Imasara desu ga, Osananajimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimaimashita - Ch. 38 - Happy End

[Litreara]

Uh no, we dont know if they actually kiss though.

An excerpt from Chapter 21 of the novel:

...

"Shut up already, Yuu!"

The girl I knew so well moved.

She wrapped her hands around the boy's head -- the boy she'd just slapped -- and pulled him down.
Their faces, over ten centimeters apart in height, closed the distance, and her lips pressed against his.

"Ah... ahhh..."

Maybe this was just one of those moments -- awkward and private -- something I wasn't supposed to see. A coincidence that I stumbled upon it.

But their voices...
Both of their voices, voices I knew so well, were echoing in my mind, over and over.

Ta~kun...
And... and... Aya-chan?!

No, nonono, I'm wrong, this can't be right!
The boy might be Ta~kun, but the girl -- it's not Aya-chan. It can't be.

...But even if it's not her, what does that change?

That boy over there is definitely Ta~kun, no doubt about it.
So why am I so hung up on whether or not the girl is Aya-chan?

Would it be such a big deal if the other person was my best friend?
Wait, no, that's not it. It's not Aya-chan. It can't be.

Ta~kun even said it himself.
That's Yami-senpai, that's what he called her. It's someone else. A different person.

It's not Aya-chan...
It's not... Ayami-chan...... right?

............
............

See? I knew it.
Kissing is nothing special, just the taste of spit.

...Just the taste of Yuu.

Sigh. This is why I was hiding in the first place...

The moment he came to my school -- my classroom -- I slipped away, avoiding him entirely.

So why... why did he came back?

Why do you always manage to find me, Yuu?

A ringing sound fills my head, jumbling my thoughts.
No, wait -- it's not ringing.

It's the sound of heavy raindrops, pelting the classroom windows, blurring everything outside.

I'm Sudou Ayami, eighteen years old......

......and before I realized it, my ex-boyfriend became the boy my best friend is in love with.

 

[HellJester]

You know how Yami started out as crap and it wasn't until she finally let Hikari in that she started to change and become a better person (in the eyes of the characters not us)? It took a fall from grace with Hikari (the compensated dating debacle) and then after that Hikari worked her magic.

Would kind of be nice to have the same happen with Yuu. This is his version of Yami's compensated dating debacle and now Hikari will work her magic and Yuu will eventually stop being a cowardly bitch. They won't end up together but he'll be a better person.

 

[Kanade0021]

thanks for the translation!

 

[eviljackspicer]

She actually stuck up for herself.

 

[silentkill]

she avoided a bullet?! lets see in the next chapter xD

 

[EchoGirl]

yeah, aleast be clear about Yami situation.

I mean other than being 'we dated for a brief moment/she comforted me after i failed the entrance exam to get in the same school you're in', i wonder how she'd react to "i kinda ended up in a friends with benefits situation unintentionally" (although Yuu might've seen it more as 'dating' while Yami saw it as a 'fling' despite having feelings for him lol)

thanks for the tl (seriousness aside, i do like how her friends were drawn in the bg , maybe the author will get to do a more lighthearted series after this haha [or just to troll the fans, work with an author that'd make things even twice as dramatic])

 

[story645]

When sis rejects her dream boyfriend because he didn’t tell her a bunch of shit that mostly was none of her business

B/c hiding stuff from her kills the dream? She likes him for his openess and honesty (just like Aya) and that they can be so comfortable with each other, and him hiding such a big piece of his life is a rejection of all that.

 

[Friendly-Sentence710]

"It is great that Hikari is asserting herself now instead of later."
"...Seriously Hikari? YOU'RE saying that?"
and
"This isn't insurmountable (as long as Yuu puts down the shovel and stops digging)"
Are not mutually exclusive thoughts.

I had a coworker who was due to be married to a lady he'd been dating for 5+ years, ever since college. Early in the relationship, while they were still in college, they had a fight and he had been angry, gone to a party, and cheated on her. With the wedding planned and booked, he had decided to come clean.

