IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE? || CHOSO KAMO ||

XXXX

CHAPTER XXXX
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A YEAR HAS PASSED.

Suguru finished University, and I'm still busy with my studies.

Ever since my summer holidays at Itadori's family house, I started taking my studies more seriously.

I've settled down with Suguru, and he's started working now.

We still stay at Satoru's house since it's close to campus and Suguru is just waiting for me to finish up here so we can move to our own house.

After moving out of my shared dorm with Kugisaki we stopped talking entirely.

Fushiguro still greeted me and spoke for the weeks that remained until the holidays were over.

However, once the holidays ended and Itadori came back into town, Fushiguro couldn't even spare me a look.

Itadori and I haven't spoken since I left his family house that day.
He doesn't look at me, and when we find ourselves in the same room, he leaves entirely.

It tugs at my heart, knowing that I had done that to someone who didn't deserve it at all.

Suguru and I have stayed close, I never told him the truth, and I hope he doesn't find out.
However, the chances are slim, since he's working and only interacts with Satoru, who is also working.

I made my way to the local coffee shop to get something to drink before I went home.

There was a big party last night with people from out of town. I didn't go because I don't have a social circle in this university anymore.
I chose to not have friends here due to the risk of my mistake being told to others.

Outside the coffee shop stood a man leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette.
As I got closer features that were all too familiar started showing themselves and soon enough it revealed a person I wasn't ready to face again.

I looked at the floor, however, when I glanced up I noticed a smirk on his face.

"Hello, stranger. Did my carrier pigeon ever get back to you?" he chuckled and motioned for me to come closer.

I gave him a weak smile, but inside all I could think about if what we could have had.

"How have you been?" I asked him out of courtesy.

"Pretty well, finished uni last year, and now I'm moving on with my life." he had a satisfied smile on his face.

"Still living with your mom?" I remembered who Kaori was as a person.

"Living in the lake house, working from home." Choso seemed proud of how far he had gotten.

I felt a piece of my soul crush, knowing that I dreamed of living there with the same man standing right in front of me right now.

"That's good." I nodded slowly and dug my hands into my pockets.

"How are you and Geto?" he popped the ash of his cigarette.

"Doing well. He also finished last year and he's been working." I tried to remain as calm as possible.

"And you?" he asked me, and I felt hopeful that this conversation wouldn't be as awkward as I imagined.

"Still studying." I let out a small chuckle.

Choso brought his arms out and pulled me into his embrace.

"Come here, baby." he squeezed me and called me by that god-forsaken pet name that I once adored so much but would never admit back then.

My soul hurt, but I felt more comforted than I have for the last year.
This is what I needed.

"I miss you," he whispered in my ear and my eyes shot open,

"Why don't we-" the adrenaline in my body tried to speak for me.

The coffee store door opened and the embrace broke off, and a blonde woman walked out holding two paper cups.

"Choso! Here's your coffee." she handed it to him happily.

I was so confused because she looked so familiar.
She looked like that girl that Choso kissed at the party we went to during my stay at his family house.

"Thanks, baby." he smiled and kissed her cheek.

My eye twitched at him calling this woman the same pet name he called me when we were something once upon a time.
The same pet name he called me thirty seconds ago.

"Oh, hi! I'm Yuki, and you are?" she let her hand out to greet me.

Yuki.
The girlfriend.
The relationship I home-wrecked without knowing.

"Oh, just an old friend." I smiled weakly and shook her hand.

I couldn't risk saying my name in case it was brought into conversation in the past or the future.

"That's nice, it's always nice to come back to this side of the world." she seemed so happy, I honestly felt envious.

"This is my fiancé, Yuki." Choso brought her under his arm and kissed her cheek again.

Yuki showed me her ring finger, which displayed a sweet ring adorned with diamonds.

I could say with a full chest that I felt envious. Jealous even.

"Engaged for a few months but we've been together for about six years now, right?" she looked at him with a wide smile.

"That's right." he nodded and caressed her hand.

"I'm happy for you two, it was nice to see you Choso." I faked a smile and tried to walk away from the conversation but people hogged the door to the coffee shop.

"Go to the car so long, just want to finish this cigarette up." Choso let go of her and she walked ahead to the parking lot.

"See you around!" Yuki waved at me and I waved back pathetically.

Choso inhaled one last time and dropped the butt on the floor, smearing it across the concrete.

"Let's not run into each other again," he whispered in my ear as he walked past me.

THERE ALWAYS WAS SOMEONE ELSE.
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@SCYKHS