My name is Shoryu Kiryu.
Even though my hobby is reading, I'm not very good at studying.
I'm just an ordinary college sophomore who just turned 20.
And I also have a girlfriend.
Her name is Sarasa Ashizawa.
She's much more beautiful than most models and has a great figure (though her breasts are a little small).
She confessed her love to me, and we have been dating for almost a year now.
After greeting each other's parents and getting their permission, we are now living together in an apartment.
From an outsider's point of view, we are on the verge of marriage!
As lovers, our life is sailing smoothly!
---But I had recently noticed that she was acting strangely.
When we first started dating, we went everywhere together, and we were so close that we were called the "best couple" by everyone around us.
But now her attitude is...
"Don't get too attached to me. It's too annoying."
This is how cold she has become.
Though it sounded a little rude, unfortunately, it's much more than that.
In the worst-case scenario...
She says:
"Don't touch me, you pervert. Go away."
"Are you talking back to me? Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Don't talk to me, your breath stinks."
These are just a few of the abusive words she says every day to me, her boyfriend.
And her face is expressionless.
It's not like I did anything wrong to make her angry at me though.
When we first started dating, she was a sweet girl, but she turned out into an arrogant, cold woman.
I tried to apologize to her, but she never stopped and it got even worse.
And today is no exception.
"Hey, Sarasa-chan. Do you want to go out on a date after you get back to your room today?"
"What? A date? What are you talking about?"
As I walked home from the university, I boldly asked out my girlfriend Sarasa-chan who was walking next to me.
However, her face showed a disgusted and unhappy expression.
"No, it's too much trouble. Why don't you go alone?"
"No, it wouldn't be a date if I went alone, would it? Come on, for God's sake."
"Why do I have to go with you? Why do I have to be the one who gets pushed around?"
"No, you're pushing me around…"
"I mean, why should I give up my precious time for you? Is there any advantage to me? There are only disadvantages."
There's nothing I can do about it.
The more I try to talk back, the worse Sarasa-chan's mood becomes, and her rhetoric increases.
We used to date every day, but now we even do the shopping separately.
When was the last time you had a date?
"I'm sorry,..."
"Hmm."
With her in a bad mood and the air heavy surrounding us, we finally returned to our room.
But her mood was getting worse and worse.
I'm hoping that I can somehow fix her mood. ------ Oh, yeah!
"I'm sure there's a cake in the fridge. Your favorite Mont Blanc! Let's eat it together and make out later, okay?"
"Huh?"
She wrinkled her eyebrows.
It was too late to think that I had done something wrong.
"What? Using a cake to make me happy? Huh, do I look like such a cheap woman?"
"No, no, that's not what…"
"Do you want to make out with me? No. I'm not in the mood today. So I'm not going to do that."
We are boyfriend and girlfriend, but lately, we haven't been kissing, having s*x, or even holding hands.
Every time when I ask her out, she refuses.
This has been going on for over half a year.
Eh? Did she have another lover beside me? Is she cheating on me?
At first, I suspected she was having an affair, but she never showed such behavior, and we were together most of the time in college and at home.
On vacations, she's home all the time.
So that's impossible, but why does she act like that with me?
Is it simply because she doesn't like me anymore?
"....You know, let me ask you, what kind of relationship do we have?"
"Eh? What? Lovers? But?"
At least don't put a question mark!
"If we are lovers, aren't we allowed to have some skin-to-skin contact even if you're in a bad mood?"
"Ugh, you're really annoying. You've been getting carried away lately, haven't you?
"No, it's not that I'm getting carried away, it's just that... "
"Oh, my God! You're so annoying! I really hate that about you. I can't take it anymore."
"I hate you."
That's not something she should say to your boyfriend!
When I heard that word, something in my heart that had been blocking me up until now erupted.
I can't bear with her anymore!
"Okay, that's enough. I can't take it anymore…"
"Oh, I'm not sure what a shit like you can do."
"We're breaking up".
"How about...eh?"
Finally, the parting words came out.
I never wanted to leave her, and I thought I would just have to put up with her, so I kept the words in the back of my throat, but today they finally came out.
But these are my true feelings, and I'm not lying.
Seriously, I wanted to say this line for a long time.
"...E-eh?"
Sarasa-san's eyes widened in rare agitation at my words, which she must have never imagined.
To be honest, I've been going out with her because I liked this part of her, but now I don't have any of those feelings.
We've probably been dating just for the sake and with no love.
Maybe, it's probably the same for her.
And I just never had the right time to say goodbye.
"...No, no, why? I don't get it..."
"You don't understand? I said, "Let's break up."
"What are you talking about? You're joking, right? We've been together for a long time and we've already got our relation approved by each other's parents….?
"What are you talking about? There is no way I could say something like this to joke. I'm serious. I'm tired, man. I'm tired of all this."
"You're tired ….? What was that...? I don't know what that means..."
She seemed confused, but it didn't matter to me.
The fact that I've had to endure her ranting for so long, the feeling of her coldness seemed to come on increase than ever.
I guess there's nothing more I can say.
"I'm going to hand over all the household goods I asked your parents to buy for me. I will leave it here. I'm moving out of this room."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
"I'm not waiting. I already got rid of my clothes and stuff. I'll leave the key to this room here."
While she was still confused, I put the room key on the table.
I also threw her the matching necklace that we had bought together on our first date.
The necklace was custom-made, and when you put the ends of the two necklaces together, they formed a heart shape.
"Anyway, now that I think about it, you're not wearing this either."
"Eh,...? Oh, this is...!
"There is no meaning for me to wear this, so I'll give it to you. Sell it, throw it away, or do whatever you want.
"Wait, wait, wait….? Why are you suddenly talking about like this...?"
"We're strangers now. Don't try to talk to me in the future, okay? That'll make you happy, right? You'll be happy to know that I'm no longer there to annoy you."
"Ah..., that's not....wait"
It's ridiculous to see Sarasa-san in a terrible panic.
However, when I look at her, I don't feel any emotion.
It is often said that the opposite of love is indifference, and it seems to be true.
I don't feel any of the feelings of love I used to have towards her.
"Thank you for everything. It's been fun, just at the beginning."
"Wait! Wait, wait!"
"...Goodbye."
"Wait!"
I shook her off and left the room.
I ran as fast as I could so she wouldn't chase me.
Oh, I'm really having a bad day.
I wanted her to be in a better mood just for today.
Just for today, I wanted her to smile.
Because today...
"It was our anniversary..."
It's been one year since we started dating.
I had booked a nice restaurant to celebrate it and had prepared gifts and cake at home.
All my effort came to nothing.
Anyway, I had to call the restaurant where I made the reservation and apologize.
I took out my smartphone and opened the screen.
"What's this?"
Every five minutes there was an incoming call from Sarasa-san with messages being received every minute.
The message notification said...
"Please come back soon."
"I'll forgive you now."
"Are you serious about breaking up with me?
"I'll find a better man than you."
I'll find someone better than you.
Honestly, isn't this guy more annoying?
Not wanting to get involved any further, I blocked all of Sarasa-san's contacts and rejected her calls.
Now that it was all over, I felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
"Hmph. Serves you right."
With a final swear, I parted ways with the person I loved the most that day.
But this was not the end. I was naive.
At that time, I never imagined that she would come back like that.