My Childhood Friend Is Dangerously Sexy and Cute - 15

Chapter 15: There Are Days Like This Too

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I was currently standing in front of the Fujisaki household. It was morning, time to head to school. Yuki wasn’t beside me. I was alone.

This morning, Yuki hadn’t come to wake me up. I found it strange and sent her a message, but there was no reply. It seemed she hadn’t checked her phone. But if I couldn’t reach her, I figured I could just go ask directly, so I came to my familiar childhood friend’s house. Though I said familiar, it felt like it had been a while since I last came here. Recently, Yuki had been the one coming over to my place all the time.

Well, no point just standing around looking suspicious to the neighbors. I decided to go ahead and visit. However, just as I stepped onto the Fujisaki property, a man came out from the front door. He wore a sharp suit, along with glasses that made him look strict, and neatly styled hair.

He was Yuki and Sayuki’s father, Kento Fujisaki. Apparently, he was a fairly well-known lawyer, though I didn’t know the details. After my grandmother passed away, he had become my guardian, but we weren’t particularly close. If anything, I sometimes felt like he saw me as a nuisance because of how close I was with Yuki.

Kento noticed me.

“…You. What are you doing here… though I suppose I don’t need to ask.”

Kento glanced toward the house and let out a sigh.

“Hello. It’s been a while. Um…”

“You’re here about Yuki, right? Then you should confirm it yourself. Honestly, what a troublesome girl.”

“I, I see…”

What did he mean by that? He sounded exasperated, but I couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

“More importantly,”

“Y-yes?”

“There’s nothing going on between you and Yuki, right?”

“Nothing, meaning?”

“I mean you haven’t laid a hand on my Yuki.”

“Huh? O-of course not. Haha…”

If anything, I’m the one in danger of being attacked!

“Yuki is adorable. So adorable that I could stare at her forever.”

That was some serious doting… though I mostly agreed.

“That’s why I can’t help but worry you might make a mistake someday. Understand? You’re both still high school students. Make sure you act appropriately for your position.”

“Y-yes. Of course.”

I straightened my back as I answered.

“Hmm. Well, I trust you. …I trust you.”

Why did he say it twice? Because it’s important? He totally doesn’t trust me!

“And also… um, well…”

“What is it?”

Suddenly, Kento grew awkward and fidgety.

“Does Yuki ever talk about me in front of you? For example… saying she wants to marry her father.”

“She doesn’t.”

I answered immediately, clearly, and without hesitation.

Marriage? Does he still think she’s a little kid? Is he confusing her with Sayuki?

“I-I see… Well, it’s fine. I still have my adorable Sayuki… E-even if Yuki hates me…”

Hey, this guy looks like he’s about to cry. An adult. In the morning.

“I keep worrying that maybe she avoids me and stays at your place because she doesn’t want to see me… Ahh… She used to say she wanted to marry me so many times…”

This is bad. He’s switched into storytelling mode. I really don’t want to hear a father lament his daughter growing up…

“N-no, I don’t think she hates you or anything.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah, really. Really.”

I couldn’t remember the last time Yuki talked about her father, but that didn’t necessarily mean she hated him. Probably.

“I see… That’s a relief. Oh, it’s already this late. I should be going.”

“Ah, yes. Take care.”

“Right. And you, don’t forget your duties as a student.”

With those words, Kento left. Man… that was some full-on doting. Honestly, I’d rather not deal with him much…

Anyway, I turned my attention back to visiting the Fujisaki house. I almost forgot, but Kento’s strange reaction left me with a lot of questions. For now, I rang the doorbell. No response. How strange. I was sure Yuki and the others were home. The door wasn’t locked, so… I guess I’d go in.

I turned the doorknob and stepped inside. Then—

“I told you, I’m taking the day off!”

“Yuki, you can’t just skip school when you’re not even sick!”

“But I can’t show this face to Hiro-san!”

I heard voices arguing from inside. It sounded like Yuki and her mother, Miyuki.

“Um… Hiro here?”

“Eh, Hiro-san!?”

“Oh my, it’s already this late.”

I heard Yuki’s surprised voice. Had they been arguing this whole time?

“Come on, Yuki. Explain it to Hiro-kun.”

“But…”

Yuki seemed reluctant to show herself, but Miyuki pushed her toward the entrance. She wasn’t in her uniform. She wore an oversized hoodie, with the hood pulled low over her head. She also had a mask on, so I could barely see her face.

“Um… Hiro-san.”

“W-what’s wrong?”

Seeing my childhood friend like this for the first time, I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“Well… um… you see…”

Yuki fidgeted, unable to find her words. She looked like a sulking child. Somehow, she reminded me of Kento earlier. Like father, like daughter… As I waited for her to speak, Sayuki toddled over.

“Ahh, Hiro-kun. Good moooorning!”

“Hey, good morning, Sayu.”

She hugged me, and I picked her up. Encouraged, Sayuki began explaining enthusiastically in her childish voice.

“Umm, you know, Onee-chan got a pimple. On her forehead and cheek, there are these red little bumps. It looks sad.”

“Hey, Sayu-chan! I told you not to say that!”

“Ah… ehe~ I forgot~”

“…A pimple? So, acne?”

“Uuuh… uuuuuuu…”

When I looked at her to confirm, Yuki turned bright red, looked down, and groaned. If I looked closely, I could see a small red bump peeking out from the edge of her mask.

So that’s it?

She wanted to skip school because of a pimple? Because she was embarrassed? Seriously?

“Hiro-san! Don’t look!”

Noticing my gaze, Yuki covered her face with both hands. Now I really couldn’t see anything.

“A-anyway! That’s the situation! Hiro-san, go to school by yourself today!”

Unable to handle the embarrassment, Yuki retreated back inside. Seeing her this flustered was new, and even though it might not be the right moment to think this, I found it cute. If possible, I really wanted to see her face properly.

“Is Onee-chan mad…?”

“Yeah, maybe. Let’s apologize later, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll say sorry. I’ll bring pudding too.”

“That’s a good idea.”

As Sayuki and I talked, Miyuki came out. She was a beautiful woman who resembled Yuki.

“I’m sorry, Hiro-kun. It’s been hectic since morning.”

“No, it’s fine. More importantly, what will you do about Yuki?”

“Well, she’s stubborn once she decides something… maybe we should let her rest today.”

“That might be for the best.”

I agreed with Miyuki. At the end of the day, she was soft on her daughter. And since Yuki did well in school, missing one day wouldn’t matter much beyond losing perfect attendance.

“Skin trouble can be caused by fatigue or stress. We’ll have her eat something nutritious today and get plenty of rest.”

“Fatigue… That’s probably my fault, right? I rely on Yuki too much…”

It was something I had been worried about. I depended on her too much for my daily life. I was alone. If I couldn’t take care of myself, what was I doing?

“Oh, no, no. That’s fine. She does those things because she wants to.”

“I see…”

“And please try to understand a girl’s feelings. She doesn’t want a boy to see her when her skin looks like that.”

Miyuki smiled gently. I couldn’t say I fully understood a girl’s feelings, but I nodded along with her smile.

After that, I left the Fujisaki house and walked to school alone. How long had it been since I last went to school by myself? It felt both lonely and strangely refreshing. It looked like today would be a boring day. Maybe I should visit Yuki after school. Or… she probably wouldn’t see me.

A day without Yuki…

As I wondered how I should spend it, I headed toward the school building.

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