The Story of Waking up With My Beautiful Childhood Friend and Realizing We Had Spent the Night Together - Chapter 39.1: Mad Dependence

Chapter 39.1: Mad Dependence

“—And with that, this year’s sports festival comes to an end. Thank you all for your hard work.”

With that announcement, the sports festival ended.

—But Asahi…

“…Congratulations on your time.”

Leaving just those few words, she quickly left the school.

…As if she didn’t want her face to be seen.

“…”

Everyone around started getting ready to go home.

…And then:

“Yukimura-saaan! We’re having a party after this. Can you come?”

“…Sorry. I need to go home and make dinner.”

“Oh, you cook for yourself? That’s awesome! Are you making it for your family?”

“Yeah. I’m sure they’re hungry.”

Waving goodbye while others regretfully watched her go, she walked toward the school gate.

As I absentmindedly watched her leave—

“—”

Mizuki suddenly turned around, and our eyes met.

When she saw me, her eyes softened gently.

—I’ll be waiting at home.

Saying that with only her eyes, Mizuki turned on her heel and left the school.

“…”

…Same as always.

At school, she acted like “Yukimura Mizuki.”

Only in front of me did she show her soft, natural smile.

Even from the point of view of her childhood friend, nothing had changed.

“—Iori? Why are you spacing out?”

“…!”

A voice from behind startled me, and I jumped.

When I turned around, I saw a familiar friend.

“You’re coming to the party, right? Everyone’s already there.”

“…No.”

“Huh?”

After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.

“…I’ll pass. I’m a bit tired.”

“What? Come on, that’s a waste. The girls in our class were saying you’ve gotten cooler lately, Amano-kun.”

“…Sorry.”

Even Renji’s jokes didn’t make me smile.

…Right now, I just want to be alone.

With that in mind, I apologized to Renji and left.

“…”

After getting off at the nearest station,

I didn’t feel like going straight home, so I wandered the city with no destination.

—Why Asahi avoids me.

I don’t know.

But Asahi is holding on to something, and that’s why she’s trying to cut ties with me.

I need to do something.

That’s what I kept thinking.

…But at the same time, a dry feeling grew in me—wondering if it was really necessary.

The bullying was already dealt with.

She fits in with the class and the club.

There’s nothing threatening Asahi anymore.

Then the only problem left… is that she’s just avoiding me. That’s all.

And if that’s all—

(…It doesn’t really matter.)

“…?”

I was shocked by that voice in my head.

Doesn’t matter?

No, that’s not right. I froze by the side of the road.

“—Oh? Iori-kun?”

Suddenly, someone called out from beside me.

A familiar, slightly aged voice.

I looked up in surprise.

“…Manager…?”

It was the manager of “Nocturne.”

He looked surprised to see me.

(…When did I get here?)

Apparently, while wandering, I had somehow ended up in front of this shop.

Maybe it was just habit.

My feet had brought me here without thinking.

The manager, who had been taking care of the signboard, stopped and walked over.

“What’s wrong? You’re off work today, aren’t you?”

“Ah, no… I was just walking.”

“…Hmm.”

I was about to say I didn’t really have a reason, but then—

“…Did something happen?”

“Huh…?”

“You look more down than usual.”

“…!”

At those words, I unconsciously touched my face.

Was it that obvious? I rubbed it awkwardly.

“…Since you’re already here, why don’t you come in for a bit? There aren’t any customers right now anyway.”

He joked, asking me to keep him company, and smiled.

I hesitated for a moment.

“…Okay.”

I gave a small nod.

“—Darjeeling. Two sugars, okay?”

“…Thanks.”

When I entered the shop, the manager quickly prepared tea.

Darjeeling. Two sugars.

He really knows my tastes.

If it were Mizuki, she’d probably drink Earl Grey straight…

Maybe that makes me seem childish. I sighed quietly.

(…Still…)

Coming into this shop when I’m not working felt kind of new.

I used to come here a lot as a customer, but ever since I started working here, it had completely turned into just a “workplace.”

It’s hard to enjoy it like I used to as just a customer.

…That feels a little sad.

Maybe you really shouldn’t work at a place you like.

As I was lost in thought like that—

“…So?”

“Huh…?”

“Did you and Yukimura-san have a fight?”

