The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 31: In a World of Just the Two of Us

Chapter 31: In a World of Just the Two of Us

—After that.

After seeing Asahi off at the station, Mizuki and I headed home.

Asahi was down until the very end.

Her back looked much smaller than usual as she boarded the train.

“…This is seriously not a joke.”

“…Yeah.”

On our way home, just the two of us, I listened to Mizuki recount what had happened today.

That Asahi had almost been assaulted by a senior from the basketball team.

That Mizuki had saved her in the nick of time.

After hearing the whole story, I hesitated.

Given that violence was involved, shouldn’t we report it to the teachers and have them take appropriate action?

…But Mizuki was against it.

‘The basketball team probably wouldn’t get off easy either.’

Her words made me groan.

I wanted to help Asahi return to her normal life.

But if the basketball team got suspended because of her, she would definitely blame herself.

…She might even drop out of school entirely.

That would be completely missing the point.

“…Are you worried, Iori?”

Her voice made me turn to the side.

Mizuki was gazing intently into my eyes.

Her familiar, beautiful eyes.

Under her gaze, I somehow found myself looking away.

“…Well, yeah… You are too, right?”

“…?”

“You’re worried about Asahi, aren’t you? You’re really fond of her.”

At my words, Mizuki paused for a moment.

Then, after a small “Ah…”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

She answered after a brief pause.

I tilted my head at her unnatural reaction, but then, suddenly, Mizuki slipped her arm around mine.

Lately, we’d been having more moments like this—more gestures that felt like something lovers would do.

But why now…

“…Huh? Hey, where are we going? Home is that way—”

She pulled me along, leading me down a different path from home.

When I called out to her, Mizuki gave a small smile.

“—Just a little detour. Okay?”

Seeing Mizuki’s smile, I hesitated but reluctantly followed along.

—And where she took me was…

“…Here.”

“It’s nostalgic, isn’t it? It’s been a while.”

The park near my house.

A place where Mizuki and I used to play together when we were little.

“…Why’d you bring me here all of a sudden?”

“Hmm… No reason. I just wanted to come here with you.”

Saying that, Mizuki stepped into the park.

I followed her, and soon…

“—Do you remember?”

In front of the swings.

Mizuki narrowed her eyes, as if lost in nostalgia.

“…Yeah.”

I nodded.

There was no way I could forget.

To us, this place was special.

—It was where Mizuki and I first met.

“…I see. I’m glad.”

As Mizuki sat on the swing and looked up at me…

My mind drifted into the past.

‘Alright, Iori? You have to stay here until Mom comes to pick you up, okay?’

—It was when I was five years old.

Back then, my mom would often take me to the local park to play with kids my age.

We played soccer, dodgeball—different things each day.

That day, I had also been playing at the park, but…

‘…Everyone already went home…’

That day, by coincidence, the other kids had gone home early.

I was left alone, my shoulders drooping in disappointment.

The park felt vast.

Once alone, I suddenly felt uneasy.

My mom had gone to buy a drink while I was playing, and she hadn’t returned yet.

If I moved around carelessly, I might get lost.

So I had no choice but to wait for her while absentmindedly kicking my soccer ball…

‘…?’

Suddenly, I noticed a small figure by the swings.

When I squinted, I saw that it was a girl.

Someone I didn’t know.

I had no idea when she got there.

But seeing another lonely kid, I was happy.

Maybe she would play with me, I thought as I ran toward her.

…But the moment I got close enough to see her face clearly—

‘…!’

—I was struck speechless.

Long lashes, big eyes.

A delicate nose, glossy lips.

And skin as white as snow.

She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.

Like an angel or a fairy from TV…

—There’s someone this pretty in the world.

It was an unknown kind of awe.

Even with my immature sensibilities, I instinctively knew.

This girl was—special.

‘…Who are you?’

A clear, ringing voice snapped me back to reality.

When I looked up, she was staring straight at me.

Her beautiful, jewel-like eyes reflected my dumbfounded face.

(…Ah…)

Under her gaze, I panicked.

Oh no, she talked to me.

I hadn’t thought about what to say.

I had just been staring at her in awe.

She continued to look at me silently.

Her eyes were still beautiful—but somehow empty.

Faced with those unreadable eyes, I froze.

What should I say? What should I do?

After thinking about it over and over, what finally came out of my mouth was…

‘…W-Wanna play together?’

That was it.

‘Ah, um…’

Did I make her mad…? I started feeling a little anxious.

‘D-Did you not like it…?’

I asked her hesitantly.

But she didn’t say anything.

