My Childhood Friend, Who I Made a Promise To Spend the Future With, Dumped Me... But Ever Since I Started Dating a Beautiful Girl From School, My Childhood Friend Has Been Acting Strange - Episode 1

“Hey… I want to break up with you today.”

“Huh?”

For Toma Suzuki, those words were a shocking blow.

It was after school on a regular day.

In an empty classroom, his childhood friend—Saori Azusa, with whom he had made a promise for the future—suddenly broke up with him without any warning.

Toma questioned whether he had misheard something.

“You’re joking, right?

“I’m not. I’m serious. Have I ever lied to you?”

“Well… no, but…”

Is this really happening?

Toma couldn’t accept what was unfolding in front of him.

The emotional shock clouded his thoughts.

“That’s that, then. I’m going home.”

Saori lightly touched her semi-long black hair before turning to leave the classroom.

“Wait, even if we’re not dating anymore, we can still be friends, right?”

“…No, not even that.”

She made it clear.

“Not even that? W-why?”

“Because I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore. So don’t talk to me again. I won’t talk to you either.”

With a cold tone, Saori said her final words, slung her school bag over her shoulder, and walked out of the classroom without looking back.

N-no way… This can’t be happening…

Toma was left all alone in the now-empty classroom.

What was all the happiness they shared up until yesterday?

Now that his childhood friend had completely rejected him, he had no idea what to do.

Toma stood frozen by his desk, clutching his head.

Nothing remained for him.

Only loneliness.

He could only assume that the problem lay within himself.

So, he began to reflect.

Maybe it was because he was late on their weekend outing.

Or maybe it was that time they cooked together, and he accidentally mixed up the seasonings, creating an utterly disgusting dessert.

Or perhaps… the time he accidentally saw her in her underwear.

Looking back, he could see that he had made mistakes.

But Saori wasn’t the type to hold grudges.

They had known each other for years, and she usually forgave him easily.

If his constant small mistakes had finally worn her patience thin, the only thing left to do was apologize.

Instead of overthinking, he decided to act.

With a determined expression, he stepped out of the classroom.

But she was nowhere to be found in the hallway.

Even when he looked outside from the classroom window, he couldn’t spot her around the school gate.

Toma hurried to the first-floor entrance, but she was already gone.

“She really left already…”

Regret filled him.

If only he had chased after her sooner.

“Wait, maybe I can use my phone.”

Suddenly struck by the idea, he tried calling her.

No response.

He sent a message, but it remained unread.

Feeling defeated, he let out a deep sigh and headed back to the classroom.

Their relationship had always been good.

And yet, in a single day, without any warning, he had lost everything.

The damage was immense.

He didn’t have many friends at school, so from now on, he’d be spending his days in loneliness.

Since starting high school, he had mainly spent time with Saori.

His other friendships were few—he could count them on one hand.

In the classroom, she had been the only person he could talk to.

Now that she had shut him out, he had no idea how to move forward.

As he returned to the classroom to pack up, he suddenly felt a presence inside.

Huh?

For a moment, he thought it was Saori.

But when he peeked in, he realized it was someone else.

“Suzuki-kun, right? You’re still here?”

The person in the classroom was Suzuha Kamiya, a classmate.

She was known for her distinctive black ponytail.

“Uh… yeah.”

Toma stepped inside, nodding slightly.

“Are you heading home now?”

Suzuha, who had been sitting on her desk, placed her feet on the floor and stood up.

“Yeah, I was about to.”

“But you look pretty down. Something happen?”

“Well… yeah, kind of.”

Come to think of it, he was having a normal conversation with Suzuha.

That felt… strange.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“It’s just that… we’ve barely talked before, right?”

“True. Ever since we became classmates, we’ve been like strangers. But does that really matter?”

She tilted her head in curiosity.

“It’s not a problem, just… I was wondering why you decided to talk to me now.”

“No particular reason.”

“No reason?”

“Yeah. Just felt like it.”

She took a breath before continuing.

“Hey, Suzuki-kun, do you have a girlfriend?”

She stepped closer to him.

“Huh? No, I don’t.”

“Really? Huh… that’s interesting. Then how about this—why don’t we start dating?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m single too, and I kind of feel like being in a relationship. So, why not?”

“You’re… pretty casual about this.”

“Well, does it really matter? You’re single, right?”

“Yeah, but… are you sure about me?”

Toma pointed to himself in disbelief.

“Sure, why not? I can get to know you as we go. So, what do you think? I’m totally fine with dating you. The rest is up to you.”

She left the decision in his hands.

“…Alright then.”

After some hesitation, Toma nodded.

A part of him wanted someone to talk to about Saori.

So, he decided to accept Suzuha’s proposal.

“Great! That means we’re dating now!”

Suzuha responded cheerfully.

“Oh, right! Want to stop by somewhere? There’s a nice café in town. We can talk more there.”

Before he could even process what was happening, Suzuha had already decided their next steps.

“Suzuki-kun, hurry up and get ready! I’m all set to go.”

She was already holding her school backpack.

“O-okay. I’ll get my stuff.”

Toma packed his things into his bag.

He had just been dumped by his childhood friend.

And now, moments later, he was already in a new relationship.

It was all happening so fast.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, he turned to face Suzuha.

“Alright, let’s go. I’ll take you to my favorite café.”

With a light push on his back, Suzuha led him toward the entrance.

After changing into their outdoor shoes, the two of them left the school together.