CH 23

After I got home, Tachibana called me while crying, and I listened to her until late at night.

"I can't do this anymore..."

"Don't say that."

"I'm sure by now I'm hated by Rina and the others."

"You won't know that until you talk to them."

"... I've said all those things because both of you guys are important to me."

"I see."

"I'm sorry for bullying you."

"I don't care about that anymore, so it's okay."

Tachibana appeared to be depressed, as she didn't know what to do and appeared to be mentally unstable at the time.

I want to comfort her, but I can't think of any words that will calm her down.

I really hated Tachibana before when she was bullying me, but right now it's different because I don't feel that way.

At that time, we were the bully and the bullied, but now we are lovers.

I have no intention of saying anything about the time that she bullied me, as she has already apologized to me, so I thought that was the end of that discussion. 

But it looks like she's still concerned about that.

As I've said to her, I already forgive her, and I don't care about that anymore. But it looks like, from Tachibana's point of view, even though we became lovers, the fact that she bullied me won't be solved by just simply apologizing to me.

I feel that this is a problem that won't be solved right away.

The next day, Tachibana was absent from school.

I'm a little worried about her, as she didn't say anything to me about being absent for today when we were talking last night. That's why I've decided to go to her house after school to check on her.

During class, the usual Tachibana who sits next to me isn't there.

The beautiful desks and chairs are lined up in a lonely row.

It may be the first time I have taken a class without Tachibana.

Normally at this time,  I would see Tachibana next to me with her long, beautiful black hair, the scent of her sweet perfume, and a smile on her face, but right now she's not there.