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
“Women ……?”
“Yes.”
Natsuki nodded with a wry smile at me as I mumbled in a daze.
“I told you before. There was a senior manager who helped me when I was in a delicate situation. Reina Yuu senpai.”
“Ah, …….”
I remember that for sure.
“That one is tall and has an androgynous vibe, so it seems like he’s often mistaken for a guy.”
“Wait, is that for real?”
I couldn’t believe it.
Not Natsuki, but me.
“What… You think I’d cheat on you?”
Natsuki narrowed her eyes. She looked angry, but also somewhat lonely.
I instinctively lowered my eyes and clenched my fists.
“Of course not… sorry.”
“… No, I was the one who said it rudely.”
Natsuki looks away awkwardly.
“No, Natsuki, you did nothing wrong. I’m really sorry for suspecting you without really checking.”
I sat up in bed and bowed my head so deeply that my forehead touched my knees. I felt so guilty that I couldn’t look Natsuki in the eye.
Natsuki shook her head, smiling.
“There’s no need to blame yourself so much. I was just… kind of happy.”
“…Eh?”
I instinctively looked up, and Natsuki tucked her hair behind her ear and gave a small laugh without meeting my gaze.
“Well, if you didn’t really like me, you wouldn’t be sulking, right?”
“Well, I guess… that’s true.”
I scratched my cheek. My face grew warm with embarrassment.
Natsuki narrowed her eyes teasingly and laughed.
“Rei, you get nervous quite easily.”
“S-shut up ……. I mean, don’t you think it’s heavy or something?”
“I skipped a week, do you think I can say such a thing?”
“…… ah.”
I was strangely convinced.
“But—”
Natsuki’s expression suddenly tightened and she gently placed her hand on mine.
“I wanted you to hear the story. I don’t want us to have any more misunderstandings.”
Natsuki wasn’t blaming me, she was just expressing her honest feelings.
You’re …… strong.
She may not be honest, but Natsuki is much stronger mentally than I am.
(Why didn’t I believe in her more? ……)
My heart was filled with apology.
I clenched my fists on my knees and bowed my head once more.
“I’m …… sorry. Even Mitsue-san told me that communication is important.”
“I can’t help it this time. But–”
Natsuki tightened her hand around my fist and gave me a powerful look.
“If you make the same mistake again, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Yeah…… sorry.”
The words of Natsuki sink into my heart, and the corners of my eyes unexpectedly become hot.
“ –Okay.”
Natsuki spoke in a clear voice, cutting through the awkward atmosphere.
“Let’s go see Yu-senpai tomorrow.”
◇ ◇ ◇
“Sorry, I’m late!”
It was lunchtime on Monday, the first day of the week.
When Natsuki and I were sitting on a bench in the courtyard, we heard a light voice.
The girl who came running with her skirt fluttering was definitely that “good-looking guy”.
Yesterday, Natsuki actually contacted her – Reina-senpai. So we decided to have lunch together anyway, and here we are.
By the way, it was the senpai who designated the courtyard.
“No, no, thanks for waiting! The teacher said we have a few more minutes to go, so he extended it by seven minutes.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for your time today, Yuu-senpai.”
“Sorry to take up so much of your time.”
Following Natsuki’s lead, I bowed.
“There’s no need to be so reserved. I was interested in Natsuki’s boyfriend anyway, so this is a godsend!”
Reina-senpai busily spread out her lunch and smiled gently.
After we had introduced ourselves to each other and briefly recapped the situation, she apologetically clasped her hands together in front of me and closed one eye.
“I’m really sorry. I got all lovey-dovey with your girlfriend on my day off.”
“Oh, no. ……”
She was a much more laid back person than I’d imagined, so I found it difficult to know how to respond.
Reina-senpai’s cheeks relaxed slightly, then her expression suddenly became serious.
“But don’t worry. I am a woman after all.”
“Oh, yes, I already know that.”
“I like to dress like a boy. I’m sorry for the confusion. As an apology, you can touch my boobs to make sure.”
“Yu, Yu-senpai!”
Natsuki shouted as she instinctively lifted herself off the bench.
Senpai laughed out loud and shrugged her shoulders.
“Haha, I was just kidding. Natsuki is really cute.”
“Nah, ……!”
The face of Natsuki turns reddish in a flash.
“Don’t make fun of me in front of Rei!”
“Haha, sorry sorry. Shiraishi kun, for getting all lovey-dovey again.”
Senpai turned her head this way and winked at me.
“Haa….”
“But I’m not interested in that, so don’t worry. I had a boyfriend! Well, we broke up not long ago.”
“…I’m sorry. I misunderstood.”
I’m so sorry that you went to the trouble of telling me about your breakup.
“That’s all right.”
Reina-senpai shook her head with a gentle smile.
She laughed mischievously and said,
“That just shows how beautiful I am, doesn’t it?”
“Haha, yeah”
I nodded with a laugh.
She is an amazing person.
I can see why Natsuki loves her so much.
–I suddenly felt a strong gaze from next to me.
Natsuki looked away as soon as our eyes met, but her lips were pouting in dissatisfaction.
“Natsuki, what’s wrong?”
“…… nothing.”
She sniffed and turned away.
(What is it?)
As I tilted my head, a giggle came from the front.
Reina-senpai grinned and looked at Natsuki in a deliberate tone,
“[You never say that kind of thing to me]”
“Yu, Yu-senpai!”
“Oh, I hit the nail~”
Seeing Natsuki turn bright red, Yu-senpai laughs with amusement.
(…She really is a fun person.)
But in the next moment, her expression suddenly tightened.
“But seriously, it’s great that you’re trying to clear up a misunderstanding like this. I think the reason we broke up was because of a lack of communication, and it’s the most important thing for a long-term relationship.”