The manager teased me with a smile.

“No, it’s not like that…”

“Oh, I was wrong? I really thought if you were troubled, it’d be about that girl.”

“……”

…Is that… really true?

If I’m troubled right now, it’s not about Mizuki. It’s about Asahi.

There’s nothing about my relationship with Mizuki that troubles me.

…Can I really say that for sure?

As I fell silent, the manager nodded knowingly.

“You’re young. I used to fight a lot with my wife too, back in the day.”

“Even you, Manager? You’ve had fights?”

That surprised me.

I couldn’t imagine this person getting into arguments.

Maybe that showed on my face, because the manager gave a wry smile.

“I’m human too. Of course there are times when we don’t get along or understand each other.”

“…Is that so?”

Even someone like him, who seems like a model of virtue, has had those times…

Come to think of it, Mizuki and I have never had what you’d call a proper fight.

Neither of us tends to push our demands too hard.

…But if someday—

If Mizuki and I end up wanting different things.

And if neither of us can give those things up.

What would I… do then?

“…Manager… what do you do in a situation like that…?”

“Hmm, let me think…”

The manager folded his arms, as if recalling something.

“…Yeah. In our case, we clashed until we were both satisfied.”

“Clashed…?”

“We said everything we wanted to say. Shared what we were feeling. And then looked for a compromise from there.”

He spoke shyly.

…But to me, that felt like a model of a healthy relationship.

No pretending, no hiding.

Just being honest, clashing, and understanding each other.

Now, I can kind of understand… how hard that really is.

If you can make that happen, I think it’s ideal.

But…

“…What if… even then, you still can’t understand each other…?”

My voice was a bit stiff as I asked.

The manager thought for a moment.

“If possible, you search for a compromise you can accept… or else—”

He looked at me, hesitating a little.

“…there’s also the choice to ‘go separate ways.’ That’s a valid option too.”

“…!”

The moment I heard those words, I gasped.

That means—

“No, sorry. I’m not saying you and Yukimura-san will end up like that.”

“……”

“I just mean… that option exists too.”

Saying that, the manager poured fresh tea into my cup.

“…Life is full of choices. You can’t hold onto everything, so to gain something, you have to give something up.”

“…?”

“That’s why… you must never lose sight of what’s truly important to you.”

He murmured that as if reminding himself.

It carried a weight, like he truly meant it.

…Maybe the manager also had to let go of something important once.

I thought that, but couldn’t bring myself to ask.

After that, the manager quietly sipped his cup.

And I, too… surrounded by the scent of tea, stayed silent and took in his words.

(…What’s truly important, huh?)

I left Nocturne and headed home.

In my mind, I kept going over the manager’s words.

What’s truly important.

Of course, the one who came to mind was that childhood friend.

…But.

(…Then what about the others?)

A thought that had flashed in my mind earlier.

That Asahi was avoiding me… and I felt like I “didn’t care.”

I couldn’t believe myself.

But… no matter how much I try to fool myself, I know that’s how I really feel.

Because right now, I’m not chasing after Asahi.

Even though I know something’s happened.

Even though we might not be able to talk again.

Deep down, I’m thinking—if that happens, then so be it.

“…Since when…”

The words slipped out without thinking.

Since when did I become such a cold-hearted person?

Asahi is an important underclassman, a friend.

And yet I think it’s fine if I lose that connection?

…No, it’s not just about Asahi.

Even Kashiwagi-san, Renji… even my parents.

Compared to Mizuki, none of them matter.

“——”

…I just realized that’s how I truly feel.

(…I…)

When did I start thinking this twisted way?

What the manager said—“what’s truly important.”

For me, there’s no doubt it’s Mizuki.

But to think that as long as I have that one thing, nothing else matters—

…That’s not normal.

‘——You have to decide what you’re going to do about that girl.’

At that moment, I suddenly remembered what Shizuka-san said.

…Did she already know?

That I would eventually become “too far gone.”

That I would end up completely dependent on Mizuki.

I don’t know.

Whether this relationship is wrong or not.

But…

Day by day, I’m sinking deeper into her.

As time goes by, I can’t see anyone else but her.

“——Welcome home, Iori.”

“…I’m home.”

Mizuki always greets me with a happy smile.