The Case of My Childhood Friend Who Became a Very Popular Model and Came Back to Fulfill a Promise We Made When We Were Children
“Well, I really did walk. It was a tough battle for lack of exercise. ……”
“Battle?! is that what Ayumu thinks of a date.”
“That place is a battlefield, no matter how you look at it.”
“I think it’s just a fun place to be. ……”
Akane says as she rolls the unopened can of cocoa in her hands.
I was sitting next to her, exhausted. I was half tired.
We are now visiting a park near our house.
This is the park where Akane and I meet up after school.
The sun had completely set and only the cheap fluorescent light was illuminating us.
“Even so, it’s been a long time since we’ve played like this.”
“That’s right. I’ve been staying at home and studying a lot lately, so it was a nice distraction.”
“I’m glad to hear that. And if you want a distraction at home, you should definitely call me.”
Akane said with a face full of confidence.
Apparently, she is trying to say, “I can distract Ayumu with ease”
I’m sure it would be a good distraction, but I have a feeling I’d be distracted forever.
“Well, I guess I’ll have to do that.”
“Yes! Ehehe~!”
In the end, Akane probably just wants to be pampered, but I meditate on that.
I could not resist greed after all.
“By the way, Akane, do you want to be an actress?”
As I remembered, I finally said what had been in my mind for a long time.
Before she could reply, Akane raised the pull tab on her can of cocoa.
“I’d love to, I’ve been wanting to for a long time.”
“….. I see.”
I knew it.
Because Akane’s dream used to be – not modeling – but acting.
“In fact, I got an offer for a movie …….”
I stood up involuntarily at those words.
“Seriously!? That’s amazing! That’s seriously awesome!”
“Fufu, thanks.”
I can’t stop the excitement.
My childhood friend is about to fulfill her second dream.
It doesn’t matter how many dreams you have. And it doesn’t matter how many times you make them come true.
Akane has many dreams.
Because it doesn’t matter how many dreams you have.
But she is trying to make two big dreams come true. It’s really amazing.
“It’s not like I’m starring in it or anything, but I’ve got my lines ……”
“I see. I’m really happy for you. Good luck.”
“Actually, I haven’t responded to that yet.”
“…… Eh?”
Akane’s gaze never left the can in her hand, and she seemed to be deeply troubled.
“If I accept this offer, I’m sure I’ll be busier than ever. I might not be able to flirt with Ayumu any more than I do now.”
“…..”
I see. Akane was concerned about this.
She doesn’t just go along with what she wants to do, but treats it as a problem for both of us.
She is entrusting the decision to me as well. I couldn’t be happier.
But my answer had already been decided.
“Go ahead and take the offer.”
“Eh?”
“Go ahead and do the movie. Even if we don’t see each other any more than we do now, we just have to increase the density of each meeting. And …… we haven’t seen each other for about four years, but our hearts are still connected, right? I’m totally fine with it.”
“……Ayumu is Ayumu, after all.”
–A moment after Akane said that, I felt a soft touch on my face.
It took me a while to realize that it was Akane’s lips, and until I did, she kept her lips on my face.
Slowly, Akane pulled her lips away from mine.
Then, after turning away for a moment as if embarrassed, she giggled like a mischievous child.
“I guess Ayumu is my boyfriend and childhood friend after all.”
“…W-What are you talking about?”
“I think I’m happiest when I realize that the things I take for granted are the things that make me happy.”
“……”
I can’t say anything back to her.
I had to wait for Akane’s next words.
“I’ll accept the offer for the movie. I’ll see what I can do.”
“…… ou.”
Akane stood up and drank her cocoa in one gulp.
She then took aim at the empty can and shot it into the trash.
The cans ended up in the trash with a brilliant parabolic curve.
“Ayumu, you know, don’t you want to do something?”
Those words pierced deep into my heart.
What I want to do …….
That was certainly something that used to be inside of me.