Chapter 2288: No to Self-deprecation

Chapter 2288: No to Self-deprecation



"There's always a first in everything, Ruki. Just like how I am your first... I'll keep making up for it as it was a sin that I will carry through eternity." Miwa-nee replied with her expression turning a little serious at the end, remembering that my desire started with her.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"If you say it like that then I'll repeat it. In my eyes, you didn't do anything wrong, Miwa-nee. Without you, none of this will be possible. We can keep arguing about the morality of it but let's leave that to the past and look forward for the future." I said with a gentle smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Although she pretty much killed it, it was still salvageable. I pinched her nose before kissing her again, marking her with my affection.

Miwa-nee savored it and slowly, she melted from my affection. When she opened her eyes again, Miwa-nee bit her lips as she turned around.

As timing would have it, the teapot had finished boiling.

I took a step back, giving her the space to move.

I watched Miwa-nee put the teapot and the teacups on a tray as she walked over to me. "Un. I'll listen to you, Ruki. Can you forgive me for bringing it up again?"

Mhm. I like this kind of development from her. She's now ready to throw away the baggage limiting her.

"There's nothing to forgive, Miwa-nee... Alright. Let's stop being gloomy and drink this tea. Like I said, we have a lot to catch up on, not just the past..." I pinched her cheek which made her pout right away. But little by little, the tension on her face softened up.

After that, we moved from the kitchen to the living room and we sat down on the same sofa that Akane had been using earlier.

The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the light from the kitchen. I turned on the TV for ambiance. Even though there wasn't any meaningful show to watch, it would keep the silence from becoming too heavy.

"Geez... You always know what to say in this situation." While pressing her cheek further into my palm, Miwa-nee replied with a chuckle. Her hand slid up my thigh, her fingers lightly tracing a line on it, tickling a little. "But I'm happy, Ruki. Being back here with you. That's all I wanted."

I slid my arm to her back, pulling her close as I gently fixed the fringes of her hair, tucking them behind her ear. "Is that so? Well then, if you leave again. I'll follow after you and bring you back with me."

Her face turned crimson before lightly hitting our foreheads together, "Idiot. Don't do that. Besides, I won't leave anymore. Everything is over."

She paused for a moment as though trying to arrange her words. You wanna hear what happened right? I may not be clear during our messages but honestly, they didn't make it too difficult for me... It's just... you know, the process of being tied to that kind of family, I needed to pass through a lot of hoops to get out."

I guess they're too traditional that even divorce had to be done in a lot of steps. From what I heard from Miwa-nee herself, she had to go back and forth to their house. While she met her ex-husband there, they didn't interact much other than asking her if she was sure about the divorce.

Apparently, he was still so focused on his career that he didn't want to pay too much attention to the issue. He had long accepted Minoru not being his so... all in all, their relationship didn't really bloom even after years of marriage. Not to mention, Miwa-nee was constantly thinking about me.

As she said that Miwa-nee embraced my waist as she put her head on my chest, resting in its comfort.

I stroked her hair gently, feeling the softness under my fingertips, "Mhm. It must've been difficult. Now you can relax here. Everyone misses you, even Akane."

Miwa-nee nodded, her eyes misting up a bit. "I know she does. That girl is happy where you're happy. She's like your shadow. Meanwhile... I'm like a leech, no? Okay, before you scold

me for that. I'm just stating a fact."

Well, I won't scold her for that but... My hand moved to her forehead, giving it a flick. Then without saying anything else, I lifted her chin, pushing my lips down on hers.

I know a lot is going on in her mind but the same as how they didn't want me to self- deprecate, I would also prevent them from doing the same.