I’m Betrayed by My Childhood Friend Who is Also My Lover, but My Other Childhood Friend Healed Me, So I Feel Like I Can Recover and Be Happy ~Is it True That Friendship Between a Man and Woman is Impossible? - Chapter 15

Reminisce

I wake up to an unfamiliar ceiling.

I quickly remember that I was sleeping on a bed in the infirmary.

When I look to the side, I can see Airi sleeping soundly.

“She’s incredibly beautiful.”

When I first met her, she had short hair.

I even mistook her for a boy because of that, it’s really embarrassing.

As I look at Airi’s sleeping face, I begin to reminisce the time when we first met—

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—it was around a year after my father passed away.

My mother took me to visit our new neighbours who just moved in the day before.

We rang the doorbell.

Not long after someone opened the door.

It’s a boy with beautiful white blonde hair?

“Good afternoon, Mitsuki-san.”

“Hello, Airi-chan.”

My mom and the boy exchanged greetings as if they were already acquainted.

My mom, who had been a bit tense since my father passed away, showed a smile.

“Mom, who’s this kid?”

I looked at the boy and asked so without hesitation.

“This is Airi Shirakawa, she moved in yesterday. Since she’s new here and there might be times when she’s in trouble due to not knowing many things, please make sure to help her, Akito.”

Even without Mom telling me so, it’s natural to help someone in trouble.

Of course, I’ll help Airi whenever she is in trouble.

“I’m Akito Asahina. Nice to meet you!”

I introduced myself and shook Airi’s hesitant hand.

It felt like a forced handshake.

“We’re friends now, so you can rely on me anytime!”

I somewhat forcefully declared us as friends, but Airi didn’t seem entirely opposed to the idea.

My mother said she needed to talk to Airi’s father, so she went to the living room to talk to him.

Since adult conversations are boring, I take the opportunity to invite Airi to play.

Airi was surprised by my sudden invitation.

She glanced towards the living room as if seeking for help.

Unfortunately, Airi’s father was too engrossed in conversation and didn’t notice Airi’s gaze.

Taking the initiative, I took Airi’s hand and led her outside, telling my mother that I would take Airi around the neighbourhood for a bit.

First of all, I brought Airi to the nearby park.

Next, I told her about the shops that sells sweets and toys nearby.

I also showed her the stationery store where school supplies are sold, and the bookstore where manga is available.

As Airi seemed tired along the way, we stopped by a café that Mom and I often go to.

Since kids weren’t allowed to stay inside, I ordered soft serve ice cream to go for both of us.

“Here you go, it’s on me, so don’t worry about it.”

I handed one of the two soft serve ice cream to Airi.

Then we sat down on a bench outside the café.

As long as it wasn’t too crowded, it was okay for kids like us to sit on the bench outside.

While quietly enjoying her ice cream, Airi finally spoke to me.

“Hey, are you always this…umm, pushy?”

“Maybe I’m being pushy because it’s Airi. You seem kind of fluffy, like I can’t just leave you alone.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I’m weird or something?”

“No, that’s not it. Also, can you stop calling me ‘you’? It feels weird. We’re friends, so just call me Akito.”

“…okay then. Akito.”

That was the first time Airi called me by my name.

The next day, since it was Airi’s first day to school, Mom told me to go with her.

It seems like Mom is really fond of Airi.

Well, even without Mom telling me so, I was planning to go to school with her anyway.

I met up with Airi at her house, and we were seen off by Airi’s father as we left.

On the way, we went to my childhood friend’s house, Chitose, and introduced Airi to her.

Chitose was quite shy at that time, so she timidly greeted Airi.

As for Airi, she didn’t have much of an expression, but she still greeted Chitose properly.

After that, the three of us walked to school together.

When we arrived at school both me and Chitose accompanied Airi to the teacher’s room.

Then, Chitose and I went to our own classroom.

During the morning homeroom, Airi was introduced to the class.

As time went on, Airi became close with me and Chitose.

We started playing together often.

Surprisingly, Airi was quite active. She enjoyed collecting beetles, playing tag, and even playing baseball with a plastic bat.

Chitose also joined us, but her athletic ability was disastrous, so she often ended up crying and being comforted by Airi and me.

Such days continued for about a year.

When we advanced to the next grade, there was a class reshuffle.

As it happened, the three of us ended up in the same class.

Airi seemed to have completely opened her heart to me and Chitose.

She started smiling more often.

However, it seemed like Airi was having trouble fitting in with the new class.

When I subtly asked why, she said,

‘I won’t forgive those who mock my mother.’

Airi’s white blonde hair and blue eyes are inherited from her mother.

She really loves her mother.

That’s why she couldn’t forgive those who teased her about it.

Not everyone was like that, but the first time they teased her seemed to have stuck with her.

I regret that I wasn’t there at that time.

I wonder why they needed to tease her about it?

Airi’s white blonde hair and pale blue eyes are very beautiful, it suits her very well.

I even thought that she’d look like an elf princess if she grew her hair out.

Then I had an idea.

If Airi stopped dressing like a boy and dressed more like a girl, maybe everyone would notice Airi’s beauty in the same way like I do.

So, I immediately suggested Airi to grow her hair out and told her about the idea I came up with.

Airi seemed reluctant at first, but she was convinced by Chitose, who was even more enthusiastic than me.

With that, Airi started to grow her hair out.

It was after summer break that the situation changed dramatically.

Although she had started growing her hair out before, she was still dressed in boyish clothes.

However, during summer break, she started to wear cute, girly outfits.

The first ones to show interest towards Airi were the girls in the class.

After all, girls like cute and beautiful things.

So, they were eager to talk to Airi, who has become like a princess.

Chitose also seemed to support her, and little by little, Airi was able to get along with the girls in the class.

There were some who seemed jealous of Airi, but since most of the people in class was on our side, it was difficult for them to do anything about it.

Those who were jealous of Airi only could gossip from afar.

Then, all we had to do was go with the flow.

Since Airi was able to establish her position among the girls, the boys found it difficult to pick on her.

If they were to do something to Airi, the girls who has become friends with Airi would defend her.

With that, we peacefully reached the highest grade in grade school.

It had already been three years since I first met Airi.

As Airi became more feminine and beautiful, there were moments where I felt a flutter in my heart, making it difficult to approach her.

One day, on the third anniversary of my father’s passing, Airi suddenly collapsed—

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While looking at Airi’s sleeping face and reminiscing about our past, Airi apologizes to me in her sleep.

“…I’m sorry, Akito. I’m really sorry.”

A single tear runs down Airi’s cheek.

Seeing her like that, I feel immense pain deep within my heart.