I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 25 - A Sudden Attack

“So, this is where we part ways, Takeshi.” Akira says as I stand at the station, watching him and Hibiki board the train. The rest of the evening had been filled with chatting, eating, and playing every game I could find in my room. But with curfew approaching, everyone decided it was time to head home.

“Don’t make it sound like it’s the last time we see each other.” I reply to Akira.

“Thanks for letting us stay at your place, Ueno-san. And sorry for the sudden notice.” Hibiki adds.

“It’s fine, you don’t have to apologize, Kobayashi-san. I’ll just blame Akira-san since he’s the one who started it.”

“Hey! But yeah, that’s on me,” Akira admits.

The train doors slowly close, signaling its departure. As I watch the train disappear into the distance, I notice Hoshino standing beside me—the last person I expected to still be here.

“Aren’t you supposed to go home with them, Hoshino?” I ask.

“Uhmm, my mom wanted me to buy something at the convenience store, so I can’t go home just yet.” Hoshino replies, her cheeks tinged with redness.

“Then, if you don’t mind, can I come with you?” I said. Despite the interactions that she makes on me, I just can’t help but to offer her a help.

“Eh? Why?” she asks, confused at my question,

“I mean, I know you can handle it by yourself, but I don’t think it’s safe for a girl to walk alone, especially at this time.” I explain. Walking alone as a guy is one thing, but it’s different for a girl who walks alone. Who knows what will happen to her.

“I-I don’t mind.” she says softly.

We leave the station and head to the nearest convenience store, which thankfully is within walking distance. As we enter, we’re greeted by bright white lights and an array of food displays. A few other customers are also browsing the aisles, picking up what they need.

“So, what did your mom ask you to buy?” I ask, trying to break the silence.

“A milk and a white wine. Apparently, she forgot to buy it while she was shopping.” She replies, looking around at the wine aisle. Luckily, there’s one bottle available so she takes it. Then she goes to the fridge to take one pack of fresh milk. I wonder what would her mom use it for.

We head to the checkout, and as she pays, I notice how relaxed she seems now compared to earlier. Once done, we step out into the night, the cool air a stark contrast to the warm lights of the store, then eventually, we walk out towards her home.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take the train?” I asked. The station will be operating until 11 PM, so there’s plenty of time for her to reach the station.

“It’s fine. Besides, I always wanted to walk at this time.” She responds. Then, silence comes as we stroll.

Turning her gaze to the left, Hoshino remarks, “Oh look, a park.” Indeed, from our location you can see a park that’s devoid of people. You can see there’s a slide, seesaws, and monkey bars in the park. This must be a children’s park based on the park’s size.

“Shall we use the swing?” she said, sounding curious.

“Sure, I don’t mind,” I replied. Besides, I wanted to try to swing myself for once.

We walked over to the empty swing set. The swing itself was made of metallic materials, and a wooden seat for the kids to easily sit in. Hoshino sat down on one of the empty swings. Then slowly, she began to swing until she was high enough, as if she were flying.

Tempted by her actions, I did the same, swinging as far as I could go. It was tiring, but it gave me an excitement I hadn’t felt since the days when I was a lively kid.

“Man, that was so much fun!” she said, making a satisfied expression as she finished her intense swing.

“Yeah, it’s been a long time since I’ve done this kind of thing.”

“Ah, come to think of it, the first time I met you, Takeshi-kun, was when you were sitting on a swing,” she said.

“I can still remember it,” she said. “It was also nighttime, and I was on my way home. That’s when I came across you, swinging all by yourself.” That’s the first time I’d heard of that information. In the manga, as far as I’ve remembered, they only show parts on where, when, how Takeshi turned Hoshino into his plaything. If only I could find more information about Takeshi’s past.

She continued, “I’ve heard a lot of rumors about you before. Some say you’re a scary guy, and some even say that you’ve slept with other girls. But all of them are wrong.” She looked at me with a smile written on her face.

“All I see is a kind, gentle man who just wants to experience his youth.”

“Hoshino.” I look at her, taken aback by her response. I can hear my heart beating fast. What is this? But I try to calm myself down.

“Hey, Takeshi-kun…”

“Yes?” I said.

