After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me

Hinata’s Past②/A Little Girl’s Adventure/Call it Love

Then I visited many attractions with the boy to make up for our lost time.

We rode the balloon race, roller coaster, and we even went into the haunted house, it was really scary, and I think I cried a little.

I hadn’t laughed that much in a long time.

“…I never knew amusement parks can be so much fun.”

“That’s right. When I went home the first time I went to an amusement park, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. My mother was there too that time, it was a lot of fun.”

“Your mom…? Is she working today?”

“She’s gone. Mom got sick and went to heaven.”

“Ah…? What?”

I was surprised. This boy is just like me.

“I don’t have a father since I was born. He died in an accident. …so I feel really lonely.”

“You must feel really lonely that you feel like you want to cry, right? But it’s okay, you still have your mom and I’m sure she loves you really much.”

“…eh?”

The boy chuckled.

“My mother is the kindest person in the world. That’s why my dream is to become a person as kind as my mother, and that’s why I don’t feel lonely even though I’m sad. If I had never met my mother, I would never dream to be a kind person like her.”

“…even when your mom is not here anymore? What if you don’t get the praise you deserve?”

“Yeah, because instead of my mom, I can make another person like Yuki-chan smile.”

There were no words came out from my mouth, nothing.

He is a person who brightens everyone’s day like the sun. A person that makes your heart warm and comfortable just by being with him.

If I was just like him—I wonder if many people would like me.

“…I-I’m sorry, can you tell me your name one more time…?”

“Eh, Yuki-chan, did you forget my name?”

“I-I was just really nervous. It’s not because I hate you or anything like that…!”

“Hahaha, it’s okay.”

The boy gently smiled to me while I was panicking.

“My name is Yuto Minato. Nice to meet you again, Yuki-chan.”

“…Yuto-kun.”

As I whispered his name softly, I felt that name has a special meaning to me.

I wanted to change—I wanted to be like Yuto.

That is when I first thought about it.

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Then I became a girl who would fit the name Hinata.

I practiced smiling, took care of myself to have a good appearance, learned how to cook and clean, and also studied really hard.

I found myself to be a different person than I was back then. My mom, my teachers, everyone praised me, and I was so happy about it.

However, I still have one regret.

I’ve changed so much—and I wanted to thank Yuto as the Yuki-chan he knew.

…I never thought that I would meet Yuto again in high school.

I’m sure you don’t realize it, Yuto. My mother remarried and my last name changed from ‘Yukiyo’ to ‘Asahina’ and more importantly, I only met Yuto that one time at the amusement park.

But when I heard his name, I instantly recognized him as that boy I met at the amusement park.

I never forgot that boy’s name.

“Yuto, you haven’t changed at all.”

The boy who gave me a stuffed Fuwashiba that day was then a high school student, he was working hard for everyone in the student council. He was just like the hero I met back then.

When I met Yuto that time, I felt the same feeling when I played with him at the amusement park… It was then I realized.

Yeah, that’s right, that’s what I felt.

The fluttering feeling for Yuto that sprouted when I was a child—my feelings for my first love has continued to grow even more ten years later.

“I didn’t know then. …I never thought that Yuto also liked me.”

How could I forget? The first time I came to his house and told him I wanted to be his family, Yuto told me that he liked me.

But I couldn’t say I like him too.

The truth is, I was really happy that my face turned bright red, but I pushed down my emotions and didn’t accept Yuto’s confession properly.

It’s because Yuto and I are siblings.

When we first met in high school, I was going to pretend that Yuto and I are usual classmates. I had decided that if Yuto did not know the truth, we would live as strangers.

But every time my feelings for Yuto grew, my decision was shaken.

I wanted to be closer to Yuto.

If I’m not allowed to go out with Yuto, that’s fine. I just want to be someone special to Yuto—that’s why right now, I’m living with Yuto as a family.

How many times I have been saved by Yuto since we started living together and I am sure Yuto doesn’t even realize it.

He said my food is delicious. He welcomes me home every time I got home, and he even said that he wanted to be close to me as a family.

I still remember each word he said vividly. I even feel like I’ve been reborn, I’m connected with Yuto not as classmates, but as a family.

…that’s why.

I have no right to object Tsukino’s confession to Yuto.

Tsukino-chan also likes Yuto.

I should have given up my first love by now.

I had decided that I’m going to live with Yuto as a family.

That’s why I have been trying my best to hide my love for Yuto. I hoped that one day I would see Yuto as my family and end my love for him. That is what I truly hoped for.

But every time I imagine Yuto and Tsukino dating, my heart really hurts.

That’s why I’m sure tomorrow will be a day to remember.

Tomorrow is my first date with Yuto, not as a family, but as classmates, as a girl.

—I wonder if my first love will also end.

“…Yuto.”

I hugged my precious stuffed Fuwashiba tightly as I used to do when I was little. Whenever I feel lonely because I couldn’t meet Yuto, I hugged my Fuwashiba tightly so that my loneliness would disappear.