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 12
“Natsuki—what are you up to?”
The familiar voice of Kato broke through Natsuki’s idle scrolling during their break. They didn’t have to move classrooms, so he had been mindlessly playing with his phone. He glanced up just as Kato leaned over, peering at the screen.
Natsuki clicked his phone off and looked at him.
“Oh? Closing your phone the moment I show up? What suspicious thing were you looking at?” Kato teased, a grin stretching across his face.
“Nothing of the sort.”
“I didn’t even specify what I meant, you know?”
Kato plopped into the empty seat beside Natsuki, still smirking. That mischievous expression made Natsuki narrow his eyes in silent annoyance, prompting Kato to laugh and wave it off as a joke.
It was typical of Kato to make baseless guesses just to get a rise out of him. He hadn’t been doing anything suspicious; he’d just shifted his attention when his friend arrived.
“Man, Mondays are the worst. We’ve only gotten through two periods so far,” Kato sighed, slumping onto his desk.
Natsuki couldn’t help but agree. Mondays felt heavier, more draining than any other day. Yet, by Friday, he always found himself thinking the week had flown by. It was the same cycle, week after week.
“I get that, but school’s fun,” Natsuki said without a second thought, surprising even himself.
Kato raised an eyebrow. “…You know, until recently, you were the last person I’d expect to say that. Ah, I get it. You’ve bounced back from that heartbreak, huh?”
“Yeah. Time helps.”
“Good for you. Smiling suits you more, after all.”
The words slipped out of Natsuki naturally. A month ago, school had been a place he wanted to escape as quickly as possible. Now, he felt differently. The thought made him pause, wondering what had changed. The answer was clear: Shizune. It wasn’t school itself that had become enjoyable; it was the moments he shared with her.
(Am I… acting strange lately?)
A familiar feeling nudged at the edges of his mind, one he recognized as similar to love. But that was impossible, wasn’t it? His last relationship had ended not long ago; he couldn’t fall for someone else so soon. Besides, if someone asked if he loved Shizune, the answer would feel… off. It was probably just the closeness shared between best friends.
“Hey, did you know there’s a long weekend coming up?” Kato’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
“Wait, really? I didn’t know.”
“Yep! Some of the classmates are planning a group hangout. Wanna come along?”
Natsuki hesitated.
(A group outing with the whole class, huh…)
Though he preferred staying indoors, he didn’t mind hanging out with friends. But something about large group events always felt different.
“…Sorry, I think I’ll pass. I might have plans that weekend.”
“Really? We haven’t picked a day yet, though. We’re going to decide based on when everyone’s free.”
“Even so, I’d probably just drag down the fun. Besides you, I don’t really know anyone that well.”
“I think people would welcome you, but if you don’t want to go, I won’t push. Just let me know if you change your mind.”
“Thanks for inviting me,” Natsuki said with a smile. Even if he didn’t plan to join, being included felt good.
If things had been different, if he’d chosen to bond with his classmates, maybe school would have been filled with the loud, carefree laughter of youth. Perhaps there was another version of himself somewhere who embraced that life. But that wasn’t who he was. Natsuki had kept his distance, choosing not to form close bonds. He hadn’t attended the post-sports festival celebrations or other class outings either.
“Mind if I say something that might make you mad?” Kato asked, breaking the silence with a mischievous tone.
“…Where is this coming from? Depending on what it is, I won’t get mad.”
“Hmm, now I’m debating whether to say it.”
“If you don’t, I’ll be annoyed anyway.”
“Unfair! Alright, fine. You’re usually so introverted, keeping to yourself. We only became friends because of a bunch of coincidences, right?”
“Yeah, like being in the same class during the entrance ceremony, you sitting in front of me, and running into each other on weekends. It all added up. Plus, we’re still in the same class now.”
“Exactly. But normally, you don’t deepen relationships on your own. That’s why I’m surprised you managed to get a girlfriend.”
“…Should I be mad now?”
“Hey, you made me say it!”
“Jokes aside, you’re not wrong. I don’t know… There are just some people who are easy to talk to, you know?”
“Yeah, people who make you feel comfortable.”
“If I had to pinpoint it, that’s probably how it was with my ex.”
Kato nodded, murmuring an understanding “I see” as he sat back up.
Natsuki’s relationship with his ex had started as casual conversations, bolstered by Yuka’s outgoing nature. They had grown close naturally, moving from acquaintances to friends, and eventually to something more. Trust had come gradually, built over time.
“Oh yeah, I’ve seen you hanging out with that girl from another class. Shizune, right? You guys seem close.”
“Yeah, sometimes we walk home together.”
“Do you like her?”
“…No, we’re just childhood friends,” Natsuki said, though the answer came out more slowly than he’d intended.
“Ah, right. You’ve mentioned that before,” Kato replied as the bell for the next period rang. With a quick “See you,” he headed back to his seat.
(Liking Shizune… No way, right?)
He shook his head, dismissing the thought and turning to prepare for the upcoming class.
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."