My Childhood Friend, Sometimes a Schoolgirl—She Only Wears That Ribbon Around Me - Episode 28

“Hey, what’s wrong, Minamikata-san!?”

“When Yushiro-chan transferred to our school, I misunderstood something and thought Tsuzuki-kun was a creep for standing near the girls’ bathroom… I never got the chance to apologize, and now it’s been all this time…”

She started speaking, her voice trembling like she was about to cry.

Standing in front of her, I had no idea what to do. I panicked, glancing around in confusion.

“Uh, for now… can you look up?”

I gently encouraged her. She wiped at her eyes with her fingers and slowly raised her head. Her nose and the area around her eyes were slightly red, and I could see tears welling up.

Honestly, I hadn’t cared that she never apologized. I’d even forgotten about it.
But clearly, it had been weighing on her this whole time.

“I really don’t mind, so please don’t worry about it. You don’t have to beat yourself up over it, Minamikata-san.”

“But… I just can’t let it go like this.”

“Wha—?”

Her fingertip brushed lightly against my arm. It only lasted a second, but I completely overreacted at the brief touch from someone I’d admired for so long.

“Ah—sorry! I didn’t mean to—! You’re probably all sweaty after gym, and I just—!”

Seeing my reaction, she quickly stepped back to put some distance between us.

“N-no, it’s totally fine! I mean—saying I don’t mind sounds kinda creepy too, but really, it’s okay! I’m probably the one sweating more anyway!”

Talking with someone I looked up to had me all excited, and I kept rambling like I was trying to explain myself.

Seeing me fluster like that, Minamikata smiled again.

“…Somehow, that makes me feel better.”

She laced her fingers together, looking a little shy as she spoke.

“We haven’t talked much before… but I think I’d really like to get to know you better, Tsuzuki-kun.”

Seeing all these new expressions on her face up close only made my heart race even more.

“If it’s okay with you… wanna hang out sometime when we’re both free?”

“Hang out? Just the two of us…?”

“Yeah. I thought maybe I could treat you to something tasty as a way to make up for what happened… unless you don’t want to?”

She tilted her head slightly and looked up at me, a little anxious.

Wait—this is one of those “weekend date” invitations, right!?
I never thought something like this would actually happen to me!

“No, not at all! I’d love to go!”

“Really?”

Hearing my answer, Minamikata’s face lit up. She clapped her hands together and bounced a little on the spot.

“I’m so happy…! I was really nervous you might say no…”

Despite being so charming and idol-like, she wasn’t overconfident at all… The more we talked, the more I realized how amazing she really was.

“Then, here—take this. It’s my LINE ID. Add me later, okay? I was going to give it to you in class, but I got too embarrassed to do it in front of everyone…”

“O-oh. I’ll add you right after I change out of my gym clothes.”

Her contact info… the magical string of letters and numbers I’d secretly dreamed of having, so I could talk to her anytime.

I took the note she handed me and stared at the ID written on it.

Just holding it, I could feel the warmth of her presence coming through the paper.

Then—
The school bell rang, echoing through the halls and snapping me out of my dreamlike daze.

“We totally lost track of time, didn’t we?”

“Y-yeah, we really did…”

“And we’re both still in our gym clothes too.”

Minamikata laughed awkwardly, scratching her head with a finger.

“Well, now that I’ve given you my contact info, let’s talk more on LINE, okay?”

“Yeah, definitely. We better hurry and change before class starts.”

“Okay… sorry for keeping you so long out here.”

She gave me a little wave, then jogged off toward the girls’ locker room.

Left alone at the entrance, I looked down at the note in my hand once more.

“…Alright. Alright… Alriiiight!!”

I crouched slightly and pumped my fist, keeping my voice low but full of excitement.

Right then and there—
I felt like the happiest person in the world.