Tokyo: My Girlfriend

Rena Kitagawa was diligently cleaning today, humming a little tune. She sometimes gets this kind of urge. Shinichi Kitagawa wanted to help, but Rena never liked him interfering during cleaning.

She might also say things like, "How can a boy tidy up? Especially if Shin-yi doesn't do it well, I'll have to tidy it up again later. It's unnecessary. You can just sit there and rest. If you're really bored, cut me some fruit to eat."

There was nothing Kitagawa Shin could do but cut fruit for her and provide logistical support when she got tired.

The sun was shining brightly today. Shinichi Kitagawa sat on the steps of the courtyard, hallucinating the dream he had last night.

He looked at the small wooden stick in his hand and began to wonder if it really was a dream.

I took out my phone, found Haruhi Hina's contact information, and after thinking for a moment, sent her a message: "Where were you last night? Reply if you see this."

The other party replied instantly.

Haruhi Hina: "Last night? I went to the gathering last night, what's wrong?"

Shinichi Kitagawa was surprised by her quick reply: "A rally? Has it been going on all the time?"

Haruhi Hina: "Hmm, I wandered around by myself. Shinichi-kun went to the assembly yesterday, right?"

Upon seeing these four words, Shinichi Kitagawa's expression remained unchanged, but he didn't reply immediately. Instead, he waited a while before sending the message:

"I went to help Kana during the day, but Rena and I went home early in the evening."

Haruhi Hina: "Oh, I see. So, what's the matter?"

Shinichi Kitagawa: "It's nothing, I was just asking."

Putting away his phone, Shinichi Kitagawa twirled the small wooden stick in his hand and thought it made sense. If that were really the case, why would Hina have left in the morning?

Even if she left because she was afraid of being discovered by Rena, she would always leave herself a text message or something, unlike now where she pretends that nothing happened.

Kitagawa Shinichi, as if remembering something, picked up his phone again and sent Haruhi Hina a message: "Are you free this afternoon?"

Haruhi Hina waited a few minutes before replying: "Yes..."

Let's meet.

After having lunch with Rena, she went to her bedroom to catch up on sleep because she hadn't slept well the night before.

Shinichi Kitagawa rode his bicycle alone to the Reincarnation Lake in the back mountain.

This is the only place where no one usually comes because there are high steps to climb. He parked his bicycle at the bottom of the steps and saw another one parked next to him. He then walked up the steps by himself.

As you climb the steps, the vast lake becomes increasingly clear in your view.

The surrounding area is filled with dense, towering trees, and the green lake in the center sparkles and glistens under the sunlight.

On the lakeside lawn, Haruhi Hina, wearing a yellow dress, sat on the lush green grass, her legs bent and elegantly placed to one side, her long hair falling down to her waist.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned halfway around and saw Kitagawa Shinichi with an involuntary smile on his lips.

The gentleness in her eyes remained the same, but now tinged with an indescribable cautiousness and flattery: "You've come?"

Shinichi Kitagawa had to admit that every time he saw Hina for the first time, he could clearly see how beautiful she was, how tender her eyes were, and how pleasant her scent was.

This makes his gaze always focus on her first among all the things around him, and he can't take his eyes off her for a long time.

He walked up to her and asked, "May I sit next to you, Ms. Hina?"

Upon hearing this address, Haruhi Hina smiled and nodded.

The two sat on the grass, about a fist's width apart, gazing at the unfathomable mountain lake in the distance.

Rena's transformation and her separation from Hina both began with this lake.

The same goes for today.

Although she didn't say anything for the time being, the sadness in Haruhi Hina's eyes grew stronger.

Sure enough, when you sit with someone you like, even before you speak, even if you're not sitting very close, your mood will fluctuate wildly and your emotions will be uncontrollable.

Shinichi Kitagawa spoke first: "Actually, I originally wanted to spend more time at the market yesterday, but due to some unexpected events, I had to go home."

Kitagawa Haruna's pupils trembled; she didn't quite understand what he meant, or perhaps she was afraid of overthinking it.

"There are lots of fun things at the market."

"I want to wander around more not for fun, but actually to run into Hina-sensei."

