It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~

I’ll Absolutely Believe You

On the day that Natsuki forgot to bring their apartment room’s key, the first thing she did upon entering Naoto’s apartment was to stuff the refrigerator with the groceries in the shopping bag.

“My parents will be home soon anyway, so there’s no need for you to do that.”

Saying his complaints, Naoto happily brought out the things from the bag and passed them onto Natsuki. It was better than not finding something to talk about and being more nervous because of it, and for Naoto who was a first year high-schooler, being able to help Natsuki in such a short distance is a fun chore to do.

“That’s not good, the things you just bought might spoil. You don’t like having a stomachache, right? ——Okay, done.”

Once the shopping bag was empty, Natsuki smoothened it out on the table.

“My mother also does that.”

When Naoto quickly returned to the table, he took a seat first before Natsuki and relaxed. For Naoto, who normally doesn’t help with house chores and who doesn’t have much stamina, sprinting in full speed while carrying a shopping bag then emptying said shopping bag afterwards felt like finishing a hard labor.

“Everyone’s doing it. The people in class does it as well.”

Natsuki sat as well, folding the shopping bag in half.

“Guys don’t do it, you know.”

“Ah—, guys are like that, aren’t they?

Are you already used to high school?”

Taking care to act calm, Natsuki talked. Putting him on a position that will make him worry about her is the one thing she doesn’t want to happen the most after all.

“I’m not yet used to it.”

Naoto immediately replied without being bashful. For Naoto, being able to get used to high school life immediately is strange.

“Does Morita-kuns class have students who dyed their hair?”

“There is a person who has a rather deep hair color. It’s a guy who’s a year older than us who switched schools after things happened in his former school like getting into fights, shoplifting and getting his friend pregnant. That’s why it’s really not a good idea hanging out too much with guys who dyes their hair brown or are rather cool-looking.”

“So there’s a guy like that.”

“There is. But you wouldn’t really know they’re dangerous just by looking at them. I learned about it first time from the girls. Even if they look like a nice, ordinary guy, those guys that have brown-dyed hair are quite frightening. It’s no question they’re popular with girls, and even the normally serious-type girls would already be getting along with them. It seems like they’ve been going to the karaoke.

Oshida-san should be careful as well. You shouldn’t trust anyone just based on their looks.”

“Un. Got it.”

“……Does Oshida-san, also have a thing for guys who dye their hair?”

In curiosity, Naoto muttered.

Looking at Naoto’s expression, Natsuki felt like her heart was being gripped. She thought that she needed to clearly deny it.

“No, I don’t have such an interest in them. From what I heard, the reason I asked is because I want to know how many girls are dyeing their hair.”

“Girls? I don’t recall about hearing any girls dyeing their hair. I don’t think there are such open girls in our class. I don’t even see anyone playing around with their hair color.”

From how Naoto sounded, it seems like he was not really interested, so Natsuki secretly laughed.

“There are a number of girls in my class who lightly dyed their hair. They asked me about trying to dye my hair over the summer vacation, but will I look like a delinquent if I dye my hair? When I tried asking mom, for some reason she told me ‘How about you ask what Morita-kun has to say about that?’”

“I might be a bit troubled if Oshida-san dyes her hair.”

“Why?”

“Because I have a bit of a poor eyesight. Whenever I’m looking for Nat-chan—— I mean Oshida-san, I’m actually looking for that black hair of yours. The moment you put on something like a cap, I wouldn’t be able to tell if it’s you or not.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Whenever I touched Oshida-san’s smooth hair in the past, it felt good to the touch and smelled nice, I was reminded that it’s a girl’s hair, and I understood how extremely different we are to each other. I still remember such times, so I would somehow constantly imagine Natsu’s hair in my mind.

Whenever I see an absent-minded girl from far away, while remembering how your hair looked like, I would always look for you.”

“You’re always looking for me?”

“Ah, no, I’m not looking for you though.”

