I Won't Be a Loser

"I already told you, I don't want to hear your voice again. If you keep harassing me, I'll call the police!"

After hanging up the phone, Setsuna's mother, Kiyoura Mai, felt nothing but disdain for the man on the other end of the line. She stared at the unfamiliar contact number on her phone, not hesitating for a second before adding it to her blacklist. This wasn't the first time he had contacted her with a new number.

He claimed it was for the sake of their child, urging her to reconsider his position as a father, and to give Setsuna a more complete family.

Sitting in her office, Kiyoura Mai glanced at her contact list, finding a friend who shared a similar experience. She decided to reach out.

"Yoko? It's me, Mai."

"Has that man contacted you too? Has he been in touch already?"

A wave of frustration rose in Mai's chest, though she quickly quelled it with a sigh of resignation. She had long known the man's nature, so why was she even bothering to confirm it?

"Yes, he contacted me. Be careful with him—don't let him fool you again!"

After a conversation with her friend, Mai understood her resolve. As a fellow single mother, they had formed a kind of alliance. With a sigh, Mai hung up the phone, placed it down, and glanced at the clock on her desk. After gathering her things, she left the office, preparing to head home.

Years ago, when Mai was younger, she had worked part-time in a restaurant owned by her aunt, Yoko Saionji. Though they were close in age, Mai was Yoko's niece, which was the only reason she had ended up working there.

It was there that she met Shun, a man she had thought would be her lifelong partner. However, she later discovered his secret—he had been involved with her aunt Yoko behind her back.

Hailing from the Inou family, a family that Mai despised with all her heart, she had no love for her mother or her lineage. After learning of Shun's betrayal, she immediately severed all ties with him, especially after discovering the blood relation between him and her aunt.

Fortunately, the source of all this trouble, her despicable grandfather and biological father, Inou Shi, had run away a decade ago due to debts and had been found dead in the sea. Though his body had been swollen from the water, Mai's mother and grandmother had still recognized him.

Thinking about her family's history darkened Mai's mood as she made her way home, dreading what awaited her there.

"Setsuna, I'm home."

"Welcome back."

As Mai entered the apartment, she felt something was different from usual. Setsuna was sitting in the living room, a solemn expression on her face.

"Setsuna?"

"Mom, there's something I need to tell you."

Mai, still in a bad mood, felt herself perk up slightly as she entered the living room. She placed her bag on the nearby shelf and sat down beside her daughter.

"What is it?"

"I… I have someone I like."

Mai was silent for a moment. On any normal day, she might have been more open-minded about Setsuna's relationships, encouraging her to date as a normal part of growing up. However, today, after everything that had happened, she was a little more sensitive.

"So… what kind of person are they?"

Setsuna hesitated. Despite having made up her mind to talk to her mother about this, she now found it difficult to explain. She lowered her gaze, nervously biting her lip, her hands gripping the sides of her knees.

"Could it be… that new guy who moved in?"

Setsuna's eyes widened in surprise, unsure how her mother had figured it out. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.

"Miyamizu… haruto, I like Haruto."

Looking at her daughter's flushed face, Mai was taken aback. They had only met a few days ago, and yet Setsuna had already fallen so deeply.

"Wait, you've only met once, right?"

"No, today was the second time."

"…Setsuna, are you sure you like him?"

Mai asked, worried that her daughter might not fully understand what "liking" someone meant.

"I do like him."

Setsuna met her mother's gaze, her face turning even redder. It was clear that she had put more thought into it, trying to provide reasons her mother could understand.

"Today, I confessed to him… and we kissed."

Mai fell silent. She had always known Setsuna to be reserved, rarely showing her emotions, but now she was blushing and acting like a typical love-struck teenager. Mai's feelings were mixed—though she was somewhat relieved that nothing more had happened yet, she was still concerned about her daughter's decision.

Mai sat back, observing Setsuna carefully. Based on her daughter's posture, it seemed nothing too serious had occurred yet, which put Mai at ease, but she couldn't help but worry.

"You've only known him for a short time. Why tell me about this now? This kind of thing should be shared with your friends, someone your own age."

Setsuna went quiet for a moment, hesitating before replying. She wanted to tell Yoko, her close friend, but after the last time Yoko had tried to run off with the news, Setsuna knew better than to share her progress just yet.

"At first, Haruto refused me. He wasn't planning on dating anyone before graduating from university."

Mai raised an eyebrow, surprised. Given Haruto's handsome appearance, he was bound to be popular, especially among high school girls like Setsuna. It didn't make sense that he wouldn't be interested in dating. She suspected he was just brushing her off.

"But after I kissed him, he changed his mind."

"So, he agreed?"

Mai's shock and disappointment were evident. If a simple kiss was enough to change his stance, then Haruto didn't seem like the most reliable guy.

"He made a condition."

Setsuna shook her head slightly, her voice calm.

"He said he would only date me if it was with marriage in mind. He doesn't want a relationship unless it leads to marriage."

Mai froze. She stared at her daughter in silence for a long moment, then glanced toward Haruto's apartment. Turning back to Setsuna, she asked,

"Did he really say that?"

"Yes. Haruto said that as long as my parents approve of our relationship, he'd be willing to pursue it. But if they object, I should focus on my studies instead."

Mai felt a mixture of relief and suspicion. The conditions sounded reasonable, but it also seemed like a way to gently reject her daughter.

Mai stood up and looked at Setsuna.

"You're going to prepare dinner tonight. I'll go check out who this Haruto really is. If he's a nice guy, then... Mom will consider agreeing to your relationship. But if he's someone like that guy... Even if you like him, it won't work!"

Mai trailed off, a determined look in her eyes. She wasn't about to let her daughter fall into another bad relationship so easily.

Mai looked at her daughter. Last time she asked her daughter to deliver the housewarming gift it was just a spur of the moment decision. She never expected that her daughter would fall so easily.

Therefore, this time she wanted to personally test the other party's background and depth to see where the other party came from!

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T/N: I have uploaded some pics of Mc in the auxiliary chapter, have a look at it.