The Innocent School Idol is My Cousin Who Lives with Me and is a Spoiled Brat - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: “Thoughts of An Ex-Girlfriend”

Translator: AJ1703

“Fufu, you found out fast, huh? You are indeed Kakeru-kun.”

　It seems my intuition was right, and Murakumo laughs happily.

　Not many people can smile in a situation like this.

“Is that why you’ve been trying to torment me with your demons, because you didn’t like the fact that I went out with another girl just because Kaori died?”

“No, not at all. I just wanted to know, okay? I was just curious to know if you were really dating Miss Arisugawa.”

“And the reason for that has something to do with Kaori, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true. But it’s the opposite of what you think. As I said before, if you are really dating Miss Arisugawa, there is nothing wrong with that.”

　Murakumo’s eyes are serious, and it doesn’t look like she’s lying.

“What do you mean? Explain it to me.”

“I don’t think you’d listen to me if I told you, would you?”

“I won’t know unless you tell me.”

　I let Murakumo go for now.

　I don’t like it, but I want to know what Murakumo thinks.

“Then I’ll tell you―”

　Murakumo stops speaking and takes a deep breath.

　Then she looked at me with glaring eyes.

“Do you really think Kaori would be happy with the fact that you’re still holding on to her?”

“―.”

“If you’ve been with her longer than I’ve been with my cousin, you’d know. If you can’t face the future because of her death, she will be sad.”

　I think Murakumo is right.

　Kaori was a kind and gentle girl who cared about others.

　There is no way she would want to make herself a burden to someone else.

　However―.

“You can’t forget about your deceased loved ones so easily… And it’s Kaori, so―.”

“I have one more message for you from Kaori.”

“A message…?”

　If there is such a thing, why didn’t she tell me about it before?

　I don’t even know why she’s telling me about it now.

“I’ve been told not to tell you as much as possible, but if you’re still dwelling on it, I’ve been requested to tell you. The truth is, I didn’t want to tell you either, but… after two years, you will probably continue to dwell on Kaori for the rest of your life.”

　Murakumo can say whatever she wants, but I hold back because I’m concerned about what Kaori has to say.

　When Murakumo realized that I had no intention of talking back, she continued.

“‘Kakeru, you promised me before I died, didn’t you? You promised me that you would be happy for me. But how long are you going to keep dwelling on me? I don’t want to be such a burden. If you keep dwelling on me and don’t try to make yourself happy, I won’t be friends with you even if Kakeru comes to heaven. I hate Kakeru for being so stubborn. Please hurry up and forget about me. Then I will welcome you warmly in heaven…’ is what she said.”

　It was a contradictory message.

　Although she told him to forget about her, she was ready to see him again in heaven.

　It is hard to know where she is coming from.

“Welcome me in heaven…? She’s assuming she’ll be in heaven…?”

　I could only manage to squeeze out a few words while cursing myself.

“There’s no way a nice girl like that is going to hell. You made her say all those things. And you still want to hang on to her?”

　Frankly speaking, if I could get rid of my feelings with just a few words, I would have no trouble at all.

　Above all, even though it was Kaori’s way of speaking, we don’t even know if it was really Kaori who said it.

　It is even possible that Murakumo is making things up.

　However― I knew Kaori would really say that.

　Above all, Kaori and I were the only ones who knew what she had promised.

　The fact that it came out makes it highly likely that Kaori really said it.

　So I couldn’t let her words go unanswered.

“That person… she should put herself in the shoes of those left behind…”

“While that’s true, I believe she wanted to live if she could.  She loved you so much.”

　I know how much Kaori wanted to live.

　Even after it became clear that she would not live much longer, she always smiled in front of me and Mana when we came to visit her, but there were always tear marks under her eyes and the sleeves of her clothes were also wet with tears.

　It must have been really hard for her.

“I honestly didn’t think much of you. Kaori would only talk about you when we hung out with each other in the past.”

　Murakumo looked up at the moon as if reminiscing about the old days, and confided in me without reserve.

“You liked Kaori, didn’t you?”

“I truly did, you know? Not to mention, as a potential love interest. The only reason I started talking like this is because I wanted Kaori to like me.”

　I had thought that Murakumo might possibly be romantically interested in girls, not boys― but I had never thought that she actually liked Kaori.

