The club activities are over. The sky was completely dark, and artificial lights were illuminating the area.
“I’m so tired. Today’s practice was tough. Oh, by the way, Hiroki-kun, let’s go and eat some ramen afterward okay?”
All the sweaty players just finished soccer practice gathered in the club room. At the same time, I, Hiroki Umesaki, am invited to join his teammates for dinner. They’ve just finished a hard practice session, so they must all be hungry. In fact, I’m hungry too.
“Oh, sorry. I can’t make it today again. I’m sorry you invited me.”
But I won’t be able to make it. There’s a place I have to go after school.
“Again today? Why don’t you introduce me to your girlfriend?”
“It’s not like a girlfriend. I’m going home early. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Then I hurried to the place I wanted to go. It’s a place I’ve been going to since the winter of my first year of high school, six months ago.
“Good evening.”
"Good evening Hiroki-kun. Thank you again for visiting my home.”
This is the residence of my longtime childhood friend Yukiho Hamachi. In the past, there have been a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time, but they have never been able to get a job.
When I pressed the intercom, Yuki’s mother greeted me once again. Due to my club activities, I can only come during the evening hours. However, she still welcomes me without any hesitation.
“I’m sorry to come to your door so late at night. So......how are things going today?”
“Not at all. She locked herself in her room as usual.”
“......Is that so?”
“I really wonder when...... when she’s going back to school like she used to.”
Yuki’s mother said with a disappointed look on her face. When I heard that, I couldn’t help but make a worried expression.
Yes, Yuki stopped going to school last December. She had always been a quiet person, but she had never been reported to be harassed at school, nor had she ever performed poorly in her studies. Nonetheless, she suddenly stopped going to school and began to stay in her room.
As a childhood friend of Yuki’s since she was four years old, I was worried about her, so I came to her house every day after she stopped going to school and talked to her, as well as handed her handouts starting from the second year when we were in the same class. I thought it was the least I could do.
But sometimes, I’m not sure if what I’m doing is really good for Yuki or not. Maybe it’s just unnecessary for Yuki. Perhaps she doesn’t really want me to come and visit her. I’m not sure what to do, but I think it would be a good idea to come. So I come to see her every day.
“If she doesn’t come out of her room, I am afraid...... she won’t be able to graduate from high school.”
Yuki’s attendance is already in the danger zone. If she misses any more classes, she will have to stay in high school or...... in the worst case, she has to drop out of school. Yuki’s mother was very worried about the situation.
“I’ll go and talk with Yuki then.”
“Please do, Hiroki-kun.”
Then I go to Yuki’s room. When we were kids, we used to go into each other’s room several times and play together. But since junior high school, we’ve never been in each other’s rooms. Now that we’re in high school, Yuki has stopped going to school, and I’ve started coming to her room every day ...... but she’d never even opened the door.
“Yuki, good evening.”
I knock gently on the door and greet her. The only sound that comes back is the gentle knocking on the other side of the door. There was no reply, but I was happy that Yuki responded like this.
“Today, I bought a delicious bento lunch at a bento shop. It was a deep-fried Tatsuta bento, but there was a lot of it and I was already stuffed.”
Then I spoke to Yuki through the door. Yuki doesn’t reply; however, I just talk to her. But I still want to see Yuki.
“Well, my friend took a piece of tatsutaage without permission. When I tried to take it back, he swallowed it....... I thought his appetite was terrific.
“So, after school, he had a stomach ache and came late to practice. Today it’s an essential practice to determine the starting lineup for the prefectural tournament. But, well, ...... it looked like he was going to win a spot.
“...... So you know something? I had a really good practice session today, and I think I’m going to be a starter. Hence, .......”
After saying that, I swallowed the words about to come out of my throat. I wanted to say I want you to watch the game. But I didn’t dare to say that too....... I am a pathetic person. ...... But it can’t be helped. I’m not sure what to do, but I’m sure I’ll be able to do it.
“......”
Then the silence continues. I was speaking with a lot of energy, so I couldn’t talk right away once I fell apart. Oh, if I was a better speaker, I could handle it.
“...... oh, you know what, Yuki?”
But I need to say something. I thought to myself and suddenly said something.
“...... If there’s anything I can do, let me know. I will do......anything to help.”
Why did I say this? I don’t know why I said that. I’ve never said anything like this before. Maybe I thought if Yuki were to drop out of school, I would regret having done something to help her. Whatever the case, I can’t give her an answer right now.
“............What!?”
After saying those words, I couldn’t hide my surprise and shouted. This is because the door to Yuki’s room, which had never been closed before, opened slowly.......
“..................”
“Yuki......!!!”
She has a cute little face as if she were a doll. Her figure is a bit small for a high school student. And her black hair is so beautiful that I can’t help but admire it.
It may be because she had been locked away for a long time, but there was still a beautiful and cute childhood friend, Yukiho Hamachi, standing there.
“...Yuki!”
I was so happy to see her again after a long time that I gave her a big smile. I’m not sure what to do, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.
“............anything is fine ...... Hiro-kun ......?”
Yuki asked me in a faint voice that seemed as if it was about to vanish. I nodded my head in agreement. I was so happy that she came out and was ready to listen to anything.
But Yuki’s wish was not what I thought it would be.
“............ Then ...... kiss me ...... every day from today on.”
“..................!?”
“...... Then I’ll go to school. If Hiro-kun does that much for me, ...... I’ll have to return the favor.”
It was a wish I hadn’t even expected. I thought for a moment Yuki was joking, but the way Yuki looked over the years, I knew she was serious. But I don’t know what the hell her intentions are.
Is it because she likes me? But that time in junior high school.
I’m sorry, Hiro-kun. I...
I’m sure everyone knows that this is a wish which will never come true. And Yuki already has a.......
“............ is that what you want?”
But at the same time, I felt like if I refused, I would never be able to see Yuki again. This is why I made up my mind. I’m not sure what to do with it.
“............ Yes.”
Yuki nodded in response to my question. Then we went into Yuki’s room and sat on the bed. Then we looked at each other.
“...... So, I’ll do it. It’s my first time, so I might not be able to ...... do it well.”
Yuki says with a bright red face and a shaky voice. In addition to this, many other things can be done to make our life easier. My heart was pounding so hard that I felt like it was going to explode before I even had the chance to kiss her. I wondered if I would be able to live...... if I kissed her in this state.
“Hiro-kun ...... Ummm.”
Yuki wraps her trembling hands around my cheek as soon as she calls my name. And for a brief moment, our lips met. The actual fact is that there is a lot more to the process than that.
“......”
Yuki’s lips separated, and she quickly looked away and started to catch her breath. I think she was embarrassed by the kiss. I can’t even look at her properly to understand how she feels.
“......are you okay, Yuki?”
“Yeah, yeah. So this is what ...... kissing feels like.”
Yuki turned her gaze away from me and touched her own lips with her fingers, soaking up the memory of our first kiss.
I, too, felt like my mind had gone completely blank, and I couldn’t think of anything else.
“Hiro-kun, I’m sorry ...... for making you go along with this.”
“Oh, you have nothing to apologize for. ......”
“............ You’re really kind, Hiro-kun. I’ll...... see you tomorrow at ...... school.”
Yuki said after the kiss. I had no way of knowing if this was true or not, but Yuki had never broken a promise to me in our many years of ...... friendship. So I trusted her words and left Yuki’s room on my way home.
At that time, I had no way of understanding that this promise would change our relationship forever.
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