When I started High School, My Childhood Friend, who had suddenly become distant and cold, was harassed by a stranger. I stepped in to help, and as a result, from the following day, My Childhood Friend's behavior became unusual. - Chapter 1
“A Couple… huh.”
On his way to school one morning, Natsuki Sawatari sighed as he watched a couple flirting nearby while he waited for the train.
Not long ago, scenes like this would bring a smile to his face. Now, all he felt was irritation and disgust.
He wondered how long this couple’s love would actually last.
(Ugh… this is bad. I’m really thinking negatively.)
It wasn’t jealousy driving his feelings but the bitterness from his own recent painful experience. It was more accurate to say he disliked couples than envied them.
Truth be told, after what happened with his ex, he didn’t want to be involved with any women at all. For Natsuki, who barely had male friends as it was, this might have been an unnecessary worry.
After some time, the train Natsuki usually took arrived.
Even though he didn’t feel like going, he knew he had to for the sake of his studies. With a heavy heart, he forced himself up from the bench and squeezed into the crowded train, getting pushed further in as more passengers boarded.
The train eventually started moving. In the tightly packed space, Natsuki looked up at the ceiling.
Natsuki was taller than most around him, which allowed him to survey the crowded car.
The time he spent standing in the crowded train was pure agony. It was too packed to see out the windows, using his phone was impossible, and the heat was suffocating.
(I should have gotten up earlier.)
Natsuki regretted sleeping in and missing his usual, slightly earlier train. That one was crowded too, but not as stifling as this.
“Ugh…”
As he pondered, a small, high-pitched cry reached his ears. It was so faint that no one else seemed to notice. Though it wasn’t something that would typically concern him, Natsuki instinctively turned toward the sound.
To his surprise, he saw a familiar face—Shizune Aizawa, his childhood friend. Though they had drifted apart recently, to the point where it felt like she disliked him, they had known each other since kindergarten.
But something was wrong. Shizune’s expression was tense, and her eyes were red, as if she were terrified.
(Is she… being harassed?)
In a packed train like this, a groper could easily go unnoticed unless the victim spoke up. High school girls were often targeted, as they were more vulnerable emotionally and easier prey for such predators.
Natsuki glanced at the man behind Shizune. He was middle-aged, wearing a suit and gripping the strap with his left hand, while his right arm moved subtly, hidden from view.
Although there was no absolute certainty, it seemed clear enough that Shizune was being harassed.
Pushing his way through the crowd, Natsuki moved closer to her. As he got there, he confirmed that the man was indeed touching her.
After discreetly taking a picture with his phone as evidence, Natsuki grabbed the man’s right wrist and pushed him away from Shizune.
“Get off at the next station. Don’t even think about running.”
“W-What’s your problem, kid?”
The man tried to shake Natsuki’s grip and back away, but in the crowded train, there was nowhere to go.
“I saw you harassing this girl.”
“I-It was just an accident, my hand brushed her.”
“I have proof, so you won’t get away. Let’s step off at the next station.”
The other passengers began murmuring as they noticed what was happening. It was a hassle, especially so early in the morning.
When Natsuki glanced at Shizune, she was crying, tears streaming from her eyes. He handed her a handkerchief.
“Thank you for helping me, Natsuki…”
After reporting the incident to the station staff and having the man handed over to the police, Natsuki and Shizune walked to school together. They were already late, so they took their time.
“Don’t worry about it. I couldn’t just ignore it.”
“…I’m sorry for dragging you into this. Now we’re both late.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for. I’m just glad I noticed in time.”
It had been a long time since they had spoken.
“It feels like it’s been forever since we talked like this,” Shizune said.
“Yeah, it does.”
She was right. Shizune had become distant and cold around the end of summer break for reasons he never understood. Being in different classes only made it easier for them to drift apart. And though Natsuki had tried to talk to her before, her attitude had changed so drastically that he eventually kept his distance for most of their first year of high school.
He assumed there was a reason, and today felt like an opportunity to find out. The last time he had asked her, she only responded with, “Nothing,” and he didn’t push for more. But now, he lacked the courage to bring it up, so he changed the topic.
“How’s school been for you, Shizune?”
“It’s fun hanging out with friends, but… something still feels off. What about you?”
“Normal… well, if I’m honest, I don’t really like it.”
“Oh… I see…”
With his heart still aching, today was a day he’d have rather spent at home. To Natsuki, school was dull. Shizune was the only exception, but with his limited social skills, he had few friends to speak of.
“So, how are things with your girlfriend?” Shizune asked hesitantly.
“…We broke up recently.”
Natsuki had only just ended things with his girlfriend. She had been kind, initiating conversations with him, and he grew fond of her. They started dating last summer, and he vowed to cherish her. But out of the blue, she broke up with him.
What hurt most was seeing her the next day walking home with an older male senior. She had apparently been seeing him for a while and had simply lost interest in Natsuki.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Shizune said softly.
“It’s fine.”
It had left him wary of relationships, even slightly distrustful of women. They walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached school.
(We probably won’t talk like this again for a while…)
With that thought, Natsuki headed to his classroom.
Support "WHEN I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL, MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND, WHO HAD SUDDENLY BECOME DISTANT AND COLD, WAS HARASSED BY A STRANGER. I STEPPED IN TO HELP, AND AS A RESULT, FROM THE FOLLOWING DAY, MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND’S BEHAVIOR BECAME UNUSUAL."