The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 25.1: Reminiscing About a Life That Can No Longer Return

Chapter 25.1: Reminiscing About a Life That Can No Longer Return

“…It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Walking like this with you, Amano-kun.”

“…Yeah, it has.”

—In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her invitation.

From my position, maybe I should have.

But no matter what, I just couldn’t do it.

Our circumstances and relationship had changed.

We couldn’t even talk like we used to.

But our connection wasn’t so shallow that I could simply not feel lonely about it.

Walking through the city center, I walked beside Kashiwagi-san.

…We used to do this all the time.

As fellow library committee members.

As close classmates.

Or perhaps… just as a boy and a girl.

She and I had shared what could be called our youthful days.

Kashiwagi-san must have been remembering the same thing because her eyes softened nostalgically.

“Back then, we used to go out a lot, didn’t we? After finishing our library committee work, we’d stop by a café or something.”

“…Yeah.”

Not much time had passed, yet it already felt nostalgic.

Since meeting in our first year, I had often gone out with her, the second-most popular girl after Mizuki.

Cafés.

Libraries.

Shopping malls, movie theaters.

Back then, I hadn’t noticed Mizuki’s feelings—or Kashiwagi-san’s.

I had been foolishly excited on my own, thinking of it as a date.

…Looking back now, I was unbelievably carefree.

“Those days were fun…”

Kashiwagi-san murmured softly.

I couldn’t find the right words to respond.

“Ah, let’s go in here.”

After walking for a while, she pointed to a store.

It was a Western-style café.

Brighter than my workplace, ‘Nocturne.’

…It reminded me a little of the café we used to frequent.

“…Yeah, this looks good.”

I stepped inside while nodding, and we were promptly shown to a seat.

We settled into the back booth, and we ordered two iced coffees.

“…How are things with Yukimura-san lately?”

“Well, same as always, I guess… What about you? You two have been spending a lot of time together.”

“Ah… yeah.”

When I asked, Kashiwagi-san made a complicated expression.

It wasn’t disgust… I didn’t think so.

More like fear.

…At the very least, she didn’t look happy or excited.

“—Because we’re friends now.”

“…Why?”

That was one of the things I wanted to ask.

Of all people, why Mizuki?

But in response to my question, Kashiwagi-san forced a smile.

“Why, you ask… Yukimura-san is a wonderful person. It’s an honor to be with her.”

…Her answer made me frown.

It was too formal, as if she were saying, ‘This is how it should be.’

…That wasn’t the kind of answer I was looking for.

But before I could ask further, Kashiwagi-san spoke up first.

“—Hey, Amano-kun.”

“Huh?”

“From your perspective… what kind of person is Yukimura-san?”

“…Huh?”

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me?”

Her question caught me off guard.

She wouldn’t answer my question properly, yet she wanted me to answer hers.

I felt a little sulky.

“…Why do you ask?”

“Hmm… Just curious. Is that not a good enough reason?”

She rested her chin on her hand.

With her gaze fixed on me, I reluctantly opened my mouth.

“…To me, Mizuki is… a jealous, lonely, ordinary girl.”

It was a similar answer to the one I had given Shizuka-san before.

That was my view of Yukimura Mizuki.

…But.

“…I see.”

Hearing my answer, Kashiwagi-san made a complicated expression.

…That face.

I remembered it.

The same one Shizuka-san made when we had this same conversation before.

—So, that’s all you see her as.

That phrase resurfaced in my mind.

“…Hey, Amano-kun.”

“What?”

“Yukimura-san is…”

She started but then stopped herself, falling silent.

“…No, never mind.”

She shook her head.

As if holding herself back from crossing a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

She gave a faint smile and changed the subject.

“…But it’s amazing, really. You once called her someone out of reach, and now you’re actually dating Yukimura-san.”

She said it with an intentionally bright voice.

And I reluctantly dropped my pursuit.

“Well… yeah. It’s tough, though.”

“Of course it is. You’re monopolizing the school’s idol. You should at least struggle a little to make up for it.”

She peered at me with a teasing smile.

I gave a wry smile and nodded.

…Honestly, I knew I was ridiculously lucky, far beyond any struggles I faced.

But if we’re talking about luck…

“…Getting close to you, Kashiwagi-san, was probably an incredible stroke of luck, too.”

“…Huh?”

I truly believed that.

Mizuki overshadowed her, but Kashiwagi-san was undeniably a beauty.

Even now, I could feel the glances of men around us.

Unlike Mizuki, whose overwhelming presence set her apart, Kashiwagi-san was a delicate, eye-catching beauty.

Put bluntly… she was the kind of girl who seemed just within reach.

Not an impossibly high flower like Mizuki.

She had an approachable charm that made people think they had a chance.

…In a way, that might make her the most popular type of girl.

Not that she would find it a flattering compliment.

“At the very least… I think you’re incredibly charming too, Kashiwagi-san.”

“Eh… ah… th-thank you.”

She looked down, blushing.

…Somehow, the atmosphere felt strange.

I took a sip of coffee to shake off the awkwardness, and Kashiwagi-san chuckled softly.

“…Amano-kun, you’ve gotten comfortable saying things like that.”

“Huh…?”

“Back when we were together, you never even called me cute.”

“…Well, that’s—”