Chapter 1 - Reunion (Part 7)

I waited for a while until Hoshimiya woke up, and then was escorted to the entrance.

Then I got on my bike and started my morning bike ride.

It was a grueling three-hour ride.

I was sweating profusely and struggling against the cool morning breeze, when I finally arrived at my house. It was a 15-story apartment building. My house was on the 5th floor and had four bedrooms.

I continued to live there even after my family died.

It felt like a lot of space to live alone, but I'm used to it now.

After returning home, I took a quick shower and changed back into my school uniform.

And then it was time to go to school.

I don't want to go to school....

My true feelings leaked out. But I'm in the same class as Hoshimiya. So it'll be fine.

However, I was also in the same class as my childhood friend. It feels awkward.

Then...

Ding dong.

What rang in the room was either a hellish melody or a signal that the Grim Reaper had visited me.

......It was just an ordinary intercom sound. But the question is... who pressed it?

It was my childhood sweetheart! I knew intuitively. So, I didn't want to answer it.

But I couldn't help but answer it. I grabbed my bag and headed for the front door, moving my feet, which foolishly tried to slump to the floor.

I swallowed once and opened the door in one gulp.

"Good morning, Riku-chan! It's a beautiful day!"

"............"

She greeted me in a really active and cheerful way.

Harukaze Yono, there's no mistaking it, she's my childhood friend.

Her bright smile, which seemed like it knew no malice, made everyone who saw her feel happy.

Her beautifully styled shoulder-length hair fluttered in the wind, and a faint scent of flowers wafted through the air, probably from her shampoo.

Yono may be smaller than average, but his presence is strong with a sparkling atmosphere.

His personality is cheerful and kind without being sarcastic. .......I don't think there is anyone in school who doesn't like Yono.

Yono gets along with everyone, and in junior high, she ....... I'm sure she's been popular since he was in elementary school.

I was treated as a bonus to Yono. I was even called goldfish poop.

I wanted to be by his side even if I had to play the fool. That was me until yesterday.

"Where did you go yesterday? I couldn't reach you. You weren't even home."

"I went away on some business yesterday. I left my cell phone at home."

"Business? What kind of business?"

"Secret."

I couldn't tell him, "Because Yono dumped me, so I went to the mountain to bundle up!"

I couldn't say that. And now that I think about it, it turns out I really was an idiot.

"It's not good to keep secrets from your childhood friends, you know!"

"I don't care even if you say that. I mean, did you forget about yesterday when I confessed my feelings to you?"

"Yes, but as your childhood friend, I want to continue hanging out with you."

......That's too cruel, isn't it? If this were a web novel, it would be a warning for cruelty scenes with an "18+" label.

What's more, Yono didn't say this with malicious intent. I also want to continue to get along with her with pure feelings. But the fact that she has no malicious intent makes it even worse.......

"Was I wrong?"

"..."

"But if you want to hang out with me, that means you want to be with me, right? Even if we're not dating, Riku-chan and I are childhood friends, and we'll always be together, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

She seemed to really think so, and tilted her head curiously.

I felt like I was dealing with a kindergartner. Does she have no feelings of love or affection?

But still, to my dismay, my heart beat faster and faster when I was in Yono's presence.

"Well, Yono. We should leave now."

"Ah, yes! Hurry up! We'll be late!"

As if nothing had happened, as if our previous relationship was normal, Yono held my hand and took me to school.

I thought I would hate it, but.....

Apparently I still loved this childhood sweetheart of mine, even though he had dumped me.

* * *

"Ha ..... why is it like this."

Morning class. I was surrounded by a noisy atmosphere, and I hugged my head on the chair and wailed.

The reason, after all, lies with Yono.

When you are in the same class, no matter what, human instinct will make you look at the person you like.

I, who sat at the very back near the window, exuded an aura of darkness in full.

Yono's seat was the second from the front on the corridor side. During recess, some of his classmates flocked to his seat. Even now, three girls were talking to Yono.

A handsome short-haired boy who was the center of the class approached Yono with a slightly shy smile on his face.

"Umm, Harukaze-san... let's go to the cafeteria together, okay?"

"Ah, sorry. I was planning on spending time with Riku-chan."

"I see. ......Okay, I'll invite you again next time."

After being disappointed, the short-haired handsome man returned to his seat, where his friends were gathered.

On the way back, he glanced at me and gave me a look of dislike.

I know how you feel, but I'm the unhappiest one here.

"Yes, let's spend some time seeing something other than Yono."

If I just look at Yono, I will only feel difficult.

Slowly looking around the classroom, my eyes fell on Hoshimiya in the center of the classroom.

Hoshimiya was chatting with a girl who looked like a gyaru.

"......I knew it. She's completely different from her innocent mode last night."

Her brown hair was now in a ponytail, and her pretty face was covered with unnoticeable makeup. There was no cloying impression at all. She had a sparkling atmosphere or aura, and she looked like a high-class girl. Her smile also looks sweet when she speaks.

