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The next morning, when I left the house, Rino wasn’t waiting in front of the gate.
Usually, she’d show up a little too early and complain about how slow I was. Even though I hadn’t asked her to, she’d act all put-upon and get grumpy. A morning where I didn’t have to deal with that hassle was quieter than I’d expected.
On my way to the station, I ran into Shiori at an intersection. Yesterday, as we were parting ways, I’d said, “Why don’t we walk together part of the way tomorrow?” I felt strangely nervous about asking someone out on my own, but after widening her eyes slightly, Shiori nodded politely.
Walking side by side, I wasn’t sure what to say. But I didn’t mind the silence. Shiori didn’t force herself to match my stride; she simply walked naturally beside me. Just that alone made the morning air feel a little different.
Just before we reached the school, Rino was waiting for us.
She stood there with her arms crossed, her brown hair swaying. The paper bag from yesterday was gone. But her face bore a look of dissatisfaction that seemed heavier than any luggage.
“Minato. You were serious about that thing yesterday, weren’t you?”
Rino’s gaze wasn’t on me—it was fixed on Shiori beside me. Shiori tried to say hello, but Rino ignored her.
“So you’re putting your girlfriend before your childhood friend? After just one day of dating, isn’t that a little too obvious?”
I felt a slight pang in my chest. It wasn’t that I’d come to completely dislike Rino, who’d been by my side for so long. That’s why hearing her say it like that hurt. But whereas yesterday I would have apologized right then and there, today I managed to take a deep breath.
“Of course I’m prioritizing her. She’s my girlfriend.”
Rino’s eyes wavered. Beneath her anger, another emotion flashed for just a moment. But she quickly smiled to cover it up.
“Huh. So once you get a girlfriend, you get cold toward your childhood friend. I guess that’s just the kind of guy you are, Minato.”
“I’m not trying to be cold. I’m just not carrying your stuff in the morning, that’s all.”
“That’s how you choose to put it.”
Rino bit her lip. Her expression suggested she was trying to make it seem like I was in the wrong. But there was no reason for me to be blamed for letting her carry her own bag. Just being able to think that made me feel a little better than I had yesterday.
As soon as I entered the classroom, Mikoto came right over.
She was smiling brightly as usual, brushing her loosely curled hair aside with her fingers. But her eyes were gauging the distance between me and Shiori.
“Segawa-kun, can I talk to you for a sec at lunch today? I still can’t decide what to do about Sano-kun’s reply. Things were kind of awkward yesterday, so I missed my chance to ask you.”
“I’m having lunch with Miyahara.”
Mikoto’s smile faltered slightly.
“Huh? It’s just a quick chat. We’re friends, right? Just because you have a girlfriend now, isn’t it wrong to suddenly cut off the person you’ve been confiding in all this time?”
The way she phrased it made it sound like she was speaking for everyone around us to hear. Sure enough, some guys nearby turned to look at us. Mikoto is good at subtly calling me out without making it look like she’s accusing me.
“I didn’t say I was cutting you off. It’s just that I’m not your go-to guy for relationship advice, and I don’t think it’s right to keep confiding in other girls one-on-one now that you have a girlfriend.”
Mikoto’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“You didn’t have to put it that way, did you? I was trusting you, Segawa-kun, when I told you that.”
“I know you trusted me. But there were times when it was hard for me, too. Like I said yesterday, it’s just plain tough to listen to another guy’s problems right after you told me having a boyfriend is a hassle.”
Mikoto tried to retort, but swallowed her words. She looked like she remembered what she’d said. But instead of apologizing, she shifted her gaze to Shiori.
“Is it because Miyahara-san would mind?”
Shiori looked at me silently. Her expression said, “I’ll leave it up to you.”
“No. It’s because I don’t want to. Also, I don’t want to make Miyahara anxious.”
For the first time, Mikoto couldn’t keep up her cheerful facade. Maybe she’d thought that the space she’d carved out for herself using the word “friend” would just naturally remain in my heart.
During lunch break, Shiori and I ate our boxed lunches in the courtyard. We didn’t have much of a special conversation. Just small talk—like how the rolled omelet was a little too salty, or how I hated the upcoming English quiz. Even so, it felt like I was spending my lunch break on my own terms.
After school, on my way to the entrance, Chitose Senpai called out to me.
Her black hair swayed, and she wore her usual calm smile. She was holding the cultural festival materials in her hand.
“Segawa-kun, could you help me out a little bit today, too? It’s a continuation of yesterday’s work, and I think you’ll get the hang of it right away.”
“I’m sorry. I promised Miyahara I’d go home with her today.”
Senpai’s smile faded just a little.
“You just started dating her yesterday, and you’re already putting her first, huh? Of course, it’s good to treat her well, but if the help you’ve been giving me all this time suddenly stops, I’ll be in a bind too.”
“It’s a problem for me, too, if plans are made assuming I’ll help.”
After I said that, I got scared. I’d never spoken to a senior like that before. But Chitose-senpai just lowered her eyes, looking troubled.
“You’ve gotten cold, Segawa-kun. I think you used to be a little happier when people relied on you.”
“There were times when I was happy about it. But there were also times when it was hard to say no.”
Chitose-senpai fell silent. For the first time, a hint of displeasure mingled with her usual mature composure. The fact that I was no longer a junior who never turned her down must have been unexpected for her.
Mei was waiting at the entrance.
Today she wasn’t alone; she was with two other first-year girls. When she spotted me, she spoke in a deliberately cheerful voice.
“Senpai, the girls in the club got mad at me because of what happened yesterday. You’ll hang out with me properly today, right? It’s really mean to abandon your juniors two days in a row.”
The way she chose her words was clearly designed to elicit sympathy from those around us. In the past, I would have given in to that atmosphere.
“I’m not going. Like I said yesterday, buy it yourself.”
Mei froze, her smile frozen on her face.
“So once you get a girlfriend, you get cold toward your juniors, huh?”
The moment I heard those words, the feeling I’d been swallowing down over and over since this morning took shape in my chest.
Rino, Mikoto, Chitose Senpai, and Mei—they all say the same thing. That I’ve become cold. Without stopping to think about just how close they’d been getting to me.
I lowered my gaze to the floor of the entrance hall, then looked up.
“I didn’t get cold. You were just too close before.”
The forced cuteness vanished from Mei’s face.
Rino and Mikoto, who had just arrived from behind, had heard those words too. Senpai Chitose was also standing on the stair landing. They all looked as if I’d said it directly to them.
Shiori stood beside me, saying nothing.
And that was fine. These weren’t words Shiori had been forced to say. They were words I had spoken—for myself.
I readjusted my bag and walked out of the entrance alongside Shiori. I could feel countless stares piercing my back. But today, I wasn’t carrying anyone’s luggage, listening to anyone’s problems, or worrying about anyone’s mood.
The evening breeze was a little chilly. Shiori whispered softly beside me.
“You actually managed to say it just now.”
“hands are shaking a little, though.”
“Even if they’re shaking, it’s the same as long as you said it.”
Feeling saved by those words, I stepped outside the school gate.
I thought I heard someone call my name from behind. But I didn’t turn around. I’d decided to go home with her today, and I had no intention of taking that promise lightly.
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