When I Murmured, 'I Want A Childhood Friend,' The Behavior Of The Female Friend I Often Hang Out With Changed - Chapter 42
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- When I Murmured, 'I Want A Childhood Friend,' The Behavior Of The Female Friend I Often Hang Out With Changed
- Chapter 42 - Joy and Tears (END)
<Translator’s Note: Edited>
“Hehe, it’s kind of embarrassing…”
“Agreed… By the way, isn’t Fuyuki taking a while to come back?”
If they were just going to the convenience store, it should have been enough time for them to return.
Yet there was no sign of Fuyuki and the others returning anytime soon.
“Maybe the cashier is busy?”
“Nah, convenience stores in the countryside don’t usually get that crowded.”
“Yeah, you’re right… Well, if they’re not back yet…”
Natsumi looked at Akito with an expectant expression.
Since kissing was off the table, Akito tried to figure out what Natsumi might want from him.
However, being rather dense when it came to these matters, Akito couldn’t come up with an answer.
So, giving up, Natsumi threw herself into Akito’s arms.
“Since we’re officially a couple now… you should be spoiling me properly…”
Natsumi pouted as she spoke, her eyes gleaming with desire as she looked up at Akito’s face.
“What… what should I do?”
“For now, how about you start by petting my head?”
Doing as she instructed, Akito began to gently stroke her head.
In response, Natsumi smiled lazily, appearing quite pleased with the attention.
It continued like that for about five minutes.
“Hey, by the way, I have something important to talk to you about…”
As she was being petted, Natsumi, who was sitting between Akito’s legs with her back against his chest, looked up at his face with a tilt of her head.
“I get nervous when you put it like that…”
Akito looked at Natsumi with a slight tension in his demeanor.
While using her hands to push her hair behind her ear, Natsumi opened her mouth with a blush.
“So, um… don’t you remember something…?”
“Huh…?”
“You know, like a promise we made in the past…”
“A promise…?”
As Natsumi broached the topic, Akito hurriedly searched through his memories.
However, he couldn’t recall any promises that they had made.
(Oh no… Did I actually make a promise with Natsumi? I can’t remember at all!)
After realizing he couldn’t recall even a single promise, especially right after they had started dating, Akito began to feel anxious.
Natsumi stared intently at Akito’s face.
Akito felt apologetic and opened his mouth to speak, sensing the urgency of the situation.
“Um… I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.”
“Mmm…”
Natsumi pouted with clear discontent, upon hearing Akito’s response.
Perhaps it was a really important promise, Akito considered and tried to recollect, but he still couldn’t remember anything.
“Um, sorry… Could you tell me about it?”
If he couldn’t remember, the only way to find out was from the person who knew, after all.
Akito requested this, but Natsumi shook her head.
“No, try to remember it yourself.”
It seemed that she wanted Akito to recall it himself.
“I hope you won’t be stubborn about this…”
“It was a really, really important promise, so I want Akito to remember it, you know?”
With an exaggerated emphasis on her words, Natsumi left Akito unable to say anything more.
Akito couldn’t believe he would forget something so crucial, but if Natsumi was insisting like this, he knew he had to remember.
As he pondered this, Natsumi suddenly spoke up.
“Oh, by the way, until you remember it, I won’t let you do things like kissing or… well, you know…”
Natsumi made a bold statement, blushing furiously and pressing her hands against her mouth.
Despite her daring words, Akito knew he had to remember whatever important promise they had made.
“H-Hints, you say!?”
“W-Wait, why would it be Fuyuki?”
“Why are you so fixated on Fuyuki? You want me to ask him!?”
Akito didn’t understand why Natsumi suddenly brought up Fuyuki’s name, but he assumed she meant they could ask Fuyuki. However, Natsumi quickly shook her head.
“N-No… Fuyuki’s presence is the hint… asking him would be cheating…”
“Why go to such lengths…?”
“I want you to remember it, Akito!”
Akito wasn’t sure why Natsumi was so insistent, but he decided that if she said it was cheating to ask Fuyuki, then he needed to remember it on his own.
(But still… Even if she says Fuyuki’s presence is a hint… I have no idea…)
Akito struggled to figure out what could trigger his memory. He was determined to recall whatever it was that Natsumi considered so important.
“Does that mean… until I remember it, we won’t go on dates…?”
Since Akito couldn’t seem to remember at all, he wondered how far the restrictions would go. So he asked Natsumi.
Natsumi blushed and started fidgeting with her index fingers together.
“W-Well, that’s… I guess… If you don’t take me on a date, I might sulk…”
It seemed like dates were acceptable.
“Sulk?”
“Well, obviously…”
In response to Akito’s inquiry, Natsumi answered with a shy and unsociable attitude.
Akito started gently ruffling her hair, finding her adorable in her embarrassment, causing her to close her eyes in pleasure and lean into him.
Natsumi’s relaxed response indicated that hair ruffling was acceptable, even enjoyable.
“…”
However, Akito’s fingers gradually slid lower from her head.
“Hey, stop… It’s ticklish.”
As Akito’s fingers ventured from Natsumi’s ears to her cheeks, she squirmed, her words matching her reactions.
Akito’s fingers continued their journey, unperturbed by her protests, now tracing her neck gently.
Natsumi scolded him as she was blushing deeply and glaring at Akito with embarrassed, teary eyes.
“A-Akito!”
“Yeah, I thought of being a bit mischievous… but it seems like I can’t stop now. I’ll stop here, though.”
While trying to tease her a bit, Akito was aware that Natsumi’s alluring nature was almost overwhelming. So he decided to stop before things got out of hand.
“Well, even things like that are off-limits until you remember!”
With her body still fidgeting, Natsumi made the rule clear to Akito.
“What about head-patting?”
“W-Well, that’s… allowed…”
But even so, she seemed to want head-pats, blushing as she nodded.
“Alright, just this for now…”
“Oh, um… nn…”
As Akito placed his hand on her head, Natsumi closed her eyes with a delighted expression, leaning into him once again.
And so, the two of them enjoyed some time alone together.
(Still… Fuyuki and the others are taking their sweet time…)
With that thought, Akito and Natsumi’s private moment continued.
* * *
“Natsumi-chan, I’m so happy for you…”
Haruna pressed her hands against her face, standing outside Akito’s room door at that moment, celebrating Natsumi’s success.
Beside her stood Fuyuki, with an indescribable expression.
From the beginning, Fuyuki and Haruna hadn’t gone to the convenience store; they had been watching and listening at the door all along.
Honestly, despite the fact that there had been numerous opportunities to intervene since Akito suddenly started confessing, Haruna hadn’t stepped in. She prioritized her best friend’s feelings.
Fuyuki made a determination, seeing tears streaming down Haruna’s cheeks. He resolved to make Haruna happy, just as she had been prioritizing Natsumi’s happiness.
* * *
<Author’s Note>
Thank you so much for reading!
And with this, we’ve reached the end!
This time, I chose to end it with a rare, bittersweet conclusion.
(To be honest, I struggled between wrapping it up with a happy ending or reflecting Haruna’s feelings…)
I hope that someday in the future I’ll be able to continue this story!
Thank you for your support, m(*_ _)m.