The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 34-35.1

Chapter 34: One Last Wish

“……”

After watching Asahi’s back as she left,

I remained seated on the bench, unable to move for a while.

What happened to Asahi?

Why is she avoiding me?

I have no idea. I don’t understand anything.

But…

(…This feels familiar…)

Such a strange thought crossed my mind.

But this isn’t the first time I’ve experienced something like this.

A long time ago—back in middle school—something similar happened.

(Back then, I also…)

Just as I was about to recall fragments of those memories—

“—Amano-kun.”

“…!?”

Suddenly, someone called out to me from the side.

I looked up, and standing there was—

“…Kashiwagi-san?”

A familiar classmate.

But her expression was tense, lacking the usual gentle atmosphere.

“Were you just talking to… Inoue-san?”

“…Yeah.”

“I see… Are you okay now?”

“Yeah… I think I’m okay.”

I nodded at Kashiwagi-san’s words.

Yes. I should be fine.

Mizuki took care of everything.

So, that should be enough.

And yet, for some reason, I couldn’t look at Kashiwagi-san’s face and averted my gaze.

Seeing me like that, she quietly sat down beside me.

“…She’s amazing, isn’t she, Yukimura-san? I knew she was popular, but I didn’t think she’d resolve things so easily.”

“Yeah…”

“Asahi-chan will be fine too if we leave it to Yukimura-san, right?”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

“……”

“……”

A sudden silence fell between us.

Back when I used to spend a lot of time with Kashiwagi-san, silence never bothered me.

Being with her was always that comfortable and reassuring.

But now…

“…Hey, Amano-kun.”

Her tone changed ever so slightly.

I turned to look at her.

“—Are you really okay with this?”

She asked in a cold voice.

I involuntarily held my breath at the intensity in her gaze.

“Okay with what…?”

“…You really don’t know?”

She furrowed her brows, as if reprimanding me.

She had never looked at me like this before.

But why?

What is she trying to say?

Everything is going well.

Asahi has regained her place at school.

Mizuki doesn’t seem to be facing any backlash from the basketball club members.

Everything should be fine.

And yet…

“…How long are you going to keep looking away?”

“…”

“This… isn’t right.”

Each word felt like a knife stabbing into my chest.

Even though I didn’t understand any of it, it felt suffocating.

…So I stood up, wanting to end this conversation as soon as possible.

“…Sorry, I’m going home.”

Saying that, I turned my back on Kashiwagi-san.

Just like Asahi had done earlier.

“…Amano-kun.”

Her uncharacteristically cold voice echoed behind me as I walked away.

“Don’t make me regret giving up on you.”

At those words,

I couldn’t say anything.

I just quickened my pace and left that place.

SIDE: Kashiwagi Kotoha

—Watching Amano-kun leave, as if running away.

Maybe I said too much.

Regret started creeping in.

But I couldn’t hold back.

As his friend. As his classmate.

…More than anything, as a girl who still loves him.

Because I believe that the way he and she are right now is wrong.

I let out a small sigh.

I had warned him.

Now, I could only leave it up to Amano-kun—

“—Kashiwagi-san.”

“!?”

At that moment, a voice called out from behind me, making me jolt in surprise.

I turned around—and standing there was the last person I wanted to see.

“…Yukimura-san.”

Yukimura Mizuki.

Her sleek, long black hair swayed in the wind.

A tall, 170 cm figure with a flawless physique.

Large, mesmerizing eyes, a straight nose, and glossy lips perfectly aligned.

And her pale, almost translucent skin.

…No matter how many times I saw her, I never got used to it.

She was too beautiful.

So much so that she didn’t seem human.

It wasn’t just the boys—even the girls were captivated by her.

The word “bewitching” crossed my mind.

(…Since when?)

Since when did her beauty start to terrify me?

How long had she been standing there?

How much had she heard?

As I trembled, Yukimura-san took a step closer.

I instinctively stood up.

Almost taking a step back.

“…”

But I forced myself to stand my ground.

I couldn’t let myself be afraid.

For Amano-kun.

For Inoue-san.

…For their sake, I had to say this now.

Bracing myself, I spoke as Yukimura-san approached me.

“…Yukimura-san.”

“…”

Even when I called her name, she didn’t respond.

She simply gazed down at me with empty eyes.

…Amano-kun probably doesn’t know.

That when she sheds her mask as the school idol—

—Just how cold her eyes truly are.

“…Hey, Yukimura-san.”

Suppressing the tremor in my voice, I somehow managed to speak.

Yukimura-san stood there silently.

Just staring at me with an unwavering gaze.

“Amano-kun… only sees you.”

“…”

“Other girls don’t even enter his sight. He would never look at anyone else.”

