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
After finishing our meal, we sat side by side on a bench in the shade, each applying sunscreen.
“….. Hey, Rei.”
Natsuki spoke from next to me in a slightly lowered voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um…I’d like you to apply it to my back.”
“…. Eh?”
I blinked and stared at Natsuki.
“I can’t reach it.”
She added quickly as an excuse, then glanced up in my direction.
“O-ou, I’ll take care of it.”
This is just skin care.
I told myself that and spread the cream on my palm.
But when I gently touch Natsuki’s slender back, the softness of her heated skin seeps into my fingertips, and I involuntarily withdraw my hand.
“W-what’s wrong?’
Natsuki turns around as if surprised.
“No, it’s that ……”
If I put it into words, would it make her feel uncomfortable? But…
(I’ve decided to be bold, am I?)
I opened my mouth with determination.
“It was so smooth that …… it surprised me.”
After saying this, I felt my face heat up slightly.
“Wha…?! Stop saying stupid things and put it on quickly!”
Natsuki gasped, turned away and spoke in a sharp voice.
However, contrary to her angry words, her ears were already dyed red.
“… got it.”
Gently exhaling a breath of relief, I touch Natsuki’s skin again.
I applied it as absent-mindedly as possible, but inevitably, my eyes were drawn to the curves of her nape, back, and hips.
There was no way I could keep a normal mind in such a state–,
(Oh, bad. ……)
I noticed the change in me and reflexively bent forward.
“……, okay, I’m done.”
“Thank you ……, what’s wrong?”
Natsuki turned around and raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“I’m sorry ……, wait a minute.”
I felt awkward and averted my gaze.
She must have realized it in an instant. Natsuki blinked her eyes and then sighed in exasperation.
“…You’re saying weird things.”
“No, it was really beautiful… and I think Natsuki is also responsible.”
“Wh-why? You’re just being sulky. No… I guess you’ve been really active lately?”
“What…! Even Natsuki is pretty proactive…Ugh?!”
Before I could finish my sentence, Natsuki’s fingers pulled my cheek.
She glared at me with red eyes.
“I have no choice because you’re covered in worldly desires. It’s not like I’m doing it willingly.”
“W-w-that hurts!”
I screamed because the pull was unexpectedly strong.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Natsuki immediately let go of my hand.
(Hmm, she’s awfully obedient…)
Suddenly, I felt something was off.
–That was right.
“You can make up for it by hitting me back. Right now, okay?”
Natsuki sat up quickly and opened her arms as if to make fun of me.
“Oh, come on, that’s not fair!”
“You deserved it.”
Natsuki brushed aside my protests and spread her hands.
“Come on. Five, four–”
“Wait a minute!”
I pleaded desperately, but Natsuki didn’t stop the countdown.
“Two, one. …… Too bad. Your time is up.”
She told me mercilessly, and the corners of her mouth turned up as if she were proud of her victory.
That happy smile made me feel a connection to my heart.
But if I want to stand proudly next to Natsuki, I can’t just let myself get beaten. I’ll definitely repay this debt.
(If I do that, I should be able to have a little confidence again.)
Come on, she might hate me if I’m not a little more positive, and even if I’m not, a man should stand tall.
…… Well, some folks need to be a little more humble.
After I was able to move, we enjoyed a summery time, splashing each other in the surf and floating around in floats.
I will never forget the joyful expressions and embarrassed smiles that Natsuki showed me at a moment’s notice.
But apart from that, I also want to keep the memories as a form.
Natsuki and I were cuddling up against the sky that was turning into a sunset glow.
“Natsuki, come a little closer.”
I tugged on her arm lightly, and she raised one eyebrow meaningfully.
“Can I? I don’t want you to bend forward again.”
“It’s okay. Actually, please don’t make me think about it.”
“That way of talking is suspicious.”
Natsuki narrows her eyes teasingly, but makes no attempt to close the distance between them.
(That’s strange. Normally, she’d be the one to cling to me instead…)
Observing her closely, Natsuki’s cheeks were somewhat stiff, and slightly flushed pink.
“…… perhaps you are embarrassed?”
“Nah ……!”
Natsuki’s cheeks and ears were flushed so red that the setting sun was obscured.
She was so embarrassed. Encouraged by that fact, I put into words the feelings that I usually find difficult to express.
“…Umm, well, Natsuki…you’re cute.”
“~!”
Natsuki’s eyes wander and her mouth opens and closes, but she doesn’t seem to be able to form any words.
