I Want a Girlfriend who Won’t Betray Me

Childhood Friend’s Feelings

“Kazuki, I want to talk.”

“Wakana. I don’t mind talking to you, but is it okay with that guy, Goto? Won’t he get jealous again if we talk?”

“I want to talk about that too.”

“Alright. Where should we talk?”

“Do you want to come to my house?”

“I don’t mind, but…”

Wakana’s house is right next to my old house. Back in the day, we used to visit each other’s houses countless times. So, I don’t mind going to her house…but what about her boyfriend?

Wakana’s house is three stations away from our school. As I step out of the ticket gate, memories start coming back to me.

“The area around the station has changed a bit, hasn’t it?”

“A lot can change in three years.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

We walk side by side in silence until we reach Wakana’s house. When we arrive at her house, she inserts the key into the front door and opens it.

“Come in. My parents aren’t home.”

“Okay.”

Nothing has changed. As I step inside, I see the familiar hallway with the staircase on the right. I go up the stairs, turn left, and stop at the first room.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been into your room like this, Wakana.”

“Yeah. Wait a minute, I’ll bring some drinks and snacks.”

While Wakana is downstairs to take some drinks and snacks, I look around her room. It feels like a lot has changed. Of course, back then, we just started our first year of middle school. Right now, we are already in high school, things are bound to change.

Wakana returns, carrying a tray with cold iced tea and some snacks.

“Here you go.”

She places the tray on the low table in the room and looks at me intently.

“Kazuki, I missed you. I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too. But after two years passed, I suddenly couldn’t reach you anymore.”

“That’s because…I was scared. A new family moved into your old house, and when two years turned into three, I started to think you might never come back. Even if you do, I was worried we wouldn’t see each other again. I was lonely, so lonely. the one who comforted me during that time was Goto Takayuki, he was in my class back then. The truth is, I am dating him. When I thought that you would never come back, the loneliness was unbearable. Takayuki was the one who healed my heart.”

“I see. So that’s why you didn’t reply to my message when I contacted you after my return to Japan was decided.”

“That’s because…I had already accepted that we would never meet again. Even if you came back, I didn’t know if you’d return to Tokyo or not. If I replied to your message, I might have started hoping again. Even though I knew that hope would never come true, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from feeling that way, and that scared me. I never imagined that you would transfer into the same high school as me. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have started dating Takayuki. I would’ve endured the loneliness on my own.”

“Wakana, I understand how you feel, but don’t you think you’re being a little selfish? I know that I promised you that I would come back in two years, and I’m sorry that I couldn’t fulfil that promise, but it was because of my father’s work. No matter what I said there, it wouldn’t have changed anything. When our conversations suddenly became less frequent in my third year there and eventually stopped altogether, do you have any idea how much that hurt me? Even when I sent you a message before returning to Japan, you never replied. I started to think that maybe you have already forgotten about me, Wakana. Getting into that high school was just a coincidence. However, I was really happy when I saw you there, Wakana. Since then, you have always been by my side, so I thought maybe, just maybe…but I guess I was wrong. If I had never transferred to that school, you would still be happily dating Goto, wouldn’t you?”

“Wait, wait. I’ll break up with Takayuki. So…”

“Don’t say something so ridiculous. Sudo told me that everyone knows you and Goto are dating each other. If you just suddenly break up with him because I came back to Japan and chose me instead, I’d end up looking like the bad guy.”

“But you’re here now, Kazuki. After seeing you again, I can’t ignore these feelings. Kazuki, I want things to go back to the way they were. Please, I’ll break up with Takayuki, so please, let’s go back to being a couple.”

“That’s impossible. Being friends would be okay, but a romantic relationship is completely out of the question. The reason is exactly what I just told you.”

Silence falls over us. I have no idea how much time has passed. Wakana keeps looking down the whole time.

But then, all of a sudden, Wakana stands up, locks the door, and starts taking off her clothes.

“What are you doing!?”

“Everyone says that Takayuki and I are deeply involved with each other, but that’s a lie. I’ll prove it to you right now.”

She is left in just her underwear.

“Going any further is embarrassing. But I swear, nothing ever happened between us. If you don’t believe me, I’ll take everything off. Look at my body. Do whatever you want. If it’s you, Kazuki, I don’t mind.”

“Wakana…”

I can’t just keep looking at her in just her underwear.

“I get it. I understand how you feel, so please put your clothes back on.”

“Then, do you believe me? That nothing ever happened between me and Takayuki.”

“That’s not something I can judge. Just because two people are dating doesn’t mean they have to be physically involved. Besides, didn’t you say it yourself? That Goto was the one who comforted and healed your lonely heart. He’s done something very important for you as your boyfriend, Wakana.”

“But…”

“Wakana, he’s the one who was there for you when you needed someone. You should treasure and cherish him. I’m leaving.”

“No! I won’t let you go!”

Wakana stands in front of the door, still in her underwear. There’s no way I can physically move her aside.

“What do I have to do for you to let me leave?”

“Promise me that we’ll go back to how we used to be.”

“That’s impossible. It won’t be fair to Goto.”

“I told you, I’m breaking up with Takayuki. It’s normal to break up when you fall for someone else. He would do the same thing if he falls for someone else.”

This isn’t good…this is going nowhere. I guess there is no other way…

“Alright. I’ll think about it. But I can’t give you an answer right away. I just got back from the US too, so I don’t want to stand out too much right now.”

“…I understand. You’re right. It hasn’t even been a week since you returned. I also can’t just break up with Takayuki right away, I have to explain things properly with him. But I swear, I’ll definitely break up with him. Then, we’ll be lovers again.”

“I told you, I’ll think about it. Now, please put your clothes back on.”

“Okay.”

I go down to the first floor, suppressing my growling stomach.

“Eh!?”

““Ah!””

Wakana’s mother comes over to me.

“Wakana, is he Kazuki-chan?”

“It’s been a while. I returned to Japan with my parents about a month ago.”

“I see. You’ve grown into such a handsome young man, and you’ve gotten so tall! Did you come here with Wakana today?”

“Yes, it’s been a while since we last met each other, so I wanted to talk.”

At that moment, her mother’s gaze shifts to Wakana. Her eyes are filled with curiosity.

“Umm, I should get going now.”