Chapter 4 The Betrayal of the Idol and The Quiet Shelter of a Classmate
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Just yesterday, when I got home from school, Mom told me she was divorcing Dad. The reason was Dad’s cheating. Honestly, I just couldn’t believe it.
Dad was a successful buyer of Western goods, working with major department stores, and he’d earned a lot of trust. He travels to Europe a few times a year for sourcing. Up until my second year of junior high, our whole family used to go on a trip to Europe every summer break to coincide with his buying trips.
Dad was so cool, spoke languages fluently, and was my absolute idol. In a way, I was completely a ‘Daddy’s girl’¹. My best friend, Yuzuki, even warned me, “If you don’t get over that father complex, you’ll never get married in your whole life.” That’s why, even though guys asked me out many times, there was no one better than my dad.
That made the shock of his affair so much bigger. A thought suddenly occurred to me: the reason we didn’t go abroad during my third year of junior high was supposed to be for my high school entrance exams, but we went when my older brother, who is four years older, had his exams. What did that mean? I started to feel like, yes, he must have been cheating then, too.
I got so mad at Mom for bad-mouthing Dad that I ran right out of the house.
I kept calling Dad, but every time, it just went straight to voicemail. “Dad, pick up the phone!” I screamed into the receiver.
But Dad never called me back. I didn’t know what to do, so I messaged Yuzuki on LINE, but she was going out for a family dinner.
With nowhere to go, I just wandered around the shopping mall in front of the station, but nothing even registered in my vision. People kept trying to talk to me, but I ignored them all.
Deciding to wait for Yuzuki’s call, I walked over to a convenience store near my old junior high. That’s when the three guys I absolutely hate the most approached me.
”Hey, sis, whatcha doing?”
”If you’re bored, why don’t you hang out with us?”
”If your friend comes, she can join us too, no worries.”
I ignored them, but they just wouldn’t leave me alone; they were so persistent.
”Manami, sorry. I’m late,” a voice suddenly called out my name.
There he was: Inamori-kun, smiling.
The instant I felt saved, I was also completely captivated by that smile. We were in the same class this year, just like in the third year of junior high, but I realized I was seeing that smile for the very first time.
”Hiro-kun, it’s okay; I just got here early,” I heard myself say.
Inamori-kun’s embarrassed face when I used his first name, ‘Hiro-kun,’ was actually quite cute.
My emotions were such a mess, and I didn’t want to be alone, so I ended up following Inamori-kun all the way back to his house.
I know it’s totally out of line to go to a male classmate’s place, especially one who lives alone. Maybe it was that smile I saw, but for some reason, I just felt safe with Inamori-kun.
Once we got to his place, I could feel his thoughtfulness, his deep care. He immediately started running a bath for me, and he lent me clothes to change into.
I certainly didn’t expect him to even lend me a brand new set of underwear. After taking a bath, you definitely don’t want to put the underwear you wore before back on.
The sweatpants he offered were far too big for me, though. So, I decided to wear a freshly washed shirt he had in the dryer instead.
I figured I could just roll up the sleeves, and the shirt covered my bottom, so it seemed okay. Still, it looked pretty revealing, and I felt shy about it.
I was grateful that Inamori-kun stayed quiet because I really didn’t want to be asked anything right then. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but not having to hear any unnecessary questions was a huge relief.
I didn’t want to go back home, and I’d planned to stay at Yuzuki’s, but I hadn’t heard back from her. So, I just blurted out, “Can I stay the night?” Inamori-kun looked completely surprised and a bit flustered.
Of course he did; it was an outrageous thing to ask.
I knew I was being a huge burden. I realized I might only regret it if anything happened, but I felt like I could trust him.
He let me use his parents’ bedroom.
I turned off the light and slid into the bed. Being alone again, memories of Dad kept flooding my mind, one after the other.
Dad, whom I loved so much.
The tears just wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t stand being alone.
I didn’t care what might happen.
With a sudden resolution, I got out of bed and went to Inamori-kun’s room. I could hear his quiet, rhythmic breathing.
Looking at his sleeping face, I started to feel ashamed of myself. Inamori-kun had lost his own parents, yet he was quietly enduring it all.
And here I was, just being desperate and throwing a tantrum. Yearning for his kindness, I carefully slid into the bed, wrapping myself against his chest, as he slept on his side, almost as if I were being embraced.
I woke up a little after seven the next morning.
I thanked Inamori-kun and left his room. I borrowed the shower and changed back into the clothes I had worn the day before.
I put the borrowed shirt, T-shirt, and underwear into a nearby paper bag. I wanted to make breakfast as a thank-you, but when I opened the fridge, I was shocked to see it was almost completely empty except for drinks.
I went to the convenience store and bought a few things we could eat for breakfast. After I woke Inamori-kun up, the two of us ate together.
”I’ll wash the clothes I borrowed and bring them back to you.”
”Wouldn’t it be kind of gross for me to wear the underwear Manami-san wore? You can just throw those away,” he suggested.
”In that case, I’ll do as I please with them,” I said with a slight smile.
I finished up the dishes, thanked him again, and then left Inamori-kun’s house.
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Summary:
Manami’s perfect world shatters with the news of her father’s cheating and her parents’ divorce. She runs away, hurt and lonely, but finds a surprising sanctuary in the quiet home of her classmate, Inamori-kun. His simple, unquestioning kindness and practical care—providing a bath and clean clothes—offers her a temporary, desperately needed escape. The night ends with Manami seeking solace in his presence, curling up in his bed to find comfort against her overwhelming sorrow.
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Character Insight:
Manami’s ‘Daddy’s girl’ complex is the root of her shock; her father’s betrayal feels like a foundational break, making her vulnerable and desperate for a replacement for that lost security. Inamori-kun, having faced loss, offers a silent, gentle empathy that Manami instantly recognizes as trustworthy, prompting her to disregard social norms for emotional connection.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter establishes the unexpected, emotionally intense bond between Manami and Inamori-kun, set against a backdrop of classic teen emotional turmoil. Her stay at his house is an act of defiance against her family and a reckless plea for comfort, a moment of profound vulnerability that changes their relationship instantly.
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T/L:
¹ Daddy’s girl (ファザコン): A shortened Japanese slang term, fazakon (from ‘father complex’), used to describe a girl with an unusually strong, sometimes excessive, emotional attachment to her father. It suggests this attachment interferes with her romantic life. ↩
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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