Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792435517281755
A mini-celebration for the sports day—that notification had arrived in the group chat of our five childhood friends.
It was Sena who’d suggested it. Yuri’s in a different class, I thought, but well, if he’s up for it, then fine.
‘What shall we do?’ asked Renka, walking beside me.
I hesitated just a moment… but decided to answer, ‘Well, it’s a bit of a shame to miss it, so I suppose I’ll go.’
When we headed to our usual family restaurant, Sena and the others were already gathered.
Just as we arrived, Sena let out a smug grin.
“Yahoo, Akito-kun and Renka. Fufufu, so you two were together after all?’
Hearing that, Renka and I both averted our eyes in opposite directions.
It was 8 PM. Over three hours had passed since the sports festival ended.
After what happened with Renka on the riverbank… now that I’d calmed down, I was utterly mortified.
“Looks like you two finally made up properly this time. Well, that’s a relief!”
Heeew. Sena whistled exaggeratedly, teasing us.
Then, Yuri looked back and forth between us,
“Seems that way. Case closed, then?”
“…But we weren’t actually fighting, you know. Right, Renka?”
“Eh? Ah, uh. Yeah, I guess…”
Renka’s eyes darted around.
To be honest… I still hadn’t a clue what Renka was thinking.
One moment she’d be hurling insults at me, declaring she hated me.
The next, she’d ask to practise basketball together, or hug me.
And then there was that just now.
The words spoken in Renka’s gentle voice kept swirling round and round in my head.
[You see, I—I like that about you, Akito. I really do.]
[Actually, I—I like your bad points too, you know?]
What on earth was that… really?
I don’t know. Was that Renka ‘s true feelings? Or was “I hate you” just the facade?
Or rather, yes, fundamentally—
(What does “like” even mean…?! As a childhood friend? Or as a member of the opposite sex…?)
Round and round. Round and round and round.
My brain’s all tangled up, and I can’t think straight about anything.
“Right, well, you two sit down for now. Come on, dinner’s ready?”
“Oh, right…”
Nodding in response to Sena’s prompting, I sat down on the sofa-like chair.
And then, next to me… Renka sat down.
A sweet scent wafted over. The fragrance of the school’s most beautiful girl, one I’d just been sniffing all over.
“Hey, Akito. You were thinking something weird just now, weren’t you?”
“Eh… No, that was… unavoidable, I mean…”
“I can tell with just a glance, you know? Akito… pervert.”
…Huh?
Is Renka back to her usual self?
No, is she really back? The old Renka would have berated me far more mercilessly, I feel.
But this was just a tiny bit of venom – almost cute, even.
Still, venom is venom. It was definitely different from the sickly sweet atmosphere Renka had been giving off just moments ago.
Sena propped her chin on her hand and said,
“Still, it’s a relief to see her back to normal. Sena was wailing, “It’s all my fault for meddling, Akito and Renka …”.”
“Hold on, Hideki! You were the one moping about, “I might be a failure as Akito’s best friend…”!’
“H-hey! …N-no, that’s not it, Akito! I… I barely held back the tears!!”
“Oh… right. Sorry about that…”
It seemed I’d caused them both a lot of worry. …I’d have to make it up to them somehow next time.
“…Well, Akito. From now on, if anything happens, put us in the middle. We’ll even put on a trial for you, if you like.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You just want to play games, don’t you?”
“Hehe, you caught me.”
As I dealt with Hideki’s smug grin, Yuri pushed up his glasses and piped up,
“Akito and Renka staying the same as before? Ha! Don’t make me laugh. Hideki, is that the extent of your best friend skills?”
“Wh-what the hell!?”
Seriously, what’s this “best friend material” nonsense? First time I’ve heard of it.
Leaving me internally dumbfounded, Hideki and Yuri continued their conversation.
“It means I’m the one truly worthy of being Akito’s best friend, not you. You’re nothing but a lowly best mate who just happened to end up in the same class.”
“Ha! A whimpering loser! Listen up! Akito and I became classmates by fate!! And you, if you keep talking like that, I won’t even eat lunch with you anymore!!”
“Please don’t do that. That would be lonely, even for me.”
“Oh, right. Sorry…”
…What a pointless conversation to listen to. I wish I could get back the time and effort I spent dutifully listening.
Just as I was thinking that…
Poke poke. Renka nudged me around my right elbow.
“Hey, hey. Akito…”
A sweet, pleading look up at me.
…Huh. Where did that slightly sharp attitude from earlier go?
…Could it be she’s switched back to her affectionate mode (tentative name) until evening?
“Sena seems to have ordered drinks from the bar for us already. Shall we go and get them together?”
Gulp. My heart gave a thump.
The reason was simple. Renka’s plea, coming from such a beautiful girl, was unbelievably cute.
If there’s a man who could refuse this, I’d very much like to meet him.
“..Alright. Let’s go, Renka”
“…! Uh, y-yeah!”
Renka smiled brightly.
For just a moment, she looked a bit like a dog.
Her flaxen hair, tied up in a half-up style, seemed to be bobbing from side to side… though of course it wasn’t, but that’s how it appeared to me.
◇◇◇
After that, when Renka and I returned to our seats with our drinks.
…Sena looked unusually close to tears.
“Akito-kun! Renka! Please, help me!”
“Se-Sena? What happened…?”
“Hideki and Yuri are just too stupid…!”
What a heart-wrenching cry. I secretly sympathised with Sena inside.
And as for what those culprits had been discussing…
“I’ve told you countless times, Hideki. Akito and Renka aren’t just on the same terms as before—their relationship has deepened beyond what it was.”
“I’ve heard it countless times!! The crucial thing is the reason!! Come on, say it again!!”
“Therefore, it’s s*x. Akito and Renka must have had—”
“”—We haven’t..!?’””
We couldn’t help shouting, even though we were inside the shop. The staff gave us icy stares.
…Well, no wonder Sena was fed up and crying. Yuri probably didn’t mean any harm, but it certainly wasn’t the sort of thing to discuss in public.
“Oh, I see. My apologies, Akito, Renka. Seems I was mistaken.”
“This isn’t just a mistake, Yuri!!”
Renka puffed out her cheeks. Utterly adorable.
To hide that feeling, I let out a sigh.
“Yuri, you… Seriously, that’s not on in front of girls. I can handle it, but for Renka, it must be utterly humiliating. Right, Renka?”
I turned my gaze to Renka , sitting beside me.
Renka … her adorable cheeks were flushed bright red.
“………”
Renka’s cherry-blossom lips fidgeted nervously.
Then, she…
As if gathering her resolve, took a deep breath, and declared:
“W-Well, I… I could do naughty things with Akito…!!”
Renka’s soprano voice echoed throughout the shop.
Me, Sena, Hideki, Yuri. Every pair of eyes in the place, staff and customers alike, turned towards the fair-haired beauty.
Clink. The bell chimed softly, perhaps signalling someone leaving.
Watching this uncharacteristic display from my childhood friend beside me… all I could manage was a wry smile.
It seemed… my childhood friend had gone and gone a bit mad.
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I hope he ends up with the gyaru instead of this bipolar b****.