I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 32 - Stirred Memories

A few hours earlier

The ground was covered in spotted shadows as the sun passed through the trees that bordered the festival path. I could hear the happy talk of students having a good time at the festival, but it sounded distant to me, like I was listening through a piece of glass. I was disorganized, the earlier confrontation with Naoki playing over and over in my mind like a broken record.

Beside me, Hoshino walked quietly, her hands clasped behind her back. We’d been searching for Akira and Hibiki for a while now, wandering through the maze of booths and games. For someone as bubbly as Hoshino usually was, her silence felt heavy.

“Do you think they’re at the where the relay race is held?” I asked, breaking the quiet.

“Maybe,” she said, glancing at me with a faint smile. “Knowing Akira-kun, he’s probably snapping away at every little thing he finds interesting.”

“That does sound like him.” I chuckled softly.

I texted Akira just in case, telling him that we’ve been looking for him. Hopefully he’ll see my message.

Another pause fell between us, but it didn’t feel awkward. It felt… reflective. Hoshino’s gaze lingered on the festival decorations as though lost in thought. Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter now.

“Takeshi-kun,” she began, her tone tentative, “do you ever think about middle school?”

The question made me stop mid-step. I turned to her, brow furrowed. “Middle school? Unless if I made good memories, I don’t think too much in my middle school days. Why do you ask?”

Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as she avoided my eyes. “I was just thinking about how much has changed since then. Back then, everything felt so simple. Like we didn’t have to think too much about anything.” She paused, her fingers tightening slightly. “But after what happened… I don’t know. Everything changed.”

Her words hit me like a freight train. The casual mention of what happened sent a jolt through my body. My breath hitched, my chest tightening as her words echoed in my mind.

“What do you mean by ‘after what happened’?” I asked carefully, though I already knew. My voice sounded steadier than I felt.

She hesitated, glancing down at the ground. “You know… the accident. That day.”

That day.

The words rang like a bell, unlocking something deep in my subconscious. My vision blurred, and the world seemed to tilt. Fragments of memory hit me like shards of glass, each one sharp and disjointed.

The metallic groan of the ladder as it gave way. The rush of air as I fell. Pain lancing through my body like fire. Hoshino’s pale face hovering above me, her wide eyes filled with terror and guilt.

My knees buckled slightly, and I caught myself on a nearby booth. “Not now,” I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists.

“Takeshi-kun?” Hoshino’s voice pulled me back, laced with concern. She stepped closer, her hand hovering near my arm but not touching it. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a weak smile. My heart was pounding, my breaths shallow. “Just… spaced out for a second.”

Her brows knit together, doubt flickering in her eyes. “Are you sure? You’ve been acting a little strange today.”

“I’m sure.” I said quickly, straightening up. “We should keep looking for Akira and Hibiki. The relay race is coming up soon.”

Hoshino studied me for a moment longer, her expression softening. “Okay,” she said quietly. “But if something’s bothering you… I’ll hear you out at least, you know?”

Her words stirred something in my chest—gratitude, guilt, and a strange sense of longing all at once. I nodded. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

She smiled faintly, turning back toward the path ahead. I followed, my thoughts a storm of confusion and unease. The memories were clearer now, more vivid than ever. I didn’t understand why they were resurfacing today of all days, but one thing was certain: they weren’t going away anytime soon.

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As we rounded another corner, still no sign of Akira or Hibiki, the speakers crackled to life, interrupting the festival buzz.

“Attention, all participants of the relay race!” the announcer’s voice boomed over the crowd. “Please prepare yourselves. Your event is up next!”

Hoshino and I exchanged glances, the announcement pulling us out of our search.

“Looks like we should get ready,” she said, her tone brisk. “I need to change.”

“Yeah, me too,” I replied, tugging at my uniform collar. “Let’s split up for now. We’ll meet at the track.”

She nodded. “Don’t take too long, okay? I don’t want us rushing at the last second.”

“Got it,” I said with a small smile, watching as she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I made my way to our classroom, my mind still swirling with the fragments of memories Hoshino’s words had stirred earlier. The images of “that day” refused to fade, hanging at the edges of my thoughts like shadows. I shook my head, trying to focus.

When I reached our classroom, it was empty, save for a few desks scattered haphazardly from earlier ruckus from my classmates. I grabbed my bag, rifling through it for my spare set of clothes. As I did, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw a message from Akira.

Akira: Meet us at the relay track after you change. Hibiki and I are already there.

“Finally, some sign of life from those two.” I let out a small sigh of relief, typing a quick response.

Me: Got it. On my way soon.

I tossed my phone back into my bag and reached for my clothes. Just as I was pulling them out, the classroom door slid open with a low creak. For a moment, I froze, glancing up toward the doorway.

“Who…?”

It wasn’t who I expected. Instead of Hoshino or Akira, it was Natsu. His usually vibrant energy was dulled, his shoulders slumped and his face weary. Sweat clung to his brow, his hair slightly disheveled.

“Natsu?” I called, stuffing my spare clothes into my bag. “You look like you just ran a marathon. What happened?”

He walked in slowly, dropping into the nearest chair with a groan.

“Airi’s relay just finished, and she dragged me all over the place afterward to grab snacks. That girl has way too much energy.”

“That’s what you get for dating someone from track and field.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, waving a hand dismissively. “What about you? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your own relay?”

