When I Was Rejected and Returned Home, My Childhood Friend, Who Should Have Been Distant, Was in My Room - Chapter 28: "Again"

Chapter 28: “Again”

Jingu-senpai’s action was quick. He invited Manaki to a meal the day after we visited the baseball club. The event happened in the morning at school, during the break between the first and second periods.

A third-year, moreover a famous person, came to our grade, so Manaki’s class was excited. He invited her boldly in front of everyone.

“Hey, did you hear? The rumor about Jingu-senpai?”

“I heard, I heard. He asked someone out on a date in the second-year classroom this morning, right? He’s really manly! By the way, who was it…?”

“Surprisingly, Himuro-san!”

“Oh, that silver-haired half-girl!”

“A handsome guy and a beautiful girl, it’s really enviable, right?”

“Well, we can only watch from the sidelines…”

The school buzzed with the sign of a big couple forming, especially since it was a third-year and a second-year, so the rumor spread across grades. The early morning event strongly stimulated the adolescent students, and the rumor that Jingu-senpai invited Manaki spread rapidly.

“It’s not like they’re dating, but everyone is getting so excited,” Hoshino says lazily during lunch break, spreading out her tightly packed bento box in front of me as usual.

“Besides, Hime-chan refused, right? But people talk like they’re already dating, it’s annoying,” she continues.

“Well, teenagers are like that,” I reply.

“Why is Masaki-kun so calm about it?” she asks.

Hoshino, who has strong opinions about love, probably has a lot of thoughts about this. She pouts, dissatisfied with my response.

“Is Hime-chan okay? Since Jingu-senpai approached her, it seems like a lot of people are gossiping…” she says.

“Who knows,” I respond.

“Who knows, huh…” she mutters.

Hoshino gazes vaguely toward Manaki’s class. It’s been a while since lunch break started, but there’s no sign of her coming.

“Yo!” Shogo greets.

“Oh, Shogo-kun, welcome back! You were late today… Did you get the yakisoba bread?” Hoshino asks.

“Yeah, I managed to grab the last one,” Shogo replies.

He places the yakisoba bread on the desk and sits down with a “heave-ho.” After stretching his body, he looks around.

“Man, it’s become a huge rumor. Even some first-years at the school store were talking about Himuro,” he says.

“Wow, it’s spread that far…” Hoshino exclaims.

“Is watching other people’s love lives that fun?” Shogo remarks.

He speaks with exasperation and opens the yakisoba bread package. He tears it so forcefully that some of the contents spill out. Sighing, he brushes off the bread slowly.

“So, Masamune, what do you think about this?” Shogo asks.

“What do you mean?” I reply.

“Not ‘what’—the timing! No matter how you look at it, senpai approaching Himuro today is because of yesterday, right?” he says.

“Not necessarily. He might have planned to ask her today anyway,” I counter.

“No way! A bold date invitation in the early morning? It’s because you were messing around that senpai made a move to check you!” Shogo insists.

“…” I stay silent.

“Hey, what happened yesterday? What’s this about messing around?” Hoshino asks.

“Well, here’s the thing…” Shogo starts.

******

While listening to the story, Hoshino’s face turns red, then pale, changing busily.

“So, that’s the deal. I’m sure this morning’s thing is definitely related to yesterday,” Shogo concludes.

After hearing the story, Hoshino shows a strained expression, mixed with joy, embarrassment, and shock.

“W-Well… Masaki-kun, you did something pretty bold,” she says.

“It’s just what childhood friends do,” I reply.

“No, it feels like you did something pretty intense…” she says.

“?” I feel puzzled.

A question mark rises at Hoshino’s vague way of speaking.

“W-Well, whatever. But if that’s the case, aren’t you even more worried? Manaki-chan might be in trouble,” she says.

“She’s probably not in trouble,” I reply.

“Oh, is that like, ‘No matter what, Hime-chan will always come back to me,’ that kind of childhood friend trust?” Hoshino asks.

Hoshino leans forward slightly, asking in an anxious tone. I answer calmly to reassure her.

“No, no, if it’s Jingu-senpai, I can trust him with Manaki,” I say.

At that moment, Hoshino clearly freezes. Her open mouth seems unable to close, as if she’s speechless. She looks at Shogo with a strained expression, and Shogo closes his eyes, shaking his head side to side. Still, Hoshino stares at me with an incredulous face.

“Wait, Masaki-kun, what are you saying? You should be the one by Manaki-chan’s side,” she says.