“If I do something bad to you, would you still forgive me?”

“Depends on your definition of bad, but I’d still forgive you. I’m sure you have your reasons for doing it.”

There was a moment of silence, the cool night air wrapping around us like a comforting blanket. Hoshino stopped swinging and looked down at her feet, seemingly lost in thought. Then, she turned to me, her eyes searching mine for something unspoken.

Slowly, she began to lean in, her eyes never leaving mine. I could feel my heart rate quicken, a mixture of confusion and anticipation bubbling inside me. Her face came closer, and closer still, until I could feel her breath against my lips.

Before I could react, she closed the gap and softly pressed her lips against mine. It was brief, just a momentary touch, but it left me stunned.

Hoshino pulled back, her face flushed, eyes wide with a mix of emotions. I blinked, trying to process what had just happened. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but the most prominent was the realization of how close she was, both physically and emotionally.

“Why did you—” I started, but my voice trailed off as I saw the vulnerability in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I just… I had to know.”

I was confused, my mind struggling to catch up with my heart. But looking at her, seeing the mix of fear and hope in her eyes, I realized that some things didn’t need immediate answers. Some things were meant to be felt, not explained.

Hoshino’s cheeks remained flushed as she got up from the swing, her eyes avoiding mine. She didn’t say anything, just brushed off her pants and started walking toward the park’s exit, then I followed suit. The silence between us was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It felt like we were both processing what had just happened.

I followed her, my mind still swirling with thoughts and emotions, thinking on what could be the reason she did that. The night air was cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth that lingered from our brief kiss. As we walked, the only sounds were our footsteps on the pavement and the distant hum of the city.

We made our way through the quiet streets, the glow of streetlights casting long shadows. Occasionally, Hoshino would glance back at me, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and something deeper that I couldn’t quite decipher. Each time, I gave her a small, reassuring smile, hoping it conveyed the support I felt but couldn’t yet articulate.

After a few blocks, the familiar sight of her home came into view. The modest house was nestled between others, each with its own unique charm. We approached her front door, and Hoshino finally stopped, turning to face me.

She took a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine. “Takeshi-kun,” she started, her voice steady but soft, “I’m sorry if I surprised you earlier. I just… I needed to know how I felt, and I needed to see how you’d react.”

Her words hung in the air, and as I looked at her, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of realization wash over me. Hoshino had taken a leap tonight, putting her feelings on the line, while I had done little in return. She was the one making the hard choices, the one driving us forward. What had I done? I had merely reacted, passively going along without truly contributing to this moment of clarity between us.

Hoshino was doing all the hard work, facing her emotions head-on, while I stood by, confused and uncertain. It wasn’t fair to her. If I truly cared about her, I needed to step up, to make my own feelings known and clear.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to say. “Hoshino,” I began, my voice more serious than before. “I appreciate your honesty, and I need to be honest with you too. I’ve realized tonight that you’ve been the one driving this, taking the risks, and putting your heart out there. And I’ve been… I’ve been passive, just reacting.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she stayed silent, letting me continue.

“I don’t think it’s fair to you, and I want to change that.” I said, my words gaining strength. “I need some time to sort out my thoughts and feelings properly. There’s something important I need to tell you, but I want to make sure I say it right.”

She looked at me, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes. “What is it?” she asked softly.

I smiled, a bit sadly. “I’ll tell you after the sports festival. By then, I’ll have everything sorted out, and I’ll be able to express what’s in my heart clearly. You deserve that much, Hoshino.”

She nodded slowly, a small, hopeful smile forming on her lips. “Alright, Takeshi-kun. I’ll wait. Just promise me you’ll be honest, no matter what.”

“I promise.” I said, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand.

“Goodnight, Takeshi-kun. And thank you for staying with me tonight.” she replied, her smile lingering as she turned and opened her front door.

I watched her disappear inside, the door closing softly behind her. As I walked away, the weight of the upcoming conversation settled on my shoulders, but for the first time, I felt a sense of direction. I knew what I needed to do, and I was determined to make it right.

The night was cool and quiet as I made my way home, the memory of Hoshino’s kiss and the promise of a future conversation giving me the clarity I needed to take the next step forward.