Breaking Up With the Heroine in an Otome Game

64 – I Have Something to Say (2)

064.

After the regular academy classes ended,

Soyeon and I climbed the narrow path with slow steps.

Following Soyeon’s wish to walk a bit, we chose to use our feet to get back at least part of the way.

Step by step.

The sound of our footsteps echoed gently in my ears.

We walked along the streamside path where clear water flowed.

The pleasant wind and the moistness of the stream gently touched our skin.

In the clear river, fish and dragonflies swam delicately. Some children were gathered, watching the fish.

“It feels like it’s been a while.”

A clear voice, as refreshing as rolling jade beads, tickled my ears.

“Returning home, just the two of us.”

I subtly moved my gaze to confirm the source of the voice.

There, with cascading hair flowing like a waterfall, a lovely girl with calm pumpkin-colored eyes was looking at me.

The sight reminded me of a faintly shining star in the night sky.

Alone in the dark, scattering light in the surrounding darkness, a single star hung in the sky, captivating the eyes and hearts of those around.

“We used to be like that.”

With a slightly nostalgic voice and a gaze towards the sky, Soyeon cautiously turned her eyes towards me.

For a brief moment, our eyes met.

“It feels like we were always together.”

Was it because of the dimming light of the setting sun?

There seemed to be a subtle shadow on Soyeon’s face.

“Isn’t that right?”

Soyeon asked with a slightly blurry expression.

Until middle school, Soyeon and I were almost always together, like a pair of inseparable companions.

Half jokingly, we could have been described as close as fruit and needle, a pair of straw shoes.

But now, that’s not possible.

Because it shouldn’t be.

“At some point, the time we spent apart has increased.”

“There was a lot to do… I was a bit busy.”

In response to my words, Soyeon smiled with a bitter sweetness.

“Busy, huh…”

Soyeon looked at me for a moment and spoke with a somewhat weak voice.

“It wasn’t intentional to avoid me, right?”

“Huh?”

“…Just kidding, just kidding.”

Although Soyeon immediately burst into laughter, her laughter gradually faded.

I glanced at Soyeon for a moment.

“We’ve already broken up, haven’t we?”

“Ah.”

“Wouldn’t it be strange to keep sticking together?”

For a moment, Soyeon’s large pupils shook slightly.

A subtle shadow fell over Soyeon’s two pupils. The faint light circled for a moment and then gently faded away.

“Yeah, that’s right. We broke up.”

“Well, it was also a fake relationship.”

“A fake relationship…”

Soyeon bit down on her small, cherry-tinted lips.

With eyes that revealed a hint of apology and bitterness, she briefly met my gaze before averting her eyes elsewhere.

“…Must have been tough. Because of my foolish request.”

“Well, I knew you were in a tough spot. I could handle that kind of favor.”

“…”

She responded casually, as if it was nothing.

Instead, Soyeon slightly lifted the corners of her mouth, covering her lower lip with a hint of a smile, tinged with a faintly trembling expression.

“…I didn’t know you were going through a hard time.”

“Soyeon?”

“…You always think about me.”

With a fleeting gaze and a muttered comment, Soyeon finally shook her head. Now wasn’t the time for such discussions.

“Oh, look here. Remember when we played by the riverbank during the summer festival?”

“Um, yeah.”

Although I was tempted to subtly question Soyeon’s unusual behavior today, I shook my head internally. Let’s leave her be for now.

I gazed at the water and spoke with a clear voice.

“It was during the summer water gun festival, right?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Soyeon laughed cheerfully and vigorously nodded her head.

Memories of Soyeon and me playing the tambourine here resurfaced vividly in my mind.

On a hot summer day, we came with our parents and played, drenched in water, splashing each other with abandon.

Soyeon, annoyed by getting wet because of me, had puffed air into her cheeks and pouted for a while, which was both apologetic and adorable.

As childhood friends, we had shared many memories in various places.

“Those were fun times.”

“Yeah.”

“There were no worries like now; we could just play together without any thoughts.”

I forced a bitter smile.

“Well, if you have time later, you can come over again. It’s summer now, after all.”

“Uh, really?”

“It would be quite fun if other kids come too, right? Like Lee Siwoon or Kim Seoyoon.”

“……Siwoon?”

Soyeon’s expression darkened again.

Did I say something wrong?

You like playing with your friends, don’t you?

Is there still a subtle atmosphere between Siwoon and her?

Or maybe, could it be…?

“What, did you want to play with just the two of us?”

“Huh? Oh, no, well….”

Soyeon widened her eyes, then hesitantly extended her fingers.

It seemed like she was trying to read my expression.

Certainly, we haven’t hung out just the two of us recently.

We used to do it a lot in the past.

But now, it’s not like that between us.

How does Siwoon perceive our relationship?

The decision to go home together today was because Siwoon had training scheduled with the swordsmanship club and had to hurry back.

“We haven’t spent much time alone lately, so… is it regrettable?”

“Come on, how can you say that? We’ve already broken up, right? What would people think if they saw us together like that?”

