My Childhood Friend Is Just Too CuteโI Canโt Have a Normal Relationship!!
โSheโs fallen asleep, huh? She couldnโt be any more defenseless.โ
I let out a wry smile as I stroked Fumikaโs headโshe was snoring contentedly on my lap. Sheโs always saying harsh things to me, but deep down sheโs kind, so I just canโt bring myself to hate her.
Well, not that I have any intention of hating herโand itโs not like I ever would anyway.
โStill, I wish sheโd be a little more cautious. Itโs fine because Iโm her childhood friend, but if it were any other guy, sheโd be getting attacked, you know?โ
I lightly poke Fumikaโs cheek with my index finger as she sleeps with a contented smile on her face.
A soft, squishy sensation spreads through my fingertips.
โItโs been like this ever since the first day I tried to keep my distance. I canโt help but worry about whatโs to come.โ
But seeing Fumika sleeping so blissfully makes me think, โOh well, maybe itโs okay.โ
My childhood friend really is incredibly cute.
โThat said, I have no intention of giving up on getting a girlfriend!! No matter what, Iโm going to get a cute girlfriend by the end of this year!!โ
This is the one goal that wonโt change. I want a girlfriend too, and I have the same desire to get married as anyone else. Iโd hate to finish high school without ever having a girlfriend.
โI really need to come up with a proper plan. Come to think of it, since I started high school, Iโve had almost no interaction with any female students other than Fumika and Alice.โ
Iโm going to make a real effort this year to get to know other girls besides those two. Otherwise, I can already see a grim future where I still donโt have a girlfriend by the time I turn twenty.
โHmm? Makoto?โ
โO-oh, sorry. Did I wake you up?โ
โNope. Not at all. More importantly, you seemed to be talking to yourself. Is something bothering you? If you want to talk about it, Iโm here to listen.โ
โItโs not that kind of thing. Donโt worry about it.โ
For some reason, I felt a bit hesitant to bring this up with Fumika.
Sheโd gotten really upset this morning when we talked about relationships, so maybe she doesnโt really like those kinds of conversations.
โOh, really? Well, thatโs good then. Oh, sorry. Your knee must hurt. Iโll move out of the way now.โ
โIt doesnโt really hurt, so you donโt have to worry about it. Actually, Iโm starting to get sleepy too.โ
Maybe it was because Iโd been watching Fumika sleeping so soundly, but I was starting to feel sleepy myself. It was still just past noon, and the temperature was really pleasant.
โWell then, how about I let you rest your head on my lap this time?โ
โIs that okay?โ
โO-of course. Weโre here for each other in times like this, right?โ
โIn that case, can I take you up on that offer? Iโm so sleepy Iโm practically at my limit.โ
I felt like I could fall asleep right then and there, but I managed to stay awake. Then, Fumika sat down on the bed.
I rested my head on Fumikaโs lap and lay on my back. It was the opposite of the earlier setupโnow she was looking down at me.
Actually, itโs been a while since Fumika let me rest my head on her lap, and it feels amazing.
Her skin feels so smooth and soft.
I think I can even catch a faint, pleasant scent.
And above all, itโs so comforting. It makes me feel incredibly at ease.
โGood night, Makoto. Iโll wake you up in a little while.โ
โThanks, Fumika. Good night.โ
I closed my eyes right then and there, surrendering myself to the pleasant drowsiness.
ใโ
โโฆโฆSo, you two were giving each other knee pillows?โ
โโโฆโฆYes.โโ
The first thing that hit me as soon as I woke up wasnโt Fumikaโs cute faceโฆ but a complete and utter chaotic free-for-all.
For some reason, Alice and Fumikaโwho had come into my roomโwere arguing about something.
Since Iโd just woken up, I was still confused when Alice made me sit in seiza and forced me to explain what had happened.
I mean, why did she just walk into my room so casually, anyway?
A spare key? Does she even have a spare key?
