I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 29 - Shadows of Jealousy and the Ghost of Guilt

3^rd Person Perspective

The cheers and excitement of the Sports Festival faded into a distant noise as Naoki walked into the empty corridor, his footsteps ringing off the walls. He sealed his hands so hard that his nails dug into his palms, creating crescents of anguish that were barely noticeable. Everything was coming apart. The confrontation with Takeshi had not gone as expected. Far from it.

He came to a sudden halt, breathing deeply and leaning against a cold concrete wall. The image of Takeshi’s face, the confusion, the flashes of pain, the way he held his head, repeated in his thoughts. He wanted to think Takeshi was lying, that it was an elaborate scheme to shift the blame, but uncertainty grasped at him. If Takeshi remembered it well…

“No,” Naoki muttered, shaking his head. “He can’t know.”

But the thought would not leave him. Panic gripped his chest, tight and choking. What if Takeshi remembered more? What if he pieced everything together? Naoki pressed a hand against his forehead, attempting to calm the fury within him. He could not allow this to spin out of hand. He had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let everything unravel.

Naoki closed his eyes, letting his mind drift back to when things were simpler—before the shadows of guilt and regret had taken root. Back then, Hoshino was always by his side. They had grown up together, their lives intertwined from the moment they could walk. She was his constant—bright, caring, and full of life. Whenever he felt lost, she was there to ground him. Whenever he needed a friend, she was the first to offer her hand.

In middle school, their bond had been unbreakable. During lunch breaks, they’d race each other to the top of the hill behind the school. They’d spend hours talking about their dreams, their fears, and everything in between. Hoshino’s laughter was his favorite sound. It made everything feel right, as if nothing in the world could ever go wrong.

“She always noticed me,” Naoki whispered, the memory bringing both comfort and pain. “She always cared.”

But then Takeshi had appeared.

Naoki remembered the first time he saw Hoshino talking to him. Takeshi was just a quiet, unassuming boy with a camera slung around his neck. There was nothing remarkable about him—no reason why Hoshino should be interested. Yet, when she was with Takeshi, something changed. Her eyes sparkled in a way Naoki hadn’t seen before. She laughed more freely, and she seemed… happy. Truly happy.

Initially, Naoki tried to ignore it. He assured himself it was nothing, and Hoshino was only being kind and kind. But as the days passed into weeks, he couldn’t deny the truth.

Takeshi was taking something that belonged to him—something precious.

One afternoon, he had watched from afar as Hoshino and Takeshi developed photos in the art room. They were laughing, their heads close together as they examined a picture. The sight made Naoki’s blood boil. It was a laughter that wasn’t meant for Takeshi. It was supposed to be for him.

The jealousy festered, growing darker with each passing day. Naoki couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. If Takeshi was the problem, then he had to be removed. He justified it to himself over and over—he was protecting Hoshino, keeping their bond safe. But deep down, he knew it was more than that. It was about control, about fear, about losing the one person who meant everything to him.

When the middle school festival came along, Naoki spotted an opportunity. He offered to help with the props and positioned himself close Takeshi. He observed closely as Takeshi climbed the ladder, arranging the decorations with a determined gaze. Naoki’s heart pounded in his chest, and his palms were sweaty. All he needed to do was unscrew a few screws, just enough to make the ladder unstable. Not enough to inflict severe harm, just enough to make Takeshi look dumb and force him out of Hoshino’s life.

But everything went horribly wrong.

Naoki hadn’t counted on Hoshino rushing to help Takeshi as the ladder gave way. He hadn’t expected the sickening crash, the blood, the screams. He hadn’t expected the guilt that would haunt him every day since.

Naoki opened his eyes, his breathing ragged. He pressed a fist to his mouth, fighting back the nausea. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that,” he whispered. “I never meant…”

“Never meant for what?”

The voice stunned him, drawing him out of his thoughts. He turned abruptly to see Kagami Hana standing a few feet away, eyeing him with a strange, penetrating stare. She had a stunning figure, with short white hair highlighting her angular features. Her piercing, calculating eyes appeared to see through every layer he tried to hide. Dressed flawlessly in her school uniform outfit, she radiated power and left no place for disagreement. Even when she stood still, she radiated an energy that caused others to straighten their backs and choose their words carefully.

“Senpai,” Naoki said, quickly pushing away his emotions. He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Clearly,” Kagami replied, a faint smile playing at her lips. “You seemed… lost in thought.”

“What are you doing here?” he said, his voice wavering.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she replied, stepping closer. Her gaze was piercing, as if she could see straight through him. “You’ve been acting strangely, Naoki. Care to tell me why?”

He tried to force a smile, but it felt hollow. “It’s nothing. Just… stress from the festival.”

“Is that so?” Hana crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “Funny, because I overheard a little of your conversation with Ueno-kun.”

Naoki’s blood ran cold. “You… heard?”

“You’ve always been so protective of Hoshino-san. But it seems that protectiveness has turned… obsessive.”

“That’s not true,” he snapped, his voice too loud. “I was just—”

“Trying to protect her?” she finished for him, a hint of mockery in her tone. “By hurting someone else?”

Naoki’s fists clenched at his sides. “You don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand,” Hana said, her voice softening. “Naoki, I’ve known you for a long time. You’ve always been loyal, but this… whatever you’re doing now, it’s destroying you.”

He looked away, shame and anger twisting inside him. “I just wanted things to go back to how they were. Before he showed up. Before everything changed.”

Hana remained silent for a moment before stepping closer. “But things did change. And now you must determine what type of person you want to be going forward. Do you want to continue living in the past or make amends?”

Her words cut deep, piercing the heart of his struggle. Naoki felt the weight of his actions bear down on him. He recalled Hoshino’s smile, her strength, and how she always saw the good in him. What would she think if she discovered the truth?

“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. Everything went silent.

“Haaahhh… You know what? How about you help me with the cleanup and final reports, and I’ll treat you once it’s all over.” Kagami said.

“To what?” Naoki asked, a hint of curiosity breaking through his turmoil.

“Whatever you like,” she said with a shrug, her voice light. “Within reason.”

A faint laugh escaped him, surprising them both. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“I’m sure you will.” Kagami’s smile lingered before she turned and began walking toward the main hall. “Come on. We’ve got work to do.”

Naoki followed, feeling the weight in his chest ease—if only a little. For now, he could focus on the tasks ahead. For now, he could push the memories, the guilt, and the jealousy to the back of his mind. But deep down, he knew it wouldn’t stay buried forever.