My Childhood Friend, a Vtuber, Treated Me Like TrashโIโm Never Producing For Her Again
I went back to the classroom to pick up Mizuta-sanโs bag, and finally set off for home.
Iโd assumed weโd just walk home together like we usually didโ
โEekโฆ Iโll do anything, so p-please protect meโฆโ
Mizuta-san clutched the hem of my shirt tightly and walked as if hiding behind my back.
Every time someone passing by glanced our way, she shrunk back even further.
Her fear reminded me of how sheโd looked at the mall over the weekend.
โMizuta-san, you really shouldnโt say things like โIโll do anythingโ to a guy, no matter what.โ
Of course, Iโm sure she didnโt mean it that way.
But for some reason, Mizuta-san blushed and muttered softly.
โI didnโt say it to a guyโI said it to Komachi-sanโฆโ
Huh? What does that mean?
Does that mean she doesnโt see me as a guy at all?
Orโฆ
Just as I was feeling confused, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from beside me.
โOh, really? For a creepy otaku like you, youโve already found a replacement girl?โ
The moment she heard that voice, Mizuta-san let out a scream: โEekโฆ!โ
The next instant, she pressed herself tightly against my back, using me as a human shield.
When I turned toward the source of the voice, there stood someone I really didnโt want to see right now.
โโฆWerenโt you supposed to never speak to me again, Yue?โ
Yes, it was my former childhood friendโthe one whoโd cast me aside.
I used to think her voice was the most beautiful thing in the world, but now it sounded so cold it surprised even me, and it only made me feel irritated.
โItโs not like I was talking to you, you know? I just wanted to give that girl over there some advice.โ
Yue, still with her arms crossed, moved closer to Mizuta-san.
But Mizuta-san didnโt let go of her shirt; she just kept circling around me, trying to avoid her.
It seemed she really didnโt want to look her in the face.
โWhatโs up with this girl? Oh, is that what this is about? I heard thereโs a girl in the class next door who suddenly got really cuteโis that her? Huh, youโve always liked long black hair, so you styled her to match your taste?โ
โItโs not exactly like thatโฆโ
โHuh? Ko-Komachi-san, you like girls with long black hairโฆ?โ
I hadnโt meant to hide it, but it had come out in a strange way.
โฆShe might have been a little put off.
I couldnโt think of a clever excuse, so I just fell silent.
However, Mizuta-san started to giggle softly.
โHehe, eheheโฆ So I guess Iโve become the kind of girl Komachi-san likes.โ
I donโt know why, but she actually seemed pleased.
Mizuta-san really is unfathomable.
Yue snorted in exasperation.
โHey, you over there, you donโt know anything about this guy, do you? Heโs actually really sneaky, despite how he looks. Youโd better not be fooled by his looks. he pretends to be harmless, but heโs a despicable, scheming person.โ
Could it be that she didnโt like seeing a cute girl hanging around me, so she went out of her way to come here and badmouth me?
Was Yue always such a nasty person?
When I couldnโt help but frown, Mizuta-sanโstill hiding behind me as usualโnevertheless mustered up the courage to retort.
โU-umโฆ I donโt really think of Komachi-san as harmless or the very embodiment of pure innocence, without a single blemish or anything like thatโฆ?โ
โโHuh?โโ
Both Yue and I let out a sound of bewilderment at her unexpected reply.
โB-but, thereโs no one like that. If anything, itโs weird if someone doesnโt have that side to them at allโฆ Iโm not exactly free of underhanded tendencies myself, and I have weird thoughts too.โ
Itโs true that Mizuta-san has her pure moments, but there are also times when she seems to be thinking some pretty dangerous things.
She continued speaking while glancing furtively at my face.
โS-soโฆ! I donโt know what kind of relationship you two have, but to me, Komachi-san isโฆ indispensable, or rather, heโs like a god to meโฆ!!โ
โA, a god?โ
I appreciate Mizuta-sanโs feelings, but that way of putting it is a bitโฆ
Yue was blinking in astonishment as well.
โHmph. I donโt know whatโs going on, but you two donโt seem like a good match. Donโt say you regret it later. I warned you.โ
โHehe, heheheโฆ Komachi-san, apparently weโre a good match.โ
โโฆโฆโ
How on earth did she come to that conclusion?
It was clearly sarcasm.
Maybe Mizuta-san has a talent for interpreting other peopleโs words in a way that suits her.
Yue turned her face away with a huff and walked off quickly.
Mizuta-san watched her retreating figure and muttered under her breath.
โSomehow, it sounds a lot like Terukoโs voice. Itโs strange.โ
My shoulders jerked.
Man, why is her intuition so sharp only at times like this?
I covered it up with a forced smile and picked up my pace again.
Then, Mizuta-sanโstill clutching my shirt from behindโasked timidly.
โU-umโฆ What kind of relationship do you have with that, Yu-yuโฆ Yu-something-or-other from earlierโฆ?โ
โItโs Yue. Yue Aizawa.โ
How should I explain this?
Is there really any need to go out of my way to mention that Yue was my first love?
And thereโs absolutely no way I can bring up anything related to VTubers.
โWell, sheโs justโฆ a childhood friend Iโve known for a long time.โ
โW-what!? D-does that mean you already have a female childhood friend, Komachi-sanโฆ?โ
โAs you probably gathered from our earlier exchange, weโre currently estrangedโor rather, weโve become enemies.โ
โI seeโฆ So, me coming over to wake you up in the morning isnโt really anything special for you, Komachi-sanโฆ?โ
โNo, no, a situation like that doesnโt happen in real lifeโat least not for me.โ
I sometimes think Mizuta-san tends to take fiction a little too seriously.
โW-well thenโฆโ
Mizuta-san continued, glancing at me from time to time.
โIf I could be something like a replacement for Aizawa-san, would Komachi-san be happyโฆ?โ
What was the real meaning behind this question?
Could it be that sheโd sensed the feelings I had for Yue?
I donโt know her intentions, but thereโs only one thing I can say.
I immediately shook my head.
โYue is Yue, and Mizuta-san is Mizuta-san. Iโm here with you right now precisely because youโre Mizuta-san.โ
Thatโs rightโIโve never once thought of her as a replacement for Yue.
That would be disrespectful to Mizuta-san, and besides, the two of them arenโt even remotely alike.
She can be a bit out of the blue at times, but the way she looks out for me and has my best interests at heartโI just found her so adorable, and I was so grateful.
โHehe, heheheโฆโ
Mizutaโs face softened as if it were melting.
โKomachi-san, you say such embarrassingly sweet things so casually. Thank you so muchโฆ!โ
โโฆI wonโt say it again, okay?โ
Instantly, a flush of heat rose to my face.
ใโ
It had been ten minutes since we arrived in front of my house.
We still hadnโt gone inside; we were just standing there.
The reason wasโ
โMizuta-san, are you mentally prepared yet?โ
โI-Iโm not ready yetโฆ!โ
Thatโs rightโitโs because Mizuta-san is extremely nervous.
Even though thereโs still a little time before my dad gets home from work.
โKo, Komachi-saaanโฆ!โ
โYes?โ
โS-should I really get down on my knees and say, โPlease give me your sonโโฆ!?โ
โโฆโฆโ
What on earth is she planning to say by way of greeting?