(…Mom, I hope you come home soon…)

Just as I started escaping into my thoughts—

She finally spoke, in a quiet voice.

‘…It’s fine.’

‘…Huh?’

‘We can… play together.’

As she said that, she took my hand.

I was stunned.

I couldn’t process what she just said.

But the first time I held a girl’s hand, it was so soft.

Slightly damp, a little cold.

It was a completely new sensation to me.

And finally, I realized—

She had nodded.

‘…O-Okay!’

Overcome with joy, I grabbed her hand and started running.

I didn’t know why she nodded.

I had no idea, but I was just really happy.

…It was a feeling I hadn’t even recognized in myself.

—The impulse of a first love, something people call “love at first sight.”

“…Heh.”

“What?”

As I was telling this old story, Mizuki suddenly giggled.

“Even now, I still think about it… Wasn’t soccer a weird choice for a first meeting with a girl?”

“…S-Shut up. I couldn’t help it, okay? It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”

In the end, we really did play soccer together after that.

But she was surprisingly good, and I barely managed to take the ball from her.

Still, that brought us closer. And after realizing we lived next door to each other, we started playing together every day.

…I was so glad I invited her. I truly felt that way.

“You were like a doll back then.”

I can still remember it clearly.

The expression Mizuki had on our first meeting.

For a moment, I actually wondered if she was a real doll.

The Mizuki in front of me now, laughing so happily, looked nothing like that girl.

But when I said that, Mizuki—

“…A doll, huh. Is that how I looked to you, Iori?”

“…Ah, no.”

Thinking I said it the wrong way, I tried to correct myself.

But Mizuki just gave a small nod.

“…But, yeah.”

“…Huh?”

“Back then, I probably was a doll.”

As she said that, Mizuki’s eyes suddenly changed.

Empty, emotionless, lacking any human warmth.

…Just like back then.

“I had no emotions. I was just breathing… like a living doll.”

Mizuki stood up from the swing.

Then, she looked around the park with a fond expression.

“If you weren’t there, I probably still would be.”

“…What?”

She gazed at the park nostalgically.

Then, turning to my confused face—

“…So, thank you, Iori.”

“…What are you thanking me for?”

Her sudden gratitude left me even more confused.

Mizuki looked at me with soft eyes.

“For making me human.”

She said it with a gentle smile.

Hearing those words, I held my breath.

…Making her human?

What does that even mean?

I said she was like a doll, but it was just a metaphor.

Mizuki is Mizuki. Of course, she’s human.

…But she wasn’t joking.

She was completely serious.

She truly believed she had been a “living doll” with no emotions.

“…What are you even saying, Mizuki?”

Something about her gaze and her smile made me uneasy.

“Let’s go home… That’s enough, right?”

I reached out my hand.

I just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

But Mizuki didn’t take my hand.

She simply smiled and stayed where she was.

“Hey, Iori?”

“…What now?”

I barely held back my irritation.

That familiar, beautiful face—but now, so much more mature than before.

For some reason, she felt like a stranger.

“If the world had only you and me left… what would you do?”

Her question made me freeze.

“…Huh?”

Just the two of us, alone in the world?

…What kind of old movie scenario is that?

“…What are you talking about?”

“Would you still be happy, Iori?”

What is Mizuki saying?

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand, but… why do I feel so uneasy?

“…Don’t say weird things. Let’s just go—”

Let’s just go home. That’s what I wanted to say.

If we go home, everything will be normal again.

That’s what I believed as I reached out my hand again.

…But Mizuki didn’t move.

As if waiting for my answer, she wouldn’t take my hand.

…So I reluctantly thought about it.

If it was just Mizuki and me in this world…

If I could never see my parents or friends again…

Would I still be happy?

“…I don’t know.”

“…I see.”

“…But.”

I didn’t want to think about it, but…

If that ever happened…

“…If it’s with you, Mizuki… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.”

That was my honest feeling.

No matter how I tried to deny it, I needed Mizuki.

No matter who else was in the picture, I would always choose Mizuki.

At that moment, I realized it.

“…Thank you.”

She whispered softly, then gently wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into an embrace.

Her full, firm chest pressed against me.

Her breath tickled my ear.

“Hey, Iori?”

“…Yeah?”

“I love you, Iori.”

“…”

“I’ve always loved you, and I always will.”

Like an oath.

Mizuki spoke each word with deep emotion.

“…Mizuki…?”

“But Iori… you’re different from me.”

For a brief moment, she hugged me tighter.

“Sorry for loving you.”

She whispered.

And then—

She placed a small kiss on my cheek.