After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 18

“…Serika?”

On my way back after seeing off Saitou-san, I saw someone crouching by the roadside and called out to her, only to find out it was my childhood friend.

I thought it might be a student from the neighborhood or one of our students since she was wearing a uniform, but it turned out to be Serika.

Her face was a mess as she looked up at me.

There was no sign of Serika, who usually exuded a sparkling aura with her makeup, embodying the quintessential popular girl.

“What are you doing here, in a place like this?”

Even though it’s sparse, people are still passing through.

If a girl were crouching in such a place, there’s no way no one would see her.

She already stands out with her appearance as it is.

“…It has nothing to do with Yuki.”

I shrugged my shoulders at Serika and turned away.

I have a vague idea of why she cried, but I probably don’t want to get involved in the issues between the two of them.

There’s no need to go out of her way to listen to me like before.

“Yeah. That’s fine, then.”

Well then, I said and turned my back to Serika.

“Eh… w-wait a minute!”

Just as I took two steps forward, a voice called out.

She was clearly agitated.

“There’s no need for someone who’s not involved.”

“No, but…”

“Get home early. If you keep doing that, you’ll stand out.”

I said it without looking back and then started walking again.

This time, footsteps were following me from behind.

“H-hey Yuki. That’s where you listen to what I’m saying, right?”

I don’t answer anything and continue walking.

“What’s with that attitude?! Yuki!”

I increased my walking speed a bit.

Even after passing by Serika’s house, the footsteps behind me didn’t stop.

“–––Ugh, if I’m being honest, it’s all Yuki’s fault!! It’s because Yuki became friends with Saitou Ino and stood out.”

Huh?

I involuntarily stop and turn around.

Serika’s eyes were filled with the flames of anger as she glared at me fiercely.

“It was because Yuki is getting along with that cute girl, Daiki is getting annoyed and going to talk to her, right?! Yuki has always been under Daiki and me, right? Even though you never stood out in our group, don’t suddenly start getting attention!”

I was simply dumbfounded by Serika as she was hysterically ranting and raving.

What she’s saying is completely nonsensical.

“All of Daiki’s recent irritability and his forcefulness towards me, it’s all Yuki’s fault!! That person too, and Saitou Ino as well! She’s an accomplice!!”

“…Ha.”

“Even when Daiki talks to me, I act like it’s no big deal… I mean, why is that unsociable lone wolf so popular? I’m way brighter and cuter! The fact that someone like her is even in Daiki’s line of sight is already annoying!!”

Serika’s words do not stop as if to explode the things she had been holding back. It’s almost like she’s just lashing out or throwing a childish tantrum.

However, no matter what happened to Serika, I couldn’t allow any more of this to be spilled.

The things said to her are even more unbearable to listen to than the insults directed at me.

“Because that person is trying to get Daiki’s attention, I–––”

“Saitou-san hasn’t done anything.”

Interrupting Serika’s words, I continued while clenching my fists.

“Saitou-san isn’t trying to get Daiki’s attention, and she’s not the type to act all high and mighty just because a guy is talking to her. It’s just that Daiki is acting on his own… Don’t speak ill of that person any further.”

I try to keep my voice down as much as possible, but I speak clearly. Just like with Daiki, it was the first time I had been so firm with Serika.

It feels like someone who has only recently started interacting with Saitou-san is saying something, but I think I know her personality better than Serika does.

Serika had raised her double eyelids as much as she could, but soon regained her composure and lifted the corners of her mouth.

“…Ahaha. What, are you trying to act all tough? Are you getting cocky because you’ve become friends with someone popular? You’re acting all high and mighty, even though you’re just Yuki.”

“I’m not acting all high and mighty. I don’t want to hear anymore, and it’s also a nuisance to have you shouting in the neighborhood. Don’t you realize you’ve been being watched this whole time?”

“…!”

It seems that Serika finally noticed that people passing by were glancing at us. The increase in the redness of her face is not just because of the sunlight at sunset.

Even though her lips trembled as she bit down hard, the sharpness of her gaze piercing through me remained unchanged.

I glance at Serika and let out a sigh.

“…I won’t ask what happened but. Don’t involve people who haven’t done anything. I have already distanced myself from you guys, so I won’t be listening to your complaints either.”

“Yuki…!”

“Well then.”

Once again, I turned my back and started walking. This time, I headed home without looking back.

Her footsteps didn’t follow.

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[Serika’s Side]

“Huh…?”

What is that? What is that, what is that, what is that!!

I stare at my childhood friend’s back while tightly gripping my trembling hand in anger.

He tries to act a bit tougher, and he thinks he has changed because of that? That would be hilarious.

I can’t laugh at all, though.

The reason I’m going through such a hard time in the first place is because Yuki started getting close to Saitou Ino.

Having no charm or substance, being childhood friends with Daiki is his only status. Even though he had nothing going for us and was close to the bottom of the social hierarchy, he suddenly became friends with a cute girl everyone recognized. Of all people, it was Saitou Ino, the girl Daiki had been interested in.

Daiki was treated coldly by that girl and gave up on making contact once. Even when Yuki ended up sitting next to Saitou Ino, he did nothing because he knew he lacked the charm and guts to connect with such a beautiful girl.

So I never imagined it at all.

A cat-like girl who hardly interacts with anyone, acting all aloof, actually going out of her way to talk to someone–––Yuki, no less.

At first, I was surprised, but everyone knew how capricious that kid was, and I thought it was just a temporary thing, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

However, Saitou Ino called out to Yuki many times. Eventually, they even studied together.

He probably couldn’t forgive that, so Daiki tried to contact Saitou Ino again.

“Seriously, I don’t get it at all…”

Yuki used to be a coward, just like his face, always hesitating to approach people and talk to them. When Daiki and I took his hand and brought him into the circle, he would smile softly as if relieved. Even though we were the same age, he felt like a younger brother to me.

Recently, Yuki has been acting spoiled and cheeky, leaving the group we had worked hard to get him into, and getting carried away because he made friends with a cute girl.

Even just a moment ago…

–––Saitou-san isn’t trying to get Daiki’s attention, and she’s not the type to act all high and mighty just because a guy is talking to her. It’s just that Daiki is acting on his own. Don’t speak ill of that person any further.

“Ugh, this is so annoying…!”

Muttering softly, I make a U-turn and head towards my home that I have already passed.

My feet marched forward with a thud, fueled by anger towards Yuki.