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 17

“I’m not going to make the next train at this rate… Guess I’ll just take the one after,” Natsuki muttered to himself as he walked down the hallway towards his classroom.

The day had stretched out longer than usual—losing a game of rock-paper-scissors for garbage duty and then being summoned to the teacher’s office had pushed back his departure. It was already past five, and he realized the 5:10 train was out of reach.

As he neared the classroom, voices from the west staircase caught his attention. The west staircase wasn’t used often; it had become known as a spot where confessions happened.

The voices, echoing in the quiet hallway, piqued his curiosity. He wouldn’t normally eavesdrop, but one of the voices sounded familiar—almost like Shizune’s. Against his better judgment, he moved closer, listening intently.

The sound came from the first floor.

“So, what did you want to talk about… Hojo-kun?” Shizune’s voice reached his ears clearly now.

Hojo. Natsuki’s heart clenched. He’d heard that Hojo planned to confess soon, but he hadn’t expected it to be today. Guilt twisted in his gut, but he couldn’t walk away. He had to know the outcome.

If Shizune liked Hojo, they would likely start dating. If that happened, Natsuki could finally put distance between them, break his reliance on her, and stop being a burden.

But why did the thought of that make his chest feel so tight?
“Sorry for calling you out so suddenly. I have something I need to say,” Hojo said, his voice earnest.

“…Okay,” Shizune replied, a soft edge to her tone.

Natsuki’s heart drummed louder, his breathing shallow. He pressed his hand to his chest, willing it to calm.

“I… I like you, Shizune. Will you go out with me?”

A silence followed, so deep it was almost suffocating. Natsuki found himself clenching his fists without realizing it, waiting for her answer.

“I’m sorry. I can’t date you,” Shizune finally said, her voice gentle but firm.

“Can I ask why?” Hojo’s question came after a moment, quieter now.

“There’s someone else I like. I want to be with him, so… I’m sorry, Hojo-kun. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with you.”
“I see… Sorry for taking up your time. Can we still be friends?”

“Of course. Just like before.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

Natsuki let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Shizune’s feelings weren’t directed at Hojo after all. Relief washed over him, inexplicably mixed with the lingering ache in his chest.

(Why does this make me feel relieved? And why does it still hurt so much?)

He realized then that it wasn’t just dependence. It was something more.

He truly liked Shizune.

But in his current state, he hadn’t even reached the starting line.

(Instead of giving up, maybe… I should try.)

If he wanted to change, he first needed to shed his dependency on her.

“Love really is complicated,” he murmured as he turned back towards the classroom.

“Man, that class drained me,” Kato groaned, slumping across Natsuki’s desk during the break.

It was fifth period, and exhaustion was palpable. The battle against sleep and fatigue in the late afternoon made every student’s eyes heavy.

“But there’s only one more class to go,” Natsuki reminded him.
“Yeah, and after this week, it’s a four-day weekend. That thought alone is giving me energy!” Kato said, suddenly standing upright with a grin. His excitement was contagious, and Natsuki found himself smiling too.

“Yeah, four days of freedom,” Natsuki laughed.

“Oh, that reminds me. We were talking about doing something over the break. Not sure where yet, but somewhere big since there’ll be a bunch of us,” Kato said.

“Sounds nice,” Natsuki said, nodding.

“Some of us might go out for dinner too, if people are up for it. You sure you can’t join? We’d love to have you.”
“I…”

It was the second time Kato had invited him. Natsuki could still say he had plans and decline.

Going out with classmates would likely mean ending up alone. The idea of putting himself out there scared him. It meant stepping into the unknown, risking failure and rejection.

“I think I’ll…”

Before he could finish, Shizune’s face came to mind.

If he kept avoiding others, he’d spend the rest of high school speaking only to Kato and Shizune. That wasn’t bad, but it would mean running from his past, from his weaknesses.

(…I’ve been running this whole time.)

Realizing it now, every solution he’d chosen was just another way to avoid facing himself.

If he’d tried to change back then, learned from the pain instead of letting it crush him…

“Actually… Kato, would it really be okay if I came?” he asked, the words tasting foreign and bold in his mouth.

Kato’s reaction was instant, his face lighting up with a broad smile. “Of course! You’re more than welcome! I’ll add you to the group chat.”

“Y-Yeah… okay.”

Natsuki’s chest felt tight, but not from fear. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was stepping forward.
And maybe, just maybe, it was the right step to take.