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?

Seven Days (1)

After waking up in the infirmary, both me and Airi return to the classroom together, feeling awkward.

Before I knew it, it’s already after school, we walk home together as usual.

Airi is skipping her club activities again today.

As for dinner, both me and Airi have it together again at my house.

As usual, we say ‘Itadakimasu’ together before eating.

After dinner, I brew some tea and serve some dessert that I bought on the way home.

Airi seems to be in a good mood after eating dessert.

I once again realized that girls are weak to sweet things.

After eating the dessert, we continue talking about Chitose.

In short, I’m asked to observe Chitose’s attitude over the next week.

Then, I should decide what to do with her.

To be honest, I don’t have high expectations towards Chitose, but since Airi believes in her, I decided to agree on it.

After that, we chat, play some games, and study together.

Since it’s getting quite late, Airi decides to go back to her house.

Before leaving my house, Airi says that she was asked by Chitose to ask me if we can meet tomorrow.

Airi says if I don’t want to, she will decline on my behalf.

I think it’s a good opportunity for me to face this matter properly, so I agreed to meet Chitose.

The following week, I begin to face Chitose every day.

(Day One)

After school, with Airi by my side, I receive an apology from Chitose.

“Akkun, I’m really sorry. I’ve been too self-centred, thinking you would forgive me for anything.”

It’s been several days since I last seen Chitose, she seems to have lost a little weight.

She has dark circles under her eyes.

She might have been troubled by it in her own way.

However, the real question is…can I really forgive her just because of that?

“I accept your apology. But no matter what you say now, I don’t feel like forgiving you. Also, I’d like you to stop calling me by my name.”

“I understand. Until Airi-chan told me, I didn’t realize how much I’ve hurt Akkun…I mean, Asahina-kun.”

“Yeah, that’s right. It was really painful, infuriating, and sad.”

“Yeah, I can understand how you feel. Once again, I’m really sorry…but please observe me from now on before you decide on anything. Even if we can’t go back to being lovers, at least I want us to go back to being friends.”

I feel like screaming ‘Understand what!?’.

But I hold myself back and listen to Chitose’s words until the end.

Tears are welling up in Chitose’s eyes, she is trying really hard not to cry.

If it were the old me, just seeing Chitose wanting to cry like that would’ve prompted me to console her, but right now, I don’t feel that way at all.

“It’s fine to do whatever you want, but when I’m alone, please refrain from talking to me or approaching me.”

“Yeah, I understand. Thank you for listening to me Ak—Asahina-kun.”

With that, Chitose leaves.

Being in the classroom at dusk, I remember the scene from that time.

“You did your best, Akito.”

Saying so, Airi embraces me.

“I rely on Airi too much, don’t I?”

“It’s okay. We should be there for each other during though times, right?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

“Well then, let’s go home.”

Airi lets go of me, picks up her bag, and we start to walk home together.

As usual, Airi is having dinner at my house again.

We enjoy our usual peaceful routine together.

(Day Two)

During lunch break, Chitose comes to visit Airi.

She asks us if we want to have lunch together.

Although she didn’t specifically come to visit me…

“If you don’t want to, we can just subtly decline.”

Airi whispers to me so.

Since I have decided to face it, I decided to have lunch together.

Airi and I have the same bento.

But surprisingly, Chitose has prepared her own bento.

Airi seems surprised too and asks Chitose about it.

“By any chance, did you make it by yourself?”

“Ehehe, yeah, I tried my best even though I messed up a few things.”

The appearance of the bento is indeed disappointing, but since it’s Chitose who isn’t good at cooking who made it, I think it’s a passing grade.

“What do you think of it? It turns out to be a little bit better than before, right? Do you want to try it?”

Chitose timidly offers me an octopus-shaped sausage.

I actually want to refuse, but seeing Chitose has tried her best to make the bento, I can’t bring myself to decline and take a bite.

“It’s not bad.”

When I say so casually, Airi immediately follows up.

“Really? It looks delicious. Can I try some too?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Chitose says so, offering her bento to Airi.

Airi takes a piece of the octopus-shaped sausage from Chitose’s bento and eats it.

“It’s really good, delicious!”

“Really? I’m happy to hear that, ehehe.”

Chitose seems happy to be praised by Airi.

Then, Airi tells Chitose about cooking tips.

After finishing lunch, Chitose quickly return to her own classroom.

After school, Airi heads to her club activities.

For the first time in a while, I walk home alone.

At the evening, Airi’s father, who hadn’t been home early for quite some time, seemed to be able to come home early, so I’m invited over to have dinner with them.

Having dinner with Airi and her father is really enjoyable and heartwarming.

(Day Three)

Today, Chitose didn’t particularly come up to me.

However, during lunch break, Airi hands me a letter, she said it’s from Chitose.

It seems that Airi hasn’t read the letter either.

As usual, I eat lunch with Airi.

When I’m about to read the letter, Airi, considerate as always, leaves me alone to give me some space.

As for the contents of the letter, it contains apologies towards me and how Chitose felt since we broke up, expressing how difficult and sad it was not being able to see me.

Chitose also wrote in the letter that she will be trying her best to regain my trust from now on.

How did we end up drifting apart like this?

I can’t help but wonder so.

Without saying anything, Airi holds my hand silently.