It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~ - 4 - 25 - It’s Too Early to be Stopping!
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- It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~
- 4 - 25 - It’s Too Early to be Stopping!
It’s Too Early to be Stopping!
The topic went back to the time when Naoto and Natsuki were kids.
“——and then, I thought ‘Even though he likes this family restaurant’s kiddie set, he ordered something weird today.’”
“That’s because I was worried whether it’s still okay to order that.”
“When our moms went to the drink bar, Nao-kun suddenly moved to my side and said ‘Even though we promised to marry each other, do you think it’s still okay to order the kiddie meal set?’ When he asked me that, even I started thinking about it. ‘Is it still okay to eat the kiddie set if you promised to marry someone?’, I ended up asking that straight up to my mom.
Moreover, in the past, my mom would just say whatever when explaining, or rather, she would straight up make up things. ‘Oh, my! If you make a promise to marry someone, then you’ll be able to eat a wedding cake, you know. Natsuki, did you make a promise to marry someone?’, she ended up asking me that.
Thinking what should I do, I was struggling on what to reply with. I looked at Nao-kun, but even he wouldn’t say anything in my stead.”
“I couldn’t come up with any idea on what to say. Don’t make a grade school boy make an engagement greeting to your parents. I really felt like I’m under some sort of pressure back then.”
“I also didn’t know what to say, so when I said ‘I just want to ask that’ in the meantime, she said ‘It’s alright, you don’t have to talk about it if you’re embarrassed’, and the conversation ended like that for the time being.
When I felt relieved that she didn’t press for details after that, that evening, there was a chocolate cake in the dinner table. Moreover, saying ‘Since Natsuki wouldn’t be able to eat it all on her own, I’ll ask for help, okay?’, she called Nao-kun over to eat the cake, and even took a picture of it.”
“At that time, children though we were, I thought that at least make us eat it with just the two of us.”
“Even though the cake was delicious, it was very awkward eating it nack then, right?”
“Why couldn’t they understand that, those people?”
Sakurako sighed while imagining the two in the past.
“Really—…… The two of you are really cute back then. With just today, how many episodes have you told us?”
Sakurako happily counted with her fingers.
“I know, they’re super cute.”
Saying that, the one who agreed with Sakurako was Makoto. Makoto continued,
“For the most part, just being a couple when you were children is cute in itself. When I see a boy and girl holding hands, whether they be in grade school, high school or middle school, even though not everyone are actually coupes, I end up rooting for them. ‘Keep doing your best from here on—–’, I think of that from the bottom of my heart.
Even so, these two, these two were already holding hands, going on dates, stopping by each other’s house and kissing back when they were grade schoolers. They’re so precious.”
She said happily.
“That’s right, it’s like they’re shining too brightly. I wanted to listen to the story of these two for hours.”
Hearing the word hours, Naoto checked the time.
“Before I knew it, our conversation went away from talking about Health Land. It wouldn’t be good staying here sitting, so how about we go inside the station?”
Thinking that they will be getting nowhere sitting still, Naoto stood up.
“Ah, did you just change the topic? Are you getting embarrassed?”
Natsuki, after looking up at Naoto in order to tease him, pulled her hips up.
“That’s not it, we can talk about it how many times you want tomorrow. It’s just that right now, there’s time to consider. This is already a dangerous time for girls to be out, really.
We can talk about Health Land over the phone, in chat or even at school. Since we can easily meet with Nagatomo-san starting tomorrow as well.”
“You do have a point, so should we go home now?”
Natsuki asked the girls.
“Okay—-. We’ll be here forever otherwise.”
“Let’s talk again.”
Everyone stood up leisurely.
As they started walking, their energy somewhat zapped, everyone spoke less.
Natsuki suddenly became worried. It was because it appeared like the place became quiet because of Naoto.
In panic, she started speaking to Naoto.
“Nao-kun, are you excited that Tachibana-san will be joining us?”
“I’ll only say this because the person herself isn’t here, but it doesn’t really atter to me if she comes or not. In a sense that it’s just an extra person with me and Natsuki.”
“Is that so? Even though until yesterday you didn’t know what to do since she looks sparkling when you see her.”
“Well, it was because she wasn’t sparkling anymore when I saw her today.
It’s just that when Tachibana-san was there I was a bit nervous, a bit worried about her, and a bit happy, that’s all. If Ninomiya-san, Hirose-san and Nagatomo-san come, I would be a bit happy. It’s the same as that.”
“Really?”
“Honestly, as a person, I once again thought that she’s a good person, that’s how much I thought about it. Being able to memorize an essay and challenging herself to write a song, there were things that I unexpectedly don’t know about her. It’s at the point that I was genuinely surprised, I thought that I don’t know anything about Tachibana-san.
