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

Homeroom is over, and the first period is starting.

As I took notes, I was thinking about what I had seen that morning.

Daiki wasn’t greeted by anyone and wasn’t surrounded either. Not even by Azuma and the popular guys he always hung out with.

Even though he’d apparently done well at the sports festival yesterday, his popularity hadn’t risen, and it had plummeted. In fact, it would be fair to say it had completely crashed.

Classmates kept sneaking glances his way, whispering among themselves.

Their expressions ranged from suspicious to outright disgusted. Some of them had even gone with him to the afterparty yesterday.

Something must’ve happened there.

Something that significantly changed the reactions of those around Daiki.

When I glanced at Daiki earlier, he hardly lifted his head, just seemed to be enduring it silently.

I couldn’t see his expression, but I could imagine he was desperately trying to hold himself together.

After all, he’d fallen straight from the top.

But even watching my childhood friend’s status as the popular guy crumble in an instant, I felt nothing. I didn’t even care what had caused it. Maybe because deep down, I knew this was the kind of person Daiki really was.

What truly filled my head was today’s class and my plan to confess to Ino-san.

So I shoved thoughts of Daiki aside and switched gears.

…Or at least, I tried to.

The word confession kept flashing bigger and bigger in my mind until I could barely focus on the lecture.

And to make matters worse, the girl I planned to confess to was sitting right beside me.

Once I became aware of that, I was done for. My hand stopped moving across my notebook entirely.

I felt restless as I glanced sideways.

I expected to see Ino-san sleeping as usual, but she was propping her cheek on one hand instead and was absentmindedly doodling in her notebook. A cute little cat sketch caught my eye.

It was rare enough that she wasn’t napping. But seeing her draw? That was new. I couldn’t help watching as her pencil glided across the page.

Until it suddenly froze.

“…!”

Saitou-san noticed my gaze as her eyes flickered wide before she quickly covered the doodle with her hand. She gave me a sharp, accusing look, then turned her face away with a huff.

I chuckled under my breath and looked forward again, though I secretly wished I could’ve admired her drawing a little longer.

Maybe she was feeling the same as I.

Distracted, unsettled, because she was also thinking about my confession.

If that were true, I’d be more than happy.

With that thought warming my chest, I picked my pencil back up and started writing again.

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[Daiki’s Side]

The bell rings for the umpteenth time today.

Even after lunchtime arrived, not a single classmate who usually surrounded my desk came over.

No way, am I really eating alone? It’s just like those loners from before, like Yukito or the introverts in my class.

Finally.

I swallow the reality that is difficult to accept, along with my lunch.

Eating lunch while worrying about the stares of those around me left no room to savor it.

Somehow, I managed to get everything down and escape the uncomfortable classroom. Before opening the door, I looked at the clock above the blackboard and saw that there were still fifteen minutes left.

I’m frustrated.

I feel like everyone I pass in the hallway is looking at me, and it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Even though nothing used to boost my self-esteem more than the attention of others, now I even find it frightening.

Unlike me, who eats alone at my desk, I can’t help but think of Yukito’s face as he eats his bento while chatting and laughing with Kubo and Yokokawa.

As my frustration grew even more, I suddenly thought.

Since leaving the group… Since leaving me, he’s started to laugh a lot and live well.

As if to say he’s happy now.

How was it when he was with me?

I try to remember it vaguely, but for some reason, the faces of the people in my memory are terribly blurred and unclear.

“Oh…”

Hearing a voice that sounded like it had escaped involuntarily, I stopped and looked at the person who had spoken.

It was Yuika, who had just come out of a small classroom.

Oh, that’s right, there’s something I need to ask Yuika.

“That’s great. I was just wanting to talk to Yuika right now.”

Without waiting for Yuika’s reaction, I asked with a sweet smile.

“Did you see the LINE I sent yesterday? I was curious why Yuika didn’t help me out when that happened at karaoke, so I asked. I didn’t get a reply at all, so I was worried something might have happened.”

“…”

“Yuika, you said, right? That you wanted to do anything for me. Maybe it’s not good to rely on you so much, but at that time, Yuika was the only one I could count on–––”

“I’m sorry.”

Yuika suddenly bowed her head.

As if to prevent me from speaking after I had stumbled over my words, Yuika looked straight at me and opened her mouth.

“I can’t be with Daiki-kun anymore. –––Please break up with me.”

…Huh?

“Daiki-kun yesterday was completely different… Someday, won’t you get angry like that with me, too? The bright and kind Daiki-kun, who’s nice to everyone, are you actually fake?”

“Yui–––”

“I can’t trust Daiki-kun anymore, and I’m scared. So, I don’t want to be involved with you much from now on…”

With a voice that trembled slightly, Yuika declared to me.

Even though it was weak, it was filled with a firm resolve, and I realized she was serious.

…No, no, no, don’t be ridiculous.

She was the one who easily dumped her ex-boyfriend because she found him boring to be around, and chose me instead. Who was the loose, promiscuous woman who, while tangled in bed, begged me with moans to accept every part of her?

To break up with me so quickly after yesterday means she’s given up on me. Just like the others who were there, Yuika judged me based on a single mistake.

Unable to speak because I was trembling with anger, Yuika was about to pass by me.

“W-wait a minute! Aren’t you being a bit too selfish…?!”

“You… let go!”

Even though I only lightly grabbed her wrist, Yuika was desperately trying to shake it off.

When I found the overly dramatic reaction a bit strange, I heard a voice.

“The rumors about him being dangerous are true. What is he doing to the girl?”

“That girl, wasn’t she his girlfriend? Did she have an abusive boyfriend?”

As I looked around, students were coming and going in the hallway.

…It’s happening again. I couldn’t control my emotions. I forgot that people were watching.

Clenching my molars, I released Yuika’s wrist and left the scene.

As I was leaving, Yuika whispered this.

“Bye-bye, Ootomo-kun.”