CK 31

Chapter 31…

For Someone Who Can’t Fight

The Three Childhood Friend

By the end of May, the midday sunlight was starting to sting a little.
Under that bright, burning sun, I was eating lunch with my two closest childhood friends on the rooftop.

We were chatting about nothing in particular when suddenly, Ma-kun asked something unexpected.

“By the way, why do you two keep coming here all the time?”
“Huh? Are we not allowed to?”

I didn’t see any reason why it would be a problem, so I instinctively asked back.

Ma-kun just sighed at my reply.

“…I asked for a reason.”
“Because Yui always comes to get me. I tell her I’m fine eating alone in the classroom, but she insists.”
“And you, Yui?”
“Eh? Me? Well, I mean, since three of us from our old childhood friend group ended up at the same school, of course I want to eat together!”

I said that like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Then, both Ma-kun and Hii-chan sighed at the same time.

“Eh? What!? Did I say something wrong!?”
“Yui, you really do love us, huh.”
“Yup! Of course!”
“That’s… not something you’re supposed to answer so cheerfully.”
“Eh?”

The two of them looked at me again with that “good grief” expression.
Did I actually say something wrong!?

While I was left confused, Hii-chan changed the subject.

“Come to think of it, Masato. You were so stubborn before—why did you suddenly start talking to us again?”
“…Got a problem with that?”
“No, I just realized I never heard the reason.”
“The reason… ah, Yui.”
“Eh? Me? Oh, come on, it’s not like I did anything special…”
“I wasn’t praising you. I just gave up on your—stubborn persistence.”
“Eh.”

That sounded… kind of awful, didn’t it? Even after correcting himself, it still sounded pretty bad! That stings a little!

I wanted to protest, but Ma-kun ignored me and kept talking.

“I mean, once Yui decides on something, she charges straight ahead without stopping.”
“True. Well, that’s one of her good points, though.”

Their conversation was still a little prickly, so I threw in,

“…Are you trying to soften the blow by pretending that’s a compliment?”

“That’s why I gave up. Figured it’d be easier to just let you in and talk.”
“Hey, don’t ignore me!?”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

That comeback from Ma-kun hit hard. All I could do was stammer,

“Well… uh…”

and look away.

Ugh… he’s right, and I can’t even deny it.
I want to deny it, but… I can’t!

While I was silently sulking, the other two had already moved on to reminiscing.

“Hey, Hiyori, remember when Yui climbed that tree and couldn’t get down?”
“Ah—yeah, that. Even though all four of us told her not to climb it, she went up anyway, got stuck, and then we all got scolded for it.”
“That was the worst. Especially since we tried to stop her, but the teacher yelled at all of us.”

Why are they bringing up one of my most embarrassing childhood stories!?
And why are they laughing about it like it’s nostalgic!?

Flustered, I hurried to defend myself before they could say more.

“S-sorry about that already! Can we please not talk about it? It’s embarrassing!”

My plea only made them laugh harder.

I know it was my fault, and I really have reflected on it!
So please, stop laughing! I’m dying of embarrassment here!

While I pouted and whined,

“Don’t laugh at me~!”
the rooftop door suddenly opened.

A male student stepped out and looked around.
He was maybe a bit taller than Ma-kun.

Was he looking for someone?
But we were the only three people here.

“…A friend of yours, Ma-kun? Or yours, Hii-chan?”
“No idea.”
“Me neither.”
“Then… he’ll probably leave soon, right?”

Just as I said that, the boy started walking toward us.

“You’re Insei Masato, right? The one who supposedly made a classmate cry on the first day of school?”