“You just said you were looking for me.”

“It’s not that I’m always looking for you, what I meant is that such a thing always happens whenever I’m looking for you.”

Naoto explained with impatience.

“At what times were you looking for me? If you have some business with me, don’t be reserved and just approach me, okay?”

“It’s alright, it’s not like I have any business with you or anything. Whenever I some free time in places like the cafeteria, I would spend the time guessing if the people I see are Oshida-san or not. That’s why I would actually have no problem even if Oshida-san dyes her hair brown.”

“But for the time being, since Morita-kun can distinguish me easier because of my black hair, I won’t be dyeing it. My hair looks like this, so remember it, okay?”

Natuski used both hands to fiddle with the tip of her hair.

“You don’t have any plans of growing them long?”

“Do you like long hair more?”

“Not really, that length of hair lefts the most impression in my mind, so that length is the easiest to remember.”

“I see. Then I won’t change it.”

“Whenever your hair is long, you would get mad whenever I pulled on your hair with my hand in the sofa or the bed, right? Those times were really scary, so I always calmed down whenever you shorten your hair. That’s why, I like that length of your hair better.”

“Even I don’t act like that when I’m angry anymore, though.”

“That much should’ve been obvious, shouldn’t it? I’m sorry.”

“Would the past me really get angry that fast? —— Yeah, that would probably be the case.”

Natsuki’s face reddened.

“Maybe there’s no helping from you getting mad since I wouldn’t learn even after pulling on your hair frequently. When we hug each other on the bed, I would often pull on your hair, and whenever I change posture, your hair would get pressed between my elbow and the bed. When someone would knock on the door, in panic I would get up, only to have your hair pressed again.”

“Uwa, that did happen. I might’ve been angry at that time. When I my hair got pulled when I was about to fall asleep, I hurt so much that I was shocked. The me at that time was scary, wasn’t I?”

Natsuki became embarrassed remembering that, that she smiled while bushing.

“But back then, I had a hard time moving while taking care not to press on your hair. I wonder if my feelings of taking care of Oshida-san was actually lacking. I’m sorry about your hair.”

With strong feelings of regret, Naoto apologized to Natsuki.

Natsuki noticed herself that the beating of her heart that has already calmed down once began beating fast again.

“Don’t be, there was nothing that you could’ve done about that. I was also to blame for always obstructing your movement.”

“You’re easy to hug when you have your hair short, so I was really relieved when they are. Since I said that your current hair length if better, you would keep it that long, right?”

“So that’s what you mean by that?! And here I was so glad since I thought you find it cute. So it’s not like you prefer it this short.”

“No, I think that’s cute, you know. Especially now that you’re back has become very beautiful.”

“My back?

“Compared in the past, your body line is not that straight anymore. It feels like you’ve really become a girl now.”

“Well, I would be bothered if it didn’t change—. Or rather, I’ve always been a girl in the past too, you know.”

Natsuki said jokingly, which somehow made herself calm down.

“That might be so, but when I look at you from behind……”

Naoto embarrassingly said in a small voice.

Natsuki’s heartbeat became even faster, that she ended up looking down at the table.

“When you look at me from behind, what?”

“No, it’s nothing.

I’m sorry, I’ve only been saying disgusting things.”

“Why? They’re not disgusting at all.”

“I did ran home in a hurry, but looking at it objectively, my actions just now were quite weird……”

“That’s only because you’re kind.”

“Is that really it?”

“Speaking of which, since you ran all the way home, you’re should be thirsty right, Morita-kun? The black tea I put in the refrigerator must be cold by now, so why don’t we go ahead and drink it?”

“Uwa, I didn’t even bring out any drinks.”

Naoto hurriedly stood up.

“It’s alright, stay seated. I’ll be drinking it for free, after all.”

Natsuki stopped him, then moved quickly and skillfully.

