After a Heartbreak, My Bitter Childhood Friend is now Sweet Like Sugar - Chapter 2.10

Chapter 2.10

Sign

On the outskirts of our neighborhood, there was a small park in front of a shrine. The park had many playground equipments which seemed to be worn out by the time. 

While the surroundings were developed as a community, this place was forgotten by everyone, like a relic of the past.

“This is…”

“Do you remember? This is where we used to come after fighting with our parents.”

“How could I forget? Yes, I remembered. So, why did we come here?”

“I think if we can spend some time here, we can relive old memories. It’s been a while since I came here.”

Guess, almost a year has passed. My memories were still blurred. But that time we were in Junior high and I used to talk about Senpai a lot.

“It’s nostalgic. I used to come here often whenever I felt sad for some strange reason until last year… it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Hmm. Well, it’s kind of relaxing.”

I was wondering whether I should bring her or not. But I was glad that she was here. It might help her to settle down her feelings.

I sat down on the swing, Kokoa followed and sat beside me. Without giving a thought, she started to paddle and swung back and forth.

“It’s natural. It’s like I get sad when I listen to sad songs. I feel ill seeing sour foods. This kind of reminds me of those feelings. For me, this park is a place that warms my heart. I wondered why I tried to stay away from it.”

“So you felt that way too, why?”

Perhaps it was when she used to hate me.

She’s my best friend but she stopped talking with me for a while. If this place reminds her of those times we spent together, then the reason for keeping me away might be connected to this place.

No, maybe she was thinking of me as someone else, or there was some kind of misunderstanding.

As this thought came to my mind my heart ached, it was kind of a strange feeling. Was it a hunch, a guess, or a sign?

“Well, that was in the past. Right now, I love this park.”

Kokoa stopped swinging and looked at me with a bright smile.

—Maybe? No, it was just a prediction…

A possibility that was easier to overlook, one that we didn’t have to talk about yet, and one that I’m afraid to talk about…

Kuu~~

At that moment, I heard someone’s stomach growled.

It’s not the same. That was not my belly. 

“… N-no, it’s not me, but … I’m hungry from earlier… Geez. Forget about that!”

“There’s nothing wrong with being hungry?”

“There is. It’s embarrassing.”

“Okay, okay, I didn’t hear anything. Well, it’s getting dark around here, we should have dinner somewhere… and we’re not going back home yet, right?”

“Of course, I won’t go home.”

“But, we can’t stay outside forever.”

“… I don’t know, but… if that’s the case then I’ll live with you.”

“Wha—”

Living together with Kokoa? Though she was my best friend, she was a girl of the same age.

I’m fine with it, but could she do it? And what am I supposed to do if her mother finds out?

“Y-you’re making fun of me, right?”

“… Well, whatever the case may be, I have to decide what to do now, and I’m still hungry. Then there’s only one thing to do.”

“What?”

“You can’t fight on an empty stomach. You have to eat. Let’s have dinner first and think about the future later.”

***