But she works part-time at a department store.

"Has anyone ever confessed to her before...?"

I had heard people in class talk a lot about Hoshimiya.

As I recall, Hoshimiya has been popular since the first ...... year.

The number of guys interested in Hoshimiya is increasing every day, and now that she is a senior in high school, she is said to be one of the most popular girls in school. Well, there's no way she can't be popular with her aura like that.

However, Hoshimiya says she has never had any experience with love confessions. .....................Why?

The girl Hoshimiya was talking to - she looks like a gyaru too.

I don't know what her name is. I can't remember. But her eyes were very intense and scary.

She had a pretty face, but her intimidating eyes gave me a scary impression. She looked more like a yankee than a gyaru.

"Riku-chan! What are you looking at?!"

"Y-Yono!"

My heart jumped. Yono was standing right next to me.

"You've been watching Ayana-chan carefully, haven't you?"

"......T-it's up to me to see who."

"That's right. ......Every time I look at Riku-chan, your eyes are always......"

Yono's voice was getting quieter. I could barely catch the last part.

"Maybe I should also dress up like Ayana-chan."

"..........W-Why?"

"Well, why, yeah?"

"Huh?"

Yono is completely incomprehensible to me. She even questioned what she said.

But from my point of view, the reason is clear.

Jealousy.....

If someone you like is interested in the opposite sex other than yourself, you'll want to compete with them.

Yono doesn't realize that - until before yesterday, I would have been jumping for joy at the thought! However, Yono only sees me as his childhood friend. His comment earlier, was probably really just a casual comment.

"Nee, Riku-chan."

"What? ---Huh?"

For some reason, Yono's eyes narrowed and she looked at me.

It was his face when she was angry.

"Could it be that ..... you were with Ayana-chan last night?"

"Wh---?!"

"Riku-chan?"

I'm sure of it! She's trying to kill me right now!

I have a feeling that if I answer him the wrong way, then he'll cut my head off with a knife right now;

Wait, Yono isn't holding a knife.

But look, there's a cold smile on his face ..... means my hunch was right.

"No, no. It's too early for Riku-chan."

"N-Nah you know......"

"I've been friends with you since we were little. We've spent a lot of time together as a family. ...... So I had to make sure that you didn't do anything strange."

"What do you mean, 'do something strange'?"

"...........That Ayana-chan, there are rumors that she has relationships with many men." said Yono with a regretful tone.

Well, I know what she's trying to tell me.

But I can assure you that's not the truth. I can be sure because of the conversation last night between me and Hoshimiya.

"That rumor is just nonsense."

"Yes, I thought so too. But, there's a possibility that it's true...."

"............."

"B-But if Riku-chan is interested in that kind of thing ..... I'll do my best as your childhood friend!" said Yono in a firm tone while blushing.

.......I also want to do it with you, but as a lover, not a childhood friend.

I'm not sure what to do with this.

I think she's abnormally attached to a childhood friend relationship.

"If you're going to go that far, why don't you date me?"

"Eh? I only have feelings for you as a childhood friend, and I don't have ...... feelings for love."

I felt like I had been drilled in my chest. In order to keep my thoughts, I decided to return to the topic.

"There's nothing between me and Hoshimiya."

I decided to lie. If I told him that I stayed overnight at Hoshimiya's house, then I would have to explain how it happened, and I didn't want to do that.

"Really?"

"Yes. The reason I saw Hoshimiya was because I heard that ...... Hoshimiya never got recognized."

"Heh, I didn't know there was such a story. Ah, but I might understand a little. I wonder if it's hard to confess to him when he's that cute. Moreover, there's Kana-chan nearby."

"Kana? Oh, that girl."

I guessed that she was referring to the girl by Hoshimiya's side with creepy eyes.

"I've heard something like ...... Kana-chan acts intimidatingly in order to keep men away from Ayana-chan."

Hmmm. That's a pretty convincing story.

From last night's conversation, I learned that Hoshimiya was not used to men.

She is not used to men, not at all. His appearance as a gyaru is just an appearance.

Her friend Kana probably knows this and wants to protect Hoshimiya.......

"Nee, Rikku-chan. Do you remember that her last name is Hoshimiya?"

"Yes, since we're in the same class ........ that's a strange question, isn't it?

"Ah, yes too. Hahaha. Then, forget it."

As if to cover up something, Yono smiled brightly. What is it...?

"Yono-! Look at this for a moment!"

A girl who was looking at her cell phone at Yono's seat called out to him quite loudly. Yono then raised his hand and cheerfully replied, "I'm coming!"

"See you again, Riku-chan! Ah ....... I put your favorite mini hamburger in today's bento!"

After saying this, Yono returned to her seat and continued her conversation with her friend.

Well, what will I do now, dad?

I naturally turned my head to look at Yono with that thought in my mind.

"Haaaa?! Ayana! You seriously let Kuromine stay at your house?!"

Kana's surprised voice drowned out the noise in the classroom and brought about a calm and quiet atmosphere.

