My Memories Came Back, But I'm Not Telling My Childhood Friends

Chapter 25

Two weeks have passed since my date with Maya.

Since then, Maya and I have started talking every now and then—though only when we’re sure no one is looking.

We aren’t exactly back to our old selves yet; our distance feels a bit more like a guy and a girl who just met recently. Still, the wall that was separating us has definitely vanished.

The only trouble is, a new kind of awkwardness has cropped up because I ended up squeezing her chest. Now that Maya has had time to cool off, she seems to have realized just how embarrassing her own behavior was.

If my gaze even happens to drop a tiny bit, she immediately remembers what happened and her face turns bright red. Every time that happens, things get super awkward, and it’s a constant reminder that we’ve both grown up in more ways than one.

Well, it’s not the toxic atmosphere we had a while ago, so I guess I shouldn’t let it get to me too much.

On the other hand, Rin has spent every single day lately glaring at me.

She was already on guard, but me touching Maya’s boobs made the situation even worse.

Technically, the misunderstanding itself was cleared up thanks to Maya’s explanation, but the fact that I didn’t let go immediately—and even gave them a squeeze—got out. It looks like it’ll be a long time before she forgives me for that.

However, maybe because my general behavior has been getting better, I feel like she hasn’t been rejecting me quite as blindly as before.

Of course, she doesn’t trust me yet, so I really need to be careful not to cause any more misunderstandings.

As for me, personally…

Things are going pretty well. I’ve gotten used to waking up early, greeting people, and actually paying attention in class. I’ve made studying a habit, and since I’ve started doing some light exercise, I’m getting much better at blowing off steam and managing stress.

By interacting with my childhood friends, my old self is gradually becoming clearer in my mind, and I can really feel myself becoming more positive.

Honestly, I think I’m doing a great job. At this rate, I might actually reclaim my true self in a few months. At first, it felt like a total pipe dream, but now I feel like it’s right around the corner.

I just need one more push. I want to keep working hard without losing my focus.

I was feeling pretty fired up, but…

Aside from my own stuff, there was one thing weighing on my mind.

Shizuno has been acting really strange.

She seemed a little off last week too, but since the start of this week, it’s become really obvious.

During class, she’ll just stare off into space lost in thought like Maya does… and when she’s lecturing the delinquent students like usual, she can’t even seem to come up with a comeback to their excuses… she even forgot her duties as the student on duty, which made our teacher worry about her.

She’s just… lacking her usual spark.

To someone who doesn’t know Shizuno, it might not look like a big deal, but for those of us who know her well, the difference is night and day.

I wonder what’s wrong.

It seems like Maya and Rin noticed it too and tried to ask what was going on, but Shizuno wouldn’t tell them anything.

Shizuno has always had this habit of trying to solve everything all by herself. She never accepts a helping hand.

Since I doubt any of us could handle a problem she can’t solve, I guess it is what it is… still, the fact that she won’t say a word about it has always made me feel a little lonely.

“—Hey, did you hear?”

While I was lost in thought, I overheard Yamada and the guys talking next to me.

“Hear what?”

“The rumor that Shizuno-chan finally got a boyfriend.”

“Wh-What did you say!?”

…Speak of the devil. Just as I was wondering about her, they started talking about Shizuno. I didn’t join the conversation; I just messed with my phone and kept my ears open.

“Who’s the guy?”

“It’s him, that annoying Student Council President.”

“Ah… I had a feeling. Dammit… he’s hogging our Shizuno-chan all to himself…”

Since when did she become “yours”…? You guys are always getting lectured by her anyway. I made sure to talk back to them in my head.

Well, Shizuno is kind underneath it all. She doesn’t scold “bad” people just because she dislikes them. If you do something good, she’ll praise you, and if you’re in trouble, she’ll listen to your problems even if you are a delinquent. I guess that’s why people like her.

Still, Shizuno and the Student Council President are a couple, huh…?

It’s just a rumor, so I can’t say for sure, but it’s a surprise to me. Like I said before, she always seemed totally uninterested in romance. I wonder if that has something to do with why she’s been acting weird…

“Whatever. In that case, I’m giving up on Shizuno-chan and going after Rin-chan.”

The topic switched to Rin. Talk about a quick turnaround. Is there even any love involved there?

“Nah, you should probably stay away from Rin-chan too.”

“Huh? Why?”

“She’s already part of Ueno’s harem.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that…”

Rin was also being targeted by some pretty weird rumors. And really dishonorable ones at that.

It’s true that Rin has been hanging out with the “popular” group lately. She used to be somewhere in the middle between the serious group and the popular group, but lately, she’s with the popular kids more often. Specifically, I see her with that harem guy, Ueno Koichi, a lot.

But she still has that bored look on her face like she always does. She looked so full of life when she was grilled me over the Maya chest-squeezing incident… something about this bothers me.

“Th-Then, our great archangel Maya-chan…”

Next, the topic turned to Maya.

“Unfortunately, it looks like Maya-chan finally got a boyfriend too.”

“Wh-What!? Maya-chan has a boyfriend…!?”

“Yeah… lately she’s been looking clearly happy. Look at her face. It’s like she’s living in a dream or something.”

Yamada looked over toward Maya. Following his lead, I took a peek, and yeah—she looked incredibly happy. She was sitting at her desk, resting her chin on her hand and grinning at absolutely nothing. What a sloppy face. I wonder what kind of delusions she’s having…

“Plus, someone said they saw her on a date with a guy about two weeks ago.”

“No way… Maya-chan’s virginity is finally…”

Just as I was thinking that, a phrase that made my blood run cold popped out. So that date was spotted…? From the sounds of it, they didn’t realize it was me, but it gives me the creeps thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t been in disguise. The world is way too small…

“Dammit… if it’s come to this, we’ll just have to steal them away.”

“Yeah. No more playing nice.”

Yamada and the guys were lamenting over the “Three Great Beauties” being taken. Is “wishing for their happiness” not even an option…? Come to think of it, I forgot these guys are just total pieces of trash.

Looks like more trouble is heading my way.