My mom probably gave her one before she left on her trip. I really think communicationโreporting, consulting, and keeping each other informedโis important. No, seriously.
โLucky you~ I want Makoto to let me rest my head on his lap, too!โ
โI donโt really mind that. But arenโt you guys being way too careless? This is a guyโs apartment, after all, and he lives alone.โ
โMakoto wouldnโt do anything to us, right~? Besides, no matter what he does, I wouldnโt mind! Hehe.โ
Seeing Alice say that with a smile as bright as the sun, she really does look like a pure, innocent childโit warms my heart just watching her.
I think she has a different kind of charm than Fumika.
โโฆโฆHaa. Should I lament the fact that she doesnโt see me as a man? Or should I be happy that she trusts me? Itโs hard to decide.โ
Well, itโs not good to take everything negatively, so Iโll try to look at it on the bright side.
โSo, MakotoโIโd love to rest my head on your lap.โ
โSure, sure. Come on, hop on.โ
Just like before, I sat down on the bed and offered my lap. Alice jumped onto it with gusto, but it didnโt hurt much.
She seems to be holding back a bit, as expected.
โHehehe~ Itโs been quite a while since I last rested my head on your lap, Makoto, hasnโt it? Maybe since elementary school.โ
โMaybe so~ Since we started middle school, Alice seemed so busy with club activities. We didnโt get to hang out much.โ
โExactly. Thatโs why Iโm really happy we ended up in the same class like this.โ
โMe too.โ
Alice gazes into my eyes, looking truly happy. Being looked at by those beautiful, ruby-like eyes makes my heart skip a beat. Iโve always thought this, but Alice really is as beautiful as a doll.
If youโd describe Fumika as โcute,โ then โbeautifulโ is the perfect word for Alice.
I guess some people are the โcuteโ type, and others are the โbeautifulโ type.
โArenโt you two getting a little too lovey-dovey?โ
โThatโs not true~ Besides, Fumi-chanโs watching us right now. Fumi-chan was totally letting us be all lovey-dovey just the two of us, so you should let us get away with this much, right~โ
โGrrrโฆโ
Fumika was clenching her teeth in frustration.
I wonder what exactly the two of them are competing over. Iโd really like them to get along, though.
โOh, right, Makoto. Can I have a word with you?โ
โHm? Like this?โ
I leaned my face closer to Aliceโs, just as sheโd told me. Then, right by my ear, Alice whispered.
โItโs fine to get along with Fumi-chan, but if you hang out with or go on dates with any other girlsโฆ Iโll kill you, okay?โ
โGah!โ
A weird sound escaped my mouthโone that even surprised me. But I guess it was inevitable.
It was a low, cold voice I could never have imagined coming from the Alice I usually knew.
When I glanced up at her face for a moment, her deep red eyesโsharp and narrowedโwere fixed on mine.
My heart skipped a beatโfor a different reason than before.
A slight trickle of cold sweat began to seep down my spine.
โW-wait a minute, Alice! You just tried to kiss Makoto, didnโt you!?โ
โNo, Fumi-chan. We were just having a little secret talk, so donโt get so mad, okay?โ
โIs that so? Makoto.โ
โAh, uh-huh. Thatโs right. Yeah.โ
With my brain still struggling to process the situation, I gave her a half-hearted reply.
Somehow, I feel like Iโve caught a glimpse of a completely unexpected side of Alice.
Iโll just try not to think about it.
Wait, hold on a secondโฆ
If I canโt go on a date with anyone other than Fumika or Alice, doesnโt that mean itโs impossible for me to get a girlfriend? And if she ever finds out I went on a date with someone else, Alice would kill me.
She even has a spare key to my place, so thereโs no escape.
โโฆMy high school days are slipping away.โ
My dream of getting a girlfriend in high school was about to be shattered right from the start, but thereโs no way Iโm giving up.
Iโm definitely going to date a cute girl and get married!
With that resolve, I looked forward to going back to school tomorrow.
Maigetsu