Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792438306828899
“Way back when… like, first grade or something. Back then, I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere.”
His voice was incredibly calm as he spoke.
Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of his profile, where an innocent smile played.
“I couldn’t study or play sports, and my looks were just plain ordinary. My social skills were low, and I didn’t have any particular talents. I was just a shallow person, only special because I was a childhood friend of Koiuta and the others. So I tried really hard to catch up with everyone—but in the end, I just kept failing. I embarrassed myself, and everyone around me only saw my flaws.”
Pathetic, huh—
Akito chuckled softly.
“So… I decided to stop trying. I ran away. I guess you could call it inferiority complex. I always admired Renka and the others, who were always so sparkling… but just as much, I felt miserable. It felt like I belonged in a different world from everyone else. I even thought maybe it would be easier to just be alone.”
—I had no idea.
When was that… exactly?
Since then, have I been… still hurting Akito…?
“But. To someone like me, Renka—she said ‘thank you’.”
“……Huh?”
“I was just someone she could talk to. But she relied on me, even though that’s all I could do. How should I put it… Anyway, it made me incredibly happy.”
Could he be talking about that time?
Back in second grade. When I was being bullied by the girls in my class, Akito gently spoke to me.
When I was all alone, Akito stayed by my side. The two of us searched through the trash together, looking for my handouts. In the end… Akito found them for me.
I’ll never forget the smile on his face back then.
“…That’s when I realized. Even someone like me… it’s okay for me to be by Renka’s side.”
That’s… no, it’s the opposite.
Back then, I thought: Even someone like me is allowed to be by Akito’s side.
It was none other than Akito’s gentle words that made me feel that way.
“After that, every day became joyful. Thinking that even a loser like me could be useful to Renka—it made my heart feel warm deep inside. Every time Renka smiled in front of me, I felt truly happy.”
But… that’s not right either.
I was the one who was happy.
Because Akito supported me. Because he stayed with me.
That’s why I could feel happy. That’s why I could laugh and think every day was fun.
“Renka. You’ve kept that friendship bracelet safe all this time, haven’t you?”
“Ah… y-yeah…”
I remember. He gave me this friendship bracelet on my birthday in fourth grade.
And back then… Akito said something strange.
“See, I’m an idiot, right? So I didn’t know the real meaning behind friendship bracelets. When this one breaks, I’ll grant you one wish—any wish you want. I’m pretty sure that’s what I said, right?”
“…Yeah…”
When I received this friendship bracelet from Akito.
I thought of something… really sneaky.
If the bracelet breaks, Akito will grant my wish.
But for that to happen… Akito has to be by my side, right?
No one knows when the bracelet will break. So… until it breaks, Akito should stay with me, right?
Because Akito is kind.
Akito would never break a promise. So when this bracelet breaks, he’ll definitely be right beside me. And then—he’ll listen to my wish.
Of course… that’s just a story from when we were kids.
By the time I became a high schooler, I didn’t believe in friendship bracelet promises at all anymore. I just assumed Akito had forgotten about it.
But… right.
Akito… he remembered.
“So, Renka. What are you going to do?”
“……Huh?”
What am I going to do?
What… are you talking about…?
“Well, look. That friendship bracelet broke, right? So—the promise. I’ll grant you one wish, Renka.”
Suddenly—I thought I saw the sky sparkle.
Was it a shooting star? If so… I wish I could have seen it with Akito.
But. I don’t have the right to wish for something like that.
“…………I’m sorry.”
I thought I had to be honest.
If I lied here—I’d hate myself even more.
“Because… my wish… already came true…”
Because.
When this friendship bracelet was torn off—I made a wish.
“Because Akito… saved me… I… I was so scared…”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t want to… but… I couldn’t make a sound… I just thought… ‘Help me’…”
“Yeah.”
“Then… Akito… came for me. But… he got hurt so badly…”
Because I wished for help.
Because of that… Akito got hurt like that again.
But. I’m still just a coward. All I could do was watch.
“It’s… already been granted… my wish… Akito granted it for me…”
I really, really hate it.
I’m really, really scared.
But even so—I still…
I don’t want to make Akito any more unhappy than he already is.
“So… Akito—”
“—Just so you know, no ‘keeping our distance’ nonsense, okay?”
…Huh?
I was about to ask why.
But before I could—Akito smiled innocently.
It was a childlike, adorable smile.
“Because—I’m happy now.”
Akito’s gentle, somehow pure voice.
It resonated calmly within my wavering heart.
“It’s all thanks to you, Renka. Ever since that day, I’ve been happy. Because you stayed by my side. Because your smile supported my heart. The one who gave me this happiness—it’s no one else but you, Renka.”
“——…Wh-why…?”
I was speaking too.
Before I knew it, the words had slipped out.
“Why… are you… happy…?”
After hurting him so much. After putting him through such terrible things.
It wasn’t just today. To protect my own happiness, I’d said cruel things to Akito countless times. Without considering his feelings, I kept trampling on his kindness.
I’m the worst childhood friend.
That’s how it should be, and yet—
“——Because I like you, Renka.”
Why?
Why does Akito’s back feel so warm?
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