Oh no! They all seem a bit off!

Chapter 189 From this point on, they would never see each other again.

"Akizuki-kun, Little Snow..."

Mrs. Jiye looked at the two people with tears streaming down their faces and their expressions full of pain, and she felt bad and lost.

Is this what they call having good intentions but doing bad things?

Mingming simply felt that these two people shouldn't miss each other like this.

Ji Yexue's feelings are undoubtedly sincere and passionate; she will love Qiuyue Cheng until death and will never change her heart.

In this lifetime, she will probably never meet a man more stunning and outstanding than Akizuki Makoto, who can also touch her heart and enter her soul.

"Get out of here. I never want to see you again in my life, and I will never forgive you."

Ji Yexue looked at Qiu Yuecheng with hatred in her eyes and said calmly, "Qiu Yuecheng, I hate you. I will hate you forever, until I die. I curse you to always experience this pain and torment that I have endured."

"...I'm so sorry to have hurt you. I understand your determination."

Akizuki Makoto lowered his head deeply and said softly, "Goodbye, Yuki."

This farewell may truly be their last.

When Akizuki Makoto realized that his existence was the source of Himeyasu's pain, he could no longer recklessly approach her and try to persuade her.

He didn't want to continue hurting Ji Yexue's already wounded heart.

He realized that he could never persuade Ji Yexue.

Ji Yexue doesn't need him to live; it's just that he's too arrogant, thinking that if Ji Yexue throws a tantrum for a while, he can coax her a bit and she might give in.

However, he overestimated himself and underestimated Ji Yexue.

Ji Yexue's pride and self-respect would not allow her to share a man with another woman.

This is her bottom line, the bottom line that she would rather die, rather lose Akizuki Makoto, than compromise on.

……

In the end, Akizuki Makoto didn't even know how he left Himeyasuki's side.

He walked past Ji Yexue like a zombie, entered the elevator, and left the top floor of the building.

Standing at the foot of the building, he turned around and looked up at the towering structure, the blinding sunlight making him squint.

Then, he felt his eyes were sore and his vision gradually blurred.

"Xue, I've really... really lost you..."

Akizuki murmured to himself, his emotions collapsing again, and he couldn't help but sob and cry.

He himself killed the possibility between them, and his naivety and arrogance ruined their future.

If he hadn't made that decision back then, but instead had chosen Ji Yexue instead of the multiple-choice question, he wouldn't be in so much pain now, right?

"How...how could I think like that..."

"Maki...I'm...I'm sorry too..."

"I'm sorry... I'm a terrible... scumbag..."

Makoto Akizuki kept muttering to himself, knowing full well that it was wrong to have such thoughts, that it was a desecration and betrayal of Maki Shiina, who also loved him deeply and accepted his willful ideas, but he just couldn't control himself.

He felt like he had really gone mad. He had actually been confident that he could persuade Ji Yexue, and he was completely convinced of it.

Therefore, he subconsciously ignored how terrible what he was doing was.

He wanted to warp Ji Yexue's mind, to make her abnormal and insane as well.

Just as Ji Yexue questioned him repeatedly, who would accept the relationship between the three of them? How could they possibly accept it?

Anyone would find it absurd and unethical.

This day marked the day that Akizuki Makoto regained consciousness, and it was also the most painful and devastating day he had ever experienced.

He regretted coming to Osaka and also regretted his initial decision.

But what's done is done, and now he can only live on with regret and remorse.

It's not that he can't live without Ji Yexue, it's just that, like Ji Yexue, he would suffer and be tormented without each other.

But this was exactly what Ji Yexue wanted; it was her revenge. She wanted Qiuyue Cheng to experience the pain of unrequited love.

This pain is excruciating and torments them constantly.

Ji Yexue's words back then came true in a different way, like a boomerang.

Once upon a time, Ji Yexue said that she would make Qiu Yuecheng fall hopelessly in love with her, and then dump him cruelly, causing Qiu Yuecheng to collapse and never recover, plunging his life into an abyss of misfortune.

Isn't this exactly the situation that Akizuki Makoto is facing now?

He has collapsed, fallen into an abyss of misfortune from which he cannot escape.

……

8:25 PM, Tokyo Haneda Airport.

