After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 16

When I looked at the clock in Yoshizaki’s house, it was already past 4 PM.

Thinking that I couldn’t possibly stay any longer, I said it was about time for me to go home, and Yoshizaki offered to take me to the station.

I thought it was fine, but I decided not to say it out loud and let him do it. Because I still wanted to keep talking.

“See you, Maru.”

I petted Maru as it came to see me off at the entrance, and left Yoshizaki’s house. With an overwhelming sense of reluctance.

The surroundings were dyed a deep red as if the colors had fallen from the sky, and I walked alongside Yoshizaki on that path.

“Thank you for today. Thank you for introducing me to Maru.”

“No, no, the pleasure was mine. I was really spoiled, and Maru seemed happy too.”

“I think I was trusted pretty quickly. Is it like that all the time?”

“That, maybe… But those guys were different, weren’t they?”

According to Yoshizaki, who had a subtle expression, his childhood friends had previously said that Maru’s name was too straightforward, or that it would be better to change it to Fat… and they apparently said a lot of other things too.

“Huh? A certain death.”

Without thinking, a low voice escaped from me, and Yoshizaki’s face twisted as he said, “Your face is scary…”

Huh, I just can’t believe it.

Cats are equally cute regardless of their name or body shape.

Do they have the right to mock other people’s cats? No, there’s no way.

What gives them the right to look down on someone who should be a close friend for so many years, and even to mock his pet cat?

I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that it was the right decision for Yoshizaki to distance himself from those people.

“Well, but since Saitou-san said that Maru is cute more than those guys made fun of them.”

Yoshizaki was smiling shyly.

Because he looked genuinely happy, the intensity of the anger that was burning inside me gradually diminished.

Because he is so kind, I wonder if people think they can say anything and he will forgive them, and that makes me feel complicated.

…Ah, not like me again.

Worrying about someone or getting angry with someone should be the most distant action from the kind of person I am. I don’t even remember the last time I felt interested in someone.

“Also… the fact that you called me a friend. I was happy that you thought of me that way.”

Shyly, but straightforwardly, Yoshizaki conveys it.

Those words, so pure, and his genuine expression are dazzling, making me feel uneasy.

While walking with my head down, I could only respond with “Yeah.” Even I think I’m really not cute at all.

People who were once in that relationship said, “Why are you so cold even though we’re friends?” and then drifted away. It seems that the fact that my attitude didn’t change whether they were friends or not was the problem.

Even if I’m invited to hang out, I might decline if I’m not in the mood, or I might not get involved with a clique that my friend is in, or I might not join in when others are gossiping about someone.

As a result of not being able to fit into the unique atmosphere of girls who do everything together, I eventually settled into acting alone.

I thought it was easier to be alone and that it was fine just the way it was.

I never thought I would hear myself say the words to acknowledge someone as a friend.

“…Ah.”

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the station.

It’s not that far from Yoshizaki’s house to the station, but it felt like about five minutes. It feels like time is passing faster now than when I’m heading to the station from school.

“Are you okay with the train schedule?”

“Yeah. It should arrive in about ten minutes.”

“You had quite a bit of leeway… Well then, I will take this.”

Yoshizaki raises one hand slightly and turns his back.

–––Ah.

“Wait.”

He’s leaving.

Right after I thought that my hand was gripping the hem of Yoshizaki’s blazer.

Yoshizaki turns only his face towards me. His eyes blinked.

“…There’s still time. Be my conversation partner for a little longer.”

Because I’m bored, I added a curt remark like that.

I want to keep talking, so I’m hiding this embarrassing truth.

Lately, I’ve been acting so erratically that I’m starting to lose track of who I am.

Even though I speak in a way that doesn’t seem like I’m asking for a favor, Yoshizaki smiles and nods in agreement.

I wonder if he accepted it so easily because I said we were friends and showed that we were close.

But, that somehow…

“Standing is tiring, so shall we go to the waiting room?”

While heading to the waiting room with Yoshizaki, I wrestle with the gradually growing sense of discomfort in my chest.

What is this strange feeling of unease?

I haven’t made friends for a long time, just like Yoshizaki. I still feel quite surprised myself, but I’m also happy to have become friends.

There is no doubt about it. It should be but.

“…Friends, huh?”

Feeling a bit suffocated by the indescribable current situation, I let out a sigh as if to expel what was stuck in my chest.

Time passed by, still a mystery why that word was causing such a problem.