After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Chapter 180 Do you still like me now?

The weather in summer changed rapidly.

In the afternoon, it rained again.

The dark clouds completely shielded the sunlight, and one could hear the dense sound of raindrops even while sitting inside the house.

In the room, Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina each sat in front of the desk and on the bed, staring blankly at books, both remaining silent.

It was so quiet that only the sound of rain and the turning of pages could be heard.

"Do you really plan to date Ayakoji Chiyoko?" After a long time, Kiryu Hina suddenly spoke.

Kagura Hikaru kept a calm expression, "Why do you ask?"

"Because you kissed her..."

"Yes."

"Although I hate to admit it, Ayakoji Chiyoko is indeed a great beauty, and it wouldn't be surprising if you had feelings for her."

"Kissing someone I don't like, do you think that would make me happy?" Kagura Hikaru said coldly without lifting his head.

"..."

A thick barrier of silence was erected between them.

Kiryu Hina realized her slip of the tongue.

It was a mistake she had made before, yet she hadn't learned her lesson. Why wasn't the brain she took pride in working at times like this?

She knew full well. In the past, Kagura Hikaru had been through such a thing.

Threatened by Kohinata Motoyo, he had no choice but to date her behind everyone's back.

At that time, what were Kagura Hikaru's feelings?

What are his feelings now, dating Ayakoji Chiyoko?

In essence, she was no different from the Kohinata Motoyo of the past, both forcing Kagura Hikaru to do things he did not want to do, to satisfy their own selfish desires.

Knowing nothing, she had presumptuously used these methods to take revenge.

Obtaining such a result, one could say it was well deserved.

I was wrong, I'm sorry.

This phrase tumbled around in Kiryu Hina's mind for a long time, like a fishbone stuck in her throat, unable to be spat out or swallowed, continuously tormenting her.

She had apologized to many people in the past, most of the time out of politeness or as a tactical retreat.

Just by apologizing, she could easily make others relax their guard, or even end up comforting herself. Kiryu Hina was quite skilled in this technique.

But after all, that was deceit, crying on the outside while laughing on the inside, not really feeling that way at heart.

However, once she realized she had really made an irreversible mistake, and that it had already had harmful consequences, it became hard to say sorry.

What exactly should I do? She hadn't really figured it out.

But just like what Kagura Hikaru had said earlier, she had intentionally waited for him on the way he had to pass when going home yesterday, as there were some things she needed to convey to him.

She wanted to call off the plan, to have Kagura Hikaru stop dating Ayakoji Chiyoko.

After learning the truth, this was the first thing Kiryu Hina planned to do.

Last night, that's what she had said to Kagura Hikaru as well.

But instead, she was rejected by him.

Whether good or bad, once a decision was made, it must be followed through, and such matters left no room to turn back—Kagura Hikaru made his stance clear.

Even though he was the one who would suffer the most, he still flatly refused Kiryu Hina's proposal.

He probably wanted to sever ties with her for real.

Kiryu Hina realized this belatedly, and then once again recognized her own pettiness and ruthlessness.

She shouldn't have asked him to date Ayakoji Chiyoko.

At that time, she was cornered by Ayakoji Chiyoko and Kohinata Motoyo, planning to simply and crudely push Ayakoji Chiyoko out of the picture, and so naturally used Kagura Hikaru as a pawn.

This pawn felt guilty towards her and she had a hold over him, and Kiryu Hina had no feelings for him. Even if it meant forcing him to do something against moral principles, she didn't care at all, with no trace of guilt in her heart.

The things she had done in the past had all eventually turned into retribution upon her.

The more she had hurt Kagura Hikaru in the past, the more difficult it was now to try to mend their relationship.

..........

Kiryu Hina's father was a very mature and handsome middle-aged man.

Driving a black Mercedes, dressed in a suit, well-proportioned, with a smile on his face, he was like a corporate tycoon from a city TV drama, radiating a gentle elite aura.

He spoke humbly, continuously expressing his gratitude to Kagura Hikaru and his stepmother for taking Kiryu Hina in.

"Well, Hina, it's time for us to leave," Kiryu's father turned his head and said.

But Kiryu Hina shook her head, "Dad, please go wait for me in the car."

She didn't give a reason, but Kiryu's father still respected his daughter's wishes.

The stepmother also sensed that the atmosphere was off, guessing that Kiryu Hina wanted to speak with Kagura Hikaru alone, and jokingly said, "I just remembered I still have housework to do at home, I'll head off first. Goodbye, Hina-chan."

"Mm, goodbye, Aunt."

After greeting, the stepmother hurried back into the house.

"Is there anything else?"

Kagura Hikaru stood inside the door, speaking to Kiryu Hina outside.

Kiryu Hina looked at him, light swirling in her eyes.

"Thank you for helping me yesterday."

"No need."

"Also... that night, when I wanted you to stop the plan, I was serious. It was a failure–"

"It's too late now," Kagura Hikaru said expressionlessly.

Yes, it was already too late.

From the day Kiryu Hina forced him to agree to Ayakoji Chiyoko's confession, the tragedy had already been set in motion.

Kagura Hikaru couldn't persuade himself to fall for Ayakoji Chiyoko, nor could he agree to stop the plan at this point.

Their relationship was sustained solely by Kiryu Hina's purpose.

Only by completing it could he completely conclude things with Kiryu Hina.

Being led by the nose by her all this time, Kagura Hikaru had begun to grow weary as well.

Even Chiyoko's feelings for him, he no longer had the capacity to consider now, or rather, he deliberately ignored them.

This time, he would be a truly heartless and unprincipled jerk.

No matter what Kiryu Hina thought, it all didn't matter.

"...I understand."

Seeing the intent of farewell in his eyes, Kiryu Hina's face changed for an instant, she slowly nodded, losing the mood to speak the words she had intended to say.

"I'm leaving."

"Oh."

"Hey, Mister Hikaru, I want to ask you one last question," Kiryu Hina, who had already taken two steps away, turned back, smiling, "Do you still like me now?"

Kagura Hikaru looked at her deeply, closed the door, "Goodbye."

"..."

Kiryu Hina got into the car.

Resting her head against the car window, she stared blankly outside.

Until the Kagura home was completely out of sight, tears finally slid down from the corner of her eyes.

This time, she had finally confirmed Kagura Hikaru's feelings.

Pity, they weren't what she had hoped for.

Kiryu's father noticed through the rearview mirror and quickly asked, "What's wrong, does something hurt, do we need to go to the hospital?"

"No, it doesn't hurt," Kiryu Hina shook her head, wiping her tears, "Dad, I lost something very important. What should I do...?"

"Lost something? Just make an effort to find it again," he replied.

"What if it's already impossible to find?"

"Then... just buy a new one."

"A new one... I see..." Kiryu Hina murmured softly, "But, I still want that old one."

The vehicle moved farther and farther away, driving into the pouring rain.