Chapter 37: The First and Last Date… Before Everything Falls Apart

The most dangerous message of my life arrived under the cover of night. It wasn't a threat or a warning—it was a date invitation from the person who was about to systematically dismantle my heart.

That night, after the warmth of our family reunion party had settled, my phone vibrated. A single notification. From: Mitsuzu Kurumi. “Tomorrow… do you have time?”

I stared at the glowing screen for a long beat. Why did this feel… off? It wasn't like her to be this abrupt. “Why so sudden?” I typed back. “I just want to go out with you. That’s all.” “Can you?” “Of course,” I replied. “Great. I’ll meet you at the train station tomorrow.”

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I should have been ecstatic. My girlfriend had just asked me out on a spontaneous date. But the happiness felt brittle, like something I was forcing myself to hold together before it could shatter.

The next day, the sky was clear, mockingly bright as if it were on my side. My intuition, however, suggested otherwise.

I arrived at the station early, checking my reflection in the window to ensure I looked presentable. Then, that familiar voice drifted through the crowd. “Kengo-kun!”

I turned. Kurumi stood there. She was beautiful—perhaps too beautiful today. There was an ethereal quality to her that made me feel inexplicably uneasy. “Have you been waiting long?” “No. I just got here myself.”

We walked toward the station together. I felt the weight of people’s gazes on us, but for some reason, I felt shielded by something I couldn't put into words. We headed to the theme park, just as Kurumi had requested.

But—everything felt slightly skewed.

We rode the Ferris wheel. As we reached the apex, the city unfolded beneath us in a tapestry of glass and steel. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Yeah.” Silence. Usually, we’d be overflowing with words. Today, the space between us was filled with a heavy, unspoken gravity.

“Kengo-kun.” “Hm?” “If one day… everything changes… will you stay exactly as you are now?” The question felt jagged and wrong. “We’ll just have to see,” I answered. She smiled at that, but it was a fragile thing. Like a structure holding itself up just moments before a total collapse.

By afternoon, we were sharing crepes. “You haven't changed,” she remarked. “Neither have you,” I countered. She went quiet, though she looked genuinely pleased for a moment. “No… I’ve changed. Quite a bit.” I didn't press her for details. In hindsight, that was my greatest mistake.

As evening approached, the inevitable end of the date loomed. “Oh, Kengo, I heard your parents are back. Are they home yet?” Kurumi asked. “Yeah, they arrived yesterday evening. We had a little party for them.” She looked genuinely surprised. “Wow. I’m a bit jealous.” “My mom said she really wants to meet you. Do you want to come over?” “Heeh? Right now?” “If you're up for it.” “Sure.”

We headed to my apartment. Mitsuzu seemed taken aback that I lived in an actual apartment unit. We stepped inside. “I’m home.” “Welcome back, Ken—ara-ara, who is this lovely little lady you’ve brought home?”

“This is my girlfriend, Mom. The one I told you about last night. Her name is Mitsuzu Kurumi.” Kurumi bowed gracefully. “Hajimemashite.” “She’s gorgeous,” my mother beamed. My father joined us, looking absolutely delighted. “Kengo-kun, you lucky dog! I can't believe you landed a girl this stunning?!” He was practically moved to tears, acting more like a sappy teenager than a father. “Take good care of her, son.”

Kurumi smiled at the banter, but as I watched her, I noticed something. Her hands were trembling. My premonition had been right. She was carrying a weight she couldn't show.

Night fell, and I walked her home. “Kengo… you have such a wonderful family. I really am jealous.” She stopped walking. “Why say it like that? Is something going on with your parents?” I asked.

“Kengo-kun!” she blurted out. “Actually!” My heart hammered against my ribs. Was she about to take our relationship to the next level? Was this the moment? “I…” “…I’m getting married soon.”

The world stopped. The night became a vacuum, devoid of all sound. The wind died down to a ghostly whisper. “What?” “And the engagement ceremony is happening very soon.”

A single sentence. That was all it took to demolish everything. This date—it wasn't a beginning. It was a funeral. “…I see.” I managed a smile. It was hollow, a mask over a void. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s fine.” A lie. A jagged, painful lie.

She looked at me, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I just wanted one normal day with you!” Normal. The final day. I looked up at the sky. It was pitch black now, heavy clouds swallowing the moon. A light drizzle began to fall, acting as a proxy for the grief I couldn't yet voice.

For the first time, I felt a total sense of loss. Not because she was leaving, but because she was choosing to leave.

“Mitsuzu…” my voice was nearly swallowed by the rain. “I didn't ask for forever,” she sobbed. “I just wanted one day. Without a fiancé. Without a pre-determined future.”

I let out a small, sharp laugh, the sound of someone breaking from the inside out. “One normal day?” I repeated softly. “We were never normal.” I took a step toward her. “What we had was precious specifically because it wasn't ordinary.” I stared at her for a long time. Then, I spoke with a flat, emotionless finality. “Congratulations.”

She froze. “What…?” “Congratulations,” I repeated. “You’ve just successfully destroyed someone’s dreams and their capacity to trust.” Her eyes widened. I took a slow, shaky breath. “I’m not angry that you have a fiancé. I’m not even angry that you have to go.” I looked her straight in the eye. “I’m angry because you surrendered before the fight even started.”

The drizzle clung to my face. “Or maybe… I’m just disappointed because I actually believed you were braver than the world that tries to control you.” I paused for a few seconds, letting out a brittle laugh. “Turns out you’re just the same. Just like the women who came before you—the ones who made an art out of hurting me.”

“Kengo… I’m so sorry. I didn't know this would happen…” My chest felt like it had been hit with a sledgehammer. The narrow alleyway felt like it was closing in. “From now on,” I said, my hands balling into fists, “I will never trust anyone again. I’m done caring.” Because every time I care, the world finds a new way to hand me the bill.

“Kengo…” “Don't worry about it,” I said, my voice dead. “I’m used to it.” Another lie.

The rain turned into a downpour. I turned my back on her and started to walk. I had to accept it. Maybe destiny just didn't have us in the script. And that night, we parted. Likely forever.

Kanon, who was just returning from a shoot with Shinomiya, spotted me standing in the deluge, soaked to the bone. “Kengo-nii?! What are you doing out here in this weather?!” I didn't answer. She didn't need me to. One look at my face told her everything.

She rushed over and pulled me into a fierce, crushing embrace. “It’s okay, Kengo-nii… just let it out!” And there, in the middle of the rain, tucked into Kanon’s arms, I finally broke.