Exhausted, Akizuki Makoto disembarked from the plane and followed the flow of people to the waiting area.

"Cheng, Cheng-kun, over here!"

From afar, he heard a familiar voice calling out. Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw that the person calling his name was none other than Shiina Maki.

She waved her hands and called his name as she jogged toward him.

Shiina Maki is always like this; whenever she sees him, she will run towards him without hesitation.

Despite her shy and introverted personality, and her fear of attracting attention, she was willing to abandon her sense of shame for Akizuki Makoto.

"Chengjun, I... I've come to pick you up."

Shiina Maki ran up to Akizuki Makoto, panting, and asked somewhat anxiously, "How did it go? Did you make up with Himeya-senpai?"

In fact, she already knew the answer, because Akizuki Makoto's disheartened expression had already explained everything, but she still couldn't help want Akizuki Makoto to tell her the answer himself.

Akizuki gave a bitter laugh, his voice hoarse as he said, "...I guess we'll never see each other again."

"This, this is it..."

Even though she knew she shouldn't be happy, when she heard Akizuki Makoto say that there was no longer any possibility between him and Himeyasu, Shiina Maki couldn't help but feel a secret joy.

She was despicable, but she was willing to be despicable in order to win and strive to grasp happiness.

"I'm sorry to have worried you. Let's go back."

Qiu Yuecheng didn't want to talk about Ji Yexue anymore, and he wasn't in the mood for conversation either. He just wanted to get home as soon as possible and escape everything.

"Yeah, let's go!"

Shiina Maki nodded vigorously, took Akizuki Makoto's hand, and led him away from the airport to take a taxi home.

In the car, she kept chattering away, trying to find topics to talk about, while Akizuki Makoto only occasionally chimed in, looking completely distracted.

Even so, Shiina Maki continued talking incessantly, completely unconcerned about Akizuki Makoto's current cold attitude.

After all, Makoto Akizuki was rejected, and that was a sad time for him.

As Akizuki Makoto's girlfriend, even if she's only a second choice, she should still fulfill her responsibilities as a girlfriend and comfort his heart.

From her, Akizuki Makoto learned about Touko's condition. She woke up around four or five in the afternoon, was fine, and recovered after a nap.

Upon hearing this news, Akizuki Makoto felt a slight stirring within him.

Besides Ji Yexue, he had other important people in his life, and even for their sake, he wanted to pull himself together. "Hey, Cheng-kun, let me warm you up tonight?"

Looking at Akizuki Makoto's dejected face, Shiina Maki pressed close to his body and whispered, "You can be as affectionate as you want with me, or even vent your frustrations on me. I'll do anything to help you."

She wanted to be a helper to Akizuki Makoto and help him solve his problems.

No matter what emotions are vented on her, she will silently bear it.

"Yes, thank you, Maki."

Akizuki Makoto simply nodded and thanked him softly, his face still filled with dejection.

Seeing this, Shiina Maki hugged Akizuki Makoto tightly, wanting him to feel her warmth and presence.

She wanted to use her body to tell Akizuki Makoto that he still had her.

Unfortunately, this move didn't work; in fact, it only made Akizuki Makoto feel more distressed.

He could sense that Shiina Maki wanted to do something for him, but because of this, the guilt and sense of betrayal in his heart almost suffocated him.

On the way back by car, Shiina Maki held Akizuki Makoto tightly, constantly comforting him and trying to ease his distress.

……

Thus, the two returned to their home in Bunkyo Ward around 9 p.m.

Makoto Akizuki, dragging his heavy body like a walking corpse, took the elevator upstairs with Maki Shiina.

The elevator's smooth walls, like a mirror, reflected his face.

Only then did Akizuki Makoto realize just how bad his complexion was.

"Won't this make Dongzi worry..."

Looking at his face reflected on the elevator wall, Akizuki Makoto thought to himself.

He tried to adjust his facial expressions, but he couldn't.

He seemed to have lost control of his body, unable not only to suppress his inner emotions but also to regulate his expression.

With a dejected, haggard, and lifeless face, he stepped out of the elevator and returned home.

As soon as the door opened, Dongzi, who was waiting in the living room, immediately came to greet him.

