I Went Back in Time to 10 Years Ago and Saved My Young Lady Childhood Friend and She Became My Fiancee ~She’s Honest and Cool and Looks at Me Like She Wants to Be Cared For~
[What’s wrong with the way you’ve been staring at me all day. Don’t think an idol won’t catch you glancing at her?]
The moment I saw such a message, my mind instantly flashed to the situation where my arms were handcuffed to my body. What’s the charge? …… guilty of glancing?
[SSSSSorry]
[I’m not mad at you. I was just curious.]
Her reply was loose. But I was quite nervous. I was simply wondering if it was okay to communicate with an idol.
I didn’t think she was an idol when we became friends.
I felt like it was a sin to know RINE in the first place. What’s a “belly wobbling alliance,” is it okay? I’m sorry I formed such an alliance.
I was frozen, and then I received another message.
[I heard that among girls, the most serious crime is not reading a message]
[Good morning!]
[Good morning!]
Even for the ad hoc remarks, moderate remarks are returned. I’m in trouble. I had to say something.
I typed with trembling fingers.
[What I was really looking at was…]
[Yes.]
[I actually wanted to ask you something.]
[I see. Well, let’s meet up somewhere, shall we?]
Well, that was quick. My hand stopped as I was about to write something like an excuse. Is this how it is with idols? No, maybe it’s just because she doesn’t want to waste time if the exchange is too long.
[If only your time would be okay with it]
[Can you come here now?]
After the message, a picture was sent. It showed a selfie of Minamori in what appeared to be a café. She was holding a piece of paper over her mouth. It was a mocking gesture. The name of the restaurant is also on the picture, so you can search for it as much as you want.
[I can go there]
[I’ll be waiting for you. By the way, you can use the picture as a standby]
N-No, I can’t do that. If I set a girl other than Yorumiya as a standby, Mihato-san would throw me into the sea at night.
[I’ll be waiting for you]
Let’s meet Minamori for now.
I opened the map app on my phone and searched for the store in the image I saw earlier.
◇
I arrived at a cozy café in a hidden alley.
There was a sign in front of the store, but it was in a location where you wouldn’t come here very often for a normal walk.
I took one deep breath at the door. OK, OK.
I’ve calmed down a lot by the time I get here. I can talk normally, just like before.
With a clank, I opened the door and was greeted by a soft orange light. There was only one customer and no clerk in sight. ……What is it about a store that there is no clerk?
“Enami-kun, over here, over here.”
I was standing at the entrance and only one customer waved to me. It’s Minamori. I guess it was understandable that I didn’t recognize her. The two were completely different in appearance.
Minamori was wearing a sporty black jacket, or was it an MA-1? She was also wearing a black cap.
Mainly wearing black equipment. She looked like she was dancing or something.
“Sit down there.”
“I-I’m sorry to bother you.”
“You’re so stiff. We are from the same alliance.”
When she spoke to me like that, I felt like Minamori when I first met her. The girl is different from the girl you see on TV or surrounded by people at school. She seems somehow relaxed.
I sat down in the chair in front of Minamori and bowed my head.
“Anyway, thanks for making the time to see me.”
“No, not at all.”
“I thought you were busy.”
“I’m busy, but I’m fine right now. Besides, I want to be friends with Enami-kun.”
She was very kind to say that.
“What is this place?”
“It’s a restaurant owned by a friend of mine. Not many people come here, so it’s perfect.”
“I see.”
I’m sorry, but if I had come here alone, I would have been afraid to leave.
“During the day, it’s just a café and not many people come here, but at night, when it’s a bar, it seems to be full of people.”
Is that so? It is true that there are tall chairs lined up near the counter, just like a bar. The lights are also somewhat chic and the atmosphere is mature.
“By the way, Enami-kun?”
“Hmm?”
I was looking around the store when I was called by name and my gaze was drawn back to the store.
“Today’s outfit …… what do you think of it? I don’t think I usually see you dressed like this, but I don’t have any feedback. Do you think it looks good on me?”
Minamori put on her moe sleeves and posed
Just taking a picture of this pose would be worth a lot.
“…… looks good on you.”
“Thanks. I’m glad.”
Minamori’s face broke into a smile at my simple compliment. The atmosphere is natural. I’m not sure, but I think it was more like a genuine expression than a smile as an idol. Maybe it was just my expectations that made it look that way.
“Enami-kun, you wanted to talk to me about something, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yeah. Actually–”
“Before that, can I ask you to do me a favor?”
“A favor?”
“I’ll ask Enanami-kun’s favor too.”
A request from Minamori. What is it?
Minamori says to me, a little embarrassed, as I wonder.
“Actually. Well, once again, I’d like you to be my friend, Enami-kun. ……”
I don’t immediately grasp what she’s saying.
“That’s …… of course,”
“Yeah, well. Is it something you want to say?”
Minamori said in a frightened manner.
But she seemed somewhat awkward and embarrassed.
“The truth is. I don’t have the mental strength to be an idol.”
“Mental ……”
“Yeah. The reason why I became an idol is to change myself. I can say that my idol career went quite well and I was successful, but in the end …… I didn’t change what I was inside.”
Minamori has a strange look on her face, like she is smiling, like she is in pain.
I can’t help but think …… that I’m the one. I feel that way even when I’m talking as a character, and it stresses me out. But I can’t get rid of myself as an idol.”
At the mention of idol self, I thought of Minamori in the classroom.
“…Is it like you’re getting too nervous?”
“Yes, that’s true. It depends on how you say it. Even when I’m talking to someone, I immediately think about how I can make them happy. It’s just a habit. I usually look with such confidence, so I think it would be nice if I were a little more quiet right now.”
What Minamori said was exactly how I felt about her in the classroom.
She is conscious of the way everyone around her looks at her and subtly changes her behavior, words and actions.
(It must be hard work.)
At least, I don’t think I could do it.
“But Enami-kun saw me throw up on the first day.”
“Ahh, ……”
“Oh, don’t remind it!”
Certainly, there was no room for acting or anything like that at that moment.
“Maybe that’s why. My usual habits don’t really come out. I can still talk pretty normally.”
Minamori relaxed her shoulders and looked at me. I don’t see any sign of self-consciousness there. But I really wonder if that’s the right thing to do. I didn’t do anything. I just happened to run into her at the right time. That’s all.
“So, you know. I’d be happy to have you as a friend……”
She peeks at me as if probing.
If …… is such a request, there is no particular reason to refuse.
“Yes. If you can be my friend, I’d be very grateful.”
“I’m glad. Then, ……, I will say hello to you again.”
Minamori exhaled.
“Aah I’m glad to hear that. I was pretty nervous just now, too.”
“You didn’t look like that.”
I do feel like her shoulders have loosened up a bit. But I just feel like it. I don’t know much about other people. I wish that were the case though.
“I was doing it, you know. As a matter of fact.”
Minamori leaned back against the back of the chair, saying in a frightening manner.
“So? Then, I would like to hear about my only dear friend in the school, Enami-kun.”
Finally, it was my story.
I felt a little uncomfortable saying it, but then I began to explain my original purpose.
“Minamori-sa,……, don’t you want another friend?”
“…… Eh?”
Maiban