A Childhood Friend Told Me โI Canโt Get a Boyfriend Because of You,โ So I Distanced Myself From Her and She Stopped Coming to School the Next Day
Monday morning.
I was in front of the bathroom, sweat beading on my forehead.
โโฆโฆ ain’t going so wellโฆโฆ.โ
I remember the haircut I had at the salon yesterday, and I apply styling products to my fingertips.
But, it’s hard to reproduce the balance of that time.
If I fix the right side of my hair, the left side floats, and if I fix the bangs, the top of my hair is smashed.
(Professionals are amazing, aren’t they? โฆโฆ)
I sighed as I remembered Ibuki san’s skill in adjusting the hair in such a short period of time.
The time to pick up Natsuki was getting closer and closer.
(Oh no, I have to finish it soon. โฆโฆ)
Just when I was starting to get impatient..,
–Ding-dong.
ใ
The doorbell rang.
(No way. โฆโฆ)
โAra, Natsuki chan. Good morning.”
“Good morning.โ
I hear the conversation between my mother and Natsuki.
“Um, is Rei there?
“in the bathroom.”
“Thank you.”
With the sound of light footsteps, Natsuki appeared.
She is wearing a cardigan over her school uniform and has a pouch in one hand.
โโฆ..I knew it. I knew you were having trouble with it.”
Natsuki looked up at my head and made a dumbfounded sound.
“No, it’s โฆโฆ really difficult.”
I was tempted to make excuses, but I honestly told her the truth.
Natsuki narrowed her eyes at me and walked behind me.
“I’ll do it for you. I don’t want my boyfriend to become a laughingstock.”
“Oh, uh, thanksโฆโฆ.โ
I grabbed a nearby chair and sat down.
“It’s not just you they’re making fun of, it’s me, too.”
The line was plain, but her hands were unwavering. It was as if she had decided to do this from the beginning.
The me in the mirror was getting closer and closer to the me of yesterday.
โWowโฆ.you remembered:
I was impressed, and Natsuki simply replied without changing her expression.
“It was yesterday. It’s no wonder.”
“Ohโฆ well, even though you didn’t look me in the eye, you were still looking at me.”
When I said that a little mischievously, Natsuki’s hand stopped moving and a blush appeared on her cheeks.
“โฆIt’s easy to do things like slicked-back hairstyles.”
“Sorry! I won’t say it again!”
ใ
Natsuki’s intentions were noticed and I hurriedly held up my hands.
She sniffed, but her cheeks were slightly loose in the mirror.
(โฆโฆ Natsuki, you’re smiling)
I was caught in the act too, and unintentionally relaxed my mouth.
โโฆโฆ what are you grinning at? It’s disgusting.โ
Natsuki looks at me with a glare.
“I’m sorry,โ
She shrugs her shoulders as she replies, and her gaze suddenly turns to the mirror.
–Then, as if noticing something, she stopped moving.
What did I look like just now?
She must have realized that I was watching her through the mirror.
โโฆโฆ!”
I saw her glance at me with a wry smile and suppressed a laugh.
If I upset her any more than this, she might really start slicking my hair back.
Fortunately, Natsuki continued to neaten it up with careful care.
โโฆโฆcompleted.โ
When Natsuki took her hand away, the self in the mirror was as well put together as it was yesterday – or even better.
โWow, โฆโฆ.โ
Natsuki snorted at the voice that spilled out unintentionally.
“โฆI look at you every day, so I know what to do to make you look better.”
She is pouty and proudly puffed up her nostrils.
It’s โฆโฆ too cute.
โW-What?โ
She glared at me and I shook my head.
“No, it’s nothing. Thanks.”
“โฆโฆWell, whatever.โ
Natsuki shrugged and let out a sigh.
Then we left the house, and as we passed through the gate, I gently held out my right hand.
“Natsuki –“
Natsuki looked at me for a moment and then dropped her gaze.
Her cheeks were slightly stained, but she held my hand without hesitation.
That was enough. However, Natsuki slowly intertwined her fingers with mine
I’m โฆโฆ happy.
โShall we go”
“Yes.โ
We nodded to each other and stepped out at the same time.
We didn’t let go of each other’s hands until we reached the entrance.
–Lunch break, courtyard.
In the spring light, Natsuki and I sat down on our usual bench and spread out our lunch boxes.
After a while, Natsuki suddenly spoke up.
“Hey, do you want to trade something?โ
โGood.โ
ใ
I nodded with a light laugh. We have always exchanged side dishes from time to time.
ใ
I glanced at Natsuki’s bento and saw that the other side dishes had been reduced to a clean number, but only the tamagoyaki remained.
“So, how about some tamagoyaki together?”
“โฆโฆโ
Natsuki shook her shoulders.
(โฆMaybe she was saving it for later?)
“Ah, I’d rather have something else–“
“N-no, that will do.”
Interrupting my polite reply, Natsuki quickly picked up one of her rolled omelets with her chopsticks and placed it in my lunchbox.
Continuing with the same flow, she brought my rolled omelet towards herself.
โO-oh โฆโฆ.”
What skill! Even Ibuki-san wouldn’t be able to handle the chopsticks like that.
Slightly taken aback, I bring the swapped omelet to my mouth.
“โฆIt’s been a while since I’ve had Auntie’s omeletโฆHmm?”