Naoto was frustrated that he couldn’t do anything even in the present. Even though his companion has grown-up not only on the inside but on the outside as well, he felt that he himself haven’t changed at all.

Leaving aside how I should’ve treated her as a guest, not noticing that I’m thirsty myself, your being too nervous, me. What the heck are you doing?

While Naoto was in the middle of contemplating, Natsuki poured the iced milk tea into cups, held them with both hands then returned to the table.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you”

When Naoto received his cup, it looked like he would cry because of his perceived himself as pathetic he hurriedly brought the black tea to his mouth, and using the cup, hid his face.

“This cup is so nostalgic. When I said that I like this cup, it became like my very own cup here. Who’s using it now?”

After taking a sip of black tea, Natsuki caressed the cup as if it was someone beloved.

“Since the cup would not break even if one happens to slip holding it and the cup falls down, the family are letting me use this cup in the present.”

Naoto looked at Natsuki apologetically.

“Why are you speaking so formally?!”

“No, I want to say that I’m sorry for using your cup.”

“Don’t be, it’s originally Morita-kun’s anyway.”

“If it’s okay, how about taking it with you? You don’t come here that often anymore, right?”

Naoto said with sad eyes.

“Am I not allowed to come here anymore?”

Natsuki gripped the cup tightly.

“It’s not that you’re not allowed here anymore, it’s just that you rarely have any reason to come here.”

“……But, I there might come a time when I’ll come here for some reason.”

“When that time comes, I might forget to bring out drinks like juice again.”

“That much is fine, I’ll just get the drinks on my own just like what I just did right now. This is mine and Morita-kun’s- this is our cup after all.”

Natsuki gently smiled while poking the cup.

“I guess that’s the case.”

“Yeah.”

After Natsuki nodded, the whole room turned quiet.

In his nervousness, Naoto gulped down in his throat.

“—— My mom’s taking so long. Even though she said she’ll be here immediately, what is she doing? Allow me to apologize.”

“Don’t mind it, it’s fun talking with just the two of us so it’s alright.”

“No, it would be dangerous if Oshida-san don’t start being doubtful of guys from now on.”

“Why is that?”

“Seeing the other side of guys during grade school and middle school, I think it’s not an exaggeration to say that guys acting nice to girls is basically just a ploy to make said girls think that they’re a kind person. There are guys who are nice to girls who are also stealing wallets from other guys.

Take me running to here for instance, I might have ran here on purpose to make you fall into a sense of safety.”

“But wouldn’t that be meaningless unless I see you in the act of running?”

“That’s the point, there’s a possibility that you might see me that’s why running will make sure I could get some brownie points.”

“Do you do such bothersome things?”

“Guys do. You know, if it’s to put girls into a false sense of safety, boys will put all effort to achieve it. Then, as soon as the girl step inside their home, that’s the time they’ll strike.”

“This time, I didn’t get attacked the moment I stepped in here, so that means I’m fine, right?”

“That would be a different pattern altogether.

Just look at the black tea that Oshida-san’s drinking right now, I might actually look for an opening to put a medicine to make you sleep in it, so that the next time you take a sip you will fall asleep.”

Natsuki, who was listening to Naoto’s words,

“Would I be falling asleep after taking a sip?”

Amusingly said, gulping her tea afterwards.

“Ah—-, drinking it like that! If I’m a bad guy, that’s definitely a no-no.”

“Because, it’s not like you really put anything in it. Your mom will be coming home soon, right?”

“I might have also lied about mother coming home soon. In truth I know that she actually won’t be coming home in five hours. I might undress Natsuki who’s already asleep, take pictures or videos and use it to blackmail you. You shouldn’t let your guard down.”

“Then, if I didn’t fall asleep, and your mom immediately returns, that would mean Morita-kun is a nice guy who couldn’t lie.”

“That, me doing that might also be a plan of mine wherein I’ll tell you some truths once in order to make you feel safe. Even if you go home today without anything happening, you must always be aware that something might happen next time.”

