The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 38.1: Admiration, and What Lies Beyond Belief

Chapter 38.1: Admiration, and What Lies Beyond Belief

“—First place, Red Team, Amano Iori-kun.”

Hearing the announcement, I let out a deep breath.

First place, huh… how long has it been?

It helped that there weren’t any fast runners from track, soccer, or basketball in the same group.

Feeling the finish line tape snap against me again after so long—it really moved me.

—But more important than that was…

“…What was my time?”

I went to ask the staff member.

He checked the records and said,

“Um… ‘6.83 seconds.'”

“…”

Yes.

I clenched my fist without thinking.

I managed to reach the goal I’d set for this sports festival.

I was never bad at sports, but this was my first time getting into the six-second range.

And the reason I achieved that was…

“—Hey, did you hit your goal?”

A voice from the side distracted me.

Before I could turn, an arm wrapped tightly around my shoulder.

“Renji.”

“It’s thanks to that girl, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

I looked toward the girls’ tent.

No need to search—Mizuki stood out, and beside her was Asahi.

“Come on. You’re standing next to your girlfriend. Show off a little.”

His smug grin was annoying.

Annoying, but… he had a point.

It really was thanks to her.

“…”

I lightly clenched my fist and held it out.

It didn’t suit me at all. It was embarrassing.

But Mizuki smiled and gave me a little wave.

Renji’s arm around my shoulder tightened.

“…Looking at it again, it’s really pissing me off. That blatant special treatment you’re getting.”

He started to choke me.

Hey, you’re the one who said it first.

…Meanwhile, Asahi…

(…I knew it. She’s not going to react.)

When our eyes met, she turned her head away clearly.

Even Renji looked puzzled at her reaction.

“…Hey, Iori.”

“…I know.”

Even if no one said it.

I know I can’t keep avoiding it forever.

“—And now, we’ll begin the lunch break.”

Just then, an announcement came over the speakers.

“…Alright, Iori. Let’s go eat.”

“…Yeah.”

Renji said it brightly, like he was trying to shift the mood, and I nodded in return.

SIDE: Inoue Asahi

—Again, I looked away.

Did he make his time?

Iori-senpai even tried to show off, something he usually wouldn’t do.

…But I had no choice.

Because that’s the “promise.”

(…Onee-sama.)

I looked up at the beautiful girl sitting next to me.

She smiled faintly… and gave a small wave to that person.

A nearby girl saw it and looked at her in shock.

…I understood exactly how she felt.

It’s impossible.

There’s no way this person would wave at a specific guy.

She would never give someone that kind of “special treatment.”

…If this were a little while ago, I would’ve thought the same.

But now…

“—Asahi-chan.”

“Ah…”

I looked up when she called my name.

Yukimura-senpai was looking at me with those large, beautiful eyes.

“It’s already lunchtime.”

“…Um.”

Those eyes hadn’t changed.

Beautiful. Captivating. And yet…

“…Yes.”

Cold. Scary.

…Scary. I can’t believe I feel that way about her.

I’ve always admired her. Wanted to get closer.

Every time she called me “Asahi-chan,” I felt like I could fly from happiness.

And yet…

“…Is something wrong?”

A gentle voice.

But I couldn’t accept it sincerely, and I turned my gaze away.

However—

(…Ah…)

Where I turned my eyes—

“—Hey Amano, you’re actually pretty fast, huh!?”

“Damn, I lost on time…! You were just a skinny nerd with decent grades until recently…!”

…There he was.

“…”

“—You are not to have anything to do with Amano-kun from now on.”

That one sentence wouldn’t leave my mind.

The meaning of that promise.

This person… and Iori-senpai?

No way. I told myself that wasn’t possible.

But in my head, only one answer kept coming up.

…Because if that were true, everything would make sense.

Make sense? —Everything until now.

That promise.

The time she saved me.

And…

“…Yukimura-senpai.”

My mouth moved on its own.

I had no idea what I was even trying to say.

“What is it?”

She turned toward me, tilting her head slightly.

“…Can I ask… just one thing?”

“…?”

She narrowed her eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod.

…My lips trembled.

My heart didn’t want to say the words.

But I had to ask.

If what I was thinking was true.

If this person had someone special in her heart.

If everything until now was already decided—

“…I never understood it.”

If it was all already decided—

“Why, back then… did Sekiya-senpai confess to someone like me?”

The words came out suddenly.

But Yukimura-senpai just looked at me silently.

“He was famous in the basketball club… popular with the girls. But still…”

I’d only heard his name.

He was in basketball. Seemed kind of bad-boy-ish, but cool.

That was it.

“But it was strange. I’d never even talked to him. And yet…”

The only explanation came from a vague rumor.

One I had no memory of causing.

“They said I liked Sekiya-senpai… that rumor spread.”

Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Someone’s joke that happened to catch on.

No one’s fault. Just bad luck.

…If that were true, how much easier things would be.

But I definitely felt it.

Someone’s clear intention.

I was convinced—it wasn’t just coincidence.

Someone from the basketball club.

Someone from class.

Someone who found me in the way.

And that person was—

“Onee-sama… please tell me.”

“…”

“If I’m wrong, I’ll get on my knees or do whatever it takes. I’ll apologize all I need to. But if I’m right—”

My emotions were crying out that it wasn’t true.