The case where I was gradually getting buried in the heavy love of my childhood friend who had miraculously recovered from their illness was perfect!

Chapter 59 : Love Interest?

“Ah, this brings back memories.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Oh, look at this. Can you believe I used to make such a disgusted face?”

“I still see it from time to time.”

“I don’t make such an unpleasant face now, right?”

That’s what I said to myself…

After finishing lunch, with Rion by my side, I was looking at the album that documented our past to the present.

The album, carefully preserved by my parents, not only contained memories of me but also vividly recorded moments with Rion.

“When I look at it like this, Nagi-kun hasn’t changed at all.”

“The same goes for Rion.”

The photos in this album date back to before we entered elementary school.

While both Rion and I have certainly grown, the resemblance in our faces hasn’t faded. If anything, it feels like we’ve just grown larger in the same way.

‘…I really didn’t smile much back then.’

Certainly, Rion was smiling normally in these pictures. However, her expressions weren’t as rich as they are now. We were friends… close friends, but not as close as we are today.

“It’s really nostalgic. Oh, I remember this.”

“…..”

Rion was enjoying looking at the photos. Her smiles were incomparable to those from back then, and it made me happy to see her beautiful smile up close, a privilege of being childhood friends.

‘Hey, the me from back then… I made it. I have these days with my childhood friend!’

I feel like I’m allowed to praise myself. Sure enough, making Rion my childhood friend, even considering her weak health, was a high-spec move. On top of being beautiful, she has a good figure, like a girl straight out of the worlds of manga or anime.

“Hey, Rion.”

“What is it?”

“At this time, I couldn’t just leave you alone, of course, but I think I had confidence that we could become friends, probably.”

Probably… no, I’m sure I did.

Even if she hadn’t been my childhood friend, I might have become desperate not to let such a beautiful girl slip away. The results of my actions are connected to the present.

“Can I ask you about that? When I persistently approached you back then, do you feel happy about it now?”

To my question, Rion nodded firmly.

“Of course. Right now, I’m spending happy and enjoyable moments. In fact, I feel like telling my past self to be even more friendly and not trouble you, you know?”

“Haha, really?”

“Well, I also want to say, ‘Please trouble me more’.”

“Why is that?”

I mean, even with memories from my past life, it was quite challenging, you know? So, when I looked at her with a plea not to trouble me anymore, she responded with a laugh, saying…

“At that time, Nagi-kun was really popular… If I had troubled you more about myself, you might have paid even more attention to me.”

“…..”

Rion’s words hit me like heavy bullets. Despite her cute smile, I could sense her will to tease me, so I shouldn’t get embarrassed… But I’m a straightforward human, and when someone says something like that to me, my reaction becomes obvious.

“See, when you blush like that, I can’t help but want to tease you more… Well then, what kind of joke should I make next?”

“…Hmph.”

“Ah! I told you to stop messing with my head!”

Yeah, I can’t just take it. If I’m teased, I’ll tease back. Not necessarily double, but if I let Rion get carried away, she’ll make fun of me even more.

“Well, recently, being teased is not that bad at all. Back then, did I ever tell you not to come near me or not to talk to me?”

“Ugh…”

“Did I ever say not to get in my sight?”

“Please stop! I’m not the same as I was back then!”

Yeah, I guess I can’t just take it. If I get teased, I’ll tease back… Not necessarily double, but if I let Rion get carried away, she’ll make fun of me even more.

“But well, being teased like this recently isn’t bad at all. Did I ever say not to come close or not to talk back then?”

“No…”

“Did I ever say not to get in my sight?”

“Please stop! I’m not the same as I was back then!”

“Haha, I understand.”

Rion seems to vividly remember this, as she apologized with a surprisingly modest demeanor.

“I was the one who started it, so there’s no need to apologize. I did think of you as a brat, but even so, I never thought of stopping caring for you, and that’s why we’re here now.”

“…Yes, you’re right. If I think about being abandoned, I can’t imagine what would have happened.”

I can’t imagine it either. But it really was like that, and our time began and developed.

‘Rion was small back then, so she often sat on my lap…’

While spitting out complaints, she would sometimes occupy my lap. If I looked away for a moment and didn’t react, she would seem like she was about to cry. But now, this is how things are, and it’s truly moving.

“…The flow of time feels slow when we spend leisurely time together in the morning.”

“Yeah, it does… but it’s not bad at all.”

“That’s right. Oh, Nagi-kun… Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

At that time, I was so relaxed.

“Nagi-kun, do you see me as a woman?”

“…Eh?”

“Do you see me as a romantic interest?”

To say something like that all of a sudden…

☆☆☆☆☆☆

If you are enjoying the translation, do rate the novel 5 stars on our site and novelupdates.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment your opinions below!