When I Was Rejected and Returned Home, My Childhood Friend, Who Should Have Been Distant, Was in My Room - Chapter 36: Settling the Past, For the Future

Chapter 36: Settling the Past, For the Future…?

I took Manaki away from Jingu-senpai in a way that felt like stealing. I rushed forward with momentum, too scared to look back. But I had no regrets.

“Hey, Masamune.”

“W-What is it?”

A faint voice came from behind. My face stayed still, like it was fixed in place.

“Masamune, are you nervous?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your hand, it’s super sweaty.”

A light laugh-like sound reached my ears, and I reflexively let go of her hand. I checked my right hand, which we held together, and it was soaked with sweat.

“I didn’t say I wanted you to let go, though.”

“Huh?”

Manaki jogged closer to me and grabbed my arm tightly. She linked her arm with mine and leaned her weight lightly on me. The floral scent of her shampoo tickled my nose.

Her face, looking up at me, wore her usual smile. But her cheeks seemed more flushed than usual, making my heart skip a beat.

“Hehe, I caught you.”

“I got caught, huh…”

“Yeah, I’m never letting you escape.”

“Is that so? You won’t let me go…”

She said something intense, but Manaki’s expression didn’t change at all. That felt strangely scary.

“Oh, by the way, Manaki, what about your bag?”

Back then, I rushed out and forgot my bag in the classroom. Manaki, now that I looked, was empty-handed too.

“I left it in the classroom.”

“What should we do? We left like that… Should we go back for it?”

“I’m fine with that…”

Manaki raised the corner of her mouth slightly, giving a mischievous smile.

“Are you okay with that, Masamune? Hoshino and the others are probably still in the classroom.”

“…Let’s not go back.”

If I returned to the classroom in this state, I’d obviously get teased. They’d ask all sorts of questions, and by tomorrow, baseless rumors would spread like wildfire. I’d let my bag stay hostage for now…

“Then, shall we quietly go home together?”

“Yeah, Mom’s probably already home.”

But Manaki looked dissatisfied. With our arms still linked, she narrowed her eyes, as if she couldn’t believe what I said.

“No way, Masamune, you’re not planning to leave a girl in this state and go home alone, are you?”

“…”

“The guy I fell for isn’t the kind of lame guy who’d act cool in front of Jingu-senpai but run away at the crucial moment, right?”

Manaki asked calmly, her tone flat, like she was just confirming facts.

“By the way, no one’s at my house today.”

“…Then, shall we go to your place, Manaki?”

Manaki softened her icy gaze and gave a warm, motherly smile.

“Yeah, let’s go together.”

Her beaming smile carried an undeniable tone.

******

“Here, come on in.”

“Thanks for having me!”

Manaki’s house, which I entered after a long time, hadn’t changed at all.

“The furniture and stuff are exactly the same, huh.”

“Yeah, shipping big things over there costs money, so we left them as is. We’ll come back eventually anyway.”

It was my first time here since Manaki’s family went to Sweden. The smell of the house brought back old memories.

“It’s pretty clean…”

“Well, yeah, I’m living here on my own terms, so I’ve got to keep it clean.”

Looking around the spotless room, Manaki turned to me with a twirl.

“Plus, I kept it ready for whenever you might come over, Masamune.”

“…I see.”

Feeling shy, I looked away, and Manaki let out a smug hum.

“Then, shall we go to my room?”

She led me to her room, and my body seemed to remember the way.

Manaki’s room was quite plain. It had just a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf, with little space showing her personality.

“What, thinking it’s not girly enough?”

“N-No, it’s not that… It’s just a room with very few things.”

“That’s not fooling anyone.”

Pouting, Manaki sat on the bedside.

“Come here.”

She patted the spot next to her. Drawn in, I sat down. I sat a bit away, but Manaki closed the distance quickly. I felt her warmth directly.

“Manaki, I love you.”

The words I hesitated to say came out smoothly. Maybe thanks to her warmth. Manaki looked down, her expression hidden.

“Is it okay… with me?”

“Yeah, it has to be you, Manaki. No one else will do.”

I heard her sniffle right beside me.

“But I said so many awful things to you, Masamune…”

Her voice trembled with tears. The composed Manaki from before seemed like a lie. I let out a big sigh.

“Back in middle school, I thought it was enough if you smiled, Manaki. I thought I, who knew your past, should protect you. Even if you said harsh things or stopped talking to me, I thought it was fine as long as you were happy.”

“…Yeah.”

