I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 12 - The Reason

“Since you’re my guest, Hoshino, I’ll be the one making it,” I declared, my tone amicable but determined. After all, it seemed only fitting that I take charge of preparing the meals, considering she was coming over to my place.

But Hoshino wasn’t one to back down easily. She responded with a warm smile, her voice gently insisting, “I insist, Takeshi-kun, I’ll be the one to cook our meals just for today.”

So, here we were, engaged in a friendly yet somewhat spirited debate about who should be in charge of the cooking. How did we end up in this amusing little disagreement? Well, let’s rewind time a bit and delve into the events leading up to this event.

An hour earlier…

“If you don’t mind, Takeshi-kun, could I maybe come over to your place?” Hoshino’s comments left a lingering impression and time briefly stopped in its tracks. Should I invite her to come over and let her in? After all, I had previously stayed at her house, so it only seemed sense to eventually return her kindness.

“Sure, why not?” I responded, my agreement accompanied by a sense of anticipation.

With the weekend approaching, the prospect of a relaxed day ahead appeared appealing. However, a new concern arose: how should I handle the situation of having a fellow classmate, a girl even, over at my apartment? That was something I’d have to deal with once I got to my house.

As my response reached her ears, her look changed to one of satisfaction. It was just a regular visit to my house, I thought, nothing unusual.

“Ah, before we head to my apartment, let’s make a quick detour at the supermarket,” I offered as we strolled along the familiar path toward the train station. This route has become engrained into my after-school habit.

“Do you mind a slight detour, Hoshino?” I continued, casting a sidelong glance her way.

Her response came wrapped in a playful tone, tinged with a trace of affection, “Not at all, Takeshi-kun, as long as it means I get to spend a little more time walking beside you.”

As we browsed the store aisles, a thought occurred to me: I wanted to ask why she wasn’t with Naoki, the protagonist of this world, since both of them are childhood friends and you know that childhood friends are like magnets, they don’t let go of one another.

“I couldn’t help but wonder, Hoshino, I didn’t spot you with Matsuda-san today. Has something happnened between you two?” Curiosity got the best of me so I bravely asked.

“Ah, you mean Naoki-kun?” she asked, her face softening into a thoughtful expression. “He was contacted by his senpai over at the Student Council. It must be quite an emergency if they’re seeking Naoki-kun’s assistance at this hour,” she added, her concern visible in her look.

The Student Council reaching out to our protagonist? It piqued my curiosity.

“He’s only just recovered from an illness not too long ago, and I can’t help but worry about his well-being.”

“Hey, don’t fret over him too much. I’m sure he’ll be fine, I reassured her, my words meant to ease her worries.

“You’re always so kind, Takeshi-kun.”

I chuckled modestly. “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.”

Yet, in the depths of my mind, an inner conflict churned—a secret I couldn’t reveal, a destiny intertwined with fate, destined to untangle the bonds between her and her childhood friend.

We retraced our steps to the train station along my usual path after finishing the supermarket run. Fortunately, the station wasn’t overcrowded, giving us the freedom to select where to sit. Hoshino and I were able to enjoy a relatively comfortable travel to our destination by settling close near the train’s entrance. The travel wasn’t too long, encouraging me to strike up a chat with Hoshino about our recent club events, gastronomic adventures, and anything else that piqued our interest.

Our conversation gradually dwindled into a quiet stillness, our gazes drifting wherever our gazes occurred to fall.

A faint anxiety settled in me, similar to how I felt when a conversation devolved into awkwardness. ‘Well this is awkward.’ I thought to myself.

Hoshino interrupted the pause with an unexpected inquiry, her voice piercing the calm air, “So, Takeshi-kun, what encouraged you to join the Photography Club?”

I went on a mental journey, searching the depths of my memory for the exact trigger that had launched the old Takeshi into the domain of the Photography Club. Unfortunately, my internal search provided no conclusive results.

“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s just cause I like taking pictures?” I replied, my answer purposefully unclear, reflecting my own uncertainty.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, her reply exuding a sense of familiarity, “It’s the same response you gave last time. Hee~hee.”

“Hoshino?”

“Pardon me, Takeshi-kun.”

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips, her playful remark nudging me toward a realization—the more things change, the more they stay the same.