That’s something I know better than anyone.

I know it.

Inoue-san knows it.

And every other girl who has feelings for Amano-kun knows it too.

No matter how much we feel for him—

The only one reflected in his eyes is Yukimura Mizuki.

That’s why…

“…Yeah.”

Yukimura-san smiled faintly.

Like a doll, her smile was—

—Hollow and cold.

“I hope so too.”

She whispered.

And then, Yukimura-san walked past me.

—

Chapter 35.1: SIDE – Inoue Asahi

—In that dark warehouse.

Surrounded by terrifying seniors.

Saved by the person I admired.

I should have been saved then.

…But.

“……”

The next morning, in front of the school gate.

I stood there alone, completely dazed.

The time was just past seven in the morning.

Morning practice for club activities had already started.

… I have to go, quickly.

I thought that, but my feet wouldn’t move at all.

“… Move.”

If I don’t hurry, club practice will be over.

I braced myself and tried to step forward.

“…!”

But last night’s scene flashed through my mind.

—”What are you misunderstanding?”

—”Hey, let’s just strip her already.”

My heart jumped. I couldn’t breathe properly.

Even just standing was painful.

(… No, this is…)

If I go to school, I’ll probably suffer again.

In the classroom, at club activities.

And then, those seniors again…

(Why…)

Why did things turn out like this?

Where did I go wrong?

I was about to lower my head when—

“…?”

From the corner of my vision, I saw beautiful black hair swaying.

Beyond the school gate, under the cherry blossom tree.

A breathtakingly beautiful girl.

There was no way I could mistake her.

The person who saved me, the one I admired.

The moment I saw her—

“…!”

Before I could think, I had already stepped through the school gate.

“…! Onee-sama!”

I walked up to the cherry blossom tree.

As if she knew I was coming, she turned around.

“—Asahi-chan.”

Good morning, she said in a beautiful voice.

The moment I heard her voice, my breathing became easier.

The anxiety and fear that had been overwhelming me slowly faded.

“…Onee…sama.”

“Hm?”

What should I do? What should I say?

I called out to her myself, but I didn’t even know what to say.

Like a lost child who had found their parents, I ran to her instinctively.

But I had to say something. I had to.

“…U-uhm… About yesterday… Thank you… so much.”

“… No problem.”

Yukimura-senpai smiled just a little.

…Being smiled at like this.

It felt like an honor, it made me happy.

Even though I had been feeling so down just moments ago, I almost smiled.

“…Are you okay now?”

She stared at me with her big eyes.

I couldn’t tell from her voice alone, but I was sure she was worried about me.

I opened my mouth to respond—

(… Huh…? )

…But no words came out.

—I’m okay. Sorry for making you worry.

That’s what I should say.

I shouldn’t make her worry about me any more than this.

I knew that, and yet…

(…If she hadn’t been there, I…)

Yesterday, I was saved by chance. But what about next time?

There was no guarantee that she could save me again.

In the classroom, at club activities.

Everyone around me was an enemy…

Thinking that, I suddenly felt incredibly lonely.

I wanted to rely on her. I wanted her to save me.

Those feelings overflowed.

So…

“…I’m not okay.”

I accidentally let out my weakness.

“It’s been so painful, so scary…”

“Yeah.”

“…I’ve been all alone…”

“…”

“…Onee-sama.”

(…Ah, no. I must be a bother to her.)

I tried to hold back.

But still, I couldn’t help but think.

If there was anyone I could rely on right now, it was her… and one other person.

But that person… I couldn’t drag them into this.

I never wanted to see them get hurt because of me.

So…

“…Won’t you help me…?”

…Those words slipped out of my mouth.

The moment I said it, I regretted it.

No matter how desperate I was…

Asking for help in a situation like this…

Even from her…

It was too much. She would be disgusted.

If even she ended up hating me… I…

Imagining the worst, I lowered my head. But—

“—Of course.”

“…Huh?”

Surprised by her words, I lifted my face.

As I stood there, stunned, wondering if I had misheard—

She gently patted my head.

“I’ll protect you.”

She whispered in a kind voice.

“From now on, try to stay with me as much as possible. If you’re with me… you’ll be okay.”

Her words made me freeze.

And soon, I understood what she meant.

She was saying—she would become my protector.

The influence of ‘Yukimura Mizuki’ in this school.

To make her an enemy was to make her fans your enemy.

What that meant… The way those seniors acted yesterday proved it.

“I’ll come watch the basketball club’s practice, too. I have a part-time job, so I can’t be there every day, but…”

“T-that’s too much!”

Just having her by my side was already overwhelming.

There was no way I could let her go that far…

As I panicked and waved my hands, Yukimura-senpai looked at me calmly.

“It’s fine.”