My Childhood Friend Who is My Girlfriend was Stolen by My Best Friend. From Now on, I'll Flirt with My Ex-Best Friend's Little Sister! - Chapter 15

Persistence

It’s just past midnight.

Even though I’ve gotten ready to sleep, the lights in my room are still on. Through the thin walls, I can hear the sound of running water. My childhood friend is in the shower, warming up her body.

I pick up my phone and try to call Rinka.

However, no matter how long I wait, the call won’t go through.

She’s probably already asleep, or maybe she turned off her phone.

I decide to send her a message, tell her honestly that my childhood friend is at my place right now and explain how it happened.

It’s not something that can be solved just by telling Rinka about it, but hiding it would be even worse.

What if she hates me after this…?

Still, no matter how much she has hurt me, I can’t just leave her outside in the cold.

No, that’s just an excuse.

In the end, I just don’t want to take responsibility if something happens to her…I’m such a coward…

As I sit there pondering about these thoughts, the door opens.

“Thanks for the shower.”

“…ah, yeah.”

Since I don’t have a hair dryer at home, her hair is still slightly damp.

“Toshi-kun’s shirt, it’s too big on me.”

She sways the loose sleeve from side to side.

The shirt is too big for her that it goes past her thighs.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”

“No, it’s not that. It just feels kind of new and different.”

She smiles shyly.

A little while ago, I would’ve been really happy to see her reacting like this.

But now, I feel nothing at all. It makes me realize just how much I don’t care about her anymore.

My childhood friend then comes over, sitting across from me at the low table.

“Who are you messaging?”

She glances at my phone and asks anxiously.

I decide to tell her the truth.

“My girlfriend.”

Upon hearing that, she hurriedly checks her own phone. But the one I’m messaging is Rinka.

“T-That’s strange…ahaha…by your girlfriend, you mean me, right?”

“Stop being so persistent. I already told you, we already broke up. You’re not my girlfriend anymore, Airi—no, Tsukimiya-san.”

“Why are you calling me by my family name…? Why won’t you call me Airi anymore?”

“Yeah. I’m going to call you that anymore.”

When I say so, a shadow falls over my childhood friend’s face.

Her eyes widen slightly and she bites her lower lip.

Generally, calling someone by their first name shows how close you are to that person.

Although it’s just a different way to address her, that is my first step in distancing myself from her.

“Is there really no way we can start over…?”

“Yeah, there is no way.”

“I was wrong…I won’t make any more excuses, Toshi-kun. I hurt you, I was selfish, and I’m the worst.”

“Anyone can offer empty apologies.”

“I-I’ll fix everything…I’ll change all my bad habits. I promise to be a better girlfriend! So please, just one more time…can we start over, Toshi-kun?”

Her voice grows fainter as she desperately begs me to get back together.

Does she think that by patiently waiting outside for hours, showing some kind of loyalty, I will give in? That by admitting her mistakes and talking about the future, I will forgive her?

“That’s impossible. No matter how much you change, my feelings won’t. Stop treating me like a fool.”

“That’s not what I mean…”

“You can use the futon that’s already laid there. This table is the boundary. If you cross it, I’ll kick you out, even if I have to force you.”

“Toshi-kun…”

She calls my name faintly.

However, I can’t care less. I get up and turn off the lights.

Laying my head on the pillow, I turn my face towards the wall and close my eyes.

After everything that happened today, I can’t fall asleep right away.

“…you’re still awake, right, Toshi-kun?”

Not even a minute has passed since I turned off the light.

I’m still awake, but I don’t say anything back to her.

“…I see. Then, I’ll just talk to myself.”

“……”

“You might not believe me, but I really do love you, Toshi-kun…do you remember? A long time ago, when I fought with my mom and was sitting alone at the park, you said, ‘I’ll run away with you.’ Normally, someone would take me back home, but you held my hand and took me somewhere far away. We got in so much trouble afterward though…”

“……”

“But you know, it’s those little acts of kindness from you that I love. It’s not about whether it’s right or wrong, but at that moment, you did exactly what I needed most.”

“……”

“I love how serious and dedicated you are, Toshi-kun. How you’re always willing to help others without a second thought, even if people don’t notice your kindness. I love your handsome face, and how you’re so skilful with your hands. I love…everything about you, Toshi-kun.”

She pours out her heart.

In the darkness, I can’t see the expression on her face.

I don’t know if those are really her true feelings, or she’s just trying to flatter me.

But either way, there’s only one thing I can say.

“Then, why did you betray me?”

“…I was lonely. After we entered middle school, Toshi-kun started helping out at the wagashi shop, and we didn’t spend as much time together. I didn’t know you still liked me until our second year of high school. I tried to improve myself so that you wouldn’t look at other girls. Because all of that stress building up, and there were also some issues at home…so…”

“That’s all in the past. I don’t care who you were with before we dated. But after we got together, you could have stopped.”

“…yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry.”

With that, the room falls into silence.

The only sound I can hear is the faint rustling of clothes.

Just as I think I can finally fall asleep…

“Is it really impossible…for us to try again?”

Ah, this is getting really annoying…

She’s so persistent.

She has asked for us to get back together countless times already. But I have absolutely no intention of getting back together with her.

I pull the covers over my head and close my eyes.