The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
โโฆUgh. Why does this always happen?โ
Takagaki-san took a step back, her eyes brimming with tears.
What on earth does it mean that this happens every single timeโฆ?
Come to think of it, even though Takagaki-san usually speaks in a rather stern tone and has a fearless personality, when sheโs with Kanade, she acts like a scared little puppy.
โฆIs it just a matter of chemistry?
โHey, hey, Takagaki san. Weโre friends, right?โ
Kanade said this in a flat tone.
โโฆโฆO-of course.โ
Takagaki stammered.
Well, itโs been about a month since Kanade transferred here.
Behind my back, these two have probably already become best friends.
โโฆโฆโ
โโฆโฆTakagaki-san?โ
โNo, wait, if I think about it calmly, arenโt we actually not friends?โ
โHaauโฆโฆโ
Huh, is that so?
โI mean, itโs been nearly a month since Ichinose-san transferred here, but the number of times weโve actually talked can be counted on one hand, right?โ
Huh, is that soโฆโฆ?
โโฆโฆOnly a twisted streamer who considers someone theyโve spoken to just once an โacquaintanceโ would call a relationship that superficial โfriendship.โโ
Well, Takagaki-sanโs insults are as sharp as ever.
โโฆโฆI-I thought of you as a friend, Takagaki-san?โ
โฆโฆBefore she knew it, Kanade was on the verge of tears.
Judging by her expression, it seemed she was speaking from the heart.
โOh? Is that so? Well, then, you could have interacted with me more actively.โ
โW-wellโฆโ
โWell?โ
โBecauseโฆ Takagaki-sanโฆ youโre cool.โ
โIn what way?โ
โYour fearless personality, and stuff like that.โ
โNah, itโs not exactly something to brag about. This personality of mine.โ
Well, itโs a personality that appeals to some people. Itโs not uncommon for it to be unpopular with others, causing resentment and leading to interpersonal conflicts, and I thought she was right.
โโฆโฆMuu.โ
Kanade puffed out her cheeks.
โAre you done? Ichinose-san. I actually have something to ask Hagiwara-kun.โ
โOh, right, thatโs true.
โฆโฆWait, Takagaki-san. Not yet. Not yetโฆโฆ! Our war of words has only just begun, hasnโt it?โ
โEhโฆโฆ? Were you challenging me to a war of wordsโฆโฆ?โ
Kanade had an unusually serious expression on her face.
Apparentlyโฆโฆ sheโs serious.
โAnyway, Takagaki-san.โฆโฆ No. Ayaka-chan.โ
Gulp.
โPlease be my friend.โ
She said itโฆ!
That Kanadeโwhat a powerful request.
If it were me, Iโd say โIโd love toโ without hesitation.
โฆEven Takagaki-san must be flustered by this.
โEhโฆ?โ
โฆShe was flustered, but not in the way I expected.
โW-wait, thatโs not what I expected!โ
It seemed Kanade was thinking the same thing, and she raised her voice.
โโฆAh, Ayaka-chan. Do you not want to be friends with me?โ
Kanadeโs eyes welled up, and she began to plead.
โโฆHmmโฆโ
โโฆโฆโ
โIf I had to say whether I like it or notโฆโ
โโฆโฆโ
โHmmโฆโ
โฆSheโs taking a long time to think.
Itโs long. Way too long.
Morning homeroom is about to start.
โฆโฆCould that be her plan?
Is this some politicianโs trick, like when theyโre questioned in Parliament about a scandal and buy time by promising an answer the day after tomorrow just to get through the moment?
โโฆโฆWell, fine.โ
Oh, looks like I was wrong.
โYay!โ
โWait.โ
โโฆโฆHuh?โ
โIโll be your friend, but thereโs a condition.โ
โฆโฆDo you have to set conditions just to become friends?
โYeah. Iโll do anything you ask.โ
โHm? Did you just say โanythingโ?โ
โI didnโt.โ
โYou didโฆโฆ Yeah. You didnโt, did you?โ
Takagaki cleared her throat.
โFirst of all, donโt sneak up on me from behind out of nowhere.โ
Come to think of it, every time Takagaki talks to Kanade, she always makes her jump out of her skin right from the start.
โIt really startles me.โ
โโฆHuh? Am I sneaking up on you from behind out of nowhere?โ
โYouโre not even aware of itโฆโ
Takagaki held her head in her hands.
โNext, donโt speak to me in such an intimidating way.โ
โโฆHaha. I thought I was trying to be as gentle as possible, though?โ
โWell, that just makes it worseโฆโ
Takagaki looked utterly exasperated.
โFinallyโฆ This is the most important condition.โ
Despite looking exasperated, Takagaki was the kind of person with the guts to say exactly what he wanted to say.
โWhat is it?โ
Kanade approached Takagaki with a smile.
โAh, youโre so intimidatingโฆโ
Seeing Kanadeโs smile, Takagaki took another step back.
โฆHow can a cute smile be intimidating?
โโฆA-anyway, this is the final condition.โ
โYeah. Tell me.โ
โโฆWell, if you ask me if this is really a condition, to be honest, itโs a little different.โ
โIs that so?โ
โYeah. If anythingโฆ a declaration?โ
โA declaration?โ
Kanade tilted her head slightly.
Facing Kanade like that, Takagaki swallowed hard and continued.
โI donโt actually like Hagiwara-kun at all!โ
โฆWait, did she just suddenly reject me?
โSo, letโs be friends!?โ
โฆYeah, thatโs a bad move.
Kanade and I are best friends.
Normally, if someone put down your best friendโฆ wouldnโt you be driven by anger?
โฆBut Kanade.
โReally!?โ
She was beaming from ear to ear.
โYeah. I donโt like him. Heโs not my type. Not at all.โ
โReally, really!?โ
โYeah. Really, really.โ
โHehehe. Hehehehe!โ
Kanade started jumping up and down right there.
โAyaka-chan, I love you!โ
And then Kanadeโฆ threw herself into Takagaki-sanโs arms.
โโฆIf it was a lie, Iโd know, okayโ
And thenโฆ she muttered something under her breath, too quietly for us to hear.
โฆTakagaki-san, even though sheโs being hugged by her cute classmate, her face has turned deathly pale for some reason.
Just what did she say?ใ
Maiasa