Her response was, in short, to call off the wedding, blame him for telling her to 'ease his own guilt about it', "If you were actually sorry you'd have just taken that to your grave", and cut him completely out of her life.

Keep in mind, Yami didn't say anything either and still did this behind Hikari's back. Yami is absolute trash, always believed that and always will.

Yami needs to perform a serious self-defucking.

Part of the issue with Yami acting like trash is she believes herself to be trash. She ghosts Yuu because she doesn't believe herself worthy of being happy. She pushes Hikari away with max force because she don't believe she's worth saving. Her home life is also a mess where she was put in a no-win situation of "Get molested by step-dad" or "Destroy Mom's happiness by destroying her marriage".

I don't think she's irredeemable, but she has to really, really work at fixing herself so she can stop thinking she's trash so she can stop acting like trash.

 

[NerimaShinjuku]

B/c hiding stuff from her kills the dream? She likes him for his openess and honesty (just like Aya) and that they can be so comfortable with each other, and him hiding such a big piece of his life is a rejection of all that.

Then her dream was a delusion from the start. She’s throwing away the boy she loves because her PERFECT boyfriend-to-be would have run to her (when they were just friends) and told her all about having sex with a sad weirdo who made him feel bad about himself. Seems like something he was allowed to keep private, but not in Hikari land!

 

[banas002]

Oof, spicy

 

[idk234]

she hit him with naruto's line to sakura

 

[story645]

She’s throwing away the boy she loves because her PERFECT boyfriend-to-be would have run to her (when they were just friends) and told her all about having sex with a sad weirdo who made him feel bad about himself.

No b/c her boyfriend to be knows at this moment that she's upset and that she knows he's lying and decided to double down on flimsy and deflect with how he's always loved her & confess rather than acknowledge the elephant in the room (which is also cowardly).

He could absolutely have kept the details of a relationship with Aya private (details Hikari knows b/c Aya told her friends all the gory details) while still acknowledging it existed.

 

[GG334]

KINOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[scalhotrod]

"It is great that Hikari is asserting herself now instead of later."
"...Seriously Hikari? YOU'RE saying that?"
and
"This isn't insurmountable (as long as Yuu puts down the shovel and stops digging)"
Are not mutually exclusive thoughts.

I had a coworker who was due to be married to a lady he'd been dating for 5+ years, ever since college. Early in the relationship, while they were still in college, they had a fight and he had been angry, gone to a party, and cheated on her. With the wedding planned and booked, he had decided to come clean.

Her response was, in short, to call off the wedding, blame him for telling her to 'ease his own guilt about it', "If you were actually sorry you'd have just taken that to your grave", and cut him completely out of her life.


Yami needs to perform a serious self-defucking.

Part of the issue with Yami acting like trash is she believes herself to be trash. She ghosts Yuu because she doesn't believe herself worthy of being happy. She pushes Hikari away with max force because she don't believe she's worth saving. Her home life is also a mess where she was put in a no-win situation of "Get molested by step-dad" or "Destroy Mom's happiness by destroying her marriage".

I don't think she's irredeemable, but she has to really, really work at fixing herself so she can stop thinking she's trash so she can stop acting like trash.

One counter. Swap thinking and acting. While the original cause of her thinking she’s trash is not her actions, those actions reinforce it. She has to stop acting like trash in order to stop thinking it. It’s why these cycles are so difficult to break.

 

[Golliboy]

The entire time I was reading I was like

 

[ShrimpShady]

Put your foot down, girl. Address the fuck out of that gigantic pachyderm taking up residence in the room.

 

[MysteryMedia]

Yeah Hikari! Get his ass!

 

[nogoodsumbeach]

Third, since the chapter leaked last week, I’ve had time to write down my thoughts on the situation:

Yuu’s Lack of Honesty Was a Conscious Choice, and His Reasons Aren’t That Important

• He knew Yami could be at the school.
• He chose not to be honest with Hikari, even though he had multiple chances.
• He lied about his phone dying and Hikari caught it immediately.
• He still confessed after all this, fully aware he was hiding things from her.