“If that’s so, then I wouldn’t be able to feel safe anytime.”

“Not feeling safe is better. All guys have ulterior motives!”

“You said all, then that would mean that Morita-kun ran all the way here with some ulterior motive, you know.”

Thinking of teasing him, Natsuki pointed out while smiling.

“That’s right, that’s what it is. Right now, I’ll take this opportunity to say this to you knowing you’ll hate me.

After all, lately Oshida-san was looking cute, so worried that some molester might harm you, I hurriedly ran all the way here. If it’s another girl from our class who’s waiting, I definitely wouldn’t have run. Such extreme change in behavior depending on the person, I don’t know how to explain it other than having an ulterior motive.”

“You called me cute.”

“If you won’t notice it without me saying it, then I don’t have any other choice but to say it. Objectively speaking, you’re cute. Your cute, so you should be very careful.”

“Eh—-. Then I’ll be.”

“Really, take care of yourself. When it’s gym class, there are no girls, so there are quite a number of guys who will talk rudely. If you go to the karaoke and they slipped alcohol in your drinks, the you might get violated, you know.”

“It’s the first time I hear the word violate outside of manga.”

“You don’t need to point out violate being in my vocabulary.”

Saying that, Naoto laughed.

“So what does violate actually mean?”

“I don’t really know it that well.”

“You don’t know it, but you’re still using it?

“Using words that your talking partner don’t know is an advanced technique to make them think that you’re smart and make you more convincing.”

“Isn’t that something that you shouldn’t reveal to others?!”

“Revealing it is a technique to make others feel safe.”

“That’s also a technique?”

“Ninety percent of things that guys to do girls are techniques.”

“However, Morita-kun is really worried about me encountering a molester, right?”

“As I was saying, if it’s just words, I’ll say whatever I can.

I came here because I’m worried about you, you’re cute, I don’t have any ulterior motives. ——If it’s just words, anyone can say it, actually everyone says it. They might call you cute, but behind, they’ll say ‘Because you’re ugly.’”

“Even so, if Morita-kun says he’s worried about me, then I’ll absolutely believe you, so it’s fine.”

Naoto could not come up with any more words to rebut Natsuki.

“……I’m worried about you, so take care of yourself.”

“I promise. Should we make a pinky promise for that?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll put my trust in your words.”

“Then trust me. I’ll also trust Morita-kun.”

“Okay. Then that’s that.”

“Why do you sound a bit unsatisfied?”

“I feel like you’re not really getting my point.”

“I get it, you know. Be careful around guys, right?”

“Yes. You shouldn’t hang out with a guy if it’s just the two of you.”

“Okay, I wouldn’t hang out with any guys besides Morita-kun.”

“As I thought, you don’t get it. You shouldn’t hang out even with me.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ll misunderstand immediately and let it get to my head. ——You know that I’m a pervert, right?”

“You’ll become weird again?”

“That’s right. I’m dangerous, you know.”

“Why are you so honest today?”

“I don’t want to say things like this that are akin to sexual harassment. It seems like you won’t get it to your mind that guys are dangerous unless you’re told, so I have no choice but to say it.”

“But I’m always having fu when I’m with Morita-kun, so I want to hang out with you more——”

At that moment, the sound of the entrance door being unlocked could be heard, and Naoto’s mother had returned.

“Th, that’s your mom, right?”

Natsuki stood up in a flash, and went to the door to greet Naoto’s mother.

The words that Natsuki said remained in Naoto’s ears.

When Naoto tried touching his ears, it was so hot that he was surprised.

I don’t want Oshida-san to hate me. If, she harshly rejects me like on the day I confessed to Mori-san, we wouldn’t be able to return to being friends. That’s why, I shouldn’t fall in love with Oshida-san.

Wondering why Oshida-san became that cute, Naoto made a deep sigh.