The next moment, the gazes of all the classmates turned towards Hoshimiya and Kana.

"Hey, Kana! Your voice is too loud!"

"No, it's because, Ayana ....... are you dating Kuromine?"

"No, we're not dating, but....."

Hoshimiya's small voice spread in the quiet classroom. This might be a little dangerous.

My fears were immediately confirmed. The people in the classroom whispered to each other.

--- "Hey, is he serious? Does Hoshimiya let guys she's not dating stay at his house?"

--- "So the rumor that he likes to play around is true ....... I think it's a lie."

--- "I thought she was a very innocent girl."

--- "Hoshimiya is annoying, isn't she?"

--- "I mean, if Kuromine can do it, so can I, right?"

--- "Wait a minute. Who is Kuromine?"

............Can I cry now? Why is all this damage directed at me?

Some of my classmates don't even know that I exist.......

I thought I had been recognized in a different way. Then, I could hear a man's voice.

"Kuromine ...... ah, it's him! He's the one who's been clinging to my Yono-chan all this time!"

Haha, your eyes! Making a fuss, huh?! Yono doesn't belong to anyone!

But what most of the guys in the class were thinking was that Hoshimiya would let a guy who wasn't his girlfriend stay in his house. Of course, they also imagined what would happen next. Even though nothing actually happened.

"Uh, umm ....... ah ......."

Hoshimiya, who seemed to have sensed the surrounding gazes and thoughts, was clearly agitated.

Kana also had an expression as if to say, "Oh no!"

...... Damn, if left unchecked, this will make Hoshimiya look like a bitc*.

What should I do?

In my experience, it's best to crush rumors before they spread.

I need to do something now. Hoshimiya is my benefactor.

I want to help him somehow.

The problem now is, Hoshimiya keeps letting men who aren't his boyfriend stay at his house.

Then, I'll have to become Hoshimiya's boyfriend!

For a moment, Yono's face flashed through my mind, but then I stood up from my chair with a clatter.

Naturally, I attracted the attention of the whole class. .....You guys are paying too much attention to me, aren't you?

"Hoshimiya ...... thank you for date with me."

"......Eh, Kuromine-kun......?"

"Well, it's only natural since I confessed to you while crying. But I didn't expect that you would be so kind as to let me date you. But aren't you a little strict? You didn't even allow me to hold hands with you. Although you let me stay at your house yesterday, but you didn't even ...... let me do anything............."

"What are you talking about, Kuromine-kun? I..."

"We agreed to be together for a month, right? Well... a month ...... thank you."

After all, I spoke unilaterally.

It was definitely unnatural and not something that would be talked about in front of everyone.

But it seemed to have an effect, and the people in the class....

--- "Crying while confessing your feelings, that's terrible!"

--- "Is Hoshimiya dating Kuromine out of love......?"

--- "It was only for a limited time, and you weren't even allowed to hold hands. ......Is Hoshimiya so awake?"

--- "That's right, he wanted to hide the fact that they were together, right?"

They started saying whatever they wanted to say. Somehow, Hoshimiya's honor was successfully protected.

"Hey, wait a minute! Me and Kuromine-kun..."

Just as Hoshimiya stood up from his seat and was about to say something, the homeroom teacher appeared in the classroom. Hoshimiya, whose momentum was weakening, closed his mouth and sat back in his seat. I also sat down in my seat and breathed a sigh of relief. I think I managed to handle the sudden catastrophe almost perfectly. I'm sure Hoshimiya will thank me later.

"Mmmmmmmmm.......!"

Hoshimiya turned to look at me with a red face.

It wasn't a very strong glare, but it was ...... blinding. She looked cute like a hamster.

I felt certain that I had angered him. ......But because of what?

"-----!"

I felt a strong gaze on me again. I reflexively turned my head towards Yono, and his face, with its puffed cheeks, jumped into my field of view. She also looked like a hamster, but his eyes were clearly filled with anger.

I was in trouble.

.........But I wasn't sure what was wrong with that.

Yono and I are just childhood friends.

Plus I had confessed my feelings to Yono and was rejected.

That means who I date, there should be no problem with Yono.

Well, I'll explain it during the next break.

* * *

During break time, two girls came to me.

"Riku-chan! What was that?! Explain it to me!"

"Kuromine-kun! What did you mean by what you said earlier?!"

It was Yono and Hoshimiya. The two of them, with bright red faces, came at me with the force of punching bags. I felt like waving the white flag and giving up. I also felt that the reason why their faces were red was different.

In Yono's case, it was anger, and in Hoshimiya's case, it was shame.

"Sorry, Ayana. May I borrow Riku-chan first?"

"Oh, but I too..."

"Me first."

Yono grabbed my right arm without waiting for Hoshimiya's reply and made me stand up from my chair.

"Let's go, Riku-chan!"

"A-Ah..."

Unable to withstand Yono's overwhelming strength, I, who was pulled by his arm, decided to follow in silence.