“That’s just as childhood friends, right? It’s fine if she likes someone else,” I reply.

“That’s true, but… you guys are different, right? That girl, Hime-chan…” Hoshino starts.

“What’s wrong with me?” a voice interrupts.

A voice comes from behind Hoshino, who is desperately appealing. I look up, and Manaki stands there. Her strong-willed, wide eyes show a hint of fatigue. The surrounding students start buzzing noticeably. It’s noisier than when she first came to our class.

“Hime-chan! Are you okay?” Hoshino asks.

“Yeah, just annoyed because people I don’t usually talk to kept approaching me… It’s not a big deal,” Manaki replies.

“Good, I’m glad…” Hoshino says.

“Sorry for worrying you,” Manaki adds.

Manaki bows slightly. It’s surprising that she bows to Hoshino, and Hoshino looks shocked for a moment, hurriedly waving her hands in front of her.

“No! Don’t apologize like that. You’re the one who had a tough time…” Hoshino says.

After saying that, Hoshino glances at me as if realizing something.

“But, speaking of worrying, Masaki-kun was even more worried. He went to the baseball club to check out what kind of person Jingu-senpai is…!” she says.

“Really, Masamune, you were worried about me?” Manaki asks.

Manaki looks happy and peers into my face. Her silver hair enters my field of vision, but I pretend not to notice and answer without meeting her eyes.

“Manaki, I thought you’d have lunch with Jingu-senpai, but I guess not?” I say.

The air freezes again. Manaki’s eyes narrow slightly, and her face, which was leaning in to peer at me, returns to its original position. Hoshino is clearly shaken, and Shogo stays silent, arms crossed.

“Is that what you want, Masamune?” Manaki asks.

Her voice is cold. It’s not the usual teasing tone but a chilling tone, as if she wants to confirm if I’m serious. I suppress the weak urge to take it back and speak without meeting her eyes.

“I just thought you and Jingu-senpai would make a good match,” I say.

I spit out the words, but a dark, swirling feeling pools in my stomach. I’ve barely eaten my bento, but I feel nauseous, like I might vomit.

“I see,” Manaki replies.

Her response is short. In the silence where everyone loses their words, I hear Manaki take a small breath behind me.

“Masamune, you’re doing that again,” she says.

“…!” I flinch.

That single sentence pierces my heart more fiercely than any curse. I bite my lip, desperately trying to hold it together.

“If that’s how you’re going to be, Masamune, I have my own ideas,” Manaki declares.

Manaki says this last part and walks away slowly, step by step, as if confirming each one.

“Hime-chan!” Hoshino calls.

Hoshino stands and reaches out, but her hand doesn’t reach Manaki. Manaki walks forward without looking back, and Hoshino, stunned, lowers her hand and sits down.

“I know it’s not for outsiders like us to say, but…” Hoshino starts.

Her unresolved feelings toward Manaki turn into anger directed at me.

“Masaki-kun, what was that…!” she demands.

“What do you mean? I don’t know which part,” I reply.

“All of it!” Hoshino shouts.

Hoshino slams the desk. The people around us turn to look at her, startled, but she doesn’t care.

“Don’t you feel sorry for Hime-chan…!” she says.

I stay silent, and Hoshino furrows her brow, glaring at me.

“You’re childhood friends, right? You said you’ve known each other for almost ten years! So why say something that ruins it? Childhood friends aren’t something you take for granted!” she says.

Maybe because it’s Hoshino, she feels something strongly. She comes at me with fierce intensity. Maybe, in her own way, Hoshino really cares about Manaki. But…

“Come on, say something…” she pleads.

I refuse to open my mouth. Hoshino wears a pleading expression. Then she suddenly turns to Shogo.

“Hey, Shogo-kun, say something too! You’re his best friend, right?” she urges.

Prompted by Hoshino, Shogo slowly opens his eyes while keeping his arms crossed and stares at me. He’s not glaring or smiling, just looking deep into my eyes. After a while, he slowly speaks.

“Masamune,” he says.

“What?” I reply.

“What did she mean by ‘you’re doing that again’?” he asks.

It feels like he’s hit the one thing I didn’t want to be asked, and I fall silent. Sighing and looking around, I notice classmates watching us from a distance, maybe because of Hoshino’s earlier shout.

Looking at Shogo and Hoshino’s faces again, I realize it’s wrong to keep hiding things from people who care this much.

“I’ll talk about it directly,” I say.

I lean my full weight against the chair’s backrest and say just that.