This wasn’t a mistake — it was deception by omission. He had every opportunity to be honest and chose not to. I get it — he has his issues, and the situation is complicated. But at the end of the day, intent doesn't erase impact.

Intent absolutely doesnt erase impact i agree with you there, but i just cant agree with the "Reasons arent important" bit of your point.
Yuu telling Hikari about the real reason why he was hiding his feeling for all this time, telling her abouf the true nature of his relationship with Yami and why he was hiding the relationship etc. would absolutely go a long way for him to regain her trust.
The impact of the lie (or not telling the whole truth) would still be there yes, but knowing the intent COULD lessen the impact is my point.

The Possible Path to Forgiveness (If It Exists)

For Hikari to even consider forgiving him, Yuu would need to:

• Be fully transparent—no excuses, no omissions—about his past and his lack of honesty.
• Prove he’s changed—not just apologize, but show through actions that he won’t hide things again.
• Give Hikari space—if reconciliation ever happens, it has to be her choice, in her own time.

But even then? The trust is gone. And what’s the value of honesty after the fact? Close to none. Some wounds don’t heal, especially when the betrayal involves multiple layers of secrets and lies.

Yeah this i agree with u 100%, if Yuu want to save this relationship then he needs to be fully honest and tell Hikari everything from now on. Why he was hiding his feelings for all this time, why he was hiding his relationship with Yami etc.

My Verdict: Yuu Doesn’t Deserve Forgiveness

Yuu’s actions weren’t just small mistakes—they were a chain of deliberate deceptions that led to Hikari’s heartbreak at the worst possible moment. He broke her trust, ignored her emotional well-being, and acted only when it served him.

Yuu may have had fears, insecurities, or even reasons he thought were justified—but none of that changes the fact that he broke her trust. And without trust, even the most heartfelt love can fall apart. Forgiveness isn’t owed just because someone feels regret. Yuu had every chance to do right by Hikari and chose not to. He doesn’t deserve her forgiveness.

Yeah i just cant agree with this tho.
Yuu absolutely should have done better in this whole situation, but saying he doesnt deserve forgiveness is just a bit too far for me.
Especially since we still doesnt know the real reason of why Yuu has been lying/keeping secrets from Hikari.

Like if for example we find out in a couple of chapters real reason why Yuu was lying/keeping secrets was so that he can still have a chance at both Hikari and Yami then i would immediately join your side.

But i am always of the belief that real reason why he is lying/keeping the relationship a secret from Hikari is all linked back to him and his feelings towards her.
Like when he started dating Yami, he still hangs out with Hikari (as per the novel) but he didnt tell her about him dating another girl. Why? I genuinely believe because he still hasnt fully move on from Hikari and telling her about it would absolutely change their relationship (they could stop hanging out etc.)

What Yuu had done so far is stupid and he should have just been honest from the start about everything, but i just think he still deserve forgiveness. Granted he needs to be fully honest with Hikari from now on to be someone that deserve that forgiveness.

 

[middle-the-nerd]

First, for those who aren't aware, the author accidentally leaked the chapter of the novel last week. Here's an MTL of the chapter:

Spoiler: Chapter 38

Chapter 38: It's a Little Late, but About My Childhood Friend...

A Saturday in late September.
A day I would never forget.

Yuu: "I... I've liked you for a long time, Hikari!"

Behind the stage in the gymnasium.
Two of my friends are hiding in the shadows, peeking out and silently freaking out in excitement.
And in front of me, standing stiff as a board, face beet red, my childhood friend struggles to force out his words.

Yuu: "It's true... since middle school... no, since we first became friends."

It was unmistakably my “childhood friend Ta-kun” that I knew.

