I Want to See How Much I'd Grow as a Person

A few hours later, back to Sakuya Residence.

Yuina sat on the couch with both of her knees pulled up to her chest. She was dazedly watching the TV that was now showing the rerun of a morning drama.

She didn't stay up because she wanted to watch the drama. She was waiting for him to come home.

It was already close to two o'clock in the morning yet she was still alone in the condominium.

There was no one to accompany her. Her phone didn't receive any new messages or calls as well.

Usually, he would be busy with the after-party.

Although her husband had always been surrounded by beauties, Yuina had never doubted him. He had never given her time to rise up a suspicion.

The only thing that distanced them was his love for acting thus making it hard for them to stay together for long.

As she was thinking, the sound of the door being unlocked was heard. Yuina abruptly stood up. She ran toward the door.

"Ryuu!"

Her eyes lit up at the sight of her husband.

Ishizaki Ryuu, who was dressed immaculately during the award show, now showing a more lazy side as the tie around his collar was crooked and his hair was messed up. A smile curved up on his lips.

"Yuina, my love. Hehe, you're waiting for me?"

Before Yuina reached him, he ran forward and hugged her.

"Did you drink so much? I've prepared hangover soup for you," Yuina was distressed when she faintly smelled the scent of wine coming from her husband.

"Not much, not much," Ryuu rubbed his nose against the crook of her neck. His voice was full of smiles as he exclaimed, "Hehe, I won again, my wife!"

"Of course! That's my husband, of course, you'd wind," Yuina wrapped her arms around his tapered waist, "My husband did so well."

"It's thanks to you. You've been supporting me," Ryuu grinned foolishly, "Ah, Yousuke said a few directors have contacted him to work with me. I hope I could have a challenging script, or two."

"I bet you could," Yuina smiled.

Yuina supported her husband as they walked to the living room. She helped Ryuu to lie down on the couch. She wanted to go and get him a bowl of soup as well as a wet towel to wipe his face.

"Ah!"

She had just turned around before her hand was yanked from behind. Yuina fell on the couch. Ryuu smiled mischievously while towering over her.

"Ryuu, don't be like this," She nagged, "You'd get a headache tomorrow."

"Screw that," Ryuu laughed, "Well, my wife, your husband has achieved so much. Should we have a baby to complete our family? I want to have a daughter as cute as you, wife."

Unknown to Ryuu, discomfort flashed in his wife's eyes yet it went so fast, it was hard to catch up on it.

"Don't talk nonsense," Yuina faked a smile, "Alright. Let me get you your soup... !"

Before she could give him the hangover soup, she was the one who was eaten clean by him.

Even though she understood that he had always wanted to have a baby with her, she couldn't bring herself to accept it.

It wasn't like she didn't want to bear him a child.

But, in their current condition, could they have one?

Meanwhile, in the studio apartment, the two friends had yet to go to sleep. They stayed up all night talking.

"Jun contacted me, asking about you."

Nanako's words made Himari's body froze. She quietly stared at her friend.

"Err... He called me last night. He wanted to call you but, it seems like you've blacklisted his number?" Nanako shrank her neck. She felt so guilty when she was being looked at like that.

"En. I've blocked him," Himari nodded honestly. Then, she added, "Well, weren't you the one who supported me breaking up with him?"

Nanako laughed awkwardly, "Well, I said so because of his family but... I can't deny that Jun was a good boyfriend to you. Aside from the matter involving his family, he didn't wrong you."

"En, yes," Himari nodded again.

If Jun was a boyfriend who tended to abuse her or cheated on her, it would be easier for her to let go of her feelings toward him, but, the reality he was not.

If there was no one hindering their relationship, she wouldn't choose to end their relationship.

"I don't have the confidence to continue loving him," Himari lowered her head. She blankly staring at the empty plates on the coffee table, "Instead of dragging him down with me, it's better if I let him go, so, he would be able to go wherever he wants."