　In other words, from Murakumo’s point of view, I was her love rival.

“By the way, I liked Miss Arisugawa a lot, too. Her naivete was cute, and she attracted people. Seeing her smile made me forget all the sadness and pain I was going through.”

　…Yeah, wait a minute.

“Somehow, I’m kind of scared that I’m alone here with you right now…?”

“Ahaha, don’t be afraid. I’m not going to push you off just because nobody’s looking.”

　Murakumo gave me an innocent smile, but I got chills.

　I hope she doesn’t really hold a grudge against me, this person…?

　I wondered if there were circumstances that made her call only Mirei in a special way…

“Well, as expected, I don’t expect you to go that far… but if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be even better if me and Mirei weren’t dating?”

　The person you love has a lover.

　There is no way anyone else could be that much of an obstacle.

“I couldn’t make Miss Arisugawa happy, and she herself wasn’t interested in me. She’drather be with someone I can trust.”

“…You’re talking about someone you didn’t think much of, you know?”

“When are we talking about? That’s the impression I had before I met you. But now― well, I trust you enough to know why Kaori likes you.”

　Murakumo said this to me with a bashful smile, but is it true when she doesn’t even know why Kaori likes me?

　I really hope it’s not going to be that scenario― Me being pushed from behind on my way home…

“And if Miss Arisugawa is Kakeru-kun’s cousin, I’m sure Kaori would agree with me. I only met her once when I was a little girl, but she said she was cute.”

　Oh that reminds me, once Mirei was spoiled and I took her with me when I hung out with Kaori.

　Kaori wanted to be friendly, but I remember Mirei seemed a little grumpy.

　Where was the part that made her cute?

“I don’t think anyone would be happy about their boyfriend having another woman…”

“In Kaori’s case, it’s an unavoidable reason, and if it makes you happy, she’ll be happy. Besides, Kaori asked me to help you move on, because if Kaori dies, Kakeru-kun will be left devastated. She said I could use any means necessary.”

　Any means necessary―well, that’s definitely a strong move.

　If she was in love with Kaori, she could understand why Murakumo would follow her words.

“Even if it means making a new lover?”

“If anything, I was even recommended to Kakeru-kun. She’s a cruel girl, even if she didn’t know it.”

　There is nothing sadder than being recommended to another person by the person you love.

　Kaori was also quite a natural, and she was probably unaware of Murakumo’s feelings.

　Rather, Murakumo probably hid them well.

“Is that why you’ve been getting devilishly involved with me since you entered the school?”

“Well, if he’s as good a guy as Kaori says he is― I thought he was. But the main reason was to follow up with you to help you move on. It didn’t help, though.”

　Saying this, Murakumo smiles helplessly.

　I’m sure she has a much stronger mentality than I do, even though she herself must have been shocked and torn by Kaori’s death…

“So you feel like I’m not a good judge of character and you’re just trying to get me to hook up with another girl?”

“Yeah, you’re pretty blunt in some ways.”

　I was just saying what I was thinking, but for some reason she gave me stern looks.

　Yeah, why?

“Well, that’s okay. I don’t think you’re interested in me in the first place. Also, Miss Arisugawa might have a grudge against me if I take you.”

“No, I thought you were assuming that Mirei and I weren’t dating.”

　If that’s the case, it’s strange that she cares about Mirei.

　I wouldn’t think anything of it if she took someone I don’t even like as a romantic partner, let alone a lover.

“Even if you weren’t in a relationship, she must have fond memories of you quite a bit, right? If someone else took you, they would turn their fangs on you.”

　I can’t imagine Mirei turning her fangs on me at all, you know?

　If anything, she would probably sulk.

“I’ve told you what I wanted to tell you, and as far as I’m concerned, as long as you move on and get serious about dating Miss Arisugawa, that’s all that matters to me.”

　If you think about Kaori’s feelings, I think that would certainly be better.

　But the bottom line is that my relationship with Mirei doesn’t include romantic feelings― and I’m a little stumped as to how to respond.

“Do we still have time? Since we’ve come all this way, let’s go back after watching the moon.”

　As if to say― “I’m done talking to you,” Murakumo sits down and looks up at the moon.

　I could not leave Murakumo alone, so I had no choice but to sit down next to her.