A boy who was a little unreliable, shy, pure, and kind.
And now, he was squeezing out every last bit of courage he had to say these words to me.
More than the words themselves, it was his attitude that made it so incredibly convincing.

Yuu: "I'm not lying... I’ve never been able to give up."

It was exactly how I had always imagined it, ever since I first started noticing him—
"If Ta-kun ever confessed to me, I bet it would feel just like this."

Hikari: "Since... a long time ago?"
Yuu: "Since a long time ago."

Finally, I managed to find my voice.
But... it still wasn’t my answer to his confession.

Hikari: "Then, then... why did you always act like everything was normal...?"
Yuu:"Well... I was desperately trying to hold it back."
Hikari: "Why did you need to hold it back?"
Yuu:"Because we were close..."

I stood on tiptoe to get closer to his face, pouting as I pressed him for answers.

I mean, this confession was way overdue. Seriously, only now?
And even then, only after everyone else basically set the stage for him? Talk about being a massive chicken!

Yuu: "B-but if I had been all obvious about how much I liked you... and you didn’t feel the same way, the atmosphere would’ve gotten super awkward, right?"
Hikari: "Ugh..."
Yuu: "And then if you stopped coming around to my place... if we started drifting apart... I couldn’t handle that."

Hikari: "Wait, hold on a sec..."

When I was desperately pretending to act normal...
he was doing the exact same thing?

Hikari: "You thought I wasn’t thinking about you at all, Ta-kun?"
Yuu: "I didn’t think it was nothing, but... I wasn’t sure if it was that kind of feeling."
Hikari: "Come on! Ta-kun, seriously, you have no confidence!"
Yuu: "But it’s you, Hikari! Do you really think I'm good enough for you!?"
Hikari: "I do!"
Yuu: "That’s just you being mistaken! No one knows how amazing you are better than I do!"

I feel like a boomerang just keeps smacking me right in the head.
What is with this coward!
It’s so painful, like watching all my own embarrassing behavior from the past six months!

Hikari: "But, but! Lately I’ve been super obvious about how much I liked you, haven’t I?!"
Yuu: "How was I supposed to believe that! You’re naturally way too close to people! You’ve made me think the wrong thing so many times before!"
Hikari: "That's so mean!"

Seriously, Ta-kun...
I basically just confessed to you right now!
Why can’t you realize that!?

Yuu: "That's why I kept being so careful, watching for the right moment..."

You're telling me... you were that serious about confessing?

Yuu: "I wanted to wait until I was 100% sure... and then finally, with everything lined up, I could do it."

You're saying... my feelings mattered that much to you?

Hikari: "...Did you reach 100%?"
Yuu: "I’m not sure, but..."
Hikari: "But?"
Yuu: "But today... today, I just felt like I had to tell you."

Hikari: 'Why did you think it had to be today?'

I desperately held back the words that had been slipping out nonstop until now.

I pressed my lips tightly together, holding everything back.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Then, keeping that pressure, I forced the corners of my mouth up into a big smile.

Hikari: "So... that's how it is... huh..."

Still standing on tiptoe, right in front of his face,
I showed him a beaming smile.

Along with all the overwhelming feelings inside me.

Hikari: "I'm really, really happy, Ta-kun."
Yuu: "...!"

Those were the honest words from the bottom of my heart—no lies, no exaggeration.

I was happy. Really, truly happy.

That he had been trapped in the same dilemma as me.
That he had been carrying the same feelings as me.
That he had been hiding the same feelings as me.

And that today, everything finally been resolved.

Hikari: "I love you too... I really, really love you!"
Yuu: "Hikari..."

...Everything?

Hikari: "Maybe... no, I'm sure I realized it after you did..."

No, it’s everything.
Everything has been resolved.

Hikari: "But my feelings now are the same as yours... no, even stronger than yours."
Yuu: "That's not true... I've been in love with you for ten years!"

Honestly, I was supposed to be the one to confess first.
The future I'd been dreaming of for so long was now right here in front of me.
How could I not accept such a wonderful, miraculous accident?