……But when I think deeply about it, I even get surprised by things that I didn’t know about Natsuki, so it might be the same as that. You wouldn’t know anything about a person just by looking at them from far away.”
“So you were looking at her from far away.”
“I was looking. I think I was looking at her the same as how I looked at Natsuki when we just entered high school. Ever since being rejected by her, I couldn’t make myself look at her even from behind, though. Until today when I think that she might hate even me looking at her, I couldn’t look at her.”
Makoto felt sorry for him like she felt sorry for herself.
“I’m sorry. Haruka really doesn’t remember what she said when she refused your confession. She was really regretful about it.”
“No, it’s alright. Please tell Tachibana-san not to blame herself too much. She did listen to my confession even while she’s struggling with her phobia. The deplorable ones are me and Iida who weren’t able to do anything for her since then and until now.
But more than that, was it really alright that we invite you two to go with us to Health Land? She might be thinking why suddenly invite her when meeting her again for the first time.”
“Haruka was really excited about it, so I think she’s almost fine, but we wouldn’t know until the last moment before departing for the trip. Bit I’ll definitely come.”
“Got it. However, you’re free to tell if you want to cancel as well, Nagatomo-san. It might be possible for you to have a sudden headache on the day of our trip, or have a sore neck while sleeping.
We can still have another trip for another day.”
“Understood. Speaking of, Haruka’s actually a bit worried that if she joins the everyone might get awkward.”
“I’m not really the type to get bothered by such things. If she doesn’t currently hate me in progressive sense of the word, then it would make me at ease.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll half-ass the preparations for this trip just because of that, I will not let it be a negative memory for her. In that sense, I might actually want her to come. Please tell her that I want her to come.
Ah, how about Natsuki and Iida?”
“I’m also fine with it.”
“Me too.”
“That’s right, isn’t it? I’ll tell that to Haruka.”
“Also, I do want her to come comfortably without being too conscious about what happened in the past.
To put it in extreme terms, the one I love now is Natsuki, in relation to Tachibana-san, my only feelings are of genuine worry without any ulterior motives. If ever Tachibana-san wanted to be able to speak with the opposite gender comfortably, then I would help as a male friend of hers. If she musters her courage and decides to move forward, then I will cheer for her. That’s all there is to it.
I’m not lending a hand to her because she’s someone I have feelings in the past, but I want to help her because she’s my friend. I’m not bothered anymore by the way she turned me down, and I think that our positions are equal right now as well.
Of course, being able to do it suddenly will be difficult, but if Tachibana-san wants to be able to speak with boys energetically like she was able to do before, then doing it in a natural pace will be fine.”
“You’re really kind aren’t you, Morita-kun?”
“It not really that, I’m actually envious of people who have courage.
Me, I was just waiting for Tachibana-san to strike a conversation with me ever since I developed feelings for her. Even when I entered high school, I was just waiting for Natsuki to approach me. At that point our relationship has been in a standstill for 5 years. If Natsuki didn’t get ill, I bet I wouldn’t be able to initiate a conversation with her even until our graduation. Our relationship will stay that way even if 10- or 20-years pass.
That’s why, I think people who have the courage to face their troubles like Tachibana-san are amazing. It might be because I’m doing well right now, but when I see people who are keeping things at a standstill, I feel that opportunities are being wasted, and it ends up weighing on my mind.”
“Nah, me, even though I’m not doing well like Morita, I still think that keeping things on a standstill is wasteful. I’ve been thinking about it deeply yesterday and today. Morita and Tachibana-san are really amazing.”
Iida honestly said.
“Well, compared to me, Iida has more to reflect about with his past actions. Back in middle school, if Iida only asked Nagatomo-san for details, then things would’ve been different.”
“Right. Because of me not taking action, a lot of things worsened.”
“Well, in this world there are things that gets resolved by the passage of time, and there might be a need to stay still in certain situations, but in my and Iida’s case, we were just afraid to take any action.
I’m glad I went today. I was able to reflect on things again.”
Makoto, in response to Naoto’s words, happily replied “That’s right!”.
“Haruka, even though she hesitated at first, said she’s glad that she came. She said that a person who’s capable of respect can respect anyone regardless if they’re man or woman. She said she has come to realize that.”
“Somehow, it feels kinda embarrassing being told that much……”
Naoto, hesitating to say the words, looked to his lover while blushing. However, rather than looking jealous, he saw Natsuki making a face of also being embarrassed. Naoto felt relieved, and decided to say what was on his mind.
