My Childhood Friend Who Takes Care of Me Seems to Be a Yandere... No, That Must Be a Misunderstanding - Chapter 18-19

Chapter 18: These Mixed Feelings Toward My Childhood Friend

Even after the afternoon classes started, I couldn’t concentrate.

I had my textbook open, I was taking notes, and I should have been listening to the teacher. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about Mii-chan.

Mii-chan looked like she was having fun being with someone else.

When I saw that, I felt something deep inside my chest that I couldn’t explain.

“…Hina?”

“Huh?”

Aoi-chan, who sat next to me, suddenly called out, and my shoulders jumped in surprise.

“You haven’t written anything in your notebook.”

When I looked down, just like she said, I had barely written anything since class started.

“Oh… you’re right.”

I quickly grabbed my pen again and tried to copy what was on the board. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what had been on my mind, and my hand wouldn’t move.

…What’s wrong with me?

This shouldn’t be something that bothers me.

Even if Mii-chan talks to other people, even if she smiles at someone else, that’s normal.

And yet, something in my chest won’t settle down.

It’s all restless and cloudy, and somehow… I feel a little lonely.

…Yeah, it’s weird.

I quietly let out a breath and tried hard not to think about it.

But that uncomfortable feeling didn’t go away until class ended.

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Even after school, that mixed-up feeling didn’t go away.

The urge to do something about it grew, so I headed to Mii-chan’s classroom like I always did.

It had become normal to go home together with Mii-chan.

If I went to get her, she would smile happily and say, “Hina~”

Even holding hands felt completely natural now.

But today—

“Mii-chan.”

When I called out to her from the doorway, Mii-chan noticed me right away and smiled.

“Hina, you came.”

Her words were as natural as always. But for some reason, they made my heart uneasy.

Dragging those cloudy feelings with me, I walked over to Mii-chan.

“Yeah, let’s go home.”

“Okay, okay, just a sec.”

Mii-chan picked up her bag and naturally came to stand next to me.

I reached out like I always did to hold her hand… but for some reason, that didn’t feel like enough.

Before I knew it, I had wrapped my arm around hers.

“…Oh?”

Mii-chan looked a little surprised at me.

“Hina?”

“…What?”

Even I thought I might’ve been a bit pushy.

But I didn’t want to let go of her hand, so I started walking like that.

“I mean, it’s rare for you to link arms.”

“…Is it not okay?”

Without thinking, I asked that, and Mii-chan gave a little laugh.

“It’s not bad. Actually, it makes me happy.”

She said that and gently pulled our linked arms a little closer.

That feeling made my chest tighten.

—Happy? I see. She’s happy.

I don’t know why, but it made me feel calm.

The cloudy feeling from earlier seemed to fade just a little.

“…Then let’s walk home like this.”

“Yeah, if that’s what you want, Hina.”

Mii-chan’s voice was soft and comforting.

In the end, I still didn’t understand what this feeling was.

But for now, just being next to Mii-chan like this felt like enough.

—

Chapter 19: I Want to Be With My Childhood Friend

Side: Mizuki

Hina and I walked together with our arms linked.

We usually just held hands, so I wondered what was going on today.

As I felt Hina close to me, I gently pulled her arm a little closer. She didn’t say anything and leaned in even more.

Her warmth wrapped around me, and my heart softly filled with warmth.

(Hehe, so cute)

I smiled in my heart without meaning to.

Hina was the one showing affection like this, not me. That made me so happy, I felt like the future where we become lovers was getting closer. I could feel my heart naturally start to race.

When that future becomes real, I wonder what kind of face I’ll have when I’m standing in front of Hina.

Just imagining it made my heart grow even warmer, and the excitement wouldn’t stop.

When I glanced to the side, Hina had a bit of a sulky look on her face.

I wondered why she looked like that.

But I didn’t ask anything right now.

As long as I could stay with her like this, that was enough.

I held Hina’s arm tighter with a bit more strength.

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After we got back, I made dinner at Hina’s house, and we ate together.

It was something we always did, but the time I spent cooking for Hina felt special to me.

“Phew, that was so good!”

Hina said that with a satisfied smile.

Just seeing her face made my heart feel warm and gentle.

“Thanks for the food, Mii-chan.”

“Yeah, thanks for eating it.”

After we finished cleaning up the dishes, I picked up my bag.

“Well, I guess I should head home.”

I didn’t really want to leave, but we had school tomorrow, so I had to go.

Right when I said that to Hina and started walking toward the entrance, she suddenly grabbed my hand tightly.

“…Huh?”

“Mii-chan, stay over tonight.”

“But… well—”

I was about to say we had school tomorrow, but Hina pulled on my hand a little forcefully.

“It’s fine, it’s already late… besides, I want you to stay.”

The moment our eyes met, Hina looked up at me just a little, and that gaze made my chest tighten.

(If you look at me like that…)

“…Okay.”

There was no way I could say no.

As I thought that in my heart, Hina’s face lit up all at once.

Her smile made my chest feel warm without thinking.

“Thank you, Mii-chan!”

Hina gave me a big, happy smile.

You really want to be with me that much?

That feeling made me simply happy.

My heart filled with so much joy, I could feel it overflowing inside.