“…Is that so?”

“And I need to try a proper relationship at least once. If rumors spread about us hanging out alone and cause trouble, it wouldn’t be good. You don’t want to ruin my dating prospects, right, Soyeon?”

I shrugged with a somewhat casual tone, throwing out some banter.

But Soyeon only showed a bitter smile, accompanied by a faint blush and shaky eyes.

Like someone burdened with guilt.

“Oh, hahahaha. I see, yeah. You should try dating too, I guess…”

Soyeon laughed as usual, trailing off slowly.

She lowered her head for a moment, hesitating.

In an instant, the conversation came to a halt.

A subtle and nuanced silence settled in.

“…….”

“…….”

Today, Soyeon seemed a bit awkward.

Her reactions were somewhat unusual.

I shifted my gaze for a moment.

The walkway before us was adorned with fresh grass, vines, and beautiful flowers. Well-maintained, as it was a frequently visited path.

In the distance, the twilight seemed to descend through lush leaves.

Oh, is it already evening?

Unnoticed, darkness had fallen, and the walkway lights scattered bright beams.

Soyeon and I admired the beautiful lights for a moment before deciding to grab chicken skewers from a street vendor, as our stomachs were growling.

When I offered to pay, Soyeon shook her arms playfully and said, “You don’t have money either; I’ll treat you today!”

But what should I do?

I actually have a lot of money.

It’s not a joke; I feel like money is replicating every time I breathe.

Wouldn’t I be surprised if I found out how much I earned in stocks?

I finished the card payment before Soyeon and, with a teasing look, she sighed once and thanked me.

The awkward atmosphere between us faded away as we enjoyed the street food, appreciated the charm of the walkway, and engaged in trivial conversations on our way home.

Though it was just an ordinary way back, walking, chatting, and playing with Soyeon after a long time made it feel like we had returned to the past.

Back in middle school, walking home together like this, chatting, and having fun were natural parts of our daily lives.

However, since recalling memories from my past life, I rarely spent time like this with Soyeon, keeping a distance.

Perhaps Soyeon, in her own way, felt a bit lonely?

The fact that Soyeon walked with me today and brought up old stories might be a sign that she missed our previous relationship.

I, too, felt a hint of nostalgia after a long time.

However, our relationship can never go back to the way it was.

Never.

***

“Well, how about some coffee?”

“The service is surprisingly good today.”

“It’s the value of the chicken skewers, the value of chicken skewers.”

“Really? But coffee is fine. It’s quite late already. I need to go back and get some rest.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Before they knew it, they had arrived at Soyeon’s house.

Since they had walked part of the way, it took quite some time to reach the house.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t a bad time. It had been a long time since just the two of them walked home together like this.

Soyeon and I casually put down our bags and entered the room.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Um.”

Soyeon, sitting on the edge of the bed, seemed hesitant. I tilted my head alone, urging her to continue.

“Well, should I go first?”

“Oh… did Jinhuk say you had something to say too?”

“Yeah.”

There were things to say and items to give.

Should I start by bluffing about having the ability to foresee the future?

I wasn’t sure how Soyeon would take it, but I needed to tell her somewhat seriously so that she could believe it as more than just a joke.

Thinking about the future, I needed to make her believe that I had the ability to foresee it.

“Soyeon.”

“Yeah?”

I sat in the desk chair, gazing at Soyeon with a slightly solemn expression.

Did she sense that the atmosphere had changed a bit?

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Soyeon adjusted her posture slightly too.

“I actually have something to confess to you.”

“Um… Confess?”

I’ve been hiding the ability to foresee the future from you until now! I tried to say that, but Soyeon seemed more bewildered than necessary.

Soyeon, who seemed lost, shook her eyes here and there. When our eyes met unexpectedly, she was surprised and quickly lowered her gaze. Even her fingers fidgeted.

What should I say?

A mix of confusion, anxiety, apology, guilt, and various complex emotions filled her eyes?

Ah, Soyeon, could it be that…

Did I mistakenly think that I was going to confess my love?

No, it’s understandable that there might be a bit of confusion since I suddenly tried to create a serious atmosphere and bring up a confession. There were some errors in my choice of words.

“Well… Suyeon might indeed find it quite bewildering from her perspective.”

It’s only natural to be taken aback when a childhood friend suddenly confesses out of the blue.

“But if it were the usual Suyeon, wouldn’t she have just laughed it off, thinking it was a joke?”

She probably would have casually brushed it aside, thinking I was just playing around, like the protagonist of a romantic comedy.

It’s because Suyeon was someone I never thought would have feelings for me.

“But that reaction…”

I paused for a moment, scratching my chin before deciding to continue speaking.

Anyway, as amusing as it was to see Suyeon flustered, I couldn’t just leave it as it is. I needed to quickly put an end to this misunderstanding.

“C-Confession? Jinhuk, I… I…”

“I actually awakened a psychic ability related to foreseeing the future.”

“…?”

For a moment, Suyeon looked slightly dumbfounded.