The Beautiful Girl With a Kind Personality and Good Looks, Who Happens to Be My Childhood Friend, Seems to Have Eyes Only for Me
side Ayase Haru
A girl sat down on her bed in her room, humming softly to herself.
In the clean, tidy room, the girl—Ayase Haru—was recalling the events that had happened before she returned home.
“…Yuma’s scent… it’s still here…”
She buried her face into the large stuffed animal she’d pulled close and hugged it tightly.
Just being held. That alone made her chest feel warm and fuzzy, filling her heart completely.
“…I like… Yuma…”
Over and over, she recalled that moment.
The warmth of his arms, the closeness, the air when their eyes met—
But as she thought about it, Haru’s expression clouded over instantly.
“If only that girl hadn’t… come…”
She clenched her teeth, still holding the stuffed animal tightly.
Only recently had she finally managed—using Hayase-san—to divert Yamato’s gaze away from her. That’s why she’d been slowly closing the distance with Yuma, trying to make him “notice her.”
She might have gotten a little closer, just a little more. Remembering the presence that stole that time, a dark emotion spread deep within her chest.
“…Kamiya Chiya…”
Those words spoken as if looking down on Yuma.
She’d endured them in the moment, but the thorn lodged in her heart only grew sharper with time.
“…Because Yuma doesn’t say anything, I can… endure it too… but…”
Her arms tightened around the stuffed animal.
“…I’ll never forgive that girl…”
The words she spat out dissolved into the quiet room.
Just then, the smartphone resting on her desk vibrated.
The moment she saw the name displayed on the screen, Haru’s heart lifted instantly.
“…Yuma…”
She hurriedly opened the message.
‘Thanks so much today. You really saved me. Want to go somewhere together sometime on a day off?’
Staring at the screen, Haru’s heart fluttered.
She quickly typed a reply, confirmed it was sent, then pressed the phone to her chest.
“…I’m so happy…”
Her cheeks relaxed naturally.
What came to mind was Yuma’s voice, his smile, the feel of his arm. Everything connected to him filled Haru’s heart.
Eventually, Haru stood up and walked over to the desk in her room.
There, several photos were laid out. Photos with Yuma, from middle school up until now.
“…Yuma…”
Among the photos she gazed at dreamily, one had a distorted part.
The figure that should have been between them, another person. That figure was either blacked out or roughly cut out, deliberately erased.
What remained there was a clear trace of rejection.
“…To be childhood friends with someone like that… it really gives me the creeps. Meeting Yuma was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me, but becoming that guy’s childhood friend was my misfortune.”
She muttered it softly, almost like she was spitting it out.
“…That sister too… That person’s family…”
Her fingertips traced the edge of the photograph.
“…I absolutely won’t let them interfere with me. If they try, I’ll destroy them.”
Words pregnant with quiet hatred fell into the room.
At that moment—
“..Onee chan?”
A door opened slightly, accompanied by a quiet voice.
Peering through the crack was her younger sister, Mitsuri.
“…What is it, Mitsuri?”
“…Can I… come in?”
Mitsuri entered the room, her gaze scanning Haru’s surroundings.
The photo on the desk, the stuffed animal on the bed, and the smartphone still clutched to her chest.
“…Hey, onee san…”
After a moment of hesitation, Mitsuri spoke.
“…Do you like Yuma-san?”
For a moment, time seemed to stop.
Haru slowly turned to look at her.
“…Why did you think that?”
“…Because…since a little while ago, you looked…so incredibly happy…”
her words made Haru’s chest tighten.
“…I do. I like him.”
She answered softly, yet clearly.
“…I really like him…”
Mitsuri’s eyes widened slightly, then she smiled, looking somewhat troubled.
“…I see…”
Without saying anything more, Mitsuri nodded quietly.
“…Sorry for interrupting.”
“…No. Thank you for coming.”
After a short pause, Haru continued gently.
“Hey, Mitsuri. You don’t need to worry.”
“…Huh?”
“Yuma isn’t… dangerous or flighty. He’s someone who genuinely considers others’ feelings, someone you can trust. So… it’ll be okay.”
Mitsuri stayed silent for a while, then exhaled softly and nodded once more.
“…I understand. If you say so, Onee san…”
As Mitsuri left the room, silence returned once more.
Haru lowered her gaze to the photograph on the desk.
Staring at Yuma in the picture, a gentle warmth spread through her chest.
—Yuma is there.
He speaks to her. He smiles at her. Sometimes, he shows his concern in a way that’s almost clumsily direct.
Just that alone, she could feel her heart filling up.
If she could walk beside him, seeing the same scenery together, that would be enough.
No special words, no promises, she didn’t need any of that now.
Just being by his side, being reflected in the place where his gaze fell—that alone was enough for Haru.
“…Yuma…”
She murmured softly, yet with a hint of possessiveness.
“…Because you’re mine…”
Holding her phone close to her chest, Haru quietly closed her eyes.
She could see Yuma again tomorrow—embracing only that joy.
Maiasa