ใ
It tastes different from what I remember.
When I turned to Natsuki with my mouth moving, our eyes met perfectly.
โW-whatโฆโฆ not tasty?”
Natsuki turns her gaze away, but asks somewhat uneasily
“No, it’s really delicious. But the seasoning has changed a little? I think it’s less sweet, or more to my liking than before.”
When I honestly voiced my thoughts, Natsuki muttered.
“I made it,โฆโฆ”
โEh”
“I-I said, I made that omelet,”
she said coldly, bringing one end of it to her mouth to cover it up.
ใ
(โฆโฆ I see, that’s why.)
I now understand why she, who prefers to eat it, unnaturally left only the omelet.
ใ
She was leading me to naturally offer to exchange the omelet for the other.
Natsuki went out of her way to make them herself and let me eat them.
I couldn’t be happier.
“Thank you very much. I’m very, very happy.”
I said quietly, and Natsuki raised her eyebrows slightly.
“It just happened to be the mood I was in. If you want me โฆโฆI can make you something else”
As she said this, Natsuki deliberately played with her hair with her fingertips.
โ—-then.”
Maybe I should ask her.
I was just about to say that when I heard a voice making fun of me.
โDid you give yourself a makeover, Shiraishi?”
It was Yamada. Hayashi and Tadokoro are with him.
You really are always together, aren’t you? I’m with Natsuki a lot, too, but I can’t compete with these three.
“Are you afraid that some other guy will take her away?”
โWell, I guess it’s gotten a little better.โ
I was impressed, but Yamada and the others twisted their mouths sarcastically.
โHey, you guys–โ
“Natsuki.โ
ใ
Natsuki tried to argue back, but I stopped her with my hand.
I took a deep breath and replied in a calm tone.
“Like I said before, I’m going to work hard so that I can proudly call myself Natsuki’s boyfriend. This is just the first step.”
“–“
I heard a small gasp next to me.
When I turned around, Natsuki, who should have been angry, was looking down at the edge of the lunchbox and blushing all the way to her ears.
ใ
Yamada, perhaps seeing this, said bluntly
โWell whatever. I’m sorry about that โฆโฆ yesterday.โ
โEh?”
I opened my eyes. I didn’t expect an apology from Yamada.
“Well, it looks like he’s trying his best.”
“Plus, it’d be a pain if Kanzaki noticed us.”
Hayashi and Tadokoro followed, looking away.
“I’m sorry, Shinohara, too. See you later.”
With that, the three of them turned on their heels, as if refusing to have any further conversation.
With a glare at their backs as they moved away, Natsuki muttered something to the effect
“โฆโฆ can you forgive that kind of attitude?”
“โฆ.. well, if you don’t get involved, then I guess that’s fine.โ
I smiled and turned my head.
“I’m glad you’re mad for me”
‘. โฆโฆ.โ
Natsuki shook her shoulders and turned away.
“It’s just that I don’t like it. More importantly–“
ใ
The voice of Natsuki became more serious.
“You’re not taking it too hard, are you?”
โEh? I’m fine.
Really.”
I smiled and shook my head, but Natsuki’s eyes looked somewhat worried.
No, no. I should not let her look like this.
Feeling my face heat up a little, I opened my mouth.
“Well, Natsuki’s words and reactions are far more important than what those guys say.”
โโฆโฆ.โ
Natsuki reacted with a sudden twitch and gripped her chopsticks tightly.
Then, still lowering her eyes, she muttered,
“โฆIt seems you’ve gained a bit of confidence.”
โYeah.โ
I nodded with a smile on my face.
โWell. Can I ask you for another one while I’m at it?”
โโฆโฆ what?โ
“Make me another omelette some other time.”
Natsuki was confused for a moment, then turned her face away.
“โฆIf I feel like it.”
She said that, but the corners of her mouth relaxed with a look of happiness on her face, and I couldn’t help but smile too.
โ โ โ
–The next morning at the Shinoharas’ house.
“I’m off.”
“Be careful.”
Just after Mitsue sent her daughter Natsuki off, her husband Tomokazu came downstairs.
โHey, has Natsuki gone already?โ
“Yes.”
“Yesterday, she’s early.”
Tomokazu sat down at the dining table, mumbling
“Oh, it’s unusual to have rolled eggs for breakfastโฆ Hmm? It’s a little on the sweet side.”
Tomokazu turns his attention to Mitsue.
“That reminds me, yesterday’s bento also had this seasoning. Did you change the seasoning?โ
“No, I didn’t.โ
Mitsue shakes her head, biting back a laugh.
“‘Eh, โฆโฆ? Ah, Natsuki made it?โ
“I guess it’s just Rei kunโs preference, since they apparently sometimes exchange side dishes. Well, she would never admit it, though.”
“I see.”
Tomokazu nodded as if he was satisfied and chuckled.
“It’s odd. I’m beginning to feel that this is still a little too sweet.”
โFufu, yes.โ
Mitsue held her mouth shut and let out a giggle.
–At that time, at the Shiraishi family, Natsuki, who was adjusting Rei’s hair, sneezed loudly above her head.
โI-I’m sorry โฆโฆ!”
“It’s okay. Mitsue san and the others must be talking about Natsuki.โ
Rei’s joke to keep Natsuki’s mind off of her was unintentionally on target.
Maiban