Hikari: "In other words, right now, I love you more than ten times as much as you love me!"
Yuu: "There's no way that's possible..."

Yeah...
I'm sure that "thing earlier" was just a small misunderstanding.

Something tiny.

If I don't say anything, this is a happy ending...

"Heh..."
"Haha..."

So I’ll laugh.
And I’ll accept it.
Accept his feelings.

Hikari: "It doesn’t even matter, really."
Yuu: "Yeah... you're right."
Hikari: "..."

He embraced my pure feelings.

His arms wrapped around my back, holding me close.
So I wrapped my arms around his back too, grasping at the empty air above.

Yuu: "Hikari..."
Hikari: "Yeah..."

He looked deep into my eyes.
And before I could get swallowed up in his gaze, I closed mine.

It’s okay. I won’t ask anymore. I won’t look. I won’t say anything.
Because this is for being together with the person I love more than anything.

A little compromise...
should be acceptable, right?

Hikari: "...!"

Compromise?

Why do I have to compromise...
with Ta-kun?

With the first person I ever loved,
the person I love the most...
why should I ever have to compromise?

Hikari: "———!"
Yuu: "Whoa...!"

A loud crash echoed backstage.
It was because he knocked over some equipment when he fell backward onto his butt.

...No, that's not exactly right.
Because the one who pushed him was...

It was me.

Yuu: "Hi... Hikari...!"

Still sprawled on the ground, he looked up at me.
His gaze, his expression—
they said it all.

...He knew.
He knew why I did it.

Hikari: "I love you, Ta-kun! I really love you!"

Yes, it was a Saturday in late September.
A day I would never forget—
and a day I never wanted to remember.

Hikari: "But! But! I hate liars!"

Shirasaka Hikari, sixteen years old...

I just rejected my childhood friend.
...At this late stage.

...

...

...

...

I see... I knew it.

I did think Hikari was acting a little differently than usual.

She saw it.
She found out about that...

I didn’t lie.
I’ve loved Hikari, for so long, ever since way back.

But still, there’s no denying it—
today, I was the worst.

Takamura Yuu, sixteen years old...

Today, I experienced my fourth heartbreak.
And my third heartbreak with the same girl—Hikari.

---

Second, from the author on X:

So no Yuu POV—at least not in the next chapter. That one should be from Yami's perspective. Hopefully, we’ll finally get to see what happened when she and Yuu met at the school.

---

Third, since the chapter leaked last week, I’ve had time to write down my thoughts on the situation:

Yuu’s Lack of Honesty Was a Conscious Choice, and His Reasons Aren’t That Important

• He knew Yami could be at the school.
• He chose not to be honest with Hikari, even though he had multiple chances.
• He lied about his phone dying and Hikari caught it immediately.
• He still confessed after all this, fully aware he was hiding things from her.

This wasn’t a mistake — it was deception by omission. He had every opportunity to be honest and chose not to. I get it — he has his issues, and the situation is complicated. But at the end of the day, intent doesn't erase impact.

Why Forgiveness Feels Impossible (And Might Stay That Way)

Yuu’s actions create a triple betrayal for Hikari:

• : Witnessing Yami kiss Yuu is a soul-crushing moment.
• The Lie: Yuu’s flimsy excuse about his phone compounds the hurt, making it clear he’s hiding things.
• The Hidden Past: The fact that Yuu's ex-girlfriend goes to the same school as her—and he never told Hikari—undermines years of trust.

Hikari’s rejection isn’t just anger. Her rejection comes from a place of deep emotional pain. She was prepared to confess her feelings, to open her heart, and in return, she witnessed a moment that shattered her world. She tried to force herself to accept his confession, but her emotions screamed "This isn’t right."

Why Yuu’s Confession May Feel Hollow to Hikari

• “I’ve liked you for 10 years” clashes with “You’re hiding things from me and kissed my ‘best friend.’”
• His words don’t match his actions. If he truly loved her for so long, why the secrecy? Why not just be honest?

