The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 38.2: Admiration, and What Lies Beyond Belief

Chapter 38.2: Admiration, and What Lies Beyond Belief

That she’s not that kind of person.

She’s the beautiful, kind person I admired.

…But even so—

“—Ah, Iori-senpai!”

“Hm? Asahi…? Look, I’m not going back to the basketball club.”

I hadn’t even realized these feelings myself.

What if she had noticed them?

And what if she…

“Was it you… who spread that rumor, Onee-sama?”

If she loved that person far more than I ever imagined—

But the moment I said those words, I was hit with a wave of nausea.

Who was I even talking to, and what was I saying?

She was my idol, my savior.

Even now, I’m only able to return to a normal school life because of her.

And yet…

Yukimura-senpai says nothing in response to my words.

Without changing her expression, she just stares down at me.

… I didn’t even want to think about what that silence meant.

I was scared. Terrified. I just wanted her to say something.

If it’s not true, then just say it’s not.

If she’d just say that, I’d apologize with everything I have. I’d cry, beg, and then…

Be with her again.

With only that hope in my chest, I endured the painful silence.

In the quiet that made every second feel like forever… eventually—

“……”

――She took out her phone, typed something on it…

… and without saying a word, stood up.

Then she turned her back on me and began to walk away.

“… Huh…?”

I hurried after her.

Even when I caught up to her side, she wouldn’t look at me.

As if she didn’t even see me, she ignored my voice.

… And then, when I followed Yukimura-senpai—

To the back of the school building where no one was around.

The same place where Sekiya-senpai confessed to me.

There, in the shadow, Yukimura-senpai came to a stop.

Confused, I stood beside her.

Then, minutes passed. We waited without saying a word.

Eventually…

…he came.

(Iori-senpai…)

He hadn’t noticed us hiding behind the pillar.

Seeing him made me instinctively take a step forward—at that moment—

“…?”

Gently, a hand held my shoulder.

When I turned around, Yukimura-senpai was placing her delicate hand on me.

Then she took a step forward.

At the same time, she softly pulled my body back.

――That’s far enough. It was like she was gently warning me.

“… Onee-sama?”

Without answering me, she quietly let go of my shoulder.

Then she slowly walked toward Iori-senpai.

And then…

“――Iori, good job today.”

She spoke to him in a gentle, sweet voice.

(… Huh…?)

What did she just say?

My mind went blank.

And right after—

“…What is it, Mizuki? Why’d you call me out here?”

“――”

… It was a miracle I didn’t scream on the spot.

Iori-senpai looked around cautiously.

In a panic, I hid behind the pillar.

(… Just now, did he say “Mizuki”…?)

Impossible.

There’s no one in this school who would call her that.

No one calls Yukimura Mizuki by name like that.

“I saw your 50-meter sprint earlier. You looked cool.”

“Hey, I told you not to do this stuff at school…!”

Peeking out nervously, I saw Yukimura-senpai gently patting Iori-senpai’s head.

Iori-senpai looked a bit confused, but also somehow used to it.

That scene was just like…

(… No way…)

“――And the other person’s a total knockout.”

“You’re not allowed to have anything to do with Amano-kun anymore.”

It all clicked.

Everything. The worst-case scenario I’d been imagining.

It all made sense in my mind.

… Too much sense.

And as I stood there stunned—

“――”

Suddenly, she looked at me.

“…!”

A small gasp escaped from my lips.

No emotion at all. Her eyes didn’t even seem human.

… Just like back then.

“…Ugh”

My body moved before I could even think.

I had to get away from here—an overpowering instinct took over.

I turned and ran from the scene.

――And after the girl had run off—

“…So, what did you want?”

“――Nothing, really.”

She averted her eyes without the slightest hint of regret.

“I just wanted to see you, Iori.”

With a soft smile, she looked at him and only him.

――How long had I been running?

“…Hah… hah…”

Before I knew it, I had left the school grounds completely, leaning against the wall of some unfamiliar back alley.

(… No way…)

That was the only thought in my head.

I had been prepared for this, or so I thought.

That my idol might become my rival in love.

… But it wasn’t even about that.

She wasn’t a rival.

I was just… in the way.

To her, I was nothing more than that.

“…Ah, haha…”

I laughed.

If I didn’t, I felt like I might fall apart.

… There’s no way to fool myself anymore.

The one who set me up was Yukimura-senpai.

She cornered me, then saved me, then left me no escape, just to put a collar on me. A self-made trap.

The me who trusted her without question looks like a ridiculous clown now.

(… That’s so cruel.)

I knew I’d been hurt deep in my heart.

And this time… I don’t think I can handle it.

… That’s what I thought, like it was happening to someone else.

It wasn’t like the pain I felt when I was bullied.

Back then, I was lonely, but I still had hope.

My idol was still just that—my idol.

And…

“――Are you okay, Asahi?”

That senpai, who wasn’t honest but was always kind, would definitely help me one day.

I truly believed that somewhere deep inside.

… And that’s why.

That’s why she knew.

It might sound like a ridiculous fantasy.

But I’m sure it’s the truth.

Because…

――Iori.

The way she said his name was just too sweet.

“… I see.”

… I understand now, Yukimura-senpai.

I’m just in your way.

It’s better if I’m not around.

I think it’s awful. I want to hate her.

But more than anything, what really hurts is—

“… Even so… I still love her…”

Which one? ――Both of them.

I held back the urge to scream and cry.

I picked up the pieces of my shattered heart.

At the very least, I’ll do what she wants.

That’s what I decided in my heart.