My Childhood Friend Who Takes Care of Me Seems to Be a Yandere... No, That Must Be a Misunderstanding - Chapter 33-35

Chapter 33: Putting the Pendant on My Childhood Friend

Mii-chan picked up the pendant and gently traced the chain with her fingertips while smiling.

“It’s really beautiful… Hey, Hina, will you put it on me?”
“Eh, me?”
“Yeah. If you put it on, it’ll feel even more special.”

Mii-chan shifted her chair a little and turned her body toward me. She held the pendant in front of her chest and looked straight at me.

My heart gave a loud thump.

We’re close. Have we ever been this close before?
That thought crossed my mind as I answered her.

“…Okay.”

I carefully took the pendant and reached toward Mii-chan’s neck.
At the distance where my fingertips almost brushed her skin, I could feel her warmth.
I tried to clasp it properly, but I was more nervous than I expected and my hands shook.

“Hina, your hands are shaking.”
“Eh!? N-No they’re not!”

I hurriedly tried to deny it, but Mii-chan just giggled softly.

Somehow I managed to fasten the pendant. Mii-chan straightened her back a little and gently traced it with her finger right in front of my eyes.

“How is it? Does it look good?”

That gesture was so cute I couldn’t help staring.

“…It looks amazing on you.”

The words came out more honestly, surprising even me.
Mii-chan narrowed her eyes happily.
Then she quietly leaned in and looked into my face.

“Because Hina picked it out for me, I’ll treasure it the most.”

Those words rang straight into the deepest part of my heart.

Because I chose it. Because I gave it to her.

Hearing her call it “the most precious” for that reason made me so happy my chest felt full.

I want to get even closer to Mii-chan.
I want to tell her my feelings even more.

That urge welled up from deep inside.

Suddenly, as Mii-chan stroked the pendant with her finger and gave a small smile, the gesture looked strangely alluring, and my heart skipped again.

We’d been talking normally just moments ago, but now my chest was so full it was hard to form words.

“Hey, Hina.”
“Uh, y-yeah, what?”
“Let’s stay together forever, okay?”

Mii-chan said it gently.

Of course we will.
Yet for some reason, that single sentence sounded like it carried a different meaning than ever before.

“…Yeah. Forever, together.”

When I answered, Mii-chan smiled happily.
I smiled back, pulled along by her.

I want to tell her these feelings even more.

More, more—

—

Chapter 34: Deciding to Confess to My Childhood Friend

When we left the café, a slightly cool breeze brushed my cheeks. The city lights blurred softly, and the laughter of passersby mixed with the sound of car engines. With the lingering sweetness of the café au lait still in my mouth, I stole a glance at Mii-chan’s profile as she walked beside me.

Her fingertips kept tracing the pendant at her neck over and over.
The way she gently pinched the thin chain and touched it felt like she was making sure it was really there, and my eyes were drawn to it without thinking.

Back in the café when I put the pendant on her, Mii-chan had looked so happy.
Even now, she seemed somehow in high spirits.

That sight made her feel unbearably precious.

“Hey, Mii-chan.”
“Hm?”
“…Do you like it that much?”

I hadn’t meant to ask, but the words slipped out.

Mii-chan blinked once in surprise, then gave a soft smile.

“Of course. I told you earlier, didn’t I? Because Hina picked it out for me, I’ll treasure it.”

Her light voice echoed deep in my chest.
Because I picked it. Because it’s from me, she’ll treasure it.
Being told that made me impossibly happy.

“I’m glad, too.”
“Hm?”
“That you’d say that, Mii-chan. It makes me… really happy.”

Mii-chan said nothing, just kept smiling and gently traced the pendant with her finger.
Watching that gesture made my chest feel ticklish all over again.
We’ve spent so much time together before, yet today Mii-chan felt special.

No—that’s not quite right.

Something inside me has changed.

While I was thinking about that and walking, a small park suddenly came into view.
A bench surrounded by trees sat there quietly.

“…Want to sit for a bit?”
“Yeah.”

Hearing her reply, I sat down on the bench.
Mii-chan’s presence settled right next to me.
The park was quieter than I expected; only the faint sound of traffic reached us from the distant road.

Mii-chan traced the pendant with her finger again.
Every time her fingertip lightly brushed the gem, the chain swayed just a little.
I stared at it and slowly drew in a breath.
My heart wouldn’t calm down.

I quietly looked at Mii-chan’s profile.

Her calm expression, beautiful black hair, smiling lips.

Everything about her felt dear to me.

Right now, I might be able to say it.

No—I have to say it.

“Hey, Mii-chan.”
“Hm?”
“…There’s something I want to talk about.”

My voice shook more than I expected.
Mii-chan turned toward me.

“What is it?”

Suddenly, her eyes looked straight into mine.
Under the glow of the streetlamp at night, those eyes sparkled gently.
A calm, reassuring gaze.

I swallowed hard and pressed my lips together.

Right now, I feel like I can say it.
These feelings—properly.

—

Chapter 35: Confessing to My Childhood Friend

I have to tell her how I really feel—those words filled my mind, yet my throat tightened and nothing came out.

Mii-chan just kept looking at me quietly.
She wasn’t rushing me; I could tell she was simply waiting.

“Hina?”

My name was called so gently.
My heart jumped hard.

It felt like she could see right through all my feelings, and I almost looked away.
But I didn’t want to run.
If I did, I’d just brush it off again.

I gathered my courage and looked straight into Mii-chan’s eyes.

“…You’re so unfair, Mii-chan.”

The words slipped out before I knew it, surprising even me.
Mii-chan tilted her head a little.

“Unfair?”
“Yeah. Because… you just wait for me like that.”

She never pushes me, never presses me; she simply waits for me to find my words.

That kindness echoes deep inside my heart.
It makes me so happy my chest feels full.
That’s exactly why I have to tell her properly.

“I always thought it was natural to be with you forever.”
“Yeah.”
“But now… that’s not enough anymore.”

Mii-chan blinked slowly.
She waited quietly for my next words.

So I had no choice but to keep going.

“I want to be even closer. I want… to be special to you.”

As I spoke, my fingertips shook.
I was scared and anxious whether I could really put these feelings into words.

“I want to touch you more… and I want you to touch me more.”

While saying it, I felt heat rising deep in my chest.
Everything felt floaty, yet my heart pounded so hard it hurt.

Mii-chan just kept looking at me calmly.
Her face was gentle, but deep in her eyes there was definitely a glint of expectation.

I bit my lip.

I’d already come this far—there was no turning back.
And I didn’t want to turn back.

Still, that very last step terrified me.
Once I said it out loud, there’d be no going back.

Even so—

“Mii-chan, I…”

My voice shook.

I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.
I made up my mind and looked straight at her.

“—I like you.”

Those were the most honest words I’d ever said.

The moment they left my mouth, my heart beat so fast it felt like it would burst.
My face burned. My hands trembled.

Mii-chan kept staring at me without saying anything.

A short silence.

Please say something.
What do I do?
What if she turns me down…?

Fear suddenly hit me and I started to look down—right then—

“—I like you too, Hina.”

A soft, gentle voice rang out.
Mii-chan smiled faintly.