Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 35: "Do you... have someone you like?"

“Do you… have someone you like?”

I was having the same dream again.

A vivid dream from my childhood.

“Hey, Ren-kun…”

“What, Sa-chan?”

It had a sense of innocence in it, or so it should be called. In the waiting room chairs enveloped in the characteristic scent of a hospital, young versions of myself and Sagiri sat. 

I remember that at this time, Sagiri was in much better condition, and for some reason, I, her childhood friend, accompanied her to the hospital for examinations.

“Um, from now on, you’ll come to school… you’ll come, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right! I’m looking forward to it!”

Sagiri was smaller back then, more reserved than now, fidgeting with her  fingers and hair. While her personality had become brighter, I couldn’t help but think that some things never changed as I dreamed.

“So, Ren-kun, you won’t go somewhere far away, right?”

“Huh? I won’t go anywhere. Why?”

“I-I mean, Ren-kun… you always tell me fun stories about school…”

“Huh? Did you not like it?”

“N-No, it’s not that! It’s just…”

Compared to now, Sagiri was unusually flustered, and I, who could ask straightforward questions back then, was also unusual. 

I don’t want to say things like “the old days were better,” but as I dreamt, I wondered why I couldn’t be as assertive as I was back then.

“Ren-kun… you have a lot of friends, so… um…”

“Um?”

Oh no, she’s peering into my face. There’s no way I can do something like that now.

“Ren-kun, you see…”

“Yeah?”

“Do you… have someone you like?”

I distinctly remember this question. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be dreaming about it. Sagiri looked worried, embarrassed, yet gathered courage as he looked at me, and her  face turned bright red. 

In the white-dominated ambiance of the hospital waiting area, her unnaturally pale skin and hair, coupled with that question, made her look exceptionally beautiful.

“Yeah! I like you, Sa-chan!”

Gahhhhh…!?

Recalling that time, recognizing the images from back then as mere dreams, I was dealt an unbelievable blow.

The innocence of childhood, words spoken from the heart—those became fatal strikes attacking my consciousness.

I won’t claim to have become an adult.

But what is the reason I’ve grown unable to say such things?

“R-really…?”

“Yeah! That’s why we’re always together at school!”

Unlike my current self, the me from back then, free from any worries, held out my pinky finger in front of Sagiri.

“Because we’re best friends forever!”

“Yeah… forever, best friends!”

Ah, I see.

I felt like I understood a bit why I had this dream now.

***

“Mmmmmnnnn….?”

I hate mornings. My body and head feel heavy no matter what. Although I felt like I had a dream, most of it has become vague.

“Huuuuhhhhhhh….”

I turned that vagueness into a sigh and let it out with all my strength. Why is it that when there’s something unpleasant or self-loathing in the morning, it suddenly comes rushing back, waking me up?

What I remembered was an incident from last week.

“I messed up…”

I kissed Sagiri. I initiated the kiss.

I don’t remember anything about the movie we watched afterward. It got awkward, conversation dwindled, and before we knew it, Sagiri’s parents came back. We exchanged greetings, and somehow, we disbanded.

If I could be more straightforward like I was as a child, would things have been different?

No, the result of being more straightforward was that kiss.

…How should I face her today?

“Huhh…”

I sighed again and lay back on my bed.

Although I woke up as usual, today is the third Monday of July, Marine Day, a public holiday.

I feel like I’m forgetting something, but I have to think about how to interact with Sagiri today more than anything else.

For that, I need some rest.

Closing my eyes in bed, being comforted by the soft and warm body pillow, I ponder the best approach.

—Body pillow?

“…………”

“…………”

In my bed, in my arms, Sagiri was there.

“G-Good… morning…”

“Whooooaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Sagiri, with a bright red face, wide-open eyes, was in my arms.