She Became Distressed After I Stopped Being Restrained and Started Interacting with Others - Chapter 53

Shiori’s body sways. She made no gesture of resistance.

“…I’m sorry, Shiori. The truth is I like Honoka.”

My voice trembles, yet I speak clearly.

A pain tightens deep in my chest.

Because I know Shiori’s feelings, speaking these words was unbearably painful.

Shiori’s eyes blink slowly, then quietly lower.

After several seconds of silence, words fall drop by drop.

“…I see. So that’s what you’re saying.”

Her voice carries a faint, wry smile and just a hint of loneliness.

“Even after all we’ve been through, I really thought it would be okay. So, feelings don’t always reach their target after all.”

Her words come out drop by drop, as if carefully chosen, each one stabbing my heart.

Though quiet and calm, it was unbearably heartbreaking.

Shiori lifted her face, not forcing a smile, just looking straight at me. I could tell she was desperately suppressing the emotions in her eyes.

A strained silence, as if holding something back. That silence spoke more eloquently of Shiori’s heart than anything else.

“…I’m terrible, aren’t I?”

The words slip out unintentionally. Making Shiori like me, giving her hope, only to turn my back on her in the end.

“No. You faced it properly, Yuna-chan.”

Shiori shakes her head. Her voice trembled slightly, but there was strength in it, as if holding back her emotions.

“…Shouldn’t you go now?”

“…Huh?”

When I looked up, Shiori said this without averting her gaze.

“You know where you should be heading right now, don’t you?”

Her voice was gentle, yet carried a somewhat distant tone.

It felt like she hated having to push me forward, but couldn’t help doing it anyway.

“…Yeah”

I nodded quietly.

Opening the door to Shiori’s house.

The chilly air touched my skin, making me instinctively hunch my shoulders.

When I looked back, Shiori was watching me from inside the room.

Her face appeared completely emotionless, yet I could sense a certain tension in the air.

“…Thank you, Shiori”

Just before closing the door, I said it softly. It was genuine gratitude.

Shiori didn’t respond. She just quietly watched me leave.

She kept watching until I had completely stepped outside and disappeared from view—

“…For now, I’ll give up. But someday, definitely…”

Shiori’s whisper fell quietly in the room, unheard by anyone.