Manaki nodded slightly with a small voice.

“But since we reunited, my feelings started changing. I used to be content just watching you from afar, but being with you every day became so fun that I can’t imagine days without you anymore.”

“…Me too, Masamune.”

Manaki took a deep breath. Her shaky breath mixed with sobs.

“I couldn’t stand seeing you hurt from heartbreak, and I wanted to help you. But when I came to your room after so long, my feelings overflowed, and I wanted more.”

As her words ended, I turned my body toward her on the bed. Manaki, as if resolving herself, turned to me. Her gem-like eyes seemed to shimmer, not just from tears.

I steeled myself, took a slow breath, and vowed never to let her go again.

“Manaki, I love you. Go out with me.”

Manaki stared at my face, her expression strained as if holding something back. Then, she broke into a teary smile.

“Yes, I look forward to being with you.”

Relief washed over me. Manaki, with her tear-soaked face, was the most beautiful in the world.

Wiping her tears, she smiled shakily.

“Going out with you, Masamune, feels like a dream…”

“Good thing it’s real.”

“Yeah… it’s real…”

Her distant gaze murmured, perhaps recalling past days.

“Hey, Masamune. Can you pinch my cheek? I still can’t believe this is real.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah, do it hard.”

Manaki pushed her left cheek toward me. Maybe from crying so much, her neck was slightly wet.

Looking at her defenseless state, a mischievous desire stirred within me.

I decided to be true to my feelings… just a little, right?

“Hey, Masamune, what are you—eek!”

I brushed her hair aside and lightly kissed her neck. Manaki let out the cutest squeal I ever heard.

“That’s payback for back then.”

Saying that, Manaki looked down and fell completely silent. My plan worked, and I got excited.

“You teased me so much before, so now it’s my turn.”

“…”

I declared boldly, but Manaki didn’t respond. Still looking down, her expression stayed hidden. Uh-oh, was the neck kiss too much? But we’re dating now…

“Masamune.”

“Y-Yes…”

Still looking down, Manaki spoke softly. Her chilling voice sent shivers down my spine.

“Do you know what you just did?”

“Uh, um, a kiss on the neck, right…?”

My earlier confidence vanished, and I slipped into polite speech as Manaki’s switch flipped. But then I reconsidered. We’re dating, so I should face her as an equal.

“B-But we’re dating, right? A kiss is normal, isn’t it?”

“Yeah… since we’re dating, a kiss is normal, huh…?”

I thought I saw a slight smile under her shadowed face. She muttered something under her breath. Alarms blared in my head, but there was no stopping now.

“Y-Yeah! It’s normal, we’re not just childhood friends anymore!”

Trying to convince myself, Manaki grabbed my cheek. Her grip was unbelievably strong, locking my face in place.

“M-Manaki? What are you—”

“What? It’s obvious.”

She slowly raised her face. Her eyes, looking up at me, gleamed with a wild light. I instinctively understood. This wasn’t the innocent face of a new girlfriend. This was…

“I’m going to teach innocent Masamune what a real kiss is.”

It was the unmistakable look of a predator.

“Don’t bite your tongue, okay?”

“Mmph!”

Before I could reply, my lips were sealed. I tried to resist at first, but her vise-like grip on my head made it pointless. Slowly, her tongue entered my mouth.

Her tongue moved leisurely, as if claiming every part of me—my cheeks, my palate, the back of my teeth. Her slick movements drained my strength. My body went limp, and I became hers completely.

“Phew!”

With a breath, she finally released me. While I slumped, Manaki sat upright, looking even more energized. The childhood friend who licked her lips showed no trace of her old timid self.

“Got it?”

“Y-Yes…”

I barely managed a reply. Manaki nodded, satisfied. I thought I was finally free. I almost lost myself there…

“Good, then next.”

“Huh?”

The next moment, I saw the ceiling. Manaki knelt over me on the bed, her eyes gleaming more dangerously than before. Even I could tell what she planned.

“W-Wait, Manaki!”

“You don’t want me?”

“No, it’s not that, but this should come after we’ve dated longer, after we know each other better… right?”

Overwhelmed by her dominant position, I desperately strung words together. Manaki smiled—a gentle, angelic smile.

“It’s fine. We’re childhood friends who’ve known each other for ten years. There’s nothing more to know, right?”

While pinning me with one hand, she reached behind her neck with the other.

With a click, her school ribbon fell, stealing my vision. My pathetic screams and her laughter echoed in the empty room.