After a Heartbreak, My Bitter Childhood Friend is now Sweet Like Sugar - V2 Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5.1 – Awareness is sometimes fragile

It was the middle of June, and summer was in full swing.

Now that the school uniform had changed, numerous arrangements were being made for the sports festival held later this month.

In addition to the physical education classes, the number of after-school gatherings and practices has increased a lot.

We at Tsukigaoka High School have a strict culture that values both tradition and activities, so we tend to be very formal in our festivities.

In other words, each time an event like this approaches, the commute to school gets more annoying than ever for a twisted person like me, who has a pessimistic opinion of the world.

“How long are you going to sleep like that?”

The blanket wrapped around me was stripped away.

As I opened my eyes, I saw Kokoa standing there in her school uniform, staring down at me.

“… Excuse me. I was awake for a while now, just haven’t gotten out of the futon.”

“Hah, there you go again with your quibbling. Get up quickly, or you’ll be late for school.”

“Muh.”

I took Kokoa’s complaint in stride and managed to lift my heavy upper body.

Then, as soon as I was about to lie back again, she grabbed my hand and forcefully pulled me up.

“Why are you trying to fall asleep again?”

“Don’t you know how nice it is to sleep twice?”

The first three hours are much more fulfilling than the next six hours.

That’s true happiness.

Although it relieves fatigue, the problem is that the headache that sometimes comes from sleeping too much after the third and fourth hours.

“If today had been a holiday, it would be nice to surrender to that happiness. Unfortunately, today isn’t, and we are obligated to go to school, so get up.”

“I doubt that’s more important to me than sleeping again.”

“Then go back to sleep. I won’t prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for you anymore. You have ten seconds… One, two, three, four…”

No, you can’t do that! The meals that she makes for me are now an irreplaceable part of my life. It’s cheap, healthy, and most of all, delicious.

By the way, white rice and miso soup are my personal favourites.

But wait a minute, I have to think about it very carefully. I don’t think I should stay like this.

“Five, Six…”

Kokoa’s countdown is still going on, but…

“I guess I’ll start cooking from now on,” I replied as I sat up.

“That’s a joke, right? Is it really that important to sleep twice a day?”

“No, it’s not. I mean, it’s not good to have you cook for me all the time. You started this because I was depressed. But you see, I am better now.”

“Eh? No… T-that’s true, but…”

“You also taught me how to cook. So I think I can do some of it myself.”

Thanks to Kokoa, I have learned to cook.

Though it might not fulfill all the nutritional requirements, I can still make well-balanced, somewhat tasty, overall decent food.

I’m not as skilled as Kokoa, but I believe that with some practice, I can make something that I am not ashamed to feed to others.

“…”

“Is something wrong?”

“… N-no, It’s fine! You see, I can cook easily for two people. It’s easier and more efficient to shop for ingredients when you share them.”

“Well, that may be true, but it’s not as easy as cooking for one. Kokoa, you are better at shopping, so there is nothing for me to do. Still, you always make lunches for me.”

“I d-don’t mind doing this… In fact, I want to do this because… Umm, Uuu…”

With her face turning a little red, Kokoa was at a loss for words.

Hmm, this doesn’t sound like she’s forcing herself.

But I guess she misunderstood something,

“No, no. I’m just saying that from now on, I’ll be cooking too. Not just to eat together, but also to cook. I was trying to help, but it was mostly you who was doing all of the work. That’s why I’m proposing that we should have a day where I get to cook for you too.”

“I see, so you’re… eh… going to cook for me…!”

“That’s what I said. What were you thinking?”

“Well, that’s… Umm, you see… Perhaps even lunch… Oh gosh…”

Her face turned red again, and the edge of her mouth curved up into a smirk. I’m glad to see her happy, but this girl, she’s too obvious.

Kokoa went into mumbling mode with an ‘Ehehe’… It could even be called a state of confusion. Well, I guess I don’t need to get an answer from her. No matter how I look at her, she’s happy.

I pulled myself up and put my hands on my pyjamas to change into my uniform.

“Ha! W-wait, why are you changing in front of me?”

“It’s not like I’m gonna lose anything. Don’t worry about it.”

“I do care! I’m serving breakfast now, so get dressed and come out quickly!”

After blushing again, she rushed out of the room.

Sometimes when I tease her like this, she has an interesting reaction, so I usually take it further. I know it’s a mean thing to do but,

“Anyway, I can’t depend on her favours all the time.”

I need to gradually improve.

Both my life and feelings.

That must be the way to be sincere to both Senpai and Kokoa.

I have to move forward for the two of them.

I have to move on.

◆

“Umm, Yu.”

While I was washing the dishes after dinner, Kokoa, who was playing a game, called out to me.

“What is it?”

“… Um…”

“Yeah?”

“No, it’s…”

“?”

“Umm…”

As if stuck looking for words, Kokoa stopped saying anything.

It wasn’t as if she had forgotten, but rather as if she couldn’t find the courage to express something difficult to say.

Well, it’s typical of her. I do not mean to be rude, but if she has something to say, she should. I guess she’s feeling uneasy from that point on.

“… No, it’s nothing.”

“Just tell me what it is.”

“It’s nothing! Just forget about it!”

“If that’s what you’re saying, then fine…”

No, she definitely has something to say, that’s for sure.

Well, I think I know what she was trying to say.

It’s about the headband.

In our high school, there was a sort of tradition that teenagers seemed to like.

During the school festival, students were required to wear a headband, and girls who had a crush on a boy would borrow the boy’s headband and have their names embroidered on it.

On the other hand, when a boy expresses his feelings for a girl, he may ask the girl to sew her name on it, or if they were already couples, they may do so as a matter of course. There are even cases where a boy sews a girl’s name on his headband.

“You know, Kokoa.”

“What is it?”

“Uhm…?”

“…?”

“—No, it’s nothing.”

“What is it, tell me?”

Kokoa put down the controller and turned to me. She then glared at me with a stern look.

“What is it?”

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

But how am I supposed to say it? It would be embarrassing, and I’d look like I was urging her.

Besides, we’re not even in a relationship, so it would be shameless to ask.

I’m in a situation where I know how she feels about me, and I have yet to give her an answer. No matter how you look at it, it’ll seem like I was forcing her.

No, no. Perhaps I have to ask her to go out with me in this kind of situation.

But, when I was dating Senpai, she always took the lead, and I never made any decision…

Now that I think about it, I didn’t have a romantic experience in my life when I took the initiative.

In short, I had no idea what to do now…

“”…””

We both remained quiet.

Kokoa kept her gaze on me.

Because of my words.

As if she was expecting me to say that.

…

…