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 19
“Suu… haa…”
On Monday morning, just before ten, Natsuki took a deep breath. It was difficult to maintain his composure. Looking over at the group of classmates waiting at the meeting spot, nerves clawed at him.
He had been standing there for a couple of minutes, convincing himself to move but unable to take that first step. The thought of interacting outside the familiar bounds of school made his heart pound with anxiety. There was still some time before the planned meet-up, but he knew that standing there wouldn’t ease his nerves.
There was a time when hanging out with friends was second nature. Now, though, Natsuki wondered if he had only been tolerated rather than truly welcomed back then.
(Am I just going to be a bother?)
The doubt weighed heavily on him until he recalled Kato’s words. Kato had been genuinely happy to have him join, and there hadn’t been any discomfort in the group chat when he was added.
The tension lingered, but he took another deep breath and forced himself to approach the group.
“Hey,” he said, his voice tight.
“Oh, Natsuki! Glad you could make it,” Kato called, grinning as he waved.
Natsuki nodded at Kato, his eyes flicking nervously over the others. It wasn’t easy to greet people he barely knew.
“Wait, are you Sawatori-kun? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you come to one of these things,” one of the girls said, her tone curious but not unkind.
Natsuki tensed. It felt like an innocent question, but it fueled his insecurity.
“Yeah… I don’t usually. Should I not have come?”
“Oh, no! That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly, smiling. “I think it’s great you’re here.”
“Good… glad to hear that.”
The conversation dipped into an awkward silence, making him recall past experiences where he struggled to fit in. Relationships were always difficult for him to navigate.
(Should I have just stayed home…?)
He was here to grow, not to run away. Even so, doubts crept in.
Before he could sink deeper into them, Kato slung an arm around his neck, pulling him into a friendly half-embrace.
“By the way, this guy here? He acts like this only around girls, but he’s a good guy. You’ll see—he’s easy to talk to,” Kato said with a mischievous grin.
The unexpected jab left Natsuki flustered, but when he glanced around, he saw that the boys were laughing and the girls were smiling with amusement. The ice, it seemed, was broken.
Soon, everyone in the group had gathered.
The day unfolded with a kind of energy Natsuki hadn’t felt in years. They went to an amusement park, and with Kato’s help, he found himself blending in more easily than he expected. The nerves that had knotted his stomach earlier seemed almost laughable now. Nobody treated him like an outsider.
He laughed with others, and they laughed with him.
Natsuki realized that he’d spent so much time hiding from the world that he’d forgotten how welcoming it could be. This wasn’t the same as reverting to his past self; he was being accepted as the person he was now.
(Feels strange… but not bad at all.)
“Natsuki, come on! Let’s take one last group photo,” someone called out.
“Yeah, let’s do it,” he replied, smiling easily.
He didn’t know if this sense of belonging would last, but for now, the happiness radiating from him was genuine.
“Hey, Natsuki, listen to this—Kato just did the funniest thing…”
A week had passed, and Monday’s break period found Natsuki surrounded by a small group. It was a scene that would have been unimaginable to him just a short time ago.
Four others, including Kato, crowded around his desk, part of a group he’d somehow become a part of after that day out.
Kato had been a huge help during the outing, and Natsuki felt a wave of gratitude as he listened to the chatter.
“No, really, this is a sign, right? She’s totally into me!” one boy declared.
“You’re just imagining things,” another shot back, grinning.
“What do you think, Natsuki?” Kato asked.
“I’d say… not a chance,” Natsuki replied, unable to hold back a smirk.
“Aw, come on! I swear it’s true!”
“And here we go with Kato bragging about his girlfriend again…” someone else muttered.
“Hey, that’s harsh!” Kato protested, eliciting laughs all around.
The conversations ranged from school topics to romance, light and carefree. Each word exchanged felt natural, drawing out genuine laughter from Natsuki.
“By the way, why don’t we all go out after school today?” one of the boys suggested.
“Good idea! Bowling or karaoke?” another said.
“Karaoke sounds fun. We went bowling last time.”
Natsuki was surprised to find himself included without question. Though he kept his expression neutral, a smile threatened to break free.
“Hey, Natsuki, are you free?” Kato asked, turning to him.
“I am. I’ll come.”
“Sweet, karaoke it is!”
Just then, a message notification pinged on Natsuki’s phone. He checked it while the others debated what songs to sing.
“Want to walk home together after school?” It was from Shizune.
Their time together had dwindled. Mornings spent walking side by side were rare now, and a pang of longing settled in his chest. But this was what he wanted—to grow on his own.
(Once I’m more confident in myself, maybe I can tell her how I feel…)
He wasn’t ready yet. There was still work to do, to make himself someone worthy of standing at her side.
“Sorry, I have plans.”
“Okay, let’s hang out another time.”
To be special to her, he knew he needed to change. Shizune had someone she liked, and if he wanted any chance at all, he couldn’t afford to stay the person he had been.
The hurdle was high, especially given how much he’d relied on her. But even if he failed to win her over, he’d face that with honesty.
(And if she asks me to support her love… I’ll do it.)
The thought of it twisted in his chest, a familiar ache. But day by day, his feelings for her only grew stronger.
Love was complex, and sometimes painful. But for the first time, he realized that even the struggle had its own kind of sweetness.
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."