Volume 1 - CH 2.7

Chapter 2 - Progress (Part 7)

As Hoshimiya had instructed, I waited quietly in my room.

After wiping my head and body with a towel and changing into casual clothes, I sat down at the table.

Hoshimiya and Yono seemed to be taking a bath together.

"Pick up tomorrow, right?"

I just called Yono's parents and explained the situation.

That I was staying at Hoshimiya's house. Then the fact that Yono was sitting near her apartment. Yono's mother wanted to pick her up right away, but I reflexively said, "Please wait a moment!" It was because I did not want to leave Yono alone at the moment, and I thought it was also necessary for us to talk face to face.

Yono seemed reluctant, but in the end she agreed.

She seemed to feel something in the situation.

So she decided to let Yono stay at Hoshimiya.

"But I haven't confirmed their agreement, have I?"

Well, considering the current time, it might be practical to let Yono stay overnight. Maybe Hoshimiya would agree as well.

I could hear the sound of the girls chatting pleasantly in the bathroom. It seemed like they had just come out of there.

"Riku-chan, you know, she has dog-like qualities."

"Oh, I can see that. She does things like sit and shake..."

"Did you reward her properly? If not, Riku-chan will sulk."

"Oops, I forgot. I should buy her a snack next time."

............Please respect me as a human being!

"I'm so fresh!"

Hoshimiya entered the room while making a pleasant sound.

His face was burnt from a hot bath, and his long hair ...... was loose from its ponytail.

Her pink pajamas were the same as usual.

The girl mode had been completely lifted and she was back to her natural beauty.

"Riku-chan. The clothes, thank you."

Yono appeared from behind Hoshimiya, wearing my leotard.

It wasn't the right size, so there were no hands sticking out of the sleeves, and everything was loose.

The atmosphere she created was good.

"Yono, are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm still a little dizzy, but not too much..."

"I ....... hope you're okay."

"Yes."

"If you get worse, just tell me now, okay?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you're okay? You're not pushing yourself too hard, are you?"

"You're too persistent, Riku-chan......"

I was reprimanded in my stupor. Hoshimiya, who was standing next to Yono, also had a stunned expression on his face.

"Kuromine-kun really likes Harukaze-san, right?!"

"N-No ...... if you say it so clearly ...... I will be ....."

Unable to deny it, I scratched my head in embarrassment.

"Oh yeah. I should call your mom. ......I'm sure she's worried about you."

"I already called her. She has already decided to let Yono stay here."

"......That's too one-sided, Riku-chan."

"I hope you'll at least ask me, the room owner, something."

The girls blamed me. They looked annoyed.

Even if that was the case, I didn't think it was right to send Yono home now.

Besides, I didn't ask why she was there just now... ....

"Well, I think I'll stay in Chiharu-san's room today. You two can sleep in my room."

"Is that okay?"

"T-That's fine, really. I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about, right? I won't bother you, okay?"

I didn't think it was annoying, but I really wanted to talk to Yono alone.

Then Hoshimiya came over and whispered in my ear, "Good luck."

"Eh?"

Hoshimiya smiled meaningfully ...... or rather a forced smile.

"Bye."

With a slight wave, Hoshimiya left the room.

The sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the room.

""............""

Yono and I, who were left in the room, did not open our mouths.

We looked at each other and stared at the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"Well. I guess I'll call my mom, too."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

Yono took out his cell phone and started calling.

From the conversation I overheard, it sounded like his mother was angry.

She apologized and bowed his head repeatedly as if his mother was right in front of her.

"Haha ...... she is very angry."

Yono, who had finished his call, smiled ironically.

"That's right. Yono mom has already talked to the police, right?"

"Yes, I think they're already on the verge of searching ........ I've caused a lot of trouble, haven't I?"

"......I don't think so. You don't have to blame yourself."

"But it's true that I caused you trouble, isn't it?"

"Not really, I was just worried about you."

"I understand. ......"

"Yono, why are you in such a place?"

I looked into Yono's eyes and asked her directly.

"I followed you both..."

I knew that. But the question is, why is she following us?

"Why?"

"Because I was very ...... upset when I saw Riku-chan hanging out with Ayana-chan."

"You're upset...?"

"I didn't know why I was upset at first, and I didn't even realize how upset I was. But, you know, I understand now."

Saying this, Yono closed the distance between us.

She sat in front of me and said the words clearly.

"I ...... like Riku-chan."

"What?"

"I didn't mean to say that I like you as your childhood friend. I like ...... Riku-chan as the opposite sex."

--- I like ...... Riku-chan.

--- I didn't mean to say that I like you as a childhood friend. I like Riku-chan as the opposite sex.

Yono's words kept repeating in my head.

I wasn't surprised or pleased, but rather stunned.

""............""

In Hoshimiya's room, where silence reigned, only the sound of rain could be heard.

There were only two people in the room: Yono and me.

I understood the meaning of the words, but I couldn't think clearly and couldn't speak.

