmetics—

Many of them were gifts from when we were dating.

Some items brought back vivid memories, scenes from that time flashing before my eyes.

“—I really loved Hiroyasu that much, didn’t I…”

Tears had started flowing without me noticing, and I realized my hands had stopped moving…

—But it was all in the past now.

After some thought, I decided to list the sellable items on a flea market site and dispose of the daily necessities.

While sorting through everything, my eyes suddenly caught on a particular lipstick.

A simple design in a blue container.

“Ah, this was really easy to use. It was my favorite.”

Hiroyasu had given it to me as a gift.

I used to work at a trading company that did business with Hiroyasu’s cosmetics company.

He’d arranged for me to try various cosmetics.

Since it was a top company in the industry, everything was easy to use and blended well with my skin.

“But I have to say goodbye now. Fortunately, I work at a cosmetics company myself now.”

I picked up the lipstick, stared at it for a moment, then placed it in the disposal box.

I don’t need these memories anymore.

—To move forward into the future.

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day.

A product review session for new cosmetics was held at the company.

I attended as Kiryū’s secretary.

As expected of one of the top five companies in the industry, it was quite a glamorous event.

Numerous new products lined the grand hall. The vibrant displays were filled with the employees’ enthusiastic energy.

“Wow… they’re all wonderful. The designs are really cute too.”

I couldn’t help but voice my admiration, completely captivated.

My heart felt so light I almost forgot I was working.

“Kiryū, do you usually look at cosmetics like these?”

“Well, I use men’s products regularly, so I’m somewhat interested. As for women’s products, I only encounter them through work.”

“I see.”

So that’s how it is.

I thought he might know more about them since he probably has a girlfriend or female friends, but apparently not.

As I was thinking this and glanced toward Kiryū, our eyes met.

“Since this is an unveiling for employees, you should try some out too.”

Kiryū didn’t seem to notice our eyes meeting and spoke matter-of-factly.

“Eh, is that okay?”

“Yeah. There’s a survey too, so just write down your honest impressions.”

“I see… understood.”

I picked up a tester and applied some color to the back of my hand.

The design was refined, and the color was vibrant.

—And yet.

“…Huh?”

A sense of discomfort crossed my mind.

The application was poor.

Even though the color payoff was good, it felt heavy and unsuitable for daily use.

The container was also somewhat stiff and difficult to open and close.

In that moment, the answer surfaced smoothly in the back of my mind.

The unspoken discomfort took shape like a mathematical formula.

(I see… this won’t do. It won’t sell like this.)

I wondered how I could be so certain, even to myself.

But I knew for sure.

The lip products from Hiroyasu’s company that I’d used before were far superior.

I began writing rapidly on the survey form.

《The color is beautiful, but the texture is heavy and inconvenient for daily use. The container is also difficult to open and close.》

《Competitor products are lighter and more natural to use.》

My hand wouldn’t stop.

Before I knew it, I had filled an entire page.

Perhaps from mental fatigue, I felt slightly dizzy.

After closing my eyes and resting for a while, I looked over the survey form again.

“…I wrote this much. Is this okay?”

I felt somewhat anxious, but then I remembered Kiryū’s words.

—’Just write down your honest impressions’

I took a deep breath and submitted the form.

◇ ◇ ◇

A few days later.

“The development department wants to speak with you.”

When Kiryū told me this, I was shocked.

“Eh… Me!?”

Deep in my chest, I felt that blue light pulsing again.

—That my survey would set the company’s future in motion was something I didn’t know at the time.