The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 30: Turning Point

Chapter 30: Turning Point

——After crying like a child.

As I sat there, Yukimura-senpai quietly stayed by my side.

(…This is so embarrassing…)

Once I calmed down, I started to think.

Even though I’m already in high school, I cried and screamed like that.

I wondered if she was fed up with me, and nervously glanced to the side, but Yukimura-senpai remained the same.

She didn’t look exasperated or make fun of me.

She just sat there quietly.

That made me feel incredibly at ease…

“…Um, Onee-sama…?”

“…?”

When I called out to her softly, Yukimura-senpai tilted her head slightly.

“Um… why are you here?”

“…I wanted to talk to Asahi-chan for a bit. But you weren’t coming out.”

She spoke in a calm voice, saying that she had come all the way to the gymnasium.

“…I see…”

Hearing that, a warm ripple spread inside my chest.

(…Did she worry about me…?)

Besides Iori-senpai, there was someone else who cared about me.

And it was Yukimura-senpai.

(…That makes me happy…)

My eyes started to sting again, and I hurriedly held back my tears.

Somehow, I couldn’t control my emotions properly.

…Apparently, I was more worn out than I had thought.

Just being worried about was enough to make me want to cry.

“…Onee-sama.”

“What?”

When I called her, she responded gently.

My admired senpai, Yukimura Mizuki.

Looking at her beautiful profile, I couldn’t help but think.

Even though I knew it would probably be a bother…

…If it’s her, then maybe.

“…Would you mind listening to me for a little bit…?”

I nervously looked up at her.

She had a mature beauty that made it hard to believe she was just one year older than me.

Her expression remained unreadable, seemingly cold at first glance.

“Sure.”

She nodded.

That made me let out a relieved breath.

And little by little, I began talking about everything that had happened so far.

“…I see.”

Inside the narrow, dusty storage room, Yukimura-senpai quietly listened to my awkward story without saying a word.

“The friends I was close with have all left me…”

“Yeah.”

“Those upperclassmen keep glaring at me, and I’m scared…”

“…I see.”

“I… I just…”

She gently stroked my head.

That warmth made me want to cry again.

…To be honest, I was already at my limit.

My friends had left me.

I couldn’t rely on my parents back in the countryside.

No matter how much I endured, things only got worse.

I was always alone, always anxious.

…But.

I had been protected.

By the person I admired.

Like a prince.

That alone was more than enough to strip away my facade.

“…Onee-sama… Yukimura-senpai.”

“…?”

It hurt. I was lonely. I wanted someone to save me.

I couldn’t hide my weakness anymore.

I wanted to become a cool woman like her.

But in the end, I was still just a child.

I didn’t think I could keep going alone anymore.

So…

“What… should I do…?”

I ended up clinging to her.

(…What am I saying…?)

I hurriedly covered my mouth.

Asking her “what should I do” like that…

That would only trouble her.

“I-I’m sorry…”

I instinctively held my head in my hands.

This was already such a heavy topic.

I was grateful enough that she even listened to me.

What if she thought I was a nuisance and started to dislike me?

Terrified by that thought, I nervously glanced at Yukimura-senpai’s face…

(…Onee-sama…?)

Her expression hadn’t changed at all.

But her eyes…

Somehow, they looked different from usual.

Then, at last, she gently parted her glossy lips.

And just as she was about to say something—

SIDE: Iori

——I had a bad feeling.

After school, I was waiting for Asahi alone in front of the school gate.

Her club activities should have been over a long time ago.

And yet, no matter how long I waited, she didn’t show up.

I asked a first-year student from the basketball club who had already changed and was heading home, but they just looked scared and said they didn’t know.

I wanted to press them for an answer, but… judging from their reaction, it would be pointless.

Having no other choice, I was about to head to the gymnasium when three upperclassmen from the basketball club appeared.

(Aren’t they…?)

I recognized them.

Asahi had once, very rarely, admitted that she wasn’t good with them.

I had seen them messing with her a few times before.

When they noticed me, they clicked their tongues and quickly walked away.

——The bad feeling grew stronger.

I broke into a run toward the gymnasium.

And then, I found the slightly open storage room door and flung it open.

“——Asahi!!”

I burst inside and called her name loudly.

And there, standing in front of me…

“…Iori-senpai?”

“Are you okay!? …Wait, huh?”

Asahi… and one other person.

Someone I never expected to see here.

“Why are you with Mizu… Yukimura-san?”

I almost said “Mizuki” but quickly corrected myself.

Asahi averted her gaze uneasily.

But Mizuki…

“…Hmm.”

Without showing the slightest hint of surprise, she looked up at me.

“——You’re a little late, Amano-kun.”

She said while giving a small smile.

—Late.

That word made me imagine the worst for a moment.

But Mizuki was there, and Asahi didn’t seem to have any injuries.

As I tilted my head in confusion, Mizuki quietly stood up.

“…Shall we go home? It’s already late.”

She said it as if it were just an ordinary after-school moment.