The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 25.2: Reminiscing About a Life That Can No Longer Return

Chapter 25.2: Reminiscing About a Life That Can No Longer Return

“Ahhh, I liked the shy Amano-kun. But now, you’re so used to this.”

“N-No, I’m not used to it…!”

She teased, and I panicked.

…Nostalgic. That’s how it felt.

We used to be like this all the time.

A nostalgic yet complicated feeling.

—And so, we talked about many things.

To make up for lost time.

To let go of lingering feelings.

And then…

“—Wow, we really talked a lot.”

“…Yeah, should we head out?”

An hour had passed.

And with that, our time ended.

As we left the café, Kashiwagi-san glanced back at it wistfully.

“…Even now, I still think about it sometimes.”

“…What?”

“What if I had dated you, Amano-kun?”

“…”

“We would’ve worked in the library, hung out after school, spent time together…”

That was something I had imagined too.

A different future, diverging somewhere.

“Someday… we might have even kissed. I’m sure we would have been happy.”

Kashiwagi looks down sadly.

Seeing that expression, my chest aches.

…But it can’t be helped.

I’ve already made my choice.

“…Who knows? Maybe you would’ve just been disappointed and dumped me right away.”

So, all I could do was joke about it.

And Kashiwagi, of course, pouts in response.

“There you go again, saying self-deprecating things. Just so you know, I was really serious about you, Amano-kun.”

“Haha…”

She says it like a joke.

…But I already know that it isn’t one.

I wonder… is that something I should be proud of?

As we continue talking, we eventually arrive at the station.

“…This is far enough.”

At the ticket gate for her train, we face each other once more.

“Yeah.”

“Thanks for keeping me company. I thought we’d never talk again.”

“…”

Maybe that’s how it should have been.

Considering our circumstances, probably.

Even so, I felt the same way as Kashiwagi.

I couldn’t help but think—this might be the last time.

“…But take care, okay?”

“…Of what?”

“Yukimura-san… she likes you much, much more than you realize.”

Kashiwagi’s face is unusually serious as she says this.

“Don’t just go along with any girl who invites you, like today.”

She laughs, adding, “Even though I was the one who invited you.”

“…That goes for Inoue-san too.”

“Huh? Asahi?”

Why is Asahi coming up now?

“You two are close, aren’t you? Amano-kun?”

“Well, I mean…”

We get along fine.

But she’s just a junior to me…

“Amano-kun, you’re Yukimura-san’s boyfriend. You need to make sure you’re only looking at her.”

That… she’s right about that.

“Otherwise…”

She starts to say something but closes her mouth again.

Looking down for a moment, then quickly smiling.

“Well, see you, Amano-kun. I was happy to talk again after so long.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“…See you at school.”

With that, she turns and walks away.

…See you at school, huh?

Even if we see each other at school, we probably won’t get to talk like this again.

That’s how it should be. That’s how it has to be.

So, this is fine.

Convincing myself of that, I turn away too.

I should get home soon.

I take the train and eventually arrive at my station.

I pass through the ticket gate and lift my head—

“——”

A beautiful woman is leaning against the wall, staring straight at me.

I freeze in place.

She pushes herself off the wall and walks toward me.

“—Welcome back.”

“…Mizuki?”

Seeing my childhood friend’s face, I can’t help but be taken aback.

“What are you doing here?”

“You were late, so I came to pick you up.”

“Pick me up…?”

She came all this way?

It’s not like I took that long…

“What were you doing?”

“Uh…”

She asks, and I hesitate to answer.

If I told her exactly what happened today, I have no idea how she’d react.

She might pout, or she might get mad.

Or maybe… she’d just stay silent and look sad.

…That last one would be the hardest to deal with.

“I just met someone I know and talked for a bit.”

“…I see.”

With that, Mizuki looks me straight in the eyes.

Her large, beautiful eyes.

But just for now, I find myself wanting to look away.

After a moment, Mizuki quietly reaches out her hand.

—Let’s go home, Iori.

Just like always.

I gently take her hand.

And together, we walk down the familiar road home.

“…Hey, Mizuki.”

“Hm?”

As we walk, I call out to her.

She looks at me in response.

The same unreadable expression as always.

Even as her childhood friend, I have no idea what she’s thinking.

…So I ask.

“—What do you think about Asahi?”

“Asahi-chan?”

At my sudden question, Mizuki blinks in surprise.

Then, after a moment of thought, she hums softly.

“…I think she’s a good girl?”

She tilts her head, as if wondering why I’m asking.

I respond with a vague smile.

“…Yeah, I guess so. You do dote on her, after all.”

“Mm.”

She nods and gives a small smile.

“…I guess if I had a little sister, it’d feel like this.”

“…I see.”

A little sister, huh.

Lucky you, Asahi.

I think of my junior, who isn’t here.

If she were, she’d probably be over the moon right now.

…And as for Mizuki—

“…Good for you. You’ve got a nice junior.”

“Yeah.”

Mizuki smiles, then quietly intertwines her fingers with mine.

“—Because Asahi-chan is cute.”

She murmurs with a gentle smile.