When I Was Rejected and Returned Home, My Childhood Friend, Who Should Have Been Distant, Was in My Room

Chapter 34: The Path Masaki Munechika Walks

Hoshino’s story lasted less than ten minutes, but it felt like an eternity to me. She finished speaking, let out a sigh, and looked at me with a glaring stare.

“This is the story I heard from Hime-chan. Any objections?”

Her words seemed to leave room for argument, but they suggested she would accept no objections. I lacked the energy to argue back. My body felt stirred up from the inside, and I had no strength left.

“So… Aiki knew, huh…”

I thought no one knew back then. Since the person involved had influence, only some people in our class knew about the incident I caused, but a strict gag order was in place.

Aiki had almost no friends back then. My plan failed, but I thought my actions stayed hidden from her.

But…

“Yeah, Hime-chan knew everything. She knew but couldn’t apologize,” Hoshino said.

“…”

“She said she felt too ashamed to face you after saying such awful things. She thought trying to make up might burden you, Masaki-kun,” Hoshino added.

“It’s not like that at all…” I replied.

I didn’t do it for gratitude. I just wanted to atone for hurting her. I never thought it was a burden.

Seeing me lost in thought, Hoshino smiled slightly, looking troubled.

“That’s how it is. Hime-chan gets oddly passive about you, Masaki-kun. If she just said thank you honestly, it would save you, right?” Hoshino said.

I neither agreed nor disagreed with her words. I looked away from Hoshino, and I heard her sigh.

“That complicated side of you two is so alike,” she said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“Who knows? Figure it out yourself,” Hoshino replied.

Hoshino’s voice was curt, and she turned away abruptly. I decided not to ask further.

“Um… Masamune, I’m sorry,” Shogo said.

I looked up and saw Shogo facing me apologetically. My right cheek, which he slapped, still stung faintly, but I smiled back.

“It’s fine. I was wrong for not talking properly,” I said.

“No, you went that far for Himuro-san, and I said those things…” Shogo replied.

“I said don’t worry about it,” I insisted.

“No, that doesn’t sit right with me…” Shogo said.

Shogo thought for a moment, then suddenly looked struck.

“Masamune, slap my cheek!” he exclaimed.

“Why does it come to that?” I asked.

“I hit you unfairly. I deserve it,” Shogo said.

“No, it’s fine. You were right to be angry,” I replied.

“No, I won’t feel right unless you hit me! I need this to stay friends on equal terms. One hit, please!” Shogo insisted.

Saying that, Shogo thrust out his left cheek. I couldn’t back down after that, so I sighed deeply.

“Fine, keep your mouth closed,” I said.

“Yeah, bring it on!” Shogo shouted.

Matching Shogo’s lively voice, I pulled my hand back and…

SLAP!!!!

Apparently, my body resented being hit earlier. The sound, much louder than when Shogo hit me, echoed through the classroom.

*****

“Shogo-kun… you okay?” Hoshino asked.

Hoshino watched Shogo rub his cheek from a distance, her voice full of concern.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. This is nothing,” Shogo said.

“Yeah, Shogo’s tough. This is easy for him,” I added.

“Masamune… the one who hit shouldn’t say that,” Shogo replied.

He spoke in a teasing tone, but his eyes weren’t smiling. I didn’t expect such force myself, and I rubbed my red hand. Seeing us, Hoshino sighed.

“Is this what guys’ friendship is like? I don’t get it,” she said.

“I wouldn’t do this to you, Hoshino, so don’t worry,” I replied.

“You don’t need to say that. Just don’t!” Hoshino retorted.

At Hoshino’s comeback, Shogo and I laughed loudly.

In the middle of that, someone’s phone rang.

“Oh, sorry, it’s me,” Hoshino said.

Hoshino flipped her smartphone, left on the desk, and started using it. For a moment, I thought I saw her smile. But her expression quickly turned serious. From her face, we sensed something serious.

“What’s wrong, Hoshino? You okay?” Shogo asked.

Hoshino didn’t say yes or no to Shogo’s question. She slowly raised her face. Her eyes locked onto me firmly. In a trembling tone, but making each word clear, she spoke.

“Hime-chan got called out by Jingu-senpai…” she said.

Instantly, time seemed to stop in my body. A chilling fear ran through me in a flash.