“It’s just that, my actions on the day I confessed to Tachibana-san. Being worried about her condition immediately after she rejected me, seems like the right thing I did. Knowing that really made me happy.
At that time, I strongly told off Iida, and we decided to go home and think about things for a day. If I let him go back then, Iida, who’s quite agitated, would definitely go and yell at Tachibana-san, then it would have been a nightmare for her. It might’ve been a great shock to her. If that happened then the current situation might’ve been worse.
How do you say it…… if I remember correctly, you said something along the lines of ‘I’ll go and tell that bitch!’, right Iida?”
“Yeah— that’s right, then things would have been really bad! Morita, you’re awesome, you really did call a fine play there!
If I forced my when then something dangerous might have happened, definitely.”
Iida, who’s agitated, spoke very fast.
In contrast, Naoto was calm.
“No, that’s not it, it’s just that if we thought about that part singly, then the opposite wouldn’t have happened. I just meant that things have passed without us interpreting everything about it in the wrong way. It would’ve produced the best outcome if instead of complaining about how I was rejected, I just said ‘As I thought, she really likes you, Iida, so go out there and confess already’ and sent you to where she was.
Well, everything would have been fine if from the start we proceeded while asking advice from someone. If only at the time, we have at least one female friend who’s like Natsuki or Hirose-san or Ninomiya-san, then the conversation might’ve went ‘She’s not that kind of person. Something’s amiss.’, then on the next day, Iida would have calmed down and would’ve been able to have a talk with Tachibana-san. For instance, if we asked Nagatomo-san, then she would’ve offered her help.
Because we only stepped forward with just the two of us, we weren’t able to take the right path. If only we proceeded the right way. Taking a step forward isn’t a bad thing in itself.”
“Ah—…… that’s right, that would happen. I keep thinking that if only consulted with ore people, then my problem, Natsuki’s problem, Iida’s problem and Tachibana-san’s problem, they would’ve been all resolved faster. That’s why, I’m very grateful for having friends.
We didn’t know about that, that’s why we failed. Right now, I think everything’s fine. If everyone are such good people like this, then I can take a step forward in relief.”
“As I thought, I should also take a step forward—……”
“Well, don’t overthink about it too much, taking it one step at a time is fine. As long as someone who joins us at Health Land would have their worries come one step closer to being resolved, then it’s fine. Thinking of it event-wise then it’s a great success.”
“Certainly, if that happens, it would make me happy.”
“However, there’s that, as I thought the one with the most serious worry would have to be Tachibana-san.”
“Speaking of Tachibana-san”
Starting with that,
“Before, she taught Naoto how to fold his uniform, so she was pretty friendly with the guys, right?”
Natsuki asked.
“That’s right, she’s also friendly with the boys. She’s the most generous girl in the class. Things like how to clean, how to make seasoned nori rolls, how to wash hands, how to sweep properly…… Just like Natsuki, she was too helpful.”
“Morita-kun, even in your novels, you like that kind of person, right?”
Asked Aki.
“As I thought, it’s because boys really like to be touched by girls. Having my hand touched by hers while saying ‘You do it like this’, while washing my hands, really made me happy. When my teeth ended up chattering because it was cold during pool class, the next break time, she gave my shoulders a massage.”
“She’s a very kind person then. I understand why the two of you would fall for her.”
Said Sakurako.
“Nah, in my case, I haven’t looked after for like that.”
Iida said, looking a bit vexed.
“Or rather, it’s only Morita who got such a treatment. Kind actions are kind, be we don’t really honestly follow them. Being told how to fold your uniform and to fold your uniform next time, that takes courage, or rather, you’ll get teased by the other guys. Someone will definitely up and say ‘This guy learned to fold his uniform since he’s told to do it by Tachibana-san!’”
He complained.
“But even though I learned how to fold my uniform, nobody said anything to me for some reason.”
Naoto said while looking mystified.
“You, it’s about time you be aware of that personality of yours. Didn’t you also listen to everything the other girls told you to do?”
“Isn’t it a comforting following the girls’ instructions on things like cleaning?”
“It’s not a question of if it’s comforting or not, you’re practically the only guy who can suddenly do that without being teased on.”
“But you know, Iida never teased me even once for it, right?”
“That’s because I know you’re not a bad guy, and also because we were comrades in the short height department. If you’re gone, then I would be the shortest shrimp in class. Well, you’ve gone and left me alone in that area since.”
“Iida’s doing exercises, and you’re eating well, so I think it’s just a matter of time for you to get taller. Looks like you also put your height on a standstill.”
“I don’t need that comment!”
Iida lightly hit Naoto on the back of the head, making everyone burst out laughing.
Part 4 ‘It’s Too Early to be Stopping!’ END