The Beautiful Girl With a Kind Personality and Good Looks, Who Happens to Be My Childhood Friend, Seems to Have Eyes Only for Me
On my way home with Haru, I got a message from Mom on my phone.
โThe fridge is almost empty, so could you pick up some groceries on your way home?โ
Just an errand.
With Dad never home, Mom’s presence is hugeโworking late every day while still preparing meals. There was no reason for me to refuse her request.
I’d planned to go alone. But Haru was right beside me.
โโฆI’m going shopping.โ
โโฆโ
Just as I started to say that, Haru gently grabbed my sleeve.
โโฆI’ll help. โฆOr ratherโฆ I want to stay with you a little longer. Is thatโฆ okay?โ
When she looked up at me like that, there was no way I could refuse.
I nodded immediately.
โโฆYeah. Then let’s go to the shopping district together.โ
As we started walking, Haru took my hand and intertwined her fingers with mine, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It was a busy time of day. Students, housewives returning from shopping, adults finishing workโall were out. Yet Haru wouldn’t let go.
Occasionally, she’d glance up at me.
When our eyes met, she’d smile happily, looking a little shy.
โฆWith a face like that, there was no way I could tell her to let go.
Entering the shopping district supermarket, Haru peered into the basket and began selecting items efficiently.
โโฆThese asparagus look good. New onions and snap peasโฆ and some pork for shabu-shabu tooโฆโ
She added ingredients one after another to the basket I was holding.
Watching her, I suddenly found myself thinking:
(โฆHaru would definitely make a good wife.)
She’s good at cooking, thoughtful, and kind to everyone.
Things are a bit complicated right now, but if everything goes smoothly, Haru and Yamatoโฆ might end up together.
If that’s happiness, then it should be fine.
โฆBut.
(โฆWhy do Iโฆ?)
A rough feeling spread deep within his chest.
โโฆDamn itโฆโ
A small curse slipped out involuntarily.
I wasn’t even sure what I was irritated about.
It was just that having Haru beside me felt so comfortable, and I naturally wanted her to stay by my side forever.
โฆBut it wasn’t just that.
I wanted to touch her, hold her close, never let her go.
Such impulses welled up inside me, unbidden.
I didn’t want to give her to anyone else.
Not even to Yamato, not to anyone else.
I didn’t know if it was right or wrong.
Even so, I couldn’t deny this feeling.
โโฆHehe. It’s just like a married couple, isn’t it?โ
Haru suddenly said with a smile.
โโฆMe as the bride, and Yuma as the groomโฆโ
Her slightly flushed profile.
She was so beautiful I found myself staring, unable to look away.
(โฆThis is bad.)
Snapping back to reality, I paid the bill and left the shop.
My business was done.
We walked side by side through the twilight shopping district, heading home.
The setting sun dyed the road orange.
Quiet air.
Just me and Haru, time for the two of us alone.
After walking a while, Haru’s house came into view.
Across from it was Yamato’s house.
โฆWhich meant this was where we parted ways.
โโฆThanks, Haru. You really helped me out.โ
โNo, it’s fine. I was the one who suggested itโฆ Besides, I got to spend a lot of time with Yumaโฆ It was a privilege.โ
โโฆI see.โ
Deep inside my chest, I felt an odd sense of reluctance.
As if to suppress that feeling, I reached out to take the shopping bag Haru was holding.
โAt that instant.
It was as if my body moved of its own accord.
Before I knew it, I was holding Haru in my arms.
โKyaโฆ Yuumaโฆ?โ
Before my mind could register โWhat am I doing?โ, Haru’s warmth and soft touch melted my thoughts.
Haru, who seemed startled for a moment, quickly wrapped her arms around my back and hugged me back.
โโฆIt’s calmingโฆ Just a little longer like thisโฆโ
โโฆYesโฆ anytimeโฆ It’s okayโฆโ
Haru lifted her face and slowly brought her lips closer.
Just a little moreโand they would touch.
That was the moment.
โโฆOnee chan?โ
A hesitant voice fell from behind us.
Haru and I turned around almost simultaneously, holding our breath.
Standing there were two girls in school uniforms.
One was a girl with black bobbed hair, standing straight and staring at us.
Her gaze was calm, yet clearly sharp, as if measuring distance.
The other stood slightly behind her.
A petite girl, her long hair swaying, blinked uncertainly as she looked back and forth between me and Haru.
โโฆChiya.โ
โโฆMitsuri.โ
Haru called their names as if seeing something unbelievable.
Kamiya Chiya.
Yamato’s younger sister, a first-year student who had just attended her entrance ceremony today.
AndโMitsuri. Haru’s younger sister, the one she’d been talking about earlier.
Chiya took a single step forward.
โโฆThis is in front of my house, you know.โ
โโฆAhโฆโ
Haru lost her words.
Mitsuri tugged gently on Haru’s sleeve.
โโฆOnee chanโฆjust nowโฆyou were closeโฆโ
โโฆN-no, it’s not like thatโฆโ
Haru shook her head frantically.
โโฆI wasโฆaccompanying him shoppingโฆandโฆโ
Out of the corner of her eye, as Haru stammered, Chiyo’s gaze turned to me.
A clear wariness, as if suppressing emotion.
โโฆWhat were you doing?โ
โโฆJust getting some help with shopping.โ
I answered briefly, hoping to keep the atmosphere from getting any heavier.
Mitsuri looked up at me anxiously.
โโฆDid youโฆ not mind, onee chanโฆ?โ
โโฆHuh?โ
โโฆWere youโฆ forcing yourselfโฆ?โ
Haru faltered for just a moment, then gave a small smile.
โโฆIt’s fine, Mitsuri. I asked her myself.โ
At those words, Mitsuri nodded, looking slightly relieved.
But Chiyo’s expression didn’t change.
โโฆDo you always cling to Haru-nee like that?โ
โโฆChiyoโฆ?โ
โโฆHonestly, I think it’s better not to get too involved. โฆMy brother is way cooler and more reliable.โ
Beside her, Mitsuri added quietly.
โโฆYamato-sanโฆ is kindโฆโ
โโฆMitsuriโฆโ
A sharp pang stabbed deep in my chest.
I could have argued back endlessly.
But arguing now would only trouble Haru and Mitsuri.
โโฆHaru, thanks for today.โ
I took the bag from Haru and said quietly.
โโฆThat was a big help. โฆWell then.โ
I slipped between them and left the spot.
I felt a gaze on my back, like they wanted to say something, but I didn’t turn around.
(โฆWhat the hell was that?)
My best friend’s little sister.
It should be nothing more than that, yet from the start, it felt like a line had been drawn.
I didn’t know why.
Without understanding, only a sediment-like feeling remained deep in my chest.
โโฆI really don’t get itโฆโ
It wouldn’t be right to keep Mom waiting.
I quickened my pace and hurried home.
Maiasa
wish you best and best
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