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 6
“How do I even solve this…”
On a Sunday afternoon, Natsuki Sawatari sat alone at Starbucks, studying quietly.
Midterms were just around the corner, and he needed to prepare. At home, his little sister had friends over, making it impossible to focus, so he had opted to study at the nearby café. Although he sometimes wished for the company of friends while studying, he didn’t have anyone to invite.
(I could’ve invited Shizune, but… I’ll just study alone for now.)
Inviting a female friend felt a bit awkward, especially since they had grown apart for a while. Even though they were childhood friends, the distance that had once developed between them lingered.
As Natsuki tried to refocus, the movement of his pen slowed, interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Natsuki?”
Turning around, he saw Shizune Aizawa standing behind him, holding her bag.
“Fancy seeing you here. Are you with friends?” Natsuki asked.
“Nope, just me. I figured I should study too… Are you studying as well?” she said, glancing at the open textbooks on the table.
“Yeah, I couldn’t concentrate at home.”
“I see. Mind if I join you?”
“Sure,” Natsuki replied, and Shizune sat down next to him. She pulled out her textbooks from her bag and started studying.
Natsuki observed Shizune as she focused on her work. It was a rare sight—her dedication to studying was unlike the past. Back in middle school, Shizune hated studying with a passion. During their study sessions for the high school entrance exams, she would often slump over her desk, barely paying attention.
“…Weren’t you the type who hated studying? You never really studied until high school,” Natsuki teased.
“Yeah, I definitely didn’t care about studying back then. I nearly failed the first midterms in high school and barely passed the entrance exams by luck.”
“You used to say, ‘Who cares about studying?’”
“True. But, well… something changed, I guess. I just thought I needed to try harder.”
People don’t change easily without a reason, Natsuki thought. He wondered if there was a trigger behind her newfound focus, but it seemed like she had simply realized the importance of studying.
“I still don’t like studying, though. And to be honest, I only start cramming about two weeks before exams. I can’t keep up with regular studying like you do,” she admitted.
“…It’s not like I study because I want to. I just don’t have much else to do, and I don’t have many friends to distract me.”
“Oh, right. And you broke up with your girlfriend, so you’re even more free,” Shizune said, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
The comment didn’t sting as much as it might have a while back. He could tell she was poking fun in a lighthearted way now that he was healing.
“Don’t rub salt in the wound. Besides, it’s not much coming from someone who’s never had a boyfriend.”
“W-What! I’ll get one someday! I mean… first, I need to stop being so afraid of guys.”
Natsuki knew she still carried fear around men after her traumatic experience, something she needed to overcome before thinking about relationships.
“How’s that going, by the way? Are you still scared?” he asked.
“It’s getting better, slowly. I even told some other friends about it, and I think it’s helping. Thanks for listening back then. I was really struggling alone, and now… I feel a lot more relieved,” Shizune said, gratitude clear in her voice.
“That’s good to hear. Just let me know if you need to talk again.”
“I will. It’s weird; I’m still nervous around guys, but I want to fall in love someday. I want a kind boyfriend.”
“Well, if you want to find one in high school, you should probably do it this year. Third-year students are too busy with exams.”
“Ugh…”
“But honestly, I think you’re cute enough to find someone. It shouldn’t be too hard,” Natsuki said casually.
“R-Really? …Thanks.”
Her clear, bright eyes, framed by long lashes, sparkled as she looked at him. Shizune’s silky black hair, kept short since childhood, gave her a timeless look that had matured with age. Natsuki had always thought she was cute—warm, cheerful, and kind.
“Have you been confessed to since starting high school?”
“Twice… I turned them down, though.”
“Yeah, you probably won’t be able to say yes unless you actually like someone.”
“Exactly… By the way, do you like anyone, Natsuki?” Shizune asked, her voice wavering slightly.
“Are you seriously asking that when I just broke up with my girlfriend?”
“…Fair point. Just kidding, anyway. I’m still surprised you even had a girlfriend.”
Sometimes Shizune threw barbed words his way, and he knew she did it on purpose just to tease him.
“What about you? Do you like anyone?” Natsuki asked, turning the question back on her.
“I… I think I did,” she said quietly.
“‘Did’ as in past tense? So you don’t like them anymore?”
“Recently, I started wondering if I still do. But honestly, I’m not sure. We’re in different classes now, and it feels like it’d be better to give up.”
Natsuki figured it was someone she’d liked when they shared a class during their first year, but as they moved into their second year, being separated probably made her feelings fade. It was a familiar story, but it still tugged at the heart.
“I’m not great with people, so I can’t offer much help… but good luck.”
“Yeah… I guess that’s true,” she muttered under her breath.
“Huh? Sorry, what did you say? I didn’t catch that.”
“Nothing. I just wondered what they think of me. They’re kind of oblivious, so… Anyway, enough talking. Let’s get back to studying.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Although Shizune’s story was bittersweet, her face seemed brighter than it had been earlier.
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."