The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Yesterday’s Friend…

—That night.

“…Was the hamburger steak a little too salty?”

“Huh? …Oh, no. I think it was good.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

As usual, it was just Mizuki and me having dinner together.

But to be honest, I was too distracted to really taste the food.

(…I know I’m probably worrying too much, but…)

For some reason, I couldn’t shake off this bad feeling.

Because of that, my conversation with Mizuki became half-hearted.

…Normally, this would be the most relaxing time of my day.

“…Are you thinking about Asahi-chan?”

Mizuki spoke up after noticing my state.

“Huh…?”

“You’re worried, aren’t you?”

While neatly cutting her hamburger steak with a knife, Mizuki looked at me.

“…Yeah.”

After hesitating a little, I nodded.

There was no point in denying it.

It’s not like I could keep secrets from her at this point anyway.

So, I answered honestly.

“Yeah… I am worried, after all.”

“…I thought so.”

If it was just my imagination, that would be fine.

But I had a feeling this wasn’t something I could take lightly.

No matter what, I couldn’t shake this uneasiness.

So, I decided to ask Mizuki.

“Hey, Mizuki… do you know anything about Senpai Sekiya?”

“Hmm… not much. He’s good at basketball, popular with girls… and, well, he plays around a lot.”

“Ahh…”

Yeah, that sounds about right.

I only saw him for a moment, but I could sense a certain arrogance—like the kind that comes with a guy who’s too confident in himself. The typical playboy attitude.

Compared to Renji, who at least backs off when he’s not interested, Sekiya seemed like someone with an even bigger ego.

…Which means, there’s a chance he might do something to Asahi after she rejected him?

Was that what Renji was worried about?

“Do you think he’ll try to get back at her?”

“Hmm… I don’t think he’s that type. He’d probably find that embarrassing.”

“…I see.”

So, because of his pride, he wouldn’t do something as petty as taking it out on her.

I still couldn’t be completely at ease, but that thought made me feel a little less anxious.

But in that case… the real problem is…

“But since he’s popular with girls… there might be some girls who won’t be happy with Asahi-chan.”

“Yeah… that’s what I was afraid of.”

…To be honest, out of everything, that was the most concerning.

Jealousy among girls is scary. Unlike guys, they move in the shadows.

By the time you notice, it could already be too late.

“…Iori.”

“Hmm?”

As I was thinking about what to do, Mizuki suddenly muttered.

“If Asahi-chan ever gets into trouble… would you want to help her?”

I froze for a moment at those words.

Her tone was the same as always—emotionless.

But her eyes… somehow, they felt different than usual.

I thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Of course… I’d want to help her. And I will. I promised her.”

“…Promised?”

“Yeah. I told her that if anything happened, she could come to me for advice.”

That’s right—I definitely said that.

It might be more than I can handle, but still, I wanted to do at least one thing that felt like something a senpai should do.

She’s not my girlfriend or even a close friend.

But she is a cute underclassman.

“…Sorry, Mizuki.”

“It’s fine.”

Mizuki quietly shook her head.

“I just think… that’s very like you, Iori.”

“…You think so?”

“Yeah.”

She let out a small smile, then seemed to think about something.

“…Mizuki?”

“…But it’s okay.”

“…Okay?”

When I asked again, Mizuki placed her fork and knife down with a small clink.

“If Asahi-chan ever gets into trouble… I’ll take care of it.

So, you don’t have to do anything, Iori.”

I was surprised by her words.

“Mizuki…?”

To be honest, I didn’t expect that.

That she would voluntarily do something for someone else…

I stared at her in disbelief, and after a brief hesitation, Mizuki…

“…Because I’m her ‘onee-sama.’”

She smiled shyly as she said that.

—And then, the next day.

“Asahi.”

On my way to school, I happened to spot a familiar figure ahead of me and called out.

I had messaged her last night, but she never replied, which made me seriously worried that something had happened…

(What the hell, she’s just coming to school like normal…)

I cursed her in my head for making me worry. But then…

“…Ah, S-Senpai…?”

When she turned around, I froze.

(…Asahi?)

The usual bright and cheerful smile was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, her face was filled with anxiety, fear, and an unstable look like she had lost her footing.

…Why was she making that face?

Confused, I tried my best to act normal and spoke.