This time, Shinichi Kitagawa didn't intend to beat around the bush, and amidst the other party's shock, he said:

"Sometimes I don't even know what I'm thinking. I'm really disappointed with what Hina-sensei did, but I still hope that I might run into Hina-sensei at the gathering. Maybe the time we spent together before was just too wonderful for me."

Haruhi Hina's fingers clenched tightly, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears.

She responded softly and gently, "Me too... Actually, I thought the same thing yesterday. I was thinking that if I went for a walk in the evening, I might run into Shinichi by chance. Even if we didn't have to say anything, just a glance would be enough. Although it sounds like a pointless thing, I just couldn't help thinking that way."

Shinichi Kitagawa looked at her in surprise and smiled.

"We really are on the same wavelength. I remember on the day we officially parted ways, I said that I would call you Hina-sensei or Hina-nee when I saw you in the future. But I haven't really greeted you much in the past week or so. Maybe I was really angry with you."

Kitagawa Haruna bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. She parted her red lips slightly, and this time, she spoke the words she hadn't said before:

"I'm sorry... I was definitely a bit harsh that day. In that situation, I was just thinking about saying things that would annoy you, and then..."

Shinichi Kitagawa saw up close how haggard she looked; her complexion was so much more worn out than when she was dating.

"At first, Hina-sensei thought we could break up peacefully, and still remain friends afterward."

Haruhi Hina smiled helplessly, her eyes lowered and tears welling up in them: "Yeah, but sometimes when I try to act like an adult, I always fail, especially in front of you... I can't follow the path I envision."

Just as Tamura Kyoko said yesterday, Haruhi Kasuga could probably get back together with Kitagawa Shinichi very soon after their separation, if he really wanted to.

Because those harsh words she said last time were already Haruhi Hina's limit, she would never say something similar again in any situation.

The pain of heartbreak this week had exhausted her.

but...

Shinichi Kitagawa took a pack of tissues out of his pocket and handed it to the other person: "Wipe your tears. The teacher always cries for no reason."

She rubbed her eyes sheepishly, bending her legs to support herself: "It's nothing, I just embarrassed myself in front of Xinyi again."

Seeing her tears, Shinichi Kitagawa knew that even though he was disappointed in her, he could never bring himself to hate her.

Those days we loved were real, and they still are now.

If things continue like they were last week, Hina's body will eventually give out, otherwise Kyoko wouldn't have come to find her.

He let out a sigh of relief, smiled, and explained the main reason he had asked her out that day, then took back the tissue:

"I've thought about it carefully. Even though we've broken up, there's really no need to act like strangers. Maybe we can be friends, just like Hina-sensei envisioned."

Shinichi Kitagawa looked at her with heartache, reaching out to wipe away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes. Haruhi Hina turned her head and gazed at Shinichi Kitagawa with longing.

Kitagawa Shinichi:

"I can tell you haven't been sleeping well this week either. Since you brought up breaking up, Hina has to accept this decision. At least take care of your health, right? Otherwise, it will seem like I'm the one who initiated the breakup and hurt you like this. Even now, I don't want to see Hina like this."

The last sentence made Haruhi Hina's heart skip a beat, and the tears she had wiped away uncontrollably streamed down her face.

"Shinichi..." This time, she took the initiative to reach out her hand to Kitagawa Shinichi.

However, Shinichi Kitagawa stood up, leaving her with nothing to grab:

"Alright, I can't stay here with you for too long, otherwise Rena will find out soon, and it will be troublesome to explain then. I'll head back now. I hope Hina-sensei will be in a better mood next week. I'll say hello if we happen to run into each other at school next time. Take care of yourself."

He said goodbye and turned to leave. Haruhi Hina stared blankly at Kitagawa Shinichi's back. The original heartache seemed to have changed into a more painful and empty feeling.

Haruhi Hina gradually realized that she actually regretted breaking up with him.

Even though she hoped to see Shinichi Kitagawa find the greatest happiness, she couldn't accept the current situation because she had once had Shinichi. She couldn't accept that he had left her like this.

This feeling was something she had never experienced before—a selfish feeling towards Shinichi Kitagawa.