The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 33: About My Junior, Inoue Asahi

Chapter 33: About My Junior, Inoue Asahi

——Inoue Asahi.

I met that junior in the spring, right after I moved up to my second year.

It was just another ordinary morning.

As usual, I had breakfast with my childhood friend. As usual, I left the house. I walked along the school route I had gradually become accustomed to.

And in the midst of that usual routine—

‘……?’

On a bench along the way to school, I spotted a girl sitting there with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

Same uniform. A youthful face.

A first-year, perhaps?

I stopped without thinking.

(……There’s only a little time left before class starts.)

Looking at the clock, there were only ten minutes left.

Yet the girl remained hunched over, not moving from the bench.

……She definitely looked troubled.

I hesitated.

Did something happen? Should I say something? But then again, maybe it’s none of my business…

……After going back and forth in my thoughts—

‘Um… are you okay? Do you need help?’

When I finally spoke up, the girl looked at me with wary, cat-like eyes.

‘…Who are you?’

Her voice and gaze were full of caution.

Keeping a certain distance, I answered.

‘I’m Amano, second year. You’re a first-year, right? If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late.’

‘…I know that.’

Then why—

Just as I was about to ask, my eyes caught sight of her foot.

Her left foot was positioned oddly, almost unnaturally.

It looked like it was trembling slightly…

‘…Did you… sprain your ankle?’

‘…!’

Her head shot up.

Her face said, “How did you know?”

(…I see.)

Now, what should I do?

Calling an ambulance would be too much, and it’s not far enough to call a taxi.

The school was right there, and the infirmary was available.

…Then, well.

‘…Here.’

‘Eh…?’

‘I’ll carry you. Hold on.’

I bent down and offered my back.

She could hold onto my arms or shoulders, but it was probably best not to put weight on her foot.

‘I-I’m fine! There’s no need for that…!’

‘This isn’t the time to be stubborn. You can’t just sit here forever, right?’

‘Th-that’s…’

She had probably just started school and didn’t know anyone yet.

If she did, she would have contacted someone by now.

Maybe she realized she had no other options.

After hesitating for a while, she timidly stood up and placed her hands on my shoulders.

‘Alright, up you go.’

‘Wah…’

I slipped my arm under her knees and slowly lifted her onto my back.

I was surprised by how light she was.

‘…Am I heavy?’

‘Not at all. You’re actually too light.’

It was almost concerning.

Even someone as weak as me could carry her without trouble.

Somehow, I managed to get her to school.

Amidst the curious stares of others, I brought her to the infirmary.

‘—Yeah, if we just keep it stable and let it rest, it should be fine.’

The school nurse said with a smile.

‘I-I see…’

She looked relieved.

She rubbed her left foot, now wrapped in a bandage, checking its condition.

‘…Alright, I’ll be going then.’

She seemed fine now.

Judging it was okay to leave, I turned to go, but—

‘Ah, um…!’

Her voice stopped me.

‘…?’

‘Thank you… for helping me.’

‘Eh… oh, uh, sure.’

She bowed her head deeply, catching me off guard.

I wouldn’t call it “helping” in such an exaggerated way, but…

‘…Well, I’m just glad it wasn’t anything serious.’

Not sure what else to say, I settled on something neutral.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke up again.

‘…Y-your name…!’

‘Huh?’

‘Could you tell me your name?’

She asked, looking desperate.

…Even though I had just told her earlier. I chuckled to myself.

For the first time, I properly looked at her face.

She looked young, with a bit of a country-like innocence.

(…She’s actually pretty cute.)

That thought crossed my mind.

‘…Amano.’

‘Huh?’

‘Amano Iori.’

I turned my face slightly away as I said my name.

‘…Amano Iori-senpai…’

She murmured my name as if savoring it.

Then—

‘…It kinda sounds like a girl’s name!’

She blurted that out and suddenly grinned.

—Since that day, for some reason, she took a liking to me.

‘…Ah! Iori-senpai! Where are you going?’

She started following me around everywhere.

‘It’s just a classroom change… And stop shouting my name so loudly. Everyone’s looking.’

‘Who cares! A cute junior admiring you is a good thing!’

‘Don’t say that about yourself.’

Before I knew it, she had become a part of my daily life.

Back then, I didn’t understand why she stuck around me so much.

But now, I think I get it.

…She must have been lonely.

Coming from the countryside, she had no one to rely on.

So when I helped her, she quickly grew attached.

And I, too, didn’t mind having her around.

It wasn’t just that her bright and straightforward personality was likable.

‘—Hey, Amano, who’s that cute girl?’

‘She’s just my junior.’

…It was also because she was cute enough to cause a stir.

So, well.

‘Senpai! Let’s play basketball!’

‘No way. I’ll just get destroyed again…’

‘I won’t! I’ll go easy on you this time!’

‘…That’s even more annoying, you little brat.’

To me, Inoue Asahi was a pretty-faced, troublesome junior.

…And, despite everything, someone I couldn’t ignore when she was in trouble.

…That’s why—

“—Asahi.”

—That evening, after Mizuki had turned the whole school upside down.

I called out to Asahi as she headed for club activities.

‘…!’

She flinched and turned toward me.

‘…Iori-senpai.’

She looked slightly scared, trying to keep her distance.

That brightness she once had was gone.

She seemed frightened… and blaming herself.

Seeing her like that made my chest tighten.

Hadn’t this already been resolved?

Or was something still happening?

I took a step closer.

“I’m sorry to hold you up before practice. Can we talk?”

She glanced around, as if looking for someone.

I looked around too, but there was no one.

Ignoring my concern, I pressed on.

“…I won’t take much of your time.”

After a pause, she sighed and nodded.

“…Okay.”