I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 36

The morning in the secretarial office.

In the office, it was the usual relationship of “secretary and managing director.”

But there was a slight difference in their gestures.

“Udo, please compile this data for me.”

“Yes, understood.”

The file was handed over.

(…Ah!)

Just the brief touch of their fingertips made her heart leap.

They unintentionally looked at each other.

Even if they pretended not to notice, if their eyes met, a small pause would form between them.

Their colleagues around them hadn’t noticed… probably.

But I couldn’t calm down no matter what.

◆◆◆

Lunch break.

While tidying up some documents, Kiryū-san called out to me.

“Udo. …Would you like to go to lunch together?”

“Eh!? I-Is that okay?”

He had asked me before to go together once.

But we hadn’t gone together even once since then.

“Once in a while should be fine, right?”

At those words, my heart jumped with a start.

Having lunch outside with just the secretary—that wasn’t something that happened often.

Or rather, it felt kind of embarrassing…

Feeling the eyes of the company around us, we headed to a café outside.

In the stylish interior, we sat facing each other.

The customers were mostly businessmen and office ladies.

The waiter brought two glasses of water.

My hands trembled slightly as I opened the menu.

“…You’re nervous.”

“I-I’m not!”

I answered immediately, but his gaze was gently wavering, making my chest feel even tighter.

In the end, the meal finished without me properly tasting anything.

But as we were leaving, the words he softly offered lingered in my ears.

“…Let’s go again.”

I might have been blushing with embarrassment.

“Y-Yes.”

But I wanted to honestly return this feeling.

◆◆◆

Evening. Walking side by side on a street near the company.

As the streetlights began turning on one by one, the silence continued.

Matching our pace, I suddenly glanced up sideways—

“…Miharu-san.”

Kiryū-san was awkwardly holding out his hand.

“Eh…”

I was bewildered.

But the moment I hesitantly took that hand, warmth spread from my fingertips throughout my entire body.

A large hand.

Though slightly cold at first, warmth soon gently seeped through.

“…It’s really big.”

“Is it?”

Even though it was a short exchange, my chest felt full.

My slightly sweaty hand was gently enveloped by his, with just the right amount of pressure.

Entrusting myself to him, I matched my steps a little with his.

Perhaps because of the crimson sky, Kiryū-san’s face looked slightly flushed.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I stopped walking.

“…? What’s wrong?”

“Kiryū-san.”

I looked up at him and said,

“If I’m good enough for you… please.”

The words slipped out unconsciously.

Kiryū-san’s eyes widened.

I did my best to return a smile.

“…Yeah. I’m the one who should be saying that… please.”

Kiryū-san said this while looking embarrassed, then gently pulled me closer by the shoulder.

—The first contact as “lovers.”

Awkward and clumsy.

Kiryū-san’s hand on my shoulder was trembling slightly too.

But I could definitely feel happiness beginning to sprout.

At that moment, I think I was finally able to make up my mind to take a “new step forward.”