“I’m about to,” I said, walking over and leaning against the desk across from him. “But… can I ask you something first?”

He raised an eyebrow, his tired expression shifting slightly. “Sure. What’s up?”

I hesitated, glancing toward the window as I gathered my thoughts. “It’s about Hoshino.”

“Of course it is,” Natsu said, smirking faintly. “You’ve had that look all day.”

“What look?”

“The ‘I’m thinking about her but don’t know what to do’ look,” he teased. “So, what’s bothering you?”

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s just… I want things to go beyond what they are now. I don’t want us to just stay as friends. But with everything that’s happened—with Naoki—it feels complicated. I don’t know if it’s the right time.”

Natsu studied me for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Look, man, I’m no relationship guru, but if you’re serious about her, you can’t let stuff like that hold you back. If you’re waiting for the ‘perfect time,’ you’re gonna be waiting forever.”

“But what if—”

“What if Naoki gets in the way?” Natsu interrupted. “What if Hoshino doesn’t feel the same way? What if pigs start flying? What if the world ends right now? Come on dude, you can’t live your life on ‘what ifs.’”

I sighed, his words sinking in. “It’s not just Naoki. It’s… other stuff. Things I don’t fully understand yet.”

“Like?”

I hesitated, debating whether to say it. Finally, I decided to take the chance. “Do you remember ‘that day’?”

Natsu frowned, leaning back in his chair. “You mean the accident?”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice quieter now. “Do you know anything about it? Like, what really happened?”

For a moment, Natsu didn’t respond. His gaze drifted to the window, his brow furrowed in thought.

“I was there,” he said finally. “Not close, but close enough to hear the commotion. Everyone was freaking out. I remember hearing your name and seeing the ladder on the ground. And Hoshino…”

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Natsu POV

Middle school felt like another lifetime. The desks were smaller, the uniforms stiffer, and the days always seemed longer. But for me, those years were also when I met Takeshi. Back then, he wasn’t much different than he is now—quiet, a little awkward, and utterly obsessed with his camera. I can still picture him hunched over a desk during lunch, fiddling with the settings of that battered old thing like it was the most precious object in the world.

“Oi, Takeshi,” I’d call, sliding into the seat next to him. “Why don’t you eat your lunch before the bell rings?”

“Can’t. The lighting’s good right now,” he’d reply, barely glancing up as he adjusted the focus. “I want to catch it just right.”

Our classmates didn’t get it. To most of them, Takeshi was “the weird camera kid,” always off in his own little world. They’d whisper about him, snicker behind his back, but he didn’t seem to care. To him, the world was a series of snapshots waiting to be captured, and nothing else mattered. I admired that about him, even if I didn’t fully understand it.

But things changed when Hoshino came into the picture.

Takeshi had always been a good student, but there was a noticeable shift in him around the third year of middle school. He started showing up to class on time, keeping his desk neat, and even smiling more. At first, I couldn’t figure out why. Then, I saw them talking after school—Takeshi and Hoshino.

Hoshino was one of those people everyone noticed. There was something about her that attracted people, even though she wasn’t flashy or noisy. Perhaps it was her kind smile or the genuine concern she seemed to have for everyone she spoke to. Or perhaps it was because she was constantly with her childhood pal Matsuda Naoki.

Naoki was the golden boy of our grade—handsome, athletic, and effortlessly popular. He and Hoshino were inseparable, the kind of duo you’d read about in shoujo manga. But something changed when Hoshino started talking to Takeshi.

At first, it was just little things—passing him a ruler during class, asking him about his camera. Then, one day, I saw her sitting next to him during lunch, leaning in to look at one of his photos.

“This is beautiful,” she said, her voice soft but full of awe. “How did you even notice something like this?”

“It’s just… there,” Takeshi replied, scratching the back of his neck. “Most people don’t care about stuff like that.”

“Well, now I do care,” Hoshino said firmly.

That was it. From that moment on, Takeshi was a man on a mission. He stopped drifting through school like a ghost and started paying attention to class. All because someone finally noticed him.

The festival was the highlight of our middle school year. Everyone was buzzing with excitement, decorating classrooms, rehearsing performances, and setting up booths. Takeshi and Hoshino were on the props team for our class’s play, and I’d never seen him so focused. Hoshino, as usual, was the glue that held everything together, her energy keeping everyone motivated.

But not everyone was thrilled with the new dynamic. Naoki had been quieter than usual in the weeks leading up to the festival. He’d watch Takeshi and Hoshino from the sidelines, his expression unreadable. I didn’t think much of it at the time.

Then came “that day.”

I was helping another group set up near the stage when I heard the commotion. A loud crash echoed through the auditorium, followed by gasps and shouts. I turned to see Takeshi sprawled on the ground, the collapsed ladder next to him. Hoshino was there, too, clutching her arm and looking pale as a ghost, a small, crimson color pool came flooding in.

My stomach dropped as I ran toward to help them. But as I got closer, something caught my eye—a shadow near the edge of the stage. It was Naoki. He was standing off to the side, his face pale and his hands trembling. He didn’t move to help, didn’t say a word. He just stood there, staring at the scene like he’d seen a ghost.

I didn’t think much of it then—I was too worried about Takeshi and Hoshino. But later, when the rumors started swirling about the ladder being tampered with, I couldn’t shake the image of Naoki standing there, frozen in place.