A Childhood Friend Told Me “I Can’t Get a Boyfriend Because of You,” So I Distanced Myself From Her and She Stopped Coming to School the Next Day
The anxiety did not seem to disappear even after one night, so I accompanied Natsuki to school as I had promised.
As we approached the school, Natsuki’s expression became stiff and her speech became much less frequent.
“Do you want to apologize together?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The voice was firm, but Natsuki shook her head firmly.
“But I’m the one who caused it.”
“That’s just our situation. Rei also said yesterday, but from the point of view of the people in the soccer club, it’s none of their business, and I still don’t think it’s good for their impression.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Never mind, Rei, you should be prepared to teach properly.”
After the soccer team’s practice was over, I promised to teach Natsuki to study in order to make up for the week’s delay. The commanding tone is probably her own concern.
I’m worried about her, but I don’t want to meddle any more.
“I understand. Then, do your best.”
“Yes.”
After seeing Natsuki off, I went straight to the library and spread out my reference books on the desk.
“”Good work!””
A soccer team’s shouts echoed from the field.
Then I closed the reference book and started to get ready to go home.
But Natsuki didn’t come. I wondered if she was okay.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
I was about to go check on her when Natsuki finally showed up.
She looked somewhat cheerful, although she had a hint of fatigue on her face.
When I asked her how it went, she said that there was a delicate atmosphere, but that the situation was somehow resolved with the help of the senior manager.
“I was glad to hear that, but it took a long time after the meeting broke up,”
“I had to clean up the mess until the very end. To regain trust, I have to work steadily, and it will be a little slow for a while.”
The light of determination is shining in Natsuki’s eyes.
It’s an admirable attitude, but I’m a little worried about Natsuki because she has a tendency to accumulate a lot of things.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes. But I think it’s naive for those who show their sincerity to decide for themselves how far they want to go.”
“Well, that’s true. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“……, okay.”
I was reluctant, but I backed down.
It’s just my ego that wants to help out in club activities too. If Natsuki doesn’t want it, then it’s just a nuisance.
But I think this is within the acceptable range.
“In return, if I feel like there’s even the slightest bit of danger, I’ll force you to take a break.”
“‘…… yeah.”
Natsuki blinked in surprise, then blushed slightly and nodded.
To cover up, she continued speaking quickly.
“More importantly, have you done your homework?”
“Huh? Ah, that’s yeah.”
“That’s fine, but… you have to take responsibility for it.”
Natsuki closed one eye in a mischievous manner.
“O-ou”
If someone had heard, it might have been misconstrued…
I wondered if I should reprimand her, but judging from Natsuki’s profile, which looked somewhat cheerful, I didn’t think that was her intention.
(Am I just having a flower garden in my brain?)
We will study together after this.
I had to contain my worries, or Natsuki might hate me.
“Okay.”
“What’s wrong……?”
As I get into the swing of things, Natsuki gives me a probing look.
“N-no, it’s nothing. Anyway, let’s hurry up a bit or we’ll miss the train.”
“….. I see.”
Natsuki looked as if she wanted to say something, but then she started walking quickly and followed me in silence.
Since the study materials for teaching were in my bag, I did not go home, but visited the Shinohara home with Natsuki.
At a desk in the living room, we spread out our reference books side by side.
“Here, do this–”
“It’s so bothersome. …… just teach me how to solve it.”
Natsuki began to complain within 30 minutes of the start.
She’s a smart girl, but she’s bored out of her mind.
“If you do that, you’ll forget it right away, and then you won’t be able to solve the same problem when it comes up in a mock exam.”
“That’s fine.”
“No, it’s no good. Natsuki is the one who will be in trouble later.”
“Uuuu….., why are you so hard on me?”
“Of course, if we want to go to the same university,……Ah”
I hastily covered my mouth, but it was already too late.
An odd silence fell on the room. My face felt hot.
Natsuki, her ears flushed red, turned to me.
“…As soon as we start dating, you start acting all brazen.”
“Stop it. It makes me look like a small fry.”
When I protested, Natsuki chuckled.
“It’s too late now. I’ve been holding off for fifteen years.”
“Well, it’s not like you’ve liked me since the moment we were born.”
“Hee… so since when?”
Natsuki quirked the corners of her mouth and looked my way with an amused expression.
I looked away and scratched my cheek, answering brusquely.
“By the time I realize it, that’s what happens.”
“…I see. It’s just because we were together.”
Natsumi let out a small sigh and lowered her eyes sadly.
…Damn, I chose the words wrong!
“Oh, no, no!”
I raised my voice as quickly as I could.
