第82話 相坂礼奈〜過去②心の距離〜 - I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me

The first time I became aware of the unusually close girl to Yuta was about a month into our relationship. It wasn't about physical proximity. It was the closeness of their hearts. That's what concerned me the most. As we spent more time together, it wasn't uncommon for us to huddle over a single smartphone, engaging in casual chatter. And while enjoying video sites on Yuta’s phone, a particular name kept cropping up in notifications, catching my attention. After half a year together, that name was etched into my memory. Registered under the likely first name "Ayaka," it was only natural for me to feel uneasy as Yuta's girlfriend. Though I wasn’t suspecting him of cheating, I just wanted to clear things up. "Is Ayaka, who sometimes sends notifications, a friend of yours, Yuta?" In response to my question, Yuta paused the video and nodded candidly. It seemed he had anticipated this question from me at some point. "She's a friend." "Childhood friend?" "No, from high school." From high school, I assumed she was just an ordinary friend. Yet, from Yuta’s expression, it was easy to sense that there was something more to their friendship. "Sorry, I guess I shouldn't be chatting with girl friends too much, right?" I couldn't help but shake my head at Yuta's remark. "No, it's fine. I was just a bit curious. It's important to cherish friends from high school too." “Oh, really?” Yuta sounded slightly relieved. I didn’t regret my response, feeling glad I didn’t act childishly. My words, in fact, came from my heart. Just getting confirmation directly from Yuta cleared up the lingering worries I had. "But I'll still try to limit it. Notifications can be distracting when we’re watching videos together." Although merely turning off the notifications would solve that, I stayed silent. I understood that Yuta was saying this to reassure me. Thanks to our calm conversation, Ayaka's messages didn’t disturb the equilibrium of our relationship. Had Yuta been unsettled, things might have turned out differently, but his composure helped. Despite being the same age, I believe he’s quite calm and collected compared to his peers. I remember distinctly that this was clear from our first meeting and it left a good impression on me. However, he often jokes around when he’s with people who accept him even when he acts childishly. That side of him made me feel like he had opened his heart to me. I found this aspect endearing and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with him after we started dating. I suspect Ayaka is a friend to whom Yuta can show his true self, much like he does with me. It wouldn’t be right for me, as his girlfriend, to interfere with someone so important to him. Creating a romantic relationship isn’t a reason to reduce connections with friends of the opposite gender. While some might insist that contact with female friends should be limited once you have a romantic partner, I don’t agree. Friends offer a comfort unique to them. And lovers offer a space of comfort unique to them as well. Since the two are essentially different, enjoying both is undoubtedly the best choice for him. When I shared this thought with Natsuki, she furrowed her brows. "What about you, Reina?" "Huh?" I was momentarily confused by Natsuki's question. Seeing my reaction, she gave me a serious look. "You're being such a thoughtful girlfriend, considering your boyfriend's feelings like this. I bet there aren't many girlfriends as understanding as you." Natsuki continued, fiddling with the bracelet I got her for her birthday. "But what about you, Reina? When two people of the opposite gender hang out alone, isn’t that typically considered a date? Though, yes, it varies by perspective." When I fell silent, Natsuki lightly tapped me on the back. "Be firm. You're the only one who can decide whether his actions are inappropriate." "…Hey, what do you think, Natsuki?" "I can't decide for you. It's an issue between the two of you." Her argument was too sound to refute. Though I wished for a bit of advice, I resolved to tackle this issue on my own. ──Ayaka is a valuable presence that supports my boyfriend. She extends her hand from a direction I can't, compensating for my shortcomings. I chose to believe this, and I could honestly see it that way. "I’d like to meet Ayaka sometime." This was something I truly expressed to Yuta, straight from my heart. Hearing that, Yuta smiled widely. "Oh, great! If you two get along, it’d be perfect for me." Those words were the strongest evidence for me that he wasn’t being unfaithful. Seeing Yuta’s joyful expression made me happy too. “When I finally meet her… I’ll have to thank Ayaka properly.” “Thank her? Why?” “Because the reason you can enjoy your everyday life, Yuta, is partly thanks to Ayaka, right?” Seeing Yuta’s happy face makes me happy too. It means that in some way, Ayaka also brings me happiness. After a moment’s thought, Yuta nodded, “I guess… I do owe her a bit for that.” "See? That’s why, as your girlfriend, I'll express my gratitude." "Very conscientious of you, Reina." “Well, maybe… I am?” Imitating Yuta’s manner of speaking, I saw his shoulders shake in amusement. He took my hand, and I interwove my fingers with his in response. At that moment, I believed I was Yuta’s ideal girlfriend.