“What’s wrong? You didn’t reply to my messages. I was worried.”

“A-ah… S-sorry…”

Saying that, she nervously reached for her phone.

That small action only made my suspicion and concern grow.

“Asahi… what happened?”

“Eh…?”

“It’s obvious you’re troubled. We made a promise, right? Talk to me.”

Hearing that, Asahi’s eyes wavered.

Hesitation. Anxiety.

Like a lost child.

…This really wasn’t like her at all.

But after a moment of indecision, Asahi suddenly—

“…Ugh, you’re such a worrywart, Senpai! Nothing’s wrong! I’m still my usual, super cute self!”

With an obviously forced smile, she said that and then ran off, saying, “Well, I have a basketball club meeting!”

“Ah, hey…!”

I reached out to stop her, but my hand had nowhere to go and eventually dropped limply.

What stuck in my mind was Asahi’s face, filled with anxiety and fear—so unlike her.

(…That idiot, there’s no way it’s nothing…)

Cursing under my breath, I bit my lip.

And just as I was about to chase after Asahi—

“—Inoue-san… seemed a little off, didn’t she?”

A familiar, cool voice came from beside me.

There was no way I could mistake it now. The owner of that voice was—

“…Kashiwagi-san.”

Kashiwagi Koto.

She stood beside me, gazing intently in the direction Asahi had run off.

“It’s about Sekiya-senpai… isn’t it?”

“…Yeah, probably.”

No, it had to be.

There was no need to ask. Something must have happened in the club.

But what exactly…?

“…Amano-kun.”

“Huh…?”

“Don’t forget what I told you before.”

As she looked up at me, her eyes were serious, yet there was something uneasy about them.

“…That’s all I can say.”

Murmuring that softly, Kashiwagi-san walked toward the school gate.

I couldn’t even ask her what she meant.

Standing there, I just watched her back as she walked away.

SIDE: Asahi

…Squeak, squeak!

Thud, thud…!

The sound of shoes pushing off the court.

The sound of the ball bouncing with force.

A familiar sight, a familiar sound.

“…Tch, over here!”

I dodged past the opposing defense and signaled for a pass while in the clear.

Normally, at this timing, a pass from the point guard would come through.

…But.

“…”

“Huh…?”

The point guard—a girl I often teamed up with and was close with in the club—glanced at me briefly and then passed outside.

That was the perfect timing, even by my own standards.

And yet, why…?

As I wondered that—

“—Hey, Nakano! What are you doing?! Inoue was free!”

The coach’s angry voice immediately rang out.

Hearing that, the point guard—Nakano—bowed her head slightly.

“…Sorry.”

“Damn it… Alright, restart! Set it up again!”

At his words, I quickly moved into position.

That must have just been a slight miscalculation.

That’s what I told myself.

…However.

“…Tch.”

Smack—thud, thud…

The ball slipped from my hands and rolled across the court.

A fumble. A failed catch.

But this pass—

(That was awful…)

The speed and spin were completely off, as if the passer hadn’t considered the receiver at all.

Normally, she would never make a pass like that.

(…Why…?)

Feeling that something was definitely wrong, I decided to talk to her during the break.

“Um, Nao-chan…”

“…!”

But as soon as she saw me, she backed away as if she were frightened.

Her reaction left me frozen in place.

(…Why…?)

I was scared.

It felt like the ground beneath me was crumbling.

But I wanted to believe it was just my imagination.

—After club activities that day.

“Ah, Nozomi-chan! Let’s walk home together!”

A girl who was not just a basketball clubmate but also a close friend in class.

I believed she would be fine.

But—

“…”

She reacted just like before, turning away and walking off quickly.

…I heard the sound of my heart cracking.

“…W-wait!”

Panicking, I reached out and grabbed her shoulder.

It was more like I was clinging to her.

But she wouldn’t even turn to face me.

“H-hey… Did I do something…? Everyone is acting weird…”

When I asked that, she finally looked back at me.

She hesitated for a moment.

Then—

“…Sorry, Asahi-chan… Please don’t talk to me too much… I don’t want Morishita-senpai and the others to start targeting me too.”

Saying that, she shook my hand off her shoulder and ran away.

“…Ah…”

Alone in the dimly lit school building at night.

I stood there, stunned.