“She’s easy to talk to, and I feel at ease when I’m around her… and, um, she’s cute!”
I spoke quickly. At this point, I no longer had the time to worry about being embarrassed.
“Hmm?”
— Natsuki looked up and a lovely smile appeared on her face.
“Rei, you thought of me that way.”
“—!!”
I was hit….
I dropped my shoulders in disappointment. I could feel my face burning.
Natsuki wasn’t really depressed. It was just an act to make fun of me.
(I’ve got hit …… but as a boyfriend, I can’t just back out of this.)
“How about you Natsuki?”
“….. I feel the same way.”
Natsuki looked away for a moment.
“No way.”
“…..!”
When I quickly pointed it out, Natsuki’s eyes clearly wandered this time.
“I knew it.”
“…I wonder why you’re so sharp only in useless places.”
Natsuki twirled the pen in her hand and pursed her lips.
As I stared at her, she kept her eyes on the desk and began to speak as if she had resigned herself to her words.
“I don’t know if you remember, but there was a time when Rei was the only one who covered for me when …… I was being ridiculed by the boys.”
“Come to think of it, that did happen.”
This is a phenomenon peculiar to adolescent boys that makes them want to be mean to girls they are interested in.
Natsuki, who had been well-developed since childhood, was often the target of this phenomenon.
“So, did you like me?”
“I-it’s not like I fell for it right away or anything! I-it’s just that I thought it was nice that you didn’t get carried away and helped me…”
Natsuki desperately tried to explain.
Her lips loosened at the sight of her still being as stubborn as ever.
Natsuki frowned.
“What are you grinning at? It’s disgusting.”
“No… Now that I think about it, she was a bit distant after that.”
“Whaa……!”
Natsuki turns bright red again.
“I-I’m better than you, who ran away! What? you thought we should go separately since we’re high school students!”
“S-Shut up. That’s in the past.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you!”
Natsuki was taunting me, but I couldn’t help smiling at her.
What made me happiest was that we were able to get back to our normal lives of playing together like this.
After studying until dinner time, I got ready to go home and headed for the front door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“……”
I turned around as I put on my shoes and waved lightly, but Natsuki kept her eyelashes down and said nothing.
“Natsuki?”
Feeling a bit uneasy, I looked in and heard a small voice reply.
“…You’re saying goodbye with your girlfriend, and yet you’re not going to do anything?”
“…..”
For a moment, my mind went blank.
Natsuki was also blushing and looking down.
Is it really okay?
I was about to ask, but stopped at the last moment.
(Natsuki wouldn’t want that to happen…)
I knew what I had to do.
Feeling my ears getting hot, I gently took Natsuki’s hand and pulled her towards me
“—-“
Natsuki’s body twitched slightly, but she quickly relaxed and leaned in.
After a moment, she gently put her arms around my back. I also put a little more strength into my arms.
(I’m so happy. ……)
They say that hugs with loved ones help reduce stress, and that’s exactly what happened.
I wonder if Natsuki feels the same way.
When I looked down at her, I saw that she was blushing, but she had her face to my chest and her mouth was slightly relaxed.
No matter how one looks at it, she looks happy.
(Too cute…..!)
My heart jumps and my thoughts slow down.
But my body was beginning to clearly remember what Natsuki felt.
The faintly sweet scent wafting from her hair and her slightly higher body temperature than mine.
And the soft, girlish feeling that came from all the places we touched.
(This is so bad. ……)
I wanted to hold her forever, but I didn’t want her to hate me for my temporary greed.
Before the deception could no longer work, I mustered all my reason and released Natsuki.
“Ah, …….”
Natsuki looked reluctantly in my direction for just a moment, but then quickly turned away.
“You passed …….”
When Natsuki said this in an embarrassed manner, I reflexively moved away from her, my face turning bright red.
And then–,
“Then, see you tomorrow!”
“–Eh?”
I ran out the front door as if to escape, ignoring Natsuki’s roll of her eyes as if she were dumbfounded.
I went straight home, threw out my bag, quickly changed into a jersey, and put on my shoes again.
“Rei, what’s wrong? In such a hurry.”
“I’m going for a run!”
That was all I said to my mother, and I made a second dash.
“Haaah, haaah ……!”
I kept my legs turning, trying not to think about anything else.
The smile of Natsuki that was burned into my brain, the warmth and softness of hers that remained in my body, still did not go away.
The result–.
The next morning, I was hit with a bad muscle ache.
“What have you been doing since you got back ……?”
Natsuki gave me a half-lidded look as I walked awkwardly.
“I’ve been fighting with myself.”
“I don’t understand.”
I was hoping that you would please remain unaware of the meaning.
Maiban