Nanako pursed her lips. She understood how this problem had brought her best friend's self-confidence down.

"Himari, I want to ask."

Himari raised up her eyes, looking back at Nanako.

Nanako cautiously asked her, "What if, in the future, you meet this kind of situation again? Would you love that man or choose to withdraw because of these obstacles?"

There was no love that was easy. Every one of them had their own share of hardships before they met their fairytale ending.

Himari didn't answer quickly. She took her time to think. In the end, she shrugged.

"I want to see how much I'd grow as a person," She smiled faintly, "Only then, could I say either I'd stay for him or not."

If she couldn't love herself and be confident with her own background and growth, she found it hard to do the same to others. She didn't want to pretend to be someone else she was not.

In her case with Jun, if his family just treated her with indifference, she might still be with him but, they openly showed their hatred to her.

As the only son of the family, she refused for Jun to oppose his parents just to be in a relationship with her.

Jun couldn't give up on his parents.

Likewise, she couldn't give up on the only mother she had.

"Alright! Just forget about him! As your friend, I know you'd meet someone better than him! Let him go abroad and bring back a blonde and blue-eyed girl. I bet his mother would fume with anger. Doesn't she dislike foreigners so much?"

Himari laughed out loud. Tears seeped out from the corner of her eyes.

She didn't know if it came because of her sadness or not.

After a night of a sleepover, Himari returned to her apartment. On her way there, she met a group of young children crowding over something. They spoke in hushed tones.

"Hey, what happens?" She stopped to greet them.

"Sister Himari!"

Five turnip heads looked up. All of them looked excited to see her.

"What are you guys doing?" Himari came closer.

"Sister, the thing is..."

From where she stood, Himari saw a paper box at the center of the children. Her brows raised up as she realized there was something, a living thing, inside the box.

"Meow~"

An orange tabby kitty meowed from the box. Its green eyes were so clear. They were looking directly at her.

"Someone threw this baby kitty out," A girl with twin ponytails complained, "Look. Its fur has been dirtied."

"I wonder if it has something to eat," A boy wearing a cap extended a finger and played with the feline's chin, "Could I take my brother's milk and feed it?"

Himari crouched down in front of the box. The cat shifted its gaze to her.

"...Let me take care of it."

Her words were met with applause by the children.

"Really, Sister Himari?"

"You would take care of it?"

"Ah! This kitty is so lucky to have Sister Himari as its owner!"

"Meow~"

Himari realized it was already too late by the time she noticed the meaning of what she had said.

Did she want to take care of it?

She?

Himari sighed softly. She reached out a hand. Before her fingers could touch the kitten, the orange tabby had already stretched out its neck and nuzzled its cute nose with her palm.

"Hehe," Himari chuckled, "I guess I'd be your new family."

"Meow~" The kitten meowed again as if agreeing with her.

In the end, Himari brought the box with the kitten back to the apartment. She was lucky because the landlady allowed the tenants to keep pets as long as they took care of them properly. The old landlady herself had cats and dogs in her house.

Himari spent the day browsing the internet to know what should she take care of regarding keeping a kitten home. After hours passed, she brought the kitten with her to the nearby pet shop.

The salesman of the pet shop was a great help. He not only recommend what she should buy for a first-time cat parent, but he also gave his personal advice.

Not long after, near her bed, in her little apartment, the orange tabby kitty got its own bed.

"Did you appear to accompany me?"

Himari put a finger under its chin. The kitty purred and played with her finger. He jumped and slumped its back on the cushion, revealing its white and soft belly.

"Hehe," Himari chuckled softly, "I guess I won't feel too lonely."

The kitty yawned, showing its fangs and barbed tongue. Himari was amused by its reaction. She lied down on the floor next to its cushion.

A smile grew on her lips as she watched her new companion.

"Chobi, that's your name."

The kitty looked straight at her. It let out a long meow.