For someone like Hikari, trust is everything. Yuu didn’t just break it—he shattered it in the moment she was most vulnerable (her planned confession).

Could Yuu Ever Be Forgiven? Realistically, It’s Unlikely

• The Foundation Is Already Cracked: Yuu chose to hide his past, meaning their childhood friend bond was never fully honest. Hikari might wonder: What else hasn’t he told me?
• Yuu’s Lack of Honesty Shows He Doesn’t Trust Her: If Yuu couldn’t be honest after multiple opportunities, how could Hikari ever trust him in the future?
• Yami’s Role Makes It Messier: This isn’t just about Yuu; Hikari’s “best friend” betrayed her too. Even if Yuu tries to fix things, Yami’s presence will always haunt their dynamic.

Even if Yuu were to explain everything now, it wouldn’t undo what happened. He let Hikari walk into a painful situation blind, lied to her face afterward, and made his confession without giving her the full picture. Hikari’s pain came not only from the betrayal itself, but from being denied the agency to make informed choices. That’s a deep wound, and it may never fully heal.

The Possible Path to Forgiveness (If It Exists)

For Hikari to even consider forgiving him, Yuu would need to:

• Be fully transparent—no excuses, no omissions—about his past and his lack of honesty.
• Prove he’s changed—not just apologize, but show through actions that he won’t hide things again.
• Give Hikari space—if reconciliation ever happens, it has to be her choice, in her own time.

But even then? The trust is gone. And what’s the value of honesty after the fact? Close to none. Some wounds don’t heal, especially when the betrayal involves multiple layers of secrets and lies.

My Verdict: Yuu Doesn’t Deserve Forgiveness

Yuu’s actions weren’t just small mistakes—they were a chain of deliberate deceptions that led to Hikari’s heartbreak at the worst possible moment. He broke her trust, ignored her emotional well-being, and acted only when it served him.

Yuu may have had fears, insecurities, or even reasons he thought were justified—but none of that changes the fact that he broke her trust. And without trust, even the most heartfelt love can fall apart. Forgiveness isn’t owed just because someone feels regret. Yuu had every chance to do right by Hikari and chose not to. He doesn’t deserve her forgiveness.

Disclaimer

Yuu bros, before you jump in to defend him, I want you to think about this: impact > intent.

Thanks for the chapter!

I do stand by what I was saying about Yuu when the chapter leaked-

1. First the kiss isn't fair to judge him on that's firmly on Yami him lying though is completely valid critism

2. Given the potential implications of the chapter it's a bit premature to he's "unforgivable" in my opinion

3. Just to be clear there isn't any reasoning and backstory that could fully justify what he did or the damage he caused but it very much could DRASTICALLY change how understandable his behavior is especially given his age

We're basically trying to judge an incomplete puzzle in regards to him- are his behavior and actions JUSTIFIED? No but it's not fully fair to already determine there's no POTENTIAL basis for his behavior once we inevitably have full context and that he deserves no chance at making things right and earning from his mistakes and behavior

People fuck up it's part of being human and yes we SHOULD criticize people when they're shitty but we should also acknowledge that people can learn from there mistakes and behavior (which I think Yuu is definitely realizing is a problem with him acknowledging he was "the worst") weither his feelings and behavior are more understandable once we have full context and if he finally starts developing from this are what's most important

But yeah that's just my 2 cents I think most of your points and critisms of him are fair but disagree with the conclusion of deeming him "unforgivable"

 

[DATAKX]

I don't think there will be any romance in the finale. Both girls' behavior is understandable and forgivable. However the guy is sucks. He is not honest and thoughtful, like how can you kiss with your ex and then confess someone else. Don't you think she deserves to know that??? By the way, his best friend doesn't even know that he dated a girl for a while. He never told her.
Possible happy ending for this manga: 2 girls who are happy with their friendship and 1 loser.