She ran to the entrance and jumped into Akizuki Makoto's arms, whispering sweetly, "Brother, welcome back. I missed you so much."

"Ah...yes, I'm back."

Akizuki responded softly, seemingly at a loss, and did not hug Fuyuko or pat her head as usual.

Dongzi keenly sensed her brother's unusual behavior, and poked her little head out from his arms to look up at him.

"Brother, are you unhappy?"

"..."

"Dongzi, Cheng-jun must be tired, right? Should we let him rest?"

Shiina Maki, who was standing nearby, interjected at the right moment to remind Fuyuko of her conversation.

"What's wrong with my brother?"

Dongzi still didn't let go of Qiuyue Cheng, and asked with concern, "Brother has never been this unhappy before. Did something happen? Dongzi is very worried."

"..."

Akizuki remained silent, unsure how to explain to Fuyuko why he had become so unhappy.

Is it because he was rejected by Ji Yexue and will never see her again that he did this?
"I'm sorry, Dongzi, I'm a little tired."

Akizuki apologized softly, then said, "Let me rest for a bit."

"Dongzi knows..."

Dongzi obediently let go of Qiuyue Cheng, her little face unable to hide her disappointment and sadness.

It seems she was unhappy because of Akizuki Makoto's attitude.

Akizuki Makoto had never treated her with such a cold attitude before, so it was normal for him to be unhappy.

In the past, even when Akizuki Makoto was unhappy, he would treat her gently and explain the reasons to her.

"Feel sorry……"

Akizuki Makoto apologized again and then went straight into the bedroom.

Even though he knew in his heart that he shouldn't treat Dongzi, who cared about him, this way.

At the same time, he was also clearly aware that his heart seemed to have broken down.

Not only did they lose control over their emotions, but they also lost control over their bodies.

After entering the bedroom, Akizuki Makoto didn't even change his clothes before lying down on the bed and curling up into a ball.

“It hurts so much…”

He closed his eyes, recalling every moment with Ji Yexue, while secretly feeling sad.

Even though several hours had passed, his inner pain had not been relieved in the slightest; in fact, it had become even more intense.

Just thinking about what happened this afternoon instantly overwhelms him with immense sorrow.

"Cheng-Cheng-kun, am I coming in?"

Just as Akizuki Makoto was suffering alone, Shiina Maki's voice came from behind the bedroom door.

Akizuki Makoto did not respond; he was too preoccupied with his boundless sorrow to speak.

"Click..."

Having received no response, Shiina Maki took it upon herself to open the bedroom door.

Since there was no response, she would take it as a tacit agreement... After all, she had already made up her mind to come back and comfort Akizuki Makoto, so even if she was rejected, she would still come in.

"Chengjun..."

When Shiina Maki entered the bedroom, she felt a pang of pain in her heart as she looked at Akizuki Makoto, who was curled up in a ball.

She walked to the bedside, took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and lay down next to Akizuki Makoto.

She opened her arms and hugged Akizuki Makoto, who had his back to her, and whispered, "Makoto-kun, I will always be with you until you pull yourself together."

"Maki, I don't deserve this from you. I'm a... scumbag."

Feeling the warmth coming from his back, Akizuki Makoto could no longer hold back and choked out in a low voice, "Do you know, I regret it so much, I regret my choice back then."

"Yes, it's okay. Cheng-kun can do whatever he wants to me."

Shiina Maki hugged Akizuki Makoto tightly and whispered, "Makoto-kun is a gentle person. He has always been gentle to me and has saved me. Makoto-kun is my god, so you can do whatever you want to me, even if it's something very wrong."

She has no right to criticize Akizuki Makoto now, because she is also the culprit who caused Akizuki Makoto's suffering.

She knew perfectly well that Qiu Yuecheng could not have what he wanted, and that Qiu Yuecheng truly loved Ji Yexue, but she still couldn't give up on Qiu Yuecheng.

She sacrificed Akizuki Makoto and Hime Yuki's happiness and future for her own happiness. What right does she have to criticize Akizuki Makoto?
Therefore, even if Akizuki Makoto regrets dating her and regrets his decision, she has no complaints.

She and Akizuki Makoto are the same; they are both the worst kind of scum, people who trample on others' feelings just to fulfill their own desires.

(End of this chapter)