Reina-senpai’s tone is soft, but she is serious.
“You want the person you like to understand, but there are many things you can’t convey unless you put them into words. So, before you let your dissatisfaction or doubts build up, you should air them out. You were already in a difficult situation once.”
““Ugh. ……””
Natsuki and I instinctively looked away.
“…My mom told me the same thing,”
Natsuki muttered, and the senior smiled.
“Everyone experiences these things. It’s okay. There’s no such thing as a perfect couple, and as long as you’re moving forward even if you’re awkward, that’s enough.”
This was not the kind of ridicule that he had been offering earlier, but rather a straightforward encouragement.
“”—Yes.””
When Natsuki and I replied in unison, she laughed at me and said, “It’s great that you are so in tune with each other,” and we all blushed.
After that, we were having a normal chat, and the end of lunch break was approaching.
Reina-senpai, with her lunch box in her hand and a bright smile on her face, said
“Well, I’d better get going–oh, yes.”
Senpai’s mouth hangs open with a grin.
“Shiraishi-kun, one last thing.”
“Oh, yes.”
I had a bad premonition.
–it turned out to be true.
“You’re going to make out with Natsuki as much as I do, aren’t you?”
“….!”
But just because I had expected it, it didn’t mean I could ignore it.
“Hey, what are you talking about, senpai!”
Natsuki raised a voice in protest,
“Well, I wish you a long and happy life together~”
Reina-senpai waved her hand without any sign of concern and walked away with a spring in her step.
“Really, senpai…”
Natsuki pouted and muttered to herself.
I was feeling a bit embarrassed too, but
(Natsuki, in front of senpai, you become a little bit childish. ……)
I was secretly grateful to Reina-senpai for showing me a new side of my lover.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Thanks for waiting for me.”
“Oh, hey.”
After the soccer team’s practice is over, we go home together.
The aftermath of the bomb dropped by Reina senpai, there was a slight awkwardness in the air, but it was not uncomfortable.
I had a little time to spare before dinner, so I invited Natsuki over to my house.
“I was really sorry for doubting you. If I think about it calmly, there is no way Natsuki would have cheated on me, and I think it was so stupid that I could not complain even if she had fallen out of love with me.”
“There’s no need to worry so much. Besides, you can relax now, right?”
Natsumi laughed, somewhat mischievously.
“I really appreciate you, …… Natsuki.”
“You’re exaggerating. I knew you didn’t mean any harm, and I’m also to blame for not saying anything. Besides, you know…”
Natsuki looked up at me, slightly sideways, fidgeting with something in her hands.
“Because I got to know Rei’s feelings, too.”
“Natsuki, ……”
I hesitated for a moment, then gently placed my hand on Natsuki’s shoulder.
She held her breath, blushing as she timidly leaned her weight onto me.
“From now on, I’ll never doubt Natsuki.”
“Really… if you have even the slightest bit of doubt, you should ask me about it before you go to bed in a sulk.”
Although she has a commanding tone, her eyes are slightly arched as she looks up at me.
I nodded broadly.
“Yeah, Natsuki, too. I’ll never do anything to make you sad.”
“I’m not that worried about it….. Rei doesn’t have that kind of guts.”
“Please tell me you trust me.”
“fufu”
Natsuki chuckled and shook her shoulders slightly.
Then, she lowered her gaze and whispered.
“I wouldn’t be going out with you if I didn’t,…….”
“Thank you,…….”
With love welling up inside of me, I hugged her tighter and tighter.
“And–”
Natsuki gently leans her cheek against mine and slaps me on the chest.
“I told you before, Rei, you need to have a bit more confidence. It’s not like someone confessed and we’re dating.”
“Natsuki…….”
A hot feeling rose up from the depths of my chest.
At the same time, anger began to bubble up inside him at himself for having doubted Natsuki.
Suspecting her of cheating might not be forgiven a second time.
I can’t take advantage of Natsuki’s kindness any more.
–I’ll believe her.
I have to believe in Natsuki, and in myself, that she likes me.
It’s difficult to gain confidence right away, but if that’s the case, I have to take the first step now.
“Natsuki.”
“W-What?”
When I called her name formally, Natsuki’s eyes wandered in confusion.
I’m not good at gazing at her like this, but she managed to put feelings into words. This was no time to be shy.
“I really think Natsuki is the cutest girl in the world, too.”
“Nah……!”
Natsuki gasped.
“W-What are you talking nonsense all of a sudden!?”
She bowed her head to avoid my gaze and patted me on the chest.
A smile naturally appeared on my face and I said,
“You know, you were unhappy at lunchtime. So, I thought I should tell you that.”
“Yuu-senpai just said that on her own!”
Natsuki puffed out her cheeks and looked away.
My words had made her so embarrassed. A simple hug wasn’t enough anymore.
“Natsuki.”
With a hand on her cheek, I gazed into her moist eyes.
“Oh, …….”
Natsuki let out a small cry, her eyes wandering in a panic.
After a moment, she bit her lip as if making up her mind,
then closed her eyes, lifted her chin, and modestly pouted her lips.
(That face, oh no. ……)
While suppressing the throbbing of my heart, I slowly brought my face closer to hers.
Then, while perceiving Natsuki’s slightly sweet scent, I quietly placed my lips on hers.
“Nn…….”
A short kiss, just a touch.
Not only the taste of lemon, but even the texture of the lemon was too nervous for me to understand.
–and still, my heart was filled with happiness.
“I love you, Natsuki.”
The words spontaneously spilled out of my mouth.
“W-whaa…!”
Natsuki’s face was red all the way to her ears, and her mouth was opening and closing.
…There’s surely no one on earth would be foolish enough to doubt their lover who reacted like this.
With a wry smile, I hugged Natsuki tightly again, keeping that adorable expression on her face.
Maiban