Yes, she’s really cute. I feel a little embarrassed, but more than that, I’m happy and I can’t help but smile.
“Mouu, What is this…?”
Natsuki bites her lip and glares at me with an upward glance.
The eyes were moist and it almost made me feel weird, but I managed to make a serious expression.
“I’ve made up my mind. I’m not going to be sneaky anymore, and I’m going to be honest with you about how I feel. Natsuki …… made me think that way.”
“….!”
Natsuki opened her eyes wide for a moment, then suddenly lowered her gaze.
“Natsuki? What’s wrong?”
I involuntarily held my breath as Natsuki hugged me tightly.
（soft ……! And it’s warm ……!)
The warmth and girly touch makes my body stiffen.
Natsuki looked up at me mischievously from over my shoulder.
“Fufu, I wonder where that calmness from a moment ago went?”
“I-I guess it can’t be helped! Suddenly something like this happens…”
We were both wearing swimsuits. The softness of our skin, the smooth feeling, the closeness of our heartbeats – everything was transmitted directly to me, and it made my head spin.
But if I pulled away now, nothing would change as it had before.
I took a deep breath, pulled my arm out of Natsuki’s hold, and pulled her round the shoulders.
“……”
I can feel Natsuki’s shoulders shaking with my whole body, and I hold up my cell phone.
“C-Come on, let’s take a picture. The sun is about to set.”
“Y-You’re right…”
Natsuki pursed her lips as if making up her mind, then she leaned in a little and gently placed her hands on my waist.
“……”
Feeling my heart pounding, I clicked the shutter on my smartphone.
Soon, the sky was dyed a blazing red and the two of us standing side by side were clearly visible on the screen.
–Natsuki was smiling a little shyly, fluttering her hair.
◇ ◇ ◇
After finishing dinner at a nearby restaurant, I boarded the train for home.
The train was quite crowded, but I was lucky enough to sit in line on the way.
The sun had already set, but the sky through the window was still slightly bright.
I looked next to Natsuki, who was dozing off.
“You can go back to sleep, I’ll wake you up.”
“It’s okay. ……”
Just after she answered in a whisper, Natsuki quietly leaned on my shoulder.
The hair that hangs around the neck is ticklish.
When I gently looked at her, her eyes were closed and her breathing was calm. It seemed she had completely fallen asleep.
I remembered that I had seen something like this before. I was watching a movie in Natsuki’s room.
At that moment, I couldn’t resist her smell and touch, and I reacted.
— Natsuki, who had woken up halfway through, teased me about this.
(That’s when I learned she was surprisingly aggressive. ……)
Two months have passed since we started dating, but we haven’t crossed the last line yet.
Considering that we are next door neighbors and both of our parents work together, it’s not a fast pace. I hear that many couples do it within a month of dating.
Still, when we first started dating, I thought it would go more slowly. At the very least, I never imagined that I would be the one to ask Natsuki for help at the end of our studies.
The reason I’ve been able to be more or less proactive is definitely because Natsuki has stepped forward to help me.
(After all, the last step must be taken by me……oh no!)
I quickly abandoned my thoughts.
To be honest, I had been teased in many ways today. Seeing her in that swimsuit, touching my back, being so close to her…
Even now, I am feeling warmth like this.
If you think about a relationship “beyond now” in such a state, it is only natural that you would react.
“…..Phew”
Trying to distract myself, I pull out my phone.
Just then, a notification arrived from a message app.
“…… from Shiina-senpai?”
The sender displayed on the screen, and I couldn’t help but let out a voice.
–Did you have fun on your date at the beach?
It was the first time she had ever asked me something like this. In the first place, I had never talked to her about anything other than Kanzaki.
I wondered what was wrong, but moved my finger to reply.
–Yes. Very much.
–That’s good to hear. By the way, was Natsuki in a light blue bikini?
(Eh, how did you know …… Oh, I see…)
By the way, you said that you two went to buy it together.
If that was the case, I wondered why she would confirm such a thing, but I replied “Yes, though” honestly anyway.
–Totally, that girl …….
Even through the screen, I thought I could see senpai laughing like a fool.
I asked, “What’s wrong?” and got a reply right away.
“…… eh?”
The moment I read the content, I froze with my mouth half open.
What came to mind was the image of Natsuki in her bikini that I had just seen.
Although it was a safe, separate type, it was already extremely destructive to me—
“It’s more ….. than that one!?.”
Maiban