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 10
“School is draining…”
Natsuki sighed as he leaned against the hallway wall during break. Thursdays always felt like they dragged on forever. It was the day when exhaustion seemed to peak, motivation dwindled, and even the smallest tasks felt monumental. Fridays were easier, bolstered by the promise of the weekend, but Thursdays? Thursdays were merciless, filled with endless lectures that offered no excitement, making the day stretch out unbearably.
Today, though, something was different. There was a subtle lightness in the air, as if a part of the weight that had been pressing on him had eased. Maybe it was because he was starting to open up, even if only a little. He thought of Shizune, the one constant in his life since childhood, and felt a flicker of determination.
(Pretty hypocritical of me, telling others to drop their masks while I keep mine firmly in place.)
“Natsuki!”
Her voice broke through his thoughts, and he felt a familiar jolt as Shizune’s hand lightly bumped against his shoulder.
“Heading to your next class?”
“Yeah, you too?”
“Yep, we’ve got PE next.”
They fell into step, matching their pace as they navigated the crowded hallway.
“You seem brighter these days, you know?” Shizune said, glancing at him with a knowing smile.
“Do I? Feels the same to me.”
“Well, I think it suits you. You’re way cooler when you’re cheerful.”
Her grin turned playful, the kind that tugged at the corner of Natsuki’s mouth despite himself. It didn’t matter that he knew she was teasing—he could feel the heat rise to his face anyway.
“Cut it out, Shizune. Compliments from you mean nothing,” he muttered, trying to sound indifferent.
“Your face says otherwise. You’re blushing,” she pointed out, laughter in her eyes.
“…Shut up,” he retorted, giving her a gentle poke in the side. She laughed, an infectious sound that tugged a reluctant smile out of him.
Before he knew it, he was smiling too, and not the forced kind he had grown used to. It felt real, almost instinctive.
Shizune’s natural, unguarded laughter seemed to draw it out of him.
(When I think about it… even when I felt alone, Shizune was there. In the rough moments, in the happy ones—she was always by my side.)
The realization made her smile seem different, special even. He wasn’t sure why, but his chest felt warm, and his pulse quickened.
“W-What is it? You’re staring. It’s embarrassing,” she said, looking away for a moment, only to peek back curiously.
“N-Nothing. Anyway, I’ve got to go this way,” he said, breaking eye contact as he pointed down a different corridor.
“Okay, see you later!”
Natsuki walked away, trying to ignore the racing of his heart.
(…What’s wrong with me today?)
The pounding in his chest didn’t let up, even as he wove through the crowd.
“Please still be there…”
After the final bell, Natsuki made his way to the back of the school building, his pace hurried. He had misplaced his wallet earlier in the day, and though he had searched the school, he hadn’t found it. He hoped it might be where he had been during lunch. Losing it wasn’t an option—it held more sentimental value than cash.
(It’s not much money, but it’s important. I really don’t want to lose it.)
Just as he was about to turn the corner, voices he recognized made him stop in his tracks.
“Hey, Mik-kun, what did you want to talk about?”
“I called you out here because there’s something I need to ask…”
Peeking around the edge, he spotted Yuka and the senior she was dating. Natsuki felt a sharp pang of discomfort. He hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but now that he was there, he couldn’t move.
The senior held up a photo. “What’s this? Can you explain?”
“That? Oh, it’s from when I went out with some friends…”
“And this? Last Christmas, you said you were going home, but you didn’t. This isn’t with friends, is it?”
Natsuki’s breath caught. His suspicion solidified.
(So… she’s finally been caught.)
Natsuki hadn’t told the senior, nor had he any intention of doing so. He’d cut himself off from that part of his life, wanted nothing more than to stay out of it.
This wasn’t his business anymore, yet he found himself unable to walk away.
“…”
“I had my doubts for a while, but I wanted to trust you, Yuka.”
“I… I’m sorry. But I haven’t seen him in ages.”
“Stop. Let’s end this. I can’t do this anymore.”
The senior’s voice carried anger and betrayal, but Yuka reached out, catching his arm.
“W-Wait! I swear, you’re the only one I care about, Mik-kun. I admit, I messed around with him, but you’re the one I love! Please, let’s start over.”
Her desperate tone made Natsuki’s stomach turn.
Whether she had ever meant anything with him was a mystery, but her two-timing was undeniable.
“You played around? And I’m supposed to be the one you’re serious about? That just makes it worse. I’m done.”
“Please, think about it”
“Why are you the one looking like you’re about to cry? I’m the one who should be crying. I was serious, but you weren’t. We’re done. Go find that guy.”
The senior shook her hand off and walked away, leaving Yuka crumpled on the ground, staring after him.
(Of course, he’d dump you…)
With a hollow sense of detachment, Natsuki reached into his pocket, only for his phone to slip and hit the ground with a clatter. The sound caught Yuka’s attention, and she looked up, eyes locking with his.
“…You heard everything, didn’t you?”
“Sorry. Yeah.”
“I’m sorry for cheating on you back then.”
Her voice was weak, almost fragile. But to Natsuki, it felt like a story he’d heard long ago, one that no longer mattered.
“I see. Well, it’s not my concern now.”
“You’re not angry? Did you know?”
“Yeah, I knew. I saw you cozying up to him soon after we broke up.”
“Did you tell him?”
“No. I didn’t want to. But even if I had, who’s really to blame here?”
“…Whatever.”
Yuka looked away, drawing her knees to her chest as if to shield herself from the world.
Natsuki felt an urge to leave but paused, a question forming in his mind.
“Why did you cheat?”
“…Because I liked him more.”
“Since when?”
“From the beginning. Being with you was just for fun. I’ve always loved him.”
The truth hit harder than he expected, yet it didn’t surprise him.
“Confessing to you was a dare. But I didn’t know how to break it off, and he seemed out of reach, so I stayed. Then I started dating him, and I couldn’t just break up with you suddenly without raising suspicion. But in the end, I got caught.”
Yuka’s voice quivered, a thin edge of regret slicing through her words.
If only she had ended things sooner. But Natsuki didn’t care anymore; he was past it, detached.
“…Goodbye, Yuka.”
Natsuki turned and walked away.
It was finally over. Life would go back to how it was before. Even if their time together had been a lie, there were moments he’d enjoyed. For a while, he’d felt like his old self.
He wouldn’t say thank you, but part of him felt a quiet gratitude.
He turned his back on the past and took the first step forward.
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."