Jingu-senpai’s call… to the back of the school building. I knew the reason without asking. The sudden turn left me speechless.

“Masaki-kun… the time limit is right there,” Hoshino said.

Hoshino spoke to me as if confirming something, calm despite her earlier shock. Time limit… I chewed on her words carefully.

This wasn’t just my problem. The world wouldn’t wait for me. My plan’s failure wasn’t considered, and things moved forward around Aiki.

As I struggled for words, Hoshino’s phone rang again. Checking the message, Hoshino pursed her lips, her expression holding something back.

“She’s at the back of the school building, it says. Tell Masamune…” Hoshino said.

“What’s there to hesitate about now? Himuro-san understands why you said those things. And this message means that, right?” Shogo said.

I couldn’t stop Shogo’s pleading gaze. I looked away, only able to stare at a spot on the desk.

“But I couldn’t protect Aiki…” I said.

“If Himuro-san matters that much, protect her with your own hands!” Shogo replied.

I understood Shogo’s point painfully well. Aiki cared for me as much as I cared for her. That’s why regret from that time haunted me, pulling me back to reality, telling me not to forget or escape the facts. My thoughts looped endlessly, and my body froze.

“Hey,” Hoshino said.

With that word, my face was lifted forcefully. Hoshino held my face with both hands. The soft warmth of her hands reached me directly. She continued speaking in that position.

“Close your eyes for a bit,” she said.

I closed my eyes as Hoshino instructed. Her warm touch felt like it enveloped me, making me feel safe.

“First, picture Hime-chan now,” Hoshino said.

I recalled Aiki’s image in my mind. Her tall, slender figure, her beautiful hair like woven fabric, her skin white as snow. Her image appeared clearly behind my eyelids.

“Now, think about what you and Hime-chan have done since you reunited,” Hoshino said.

I didn’t understand Hoshino’s intent, but I followed her words and recalled my days with Aiki. Aiki walking to school with me, Aiki arguing over the taste of tamagoyaki, Aiki eating from my chopsticks, and the night I returned after being rejected by Hoshino…

“Get ready, I won’t let you get heartbroken again,” Aiki had said.

“Does that Hime-chan seem like someone weak who needs your protection?” Hoshino asked.

At her words, I opened my eyes instantly. Hoshino greeted me with a gentle, motherly smile. Oh, I see… what a mistake I made. Memories of living with Aiki since high school flashed back vividly.

In those vibrant memories, there was no room for the sepia-tinted days of the past. I looked straight at Hoshino and answered.

“No way. Aiki is strong. I was the one being protected…” I said.

Aiki came to my house to help me, ignoring past grudges, despite my heartbreak. How much courage that must have taken.

She kept trying to help the current me. But I was stuck on the old Aiki, not seeing the present her. The crybaby Aiki from back then was gone. The thorn deep in my heart slowly melted away.

Seeing my expression, Hoshino looked satisfied and let go of my face. Shogo chuckled lightly.

“What’s with that face? Like something’s been lifted off you,” Shogo said.

“Something lifted, huh…” I replied.

He might be right. I was haunted by past illusions. But now, I knew clearly what I should do for the current Aiki, what I wanted to do. Thanks to Hoshino and Shogo, I finally realized it.

“Man, needing friends to say this much is so uncool,” I said.

“What’re you saying now? You’re the guy who tries to act cool but never pulls it off,” Shogo replied.

I muttered that, and Shogo raised an eyebrow lightly. Yeah, Shogo and Hoshino said something like that before… I gave a wry smile, and Shogo laughed again, tapping my chest with his fist.

“So, don’t talk about acting cool. Just throw your honest feelings out there,” Shogo said.

“Yeah, I’ll do that,” I replied.

“Then you better hurry. It’s been a while since that message,” Hoshino said.

“Yeah, it might be bad,” I agreed.

Even so, I somehow felt Aiki was waiting for me. I stretched big, relaxed, and turned to face them before leaving the classroom. There was one last thing I wanted to confirm.

“Hey, do I look cool right now?” I asked.

At my question, they looked stunned for a moment but then grinned widely.

“You look totally cool!” they said together.

Hearing their answer, I nodded once instead of replying.

“Then, I’m off!” I said.

I headed straight for the classroom door. No more hesitation, no looking back.

—The goal is the back of the school building, where Aiki Himuro, the one I love, waits.