My Childhood Friend Is Just Too CuteโI Canโt Have a Normal Relationship!!
โNice to meet you. Iโm Makoto Taniguchi, a sophomore at Tenjiku High School, affiliated with Amamiya University.โ
โLikewise, Iโm Yamato Shinozaki.โ
Once we arrived at the mixer venue, we nervously greeted the girls sitting across from us.
Personally, I didnโt have much experience talking to girls like this, so I was pretty nervous.
But if I can just endure this nervousness for a little while, Iโll be able to get a girlfriendโฆ Well, even if it doesnโt go that far, just making a close female friend would be a huge step forward.
โNice to meet you. Iโm Nanae Saeki, a second-year student at Suiren Girlsโ Academy.โ
A girl with a cute appearance who gave off an aura slightly similar to Fumika introduced herself. She was on the shorter side and had a petite build.
Her green eyes, fixed on us, were like jewelsโabsolutely beautiful.
โIโm Sayaka Matsu, too. Nice to meet you.โ
With a beaming smile, another female student introduced herself. She had a look that was less โcuteโ and more โbeautiful,โ with short purple hair.
Her eyes were the same purple as her hair, and she was incredibly cuteโor rather, beautiful.
โWell then, now that the introductions are done, letโs make a toast!โ
โ””โCheers!โโ””
Led by Yamato, the mixer got underway.
ใโ
โMan, today was so much fun. Seriously.โ
โI donโt think Iโve ever seen Makoto get that excited before. So, how was the mixer?โ
โIt was awesome. Both of them were cute, and they seemed like really nice people, too.โ
โI get it. You even got both of their contact info, didnโt you?โ
โWell, you did too, didnโt you?โ
This mixer was really fun.
Enough that Iโd want him to set one up again if the chance came up.
โYeah, I guess. โฆWhoa, I donโt want to get dragged into any drama. If youโre still alive, letโs meet up tomorrow.โ
โHuh? What are you talking about? Wait a second.โ
Just as I was about to chase after Yamatoโwho was spouting nonsense and sprinting away from me at full speedโsomeoneโs hand landed on my shoulder.
Who on earth is that? Just as I thought that and turned aroundโฆ
โWas hanging out with girls what you had planned to do, Makoto?โ
โโฆWhy is Fumika even here? Itโs already eight oโclock. Itโs not a time for a girl to be out alone, is it?โ
โYouโre worried about me~ Hahaha. So? Can I ask you in detail what you were doing with those girls, Makoto?โ
She doesnโt seem grumpy like usual. Right now, Fumika is wearing a very carefree smile. Thatโs what makes it scary.
โโฆYes.โ
โVery well. Then come to my room right now so I can hear the whole story.โ
โGot it.โ
And just like that, I found myself being dragged off to Fumikaโs room.
Why do I have to get scolded this much?
Iโm sure I didnโt do anything wrong.
ใโ
โExplain this in detail. Why were you hanging out with girls from a school you donโt even know?โ
โWell, Yamato invited me, so I went to a mixer with him.โ
โโฆA mixer? Why would you need to do something like that?โ
โWell, because I want a girlfriend, of course. Iโm already a sophomore in high school. Itโs not a crime to want at least one girlfriend, is it?โใ
If things keep going like this, I might end up with the tragic outcome of never having a girlfriend my whole life.
To avoid that, I have no choice but to take the initiative myself.
โThat might be true, but arenโt there any nice girls close to you?โ
โHmm, when you say โclose,โ the only girls near me are either Fumika or Alice. But theyโre both my childhood friends.โ
โSo you donโt want to date your childhood friends?โ
โItโs complicated. I guess you could say theyโre in a different category for me. Thatโs the feeling I have.โ
โWhatโs that supposed to mean? I donโt get it. Thatโs creepy.โ
She said that in a very low voice while glaring at me with a cold stare.
For someone not used to it, that look of contempt would have been a lethal dose. In fact, even I, whoโm used to it, felt like I was about to burst into tears.
โThatโs mean.โ
โItโs not mean at all. Iโm the one taking care of you, and yet youโre making out with other girlsโyouโve got it pretty good, donโt you?โ
โIโm sorry.โ
โBut itโs a good thing Alice didnโt catch you.โ
โWhy Alice?โ
I was a little taken aback by the sudden change of subject. Where on earth did Alice fit into this conversation?
โWell, if she found out Makoto was with a girl other than me or Alice, who knows what sheโd do.โ
โโฆโฆThatโs scary.โ
โIt was a real mess last time she saw Makoto walking with a girl other than us.โ
โโฆโฆCan I ask what happened?โ
โThere are a lot of things in this world youโre better off not knowing, you know?โ
Apparently, anything related to Alice is like Pandoraโs box. Iโd better not ask.
Most likely, thatโs for the best for both of us. โฆProbably.
โOkay. I wonโt ask.โ
โThatโs the wise thing to do. You should thank me for not telling you.โ
โThanks, Fumika.โ
It seems Iโve managed to avoid the worst-case scenario.
โSo, will you grant my request?โ
โโฆWell, if itโs something I can do, anythingโs fine.โ
Fumika isnโt the type to dump unreasonable demands on me, despite how she might seem.
So, if sheโs calling it a โrequest,โ it must be something she really wants me to do.
โIโm going to take a bath now. Could you dry my hair for me when I get out? Itโs long, so itโs kind of a hassle.โ
โThatโs no problem at all. Come on, if youโre going to take a bath, get in and get out quickly. Iโll be waiting.โ
โMm. If you peek, Iโll kill you.โ
โIโm not going to peek. Just go on in already.โ
And so, to fulfill Fumikaโs request to dry her hair, I waited for her to get out of the bath.
Maigetsu