I Will Do Everything In My Power To Bring Happiness To The Enchanting Beauty Who Can No Longer Smile. - Chapter 22: I Want To Heal My Childhood Friend.

I Want To Heal My Childhood Friend.

—How many boys in this world could refuse if their first love told them, “I want to let you rest on my lap”?

Such a thought crosses my mind involuntarily.

If there were no special circumstances, I imagine that about ninety out of a hundred would eagerly nod in agreement—probably multiple times. The remaining ten? They’d likely be overthinking it, doubting hidden motives, or struggling with low self-esteem.

But before I get too lost in thought, I snap back to reality. There’s no point in entertaining such musings.

After all, I know her circumstances. And if there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that she hasn’t changed from the past. There’s no need to suspect hidden motives, nor do I have such low self-esteem that I’d question this moment.

“Come here, quickly.”

With a light tap on her lap—more precisely, her thighs—Tsubame beckons me.

I hesitate. Not because of anything else, but simply because… she is my first love.

Still, this was her request after winning our game, and refusing was never an option for me in the first place.

…Even if this wasn’t part of a wager, I doubt I would have refused.

“Uh… are you sure about this?”

“Hmm? I am the one who asked you to, you know?”

“…Right. That’s true.”

I instinctively seek reassurance, but I tell myself it’s only natural.

She’s my first love.

And not just that—she’s become a top model now. A beauty so stunning that it makes me hesitate.

After pondering for a moment, I steel myself.

The sofa is large enough to accommodate me lying down without any issue.

“Alright… I’ll lie down, then.”

“Mm, come here.”

I give a small nod before slowly easing myself down.

…Where exactly should I rest my head?

If I place it too close to her body, it might be inappropriate. But if I stay too far, it could seem like I’m rejecting her.

After some deliberation, I settle for somewhere in the middle, facing away from her.

“Shigure-kun, aren’t you going to hold on like you used to?”

“Ah, that was when we were kids.”

“I see… That’s a shame.”

Back when we were little, whenever she let me rest on her lap like this, I would instinctively turn toward her and cling tightly.

But that was in the past.

If I did the same thing now, the scene would be… quite something.

“Shigure-kun.”

“…Yeah?”

“I want to see your face. Can you look up at me?”

I pause for a moment to consider—then nod.

That much should be fine.

Looking up while resting on someone’s lap isn’t anything unusual. I’ve done it plenty of times before. Besides, it’s not like the physical distance between us would change.

Or so I thought.

The moment I turn my gaze upward, I realize something.

From this angle, something I usually try not to focus on is now taking up a significant portion of my field of vision.

…No, I won’t say what. But let’s just say—Tsubame has quite a bit in that department.

It’s not a topic that comes up often, but…

Normally, I make a conscious effort not to look. But precisely because of that, the impact is overwhelming now.

I instinctively try to avert my gaze—only to be captured by a pair of deep, dark eyes peeking down at me.

Her jet-black irises gleam with a quiet brilliance.

“…It’s hard to see your face unless I do this.”

“S-…Suppose so.”

I manage to reply in a small voice, locked in her gaze.

But every time I try to meet her eyes, that other thing also enters my view, causing my vision to waver.

“Mm.”

Tsubame lets out a soft sound and leans in closer.

Her hair, previously cascading down her back, now spills over, tickling my forehead.

She draws even nearer.

By now, my vision is almost entirely filled with her face.

…And I think something soft is pressing against the side of my face.

I want to believe it’s just my imagination.

“This way, you won’t be distracted anymore, right?”

“………………Yeah, I guess so.”

I struggle to form a response.

Partly because she had caught me getting distracted.

And partly because that soft sensation against my cheek was unmistakably real.

“……”

“……”

For a while, we simply stare at each other in silence.

Our faces are extremely close.

And with that proximity, I find myself thinking once again…

“You Really Are Beautiful.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them. But I had no regrets. She was simply that beautiful.

“Thank you… I didn’t expect you to say something like that, Shigure-kun.”

“…Yeah. You’ve always been beautiful, but you just keep becoming even more so.”

“Do you think so?”

I nodded.

“Your eyes are livelier than before, and your complexion has improved… You’re growing more radiant every day.”

“I see… That explains why my managers were so surprised. Oh, but during photoshoots, my eyes probably look the same as always.”

“So, you’re still not quite ready to let those moments be captured.”

That was fine. There was no need to rush things.

“But I don’t think it’ll be long now.”

“…You mean my sense of taste and my expression?”

“Yeah. I believe that, and besides, you’re doing everything you can.”

She was finally letting go of some of the stress she had been carrying. Eliminating its source was important, but that was something I had to wait for her to talk about in her own time.

Step by step. And honestly, she was moving forward much faster than I had expected.

Tsubame gazed at me intently.

“Shigure-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Thank you.”

A simple, sincere expression of gratitude. I accepted it just as straightforwardly.

“You’re welcome.”

“Mm. Just relax and let yourself be healed while you rest on my lap.”

A gentle warmth settled onto my head—her palm.

She softly ran her fingers through my hair. Then, as if realizing how close she had been leaning forward, she pulled back slightly. The warmth pressing against the side of my face disappeared.

“Shigure-kun.”

“Hm?”

“If there’s ever anything you want to do, let me know. I don’t really understand what boys want to do… or what they want done for them. So, I’d like you to tell me.”

Her slender, pale fingers toyed with my hair, while her other hand lightly brushed my cheek.

A tingling sensation ran down my spine, like a shiver. I quickly averted my gaze from the sight in front of me.

…She was far too defenseless.

“That kind of thing—”

“I’d only ever ask you, Shigure-kun.”

I had opened my mouth to say something, but she beat me to it.

“Let me rephrase that. It’s not about what boys in general want. I want to know what you want to do, and what you want done for you.”

“That’s…”

“It’s okay. If it’s you, no matter what you say.”

She playfully poked my cheek, then tapped my nose, all while continuing to stroke my hair.

“…Is there something? Something you’d like to do? Somewhere you’d like to touch?”

“…Right now, just having you stroke my hair and letting me rest on your lap is more than enough.”

“I see.”

She nodded gently at my words.

“If that ever changes, let me know. I tell you what I want all the time, after all.”

“…Yeah. If that time comes, I’ll tell you.”

I couldn’t help but think my voice carried more emotion than usual.

Even as I averted my gaze from her, the warmth of her touch was so gentle that it made my eyelids grow heavy.