I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 33

Morning in the office.

Even as I looked over the documents, I felt strangely unsettled.

“I can’t stand waiting for your answer.”

Kiryū-san’s message from last night kept repeating in my head.

(…This won’t do. I need to focus on work now.)

But every time Kiryū-san came into view, my chest would flutter, and the words wouldn’t register in my brain.

Aah, what should I do!

“Good morning, Udo”

While I was like that, Kiryū-san called out to me.

“…Good morning!”

“What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

“…N-no. I’m fine.”

I’m not fine at all.

More importantly, how can Kiryū-san talk to me in work mode like this?

Isn’t that cheating?

—What should I do? That message won’t disappear from my mind!

◆◆◆

Afternoon.

I ended up attending an unexpected meeting.

I just couldn’t focus on the content, and while taking minutes, I nearly missed some words.

“Udo, are you alright?”

Kiryū-san’s low voice made my spine straighten.

I hurriedly replied “I-I’m fine,” but even I couldn’t hide my agitation.

(…Can I really call myself a secretary like this?)

I desperately listened to everyone’s voices and wrote them down in my notebook.

We have a recorder so it should be fine, but I still need to grasp the general flow.

—If only Kaya were here at times like this…

The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

No, focus now!

The meeting proceeded solemnly.

Thirty minutes later, the meeting ended.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as I was leaving the conference room, feeling down about my own inadequacy—

Through the hallway glass, I thought I saw a familiar profile.

Lustrous hair, eyes that looked strong-willed.

“…Kaya?”

The moment I called out, the figure vanished.

I knew it was just an illusion.

But I felt a tightening in my chest.

—If I keep dwelling on the past, I won’t be able to move forward.

I stopped walking and took a deep breath.

She’s no longer here.

Yet I felt like that momentary vision had given me a push.

Thank you.

I’ll just do my best in my own place.

Clenching my fist slightly, I psyched myself up.

◆◆◆

Evening.

I revised and submitted the meeting minutes.

Then Kiryū-san glanced at me and nodded.

“…Well organized”

That was all.

But those words spread a gentle warmth deep in my heart.

It’s okay. I can face forward here.

Telling myself this, I returned to my desk.

◇ ◇ ◇

Night, sitting at my desk.

The SNS chat room remained blank.

I need to give Kiryū-san an answer soon.

I’ve kept him waiting quite a while.

But even I haven’t sorted out my feelings yet.

I wish I could organize them like meeting minutes.

Right after that thought.

An image of a blue pinecone lit up in my mind, and my thoughts rapidly fell into place.

“Ooooh!! This is it, this is it!”

I’d gotten good at organizing logical work matters, but I never thought my feelings and emotions would work the same way!

“…Yeah, this is good!”

Before I knew it, the best plan had come together.

I wrote down the content in my smartphone’s notepad.

“Okay, now for Kiryū-san’s chat room…”

My hands were shaking.

But there was no hesitation or timidity left.

First, a greeting.

Kiryū-san, I wonder if now is a good time.

Thinking this, I carefully typed the words and took a deep breath.

“Good evening. Do you have a moment now?”

Just that simple sentence.

With a “here goes nothing” breath, I tapped the button.

Sent.

I sent it!

My heart started beating faster.

My whole body grew warm.

Then, after about five seconds, it showed as read.

“Good evening. It’s fine”

Almost no delay!

Even though it was just that, my heart leaped.

I steadied my breathing and sent the next message.

—And so began the exchange that would determine the course of our future relationship.