Chapter 22: The Childhood Friend Makes Contact

In middle school, I was confessed to by someone.

That person was the most handsome guy in the school and very popular with the girls.

Naturally he had many fans, and many people who confessed to him and were rejected.

That person confessed to me. The reason was simply love at first sight.

I turned down the confession. I had no intention of making a boyfriend, and not knowing the person well, I didn't feel like dating him.

After that, I was bullied by the girls in my class.

Apparently, a girl who was at the top of the class hierarchy liked that person.

She was upset that I, who had rejected his confession when she herself had been rejected, didn't deserve it. What an unreasonable reason.

The other students just turned a blind eye to the repeated harassment I faced. The teachers weren't kind enough to help resolve conflicts between students either.

In the midst of all this, only Kanato protected me.

When he saw me being bullied, he would clearly say "Don't do such cowardly things" and protect me.

Ahh, this person will protect me. This person understands me. At that time, I felt that so strongly.

Surely this person will protect me. I want him to stay by my side.

Because I wished for that, I couldn't forgive the woman next to him.

▼▽

On the way home. As I left the academy with Shigure as usual, when we reached Nagumo Bridge, I spotted a familiar girl standing there.

When Shigure and I approached, she blocked our path as if to cut off our route.

「...Hey, Tsukishiro-kun.」

「What.」

「I've a very bad feeling.」

「What a coincidence. So do I.」

Honoka glares at Shigure with sharp eyes. Apparently our premonitions aren't wrong.

「...What are you to Kanato?」

「...Tsukishiro-kun, who is this woman who seems no less troublesome than me?」

「Shinozaki Honoka. My childhood friend.」

「Just answer me.」

Shigure deliberately places her index finger on her chin and makes a thinking gesture.

「Even if you ask me what, I can only describe it as his girlfriend.」

「I know you're not his real girlfriend. Stop joking around.」

「Oh my, don't you like jokes?」

Shigure played around, but Honoka's attitude didn't change. She glares at Shigure as if she were her sworn enemy, releasing hatred so intense it could be taken as killing intent.

Women's fights are troublesome. No matter what a man does, rather than resolving things, it makes them worse. Sena told me that before. I hope this one doesn't get complicated.

「... Kanato would never like a liar like you. Don't drag Kanato into your circumstances.」

「I've his consent. An outsider like you shouldn't have any say in this.」

「Shut up! It'll be too late after Kanato gets hurt! Just stay away, you lying woman!」

Honoka takes a step forward to close in on Shigure. Unable to overlook this, I stood in front of Honoka.

「Honoka, you're going too far. This is something I want to do. So you don't need to speak so badly of her.」

The expression on Honoka's face after hearing my words was, in a word, "despair".

It was exactly like the expression when an unshakable relationship of trust is casually betrayed, and I couldn't help but be startled.

「...hy.」

「Honoka?」

「Why... Why! You said you hate lies! You said people who lie to everyone are evil!」

I couldn't find words to respond to Honoka's scream-like voice.

It's true I hate people who lie. People who lie to everyone are deceiving everyone.

However, just because of that doesn't mean I should despise them. Not trying to see the truth hidden there would make me a fool.

My way of thinking has changed greatly over these past few days. All because of the lying girl next to me.

「Whether she's a liar or not isn't the issue. I want to protect her, so I protect her. That's all.」

「......」

「There you have it. My boyfriend seems to have no intention of breaking up.」

「I won't interfere with whatever you say or do. So don't interfere with me either.」

Honoka fled across the bridge. Her back looked unusually small, seeming to represent something decisive that separated her and me.

Seeing me narrow my eyes, Shigure says with a sigh.

「...Was that person your ex-girlfriend?」

「Not at all. ...There might have been a worldline where that happened.」

「It's better not to have lingering attachments. You should settle things with a clean break.」

「It's fine now. ...That actually cleared things up a bit.」

Taking a big breath, I regulate my breathing.

After organizing my thoughts, I start walking with Shigure. Walking together on the bridge. Hoping this relationship goes well, I looked up at the crimson sky.