The Beautiful Girl With a Kind Personality and Good Looks, Who Happens to Be My Childhood Friend, Seems to Have Eyes Only for Me
“Hey, Haru.”
“Hmm? What is it, Yuma-kun?”
Her reply came right by my ear. She’d perched herself between my legs as I sat deep in the sofa, naturally nestling into my arms.
Today, with studying finally wrapped up, I’d gotten a much-needed break. So I decided to exercise my boyfriend privileges—to be spoiled by Haru today. Though “spoiled” just meant hugging her like this from behind.
“Does this hurt?”
“Not at all. Actually, I’m the one being spoiled here.”
Her soft chuckle resonated against my chest. Haru had completely surrendered her weight to me, and I tightened my arms slightly, as if to support her.
“So, we’re both being spoiled then.”
“Hehe, yeah. Can I squeeze you tighter?”
“…I’ll take you up on that.”
I tightened my arms a little more. Her warmth radiating through my back felt so good, and we were close enough to feel each other’s breathing. My fingers brushed her hair. It was silky smooth, smelled nice, and somehow calming.
“Yuma-kun, you seem a bit down today?”
“…Did I give it away?”
“Of course you did. How long do you think we’ve been together?”
Her gentle tone made my chest tighten. To be honest, I’d been feeling uneasy until just now.
“I’ve been overthinking the bulletin board and the entrance exams.”
“Yeah.”
“The bulletin board thing… no matter how I look at it, it’s about me. Why did this happen? Should I step forward and try to resolve it quickly?
The exams… what if I fail? What if Haru and I end up on different paths? Even though it’s still far off, all these weird thoughts keep popping into my head.”
Saying it out loud made me feel pathetic.
“Nothing’s even happened yet, but I’m just anticipating all the anxiety.”
Haru said nothing, just gently placed her hand over mine. She squeezed back tightly.
“Yuma-kun…”
“Hm?”
“You’re someone who can seriously think about the future. That’s really amazing.”
“Nah, I’m just freaking out.”
“No. It means you’re including me in your future, right?”
Hearing that, I was at a loss for words.
“…That’s obvious.”
“Yeah, I know.”
She turned her body slightly, looking up at my face.
“It’s okay. Worrying about the bulletin board, exams, your future path—it’s normal. But you know…”
She smiled gently.
“No matter where you are, Yuma-kun, I’ll always be on your side.”
“……”
“I really don’t think you need to worry about the bulletin board? I don’t think anything bad will come of it.”
“If we go to the same university, we’ll celebrate together. If we take different paths, I’ll still cheer you on. If I get lonely, I’ll come visit. So let’s move in together.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not easy. I’m serious.”
Her gaze was too direct, and the restless fluttering deep in my chest gradually calmed. Except for one lingering question.
“…You talk about the bulletin board like you’re involved, but you’re not connected to it, right?”
“Yes, not in the slightest. Can’t you trust me? Yuma-kun?”
“Ugh…”
“I always trust you.”
Haru’s face, so full of affection as she said it, made me cherish her, miss her, and tighten my embrace. Had I really doubted a girl like Haru? She must have noticed, because she placed her hand over mine.
“Haru, you’re really sneaky, you know?”
“Eh? Why’s that?”
“You always give me exactly the words I want to hear.”
Haru smiled, looking a little embarrassed,
“Because I’ve always been watching you, Yuma-kun.”
She said that. A warm feeling spread deep within my chest.
“You know…”
“Yeah?”
“I want a future where I’m laughing with Haru. That’s why I’ll study hard, and even when I’m anxious, I don’t want to run away.”
“Yeah.”
“But let me be spoiled like this sometimes.”
“Of course.”
Haru rested her head on my shoulder again.
“Then I’ll be spoiled too. As your girlfriend’s exam support officer.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a special position. Your love is always welcome anytime, Yuma-kun.”
She chuckled softly and intertwined her fingers with mine.
A quiet room.
Our bodies pressed together.
Our breathing slowly syncing to the same rhythm.
We’ll be happy together, so Haru won’t have to carry the burden alone anymore. Not just one supporting the other, but both helping and supporting each other… That’s the kind of happiness Haru and I aim for. Ah… I think this over and over. This feeling won’t fade, no matter how many years pass.
“Hey, Haru…”
“Hmm?”
“I love you. Really.”
“I know.”
“No, let me say it.”
Haru lifted her face slightly and smiled softly.
“I love you too, Yuma-kun.”
At a distance where our foreheads could almost touch, we shared a gentle kiss, as if just to confirm our feelings.
The anxiety that had filled my head moments ago receded a little. The future is still unknown. No one knows how things will turn out with exams or our paths ahead.
But right now, in this moment, Haru is smiling beside me.
“Haru, you know…”
“Yeah?”
Still close, Haru looked at me with dreamy eyes. A moment filled with a soft, sweet air.
“I’ll study hard for the exams, but…”
“Yeah?”
“…let’s go on dates sometimes too.”
She looked puzzled for a second, then her eyes narrowed happily.
“…Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay. If we are glued to the desk forever, I’ll be the one to break down first.”
“Hehe, then this is a ‘date for Yuma-kun’s mental health management’.”
“Exactly. Necessary expenses.”
“Yay!”
Seeing her make a tiny victory pose was adorable, and I couldn’t help but rest my chin on her head.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Hmm… I’m stumped when you ask me suddenly.”
“Come on, there’s that place you’ve been saying you wanted to go to for ages.”
“Hmm… the aquarium.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“It’s dark, quiet, you can take your time looking around… and I love the jellyfish exhibit.”
“You’ll definitely just stare at the jellyfish and freeze up.”
“If Yuma-kun is next to me, I could watch them for hours.”
“That’d kill my legs.”
She giggles softly, playing with my fingers. It tickles, but it’s cute.
“But the aquarium sounds nice. Anything else?”
“Hmm… Oh, I’d also like to do some street food eating.”
“Street food eating?”
“Like in shopping districts or festival-like places, nibbling on little things. Sharing everything.”
“You’re definitely gonna say ‘give me a bite’ every single time.”
“Well, if I eat everything by myself, I’ll get too full.”
“Don’t treat me like your stomach.”
“It’s a boyfriend’s privilege.”
She says it with a big smile, so I can’t argue back.
“So, let’s go to the aquarium, then grab dinner somewhere afterward.”
“Yeah.”
“If we could catch the night view on the way back, that’d be perfect.”
“…What is that? It’s a perfect date course.”
“Even a student taking entrance exams deserves a reward like that, right?”
Haru slowly turned her body toward me and sat down, rubbing her forehead against my shoulder.
“If I have something to look forward to, I think I can study harder.”
“Me too.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Like making a pinky promise, our little fingers intertwined.
“Yuma-kun.”
“Hm?”
“Let’s work hard together on both the exams and the date, okay?”
“Sure.”
“Tell me when you’re struggling, okay?”
“You too, Haru.”
The phrase “same here” felt natural and fitting.
Haru smiled contentedly and leaned her weight against my chest again.
“…I like you.”
Her softly murmured words tickled me.
“That’s my line.”
“Then it’s both of our lines.”
I hugged her back tightly, and Haru hugged me back with equal force. The future was still uncertain. Anxiety about exams and our paths ahead wouldn’t disappear.
But just knowing we had our next date planned made me feel like I could face tomorrow’s workbook problems, just a little bit.
“Let’s work hard on that other exercise too. Starting right now.”
—This battle might be impossible to win.
Maiasa