My Childhood Friend, Sometimes a Schoolgirl—She Only Wears That Ribbon Around Me - Episode 20

Walking side by side with Yua, each pushing our bicycles, we made our way down the five-minute path to the Yuki family house.

“You know the neighborhood and the way, right? You can get home on your own,” I said.

“It’s fine. Even though it’s the countryside, it’s dangerous for a girl to walk alone at night.”

“Oh, Sora-kun, you’re such a gentleman. You actually treat me like a girl?”

“Well, that’s because you are a girl.”

Even before my sister said anything, I had planned to see Yua home.

Out here on country roads surrounded mostly by rice fields with no tall buildings or shops, there were only a few houses and streetlights scattered about. Once it passed 7 p.m., it would get completely dark.

The calm, quiet countryside with few people around had a different kind of danger than the city, where there were more crowds and security cameras.

Leaving Yua alone on the road at night in her current outfit made me uneasy.

Her black dress, white cardigan, and wolf cut hairstyle tied back in a ponytail made her look very pretty and feminine—enough to attract the attention of guys, including me.

After spending several years in the city, her polished fashion sense and good looks didn’t quite blend in here in the countryside. For better or worse, she stood out.

“It feels fresh, even more than nostalgic… I haven’t been treated like a girl in years,” she said.

“Well, you usually dress like a guy, so it’s understandable.”

Some people might wonder if she dresses like a boy because she doesn’t want to be treated like a girl and might act like a guy even though they know she’s a girl.

Honestly, if it was a different girl who dressed like a boy besides Yua, I probably would treat her a bit differently from other girls, though maybe not completely like a guy.

“So, Sora-kun, if I was dressed like a boy now, would you still walk me home?”

“Yeah, I would.”

“But isn’t it safer to walk alone at night if you look like a guy?”

“Just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean you’re safe. There are all kinds of people out there.”

“So, you do the same for other guys?”

“Hey, what’s with that jealous tone?”

Normally, if Yua was a girl, she’d say, “You do that for other girls too, right?” But since she usually dresses like a boy, it makes things a little complicated.

“I don’t really have any close guy friends, so I’ve never had the chance to walk a guy home… And just so you know, same goes for girls.”

“Oh? So I’m the only one you walk home, no matter how I dress?”

Yua smiled a little proudly, “Hmph.”

“That’s not something to brag about, and yet you look like that.”

Right now, the only person I can talk to this casually and have silly conversations with is her.

Even though I’ve been in high school for over a year, I haven’t made friends like that. So having her as my “only one” probably means nothing special.

“You know, Sora-kun, you’ve changed a lot… When I talk to you, I realize a lot’s different.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Nope! I mean you’ve gotten more mature!”

Yua denied my cynical reply and smiled softly.

“…It’s not that I’ve gotten more mature. Ever since I graduated from elementary school, I’ve had fewer chances to interact with people. Before I knew it, I lost my social skills and became quieter.”

I quit soccer halfway through middle school because of an injury, and after that, I became pretty listless—even I noticed.

Soccer was my one real skill, my strength—my “weapon” to be equal with others.

Right after quitting, I was so shocked I barely went to school. Looking at my posters and uniform was painful, so I threw them all away. I shut myself inside and distracted myself with games and manga… It was really pathetic.

Back then, people told me to come back once my injury healed with warm words. But as time passed, I became an outsider they didn’t pay attention to anymore.

On the club team and at practice, I was always with my teammates, but our connection was only through soccer.

Maybe if I had tried harder to keep those bonds, things might’ve been different. But back then, I felt too ashamed and pushed everyone away.

In the end, I lost my confidence and started avoiding people. After starting high school, I kept my distance even more.

“You’re strong, Sora-kun,” Yua said, suddenly stopping and looking down as she quietly spoke.

“What’s strong about that story?”

“Some people go into a deep slump when something bad happens. But you got through it and still go to school. That’s strong and amazing.”

I stopped walking too. She came closer, opened her palm, and reached out her hand to me.

“You did your best, Sora-kun.”

Her small, warm hand gently touched my head.

She stroked my hair over and over, saying softly, “Good job, good job.”

“…”

Even though I quit soccer years ago, the pain that lingered stubbornly was slowly starting to fade.

I’d been comforted before, but never praised.

Being understood and accepted like this—not pitied—was the greatest “salvation” for me right now.

Just then—a bright light suddenly filled my vision as a car passed by.

“Th-thank you, that’s enough,” I said, snapping out of it as the headlights and engine noise hit me.

I quickly pulled my hand away and looked away, feeling embarrassed.