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

What is this?

I stood dumbfounded in front of the small classroom.

I was a little curious because I saw the person I passed in the hallway earlier with Saitou Ino, and the two of them slipped inside this very room together. That was enough to spark my curiosity.

Because when a man and a woman go to a secluded place alone, I can only think it means a confession.

No matter how close they are, this is Saitou Ino we’re talking about.

She’s never shown the slightest interest in her classmates or even me before. There’s no way she’d fall for Yukito so easily.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.

But my expectations weren’t just wrong. They were completely betrayed.

Saitou Ino accepted Yukito’s confession.

Through the small crack of the door I had quietly pushed open, I could see Yukito and Saitou embracing.

A beautiful girl who was exceptionally cute among the girls was in the arms of my plain childhood friend.

“Huh…?”

As I stepped back, I ruffled my hair.

I couldn’t believe what I had just seen was real. I didn’t want to believe it.

That Saitou Ino, who didn’t even look at me, the handsome and popular guy, is going to end up with some guy whose only virtue is kindness and who has no appeal as a man?

–––That’s not how it is, absolutely not.

My hand clenched tight against the door.

“What are you doing?”

I turned around at the voice I was listening to closely just a moment ago.

Standing there was Serika, the girl I thought had already gone home.

“Why are you here?”

“I came back because I forgot something… But I’ll ask again, Daiki. What are you doing here? You look weird.”

“…It’s none of your business.”

I let go of the door and tried to pass by Serika.

Of all people, I had to be seen by someone who knows me well. What bad luck.

It should only look like I’m just standing in front of the classroom, so there’s nothing suspicious about that.

“Hey, Daiki.”

Serika called out to me again.

I snapped my head toward her, irritation boiling up, but Serika wasn’t looking at me.

“Did you apologize to Yuki?”

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t help but let out a low voice.

If I’d heard her right, then this girl had just said something unbelievably stupid.

“We did something unforgivable to Yuki, didn’t we? Ever since middle school, we treated him in a way that didn’t feel like we were childhood friends, and we hurt him terribly.”

“…Ha. What, are you feeling guilty now? Don’t tell me you’re actually hoping he’ll forgive you.”

“I hadn’t thought about it. There was no way I could. After all I’d done… But Yuki still said he was fine with being our friend.”

Serika turned slowly, her expression calm.

Even though it should’ve been too late for apologies, Yukito had forgiven her. That idiot had a heart so big it was almost ridiculous.

“I’m glad you were forgiven. It must feel nice, doesn’t it? That guilt eating at you finally eased up. I bet escaping from that sense of sin feels really damn good.”

I lifted my lips and peered into Serika’s face.

Her expression was so uncharacteristically soft that I couldn’t help lashing out.

But Serika’s look didn’t change. It stayed serious.

“…It’s not like everything we did has been wiped clean. That would be impossible. The guilt won’t ever disappear. And I’ll never think of it as something I escaped from.”

After Serika said that with her eyes downcast, she looked at me.

As if searching my heart, as if wishing for something.

“Daiki, didn’t you ever feel even for a moment about what you did wrong to Yuki?”

So, she’s asking if I’ve ever felt guilty toward Yukito?

Me, with that guy?

Was she really asking if I’d ever felt guilty and if there had ever been a moment I wanted to bow my head to him?

“–––Pfft, haha, ahahaha! You think I feel bad for Yukito? Not a chance. The only thing I remember is treating him the way childhood friends always do. And he accepted it! What’s there to feel guilty about?”

“…Are you serious? You don’t understand?”

“I don’t even feel the need to understand. We’ve known each other for a long time, so it’s natural that we sometimes get too casual. That’s just how old friends are. The only reason I started dating you is because you happened to be the childhood friend who was convenient at the time.”

I shrugged and let out a snort of laughter.

As if I’d ever admit to feeling guilty.

What’s the point now?

Serika’s expression stiffened, and the color in her eyes gradually faded.

It was as if she had given up, seeing no hope, like she had finally realized nothing could be done.

I’d only ever treated Yukito like a childhood friend. Maybe my feelings were a little too strong sometimes, but that was all. That’s how it had always been.

And Serika went along with it. Yukito never complained and never said a word against me.

If he never said anything, then there was no problem.

I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“…You really have changed. This is no good anymore.”

Serika spoke almost in a whisper, a pained smile on her face.

What the hell was with that look?

Did she really think I’d already gone past the point of no return?

“Then don’t get involved with Yuki anymore. You don’t have the right to hurt Yuki, nor do you have the qualifications to become friends with him again.”

“Tch…”

I clicked my tongue at myself for flinching for a moment under her intense gaze and turned my back on Serika.

I snatched up my backpack from the classroom and stormed off toward the school’s main exit.

The unease swelling inside me kept growing, so I drowned it out the only way I could by forcing my legs to move faster.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

[Serika’s Side]

Only after Daiki returned to the classroom and I confirmed he had left with his backpack did I finally move.

I had originally come back to get the notebook I’d left on my desk and just happened to see Daiki.

I gambled that there was even a shred of conscience left in him, but it was pointless, and even my expectations felt foolish. Perhaps I was unconsciously searching for traces of the boy I once had a crush on.

After our conversation earlier, I feel somewhat relieved, as if I’ve completely severed the memories.

…It was good, I said it out loud.

Even if it’s just for my own satisfaction, I knew it was something that needed to be said.

If this was the only thing I could do for Yuki’s peace of mind, then so be it. Even if it felt frustratingly small.

I collect my notebook from my desk and leave the classroom.

From the direction I was coming from, I saw two students walking toward me.

Saitou Ino and Yuki are talking affectionately.

Somehow, they seemed even closer than before.

Come to think of it, Daiki had been standing right outside the small classroom earlier.

And those two were coming from that same direction. Which meant…

A faint smile tugged at my lips at the thought. An idea that didn’t seem all that far-fetched.

I walked down the stairs just outside the classroom.