My Tsundere Childhood Friend, Who Was Always Haughty, Suddenly Showing a Sharp Increase in Affection and Directing Intense, Heavy Emotions Toward Me - Chapter 1: It's Not My Fault Everyone Thinks I'm an M, It's Because of Sana

Chapter 1: It’s Not My Fault Everyone Thinks I’m an M, It’s Because of Sana

Many people might think having a beautiful childhood friend is something to be jealous of. But in reality, it’s not that great. That’s my honest opinion as someone who actually has a beautiful childhood friend.

“Hey, Haruto. I said I wanted a café latte, didn’t I? Why did you get me coffee milk?”

“Sorry, they were sold out, and this was the closest thing they had.”

“A café latte and coffee milk are completely different! Whatever, forget it.”

This is how it goes. During lunch break, my childhood friend Sana Ibuki makes me run errands to the school store, and then complains about it. It’s only natural I’d feel this way. Sana and I have been at the same school since kindergarten, and she’s always treated me like this.

Sometimes she’s kind, but most of the time, she acts like a queen, bossing me around. So, it’s no surprise I can’t have any romantic dreams about my childhood friend. Falling in love with her like in some romantic comedy manga? That’s just not possible in real life.

“You and Ibuki-san are as close as ever, huh, Haruto?”

“Was there anything in that exchange that seemed close?”

“Come on, Ibuki-san only acts like that with you. Having a childhood friend must be nice.”

The one talking to me after I finally got away from Sana was Shuya Kawaguchi, a friend from middle school. He’s got a good-looking face, like he could fit in with the popular crowd, but his obsession with childhood friends is so strong that he hangs out with a plain guy like me.

“If you think that, why don’t you take my place, Shuya?”

“No way, Ibuki-san isn’t my childhood friend, so that wouldn’t work. Man, if I had a beautiful childhood friend like you, Haruto, my life would be perfect.”

Yeah, talking to Shuya is pointless. Once he looks through the “childhood friend” filter, he can’t think straight. If he were Sana’s childhood friend, he’d probably happily do whatever she ordered him to. That’s just the kind of guy he is.

Lunch break ended, and after afternoon classes, it was time to go home. I’m not in any clubs, so I just head home, but as usual, I have to walk back with Sana, which makes me feel down.

By the way, the reason Sana walks home with me is apparently to keep guys away. Her looks are so striking that people never stop trying to talk to her. So, I’m basically treated like a bodyguard to scare those guys off.

“Haruto, let’s go.”

“Give me a sec, I’m still writing the class log for duty.”

“Just write something random. No one checks it that closely anyway.”

“You know if I write something random, I’m the one who gets in trouble, right?”

“You’re such an M, Haruto. Getting scolded is like a reward for you, so it’s fine.”

“No way! It’s because of you, Sana, that everyone thinks I’m an M!”

Because I keep putting up with Sana’s unfair treatment, people started thinking that about me. Obviously, I don’t enjoy or feel good about being mistreated, so I’m definitely not an M.

“Blaming me? You’ve gotten pretty bold, Haruto. Back in the day, you relied on me for everything.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“Doesn’t seem like much has changed to me.”

It’s true that when we were in elementary school, Sana helped me a lot, like teaching me how to study. But now that we’re in our first year of high school, that’s not the case at all.

If anything, except for her looks and communication skills, my abilities are way higher than Sana’s. In fact, I’m the one helping her out more often these days.

Even so, in Sana’s mind, my image is still stuck in the past, completely unchanged. That’s definitely a big reason why she keeps treating me so unfairly.

Translator’s Note:
“M” means masochist.