The Childhood Friend I Had Grown Distant From Started Acting a Little Strange - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Maya Yuki’s room, which I entered after a long time, had hardly changed from back then… really, it hadn’t changed at all.

The furniture’s arrangement, and even the types, were almost exactly as I remembered. Of course, I think she replaced them, but that made it feel even more like the differences from back then were filled in.

It felt as if time stopped only in this room, as if it was cut straight out of my memories.

…I mean, can things really not change this much? The more I looked, the more it matched my memories exactly.

“…Oh!”

Suddenly, I noticed a photo leaning against the study desk. It was a picture of me and Maya taken when we were in kindergarten… huh? But this was supposed to be a group photo, wasn’t it…? No, maybe I imagined it.

“Somehow, it hasn’t changed much from before,” I said.

I said it out loud, but Maya didn’t reply. She kept looking down, not showing any sign of raising her face.

“Uh… are you feeling okay?” I asked.

…No response. What do I do now? Should I just get to the point?

“…W-Well, I’ll just sit down for now! Uh, is here okay?” I asked.

I pointed to the table’s edge. She nodded slightly, so I sat down honestly. Then, for some reason, Maya sat not across from me but right beside me. Why…?

“Uh, nice weather, huh?” I said.

“…” She stayed silent.

Man, am I bad at conversation or what?

…What should I do? Should I just ask her straight? No, but… I was worrying when,

“…I’m sorry,” Maya suddenly apologized.

“Huh?” I said.

“For watching you and everything up until now… I’m really sorry…” she said.

“Oh, uh, no, but wasn’t it my fault for ignoring you or something?” I asked.

I put the stalking aside, but I thought I was at fault for her ignoring me. Honestly, I came today partly hoping to find out why and apologize, but…

I asked her about it, but,

“No!” she shouted.

“!?” I flinched.

Suddenly, Maya raised her voice and grabbed my shoulders.

“No, no, no, no! It’s all my fault! I didn’t want to trouble Yuu-chan! But I messed up anyway! Doing that stuff! It’s all, all me!” she shouted.

“W-Wait a sec! I don’t understand what you’re talking about…” I said.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry for being weak! I’m sorry for always clinging to you! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she kept apologizing.

Tears streamed down her face as she kept apologizing. Her eyes looked lifeless… this, this isn’t good, is it?

W-What do I do… I mean, she called me ‘Yuu-chan’ after so long… No, why am I escaping reality!? This is bad, I really don’t know what to do…! Wait, there’s one thing. No, but…

I thought for a moment, but this was the only thing I could come up with. I made up my mind… and hugged Maya tightly.

“…Ah!” she gasped.

“It’s okay. It’s okay…” I said.

I hugged her and patted her back gently. Back when Maya got upset by other kids, I used to comfort her like this. So I tried it, but… I won’t get accused of being a creep, right?

While I was thinking that, Maya calmed down. Then, silently, she wrapped her arms around my back… s-safe, right? Her breathing seems heavy, though.

I mean, can I start talking now? This situation isn’t exactly great for a teenage boy. Maya, well… she’s got a figure that’s, you know, mature for her age?

So, I tried to pull away slowly, and,

“Ah…” she said.

She let out a reluctant sound but finally let go. Phew, that was close… in a lot of ways.

“…You calmed down?” I asked.

“Yeah…” she said.

“Good. Can you tell me about it? This whole thing, and everything before. I want to hear it properly,” I said.

…Silence lingered for a while. But then, she nodded as if she made up her mind and started talking slowly.

“…I thought I had to stay away from Yuu-chan. If I kept going like this, I’d always rely on you and cause you trouble…” she said.

“Did I ever say you were a bother?” I asked.

She shook her head silently.

“But I saw something,” she said.

“What?” I asked.

“…I saw you crying when you thought I wasn’t looking,” she said.

…Was there something like that? I don’t really remember… no, wait, there was.

“…When Mom died?” I asked.

Maya nodded, and I understood. Yeah, that makes sense.

“But you never cried in front of me… so I thought, if I’m around, you’ll force yourself to hold it in no matter how much it hurts,” she said.

“…So that’s why you avoided me?” I asked.

“Yeah… I thought if I showed I could be fine without you, you wouldn’t have to worry about me anymore…” she said.

…I see. I thought she hated me, but in a way, it was the opposite. Still, isn’t that a bit extreme? But… that’s kind of how Maya is, isn’t it?

“…Okay, I get that, but then what’s with the recent stuff?” I asked.

What kind of chemical reaction happened in Maya to turn her into a stalker?

“…I…” she mumbled.

“Huh?” I said.

“I couldn’t hold back anymore…” she said.

…Huh?

“I was holding back all this time, but when you helped me that time, and you were close again after so long, I… I just reached my limit…” she said.

“…O-Oh?” I said.

“But I didn’t know how to approach you anymore… so I thought, at least I could watch you, and then I did that…” she said.

…Uh, um, well…?

“…When I was talking to Amano Chie and Kiyomi, I felt like someone was staring daggers at me. Was that you?” I asked.

“I was jealous because they could talk to you so easily when I couldn’t, and I couldn’t stand seeing you talk to other girls, so I…” she said.

“H-Hooh…” I said.

“And, uh, maybe I didn’t like how close you were with Baba Shigefumi either…” she said.

…S-So, if I’m not mistaken, she got so hung up on her feelings for me that she got jealous of others, even guys, and ended up stalking me… I-I see…

“…” I stayed silent.

“Ah… I-I’m sorry! I, I…” she said.

“No, I’m not mad… yeah, I’m not mad…” I said.

No, I’m not mad. It’s just… too shocking to process. I mean, who could predict this…?

“…By the way, uh, why does the part of my face feel warm and wet?” I asked.

“…I-I got excited because it smelled like you… and I licked it a little… I’m sorry…” she said.

“I-I see…” I said.

…So, my childhood friend, who I grew distant from, got a little… weird. Wait, just a little?