"It's not good to be told all of a sudden, is it? Because right now Riku-chan is dating Ayana-chan."

"We're not dating. ....."

"You don't have to lie. You're not dating Ayana-chan right now? Then why are you living together? .....? It doesn't make sense if you say that you're not dating."

If you really ask me, yes, we're not really together. Because there are complications in this matter.

I thought about how to explain it, but Yono beat me to it.

"I like Riku-chan."

"......!"

"I finally realized it when I saw that Riku-chan was friends with another girl besides me. I was so upset. I was so upset that I wanted to cry."

"............"

"Before, I thought the only reason I cared about Riku-chan was because we were childhood friends. I subconsciously thought that we had been together for a long time and ...... would continue to be together because it was a natural thing."

"I thought so too. ...."

"I know you must feel the same way, Riku-chan. But I don't ...... understand it. I think I want to be close to Riku-chan because we're childhood friends, even though we're of the opposite sex." ......

After talking so much, Yono continued to talk.

"I don't care about you because we're childhood friends, I care about you because you're Riku-chan."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I like Riku-chan as the opposite sex."

Yono looked straight into my eyes and said the word "like" several times for the first time.

I don't know if it's true.

I can't help but wonder if I'm dreaming?

"So you're saying that Yono realized her crush on me because she saw me and Hoshimiya getting along so well?"

"...... Yes. Seeing how Riku-chan and Ayana-chan got along - no, that was the trigger."

"Trigger?"

"When I saw Riku-chan go into Ayana-chan's house, I finally understood. I saw that Riku-chan had gone to a far away place ....... I only realized that I liked you when you were no longer with me."

"So that's how it is..."

I agree with Yono. There are definitely things that we realize after we feel lost, so ....

These are not just words. For there are invisible emotions in the human heart.

It's natural not to notice when someone you love is always by your side.

But can someone who lives such a daily life imagine a life where their loved one suddenly disappears one day? Obviously not.

Even if they could, the feelings that would arise in their hearts at that moment would not be beyond imagination.

"Riku-chan, don't ...... feel bad."

"What? Why should I?"

"Because, Riku-chan, you don't even look at other girls besides me. I don't ...... understand that. We've been living in our own world for so long..."

"Yeah, but ......"

"I guess I liked Riku-chan before I even knew what it was like to like someone."

"───"

That took my breath away. Yono's words were so calm, as if she was telling the truth.

"It's ...... too late to realize it after you have lost it."

"Yono...."

"I don't know how long I've liked you, Riku-chan. When we were in first grade, we used to bathe and sleep together."

"Yes, we did."

"I can't say it well myself, but it's normal for me to like Riku-chan. That's why I didn't have time to realize it. ...... And Riku-chan never talks to other girls, so there's no time for me to get jealous......."

Yono giggled as if she was making an excuse.

In the past, I didn't need anyone but Yono. I wasn't interested in any woman but Yono.

"I'm terrible, aren't I? After hurting Riku-chan, I can't believe I would talk like that in his room..."

She blamed herself. When I looked closely, I could see that her eyes were red.

"Actually, I want to stay by Riku-chan's side no matter what, and I want to be the only one who is special to you. I don't want Ayana-chan to take ...... Riku-chan from me......!"

"............"

"But if we have to date ..... Riku-chan has chosen Ayana-chan ......, so I have to accept it. ......"

She was obviously overwhelmed.

She stared at the ground with her eyes downcast and clasped her own left arm tightly with her right hand.

"Yono, Hoshimiya and I are not together."

"Are you still going to lie to me? Maybe that's just your excuse, right? Because you don't want to break up with me?"

"No, I'm not. I'm really not going out with Hoshimiya."

"Then why are you staying at Ayana-chan's house?"

"Well, if I had to tell you, it would take a ...... very long time."

"Tell me."

I looked straight at Yono, and after hesitating, I decided to tell her. The day Yono left me, I went to the mountain to get a suicide. On the way, I stopped at a grocery store and saved Hoshimiya from a robber. Hoshimiya cried to me and told me not to bundir. I spent the night at Hoshimiya's house. To protect her honor, I lied in class that I had confessed to Hoshimiya. And the fact that Hoshimiya was a victim of a stalker and asked for my help.......

I told her everything.

"............"

Yono was depressed and completely silent.

When she heard that I was thinking about suicide, his face contorted and she almost cried. She must be thinking about things in her head right now.

"Yono. Don't worry about my desire for suicide. It's already over..."

I tried to say, but Yono mumbled, "......I'm worried."

"What?"

"I'm worried! Of course I'm worried!"

Yono stood up vigorously and shouted with a force that almost made her vomit blood.

"Yono, your voice is so ..... loud!"

"When Riku-chan was alone, I wondered what I could do for Riku-chan! How can I heal Riku-chan's heart ......?! But I ..... pushed Riku-chan into a corner instead! Of course, I'd ...... be worried about something like that!"

Tears welled up in Yono's eyes as she screamed to the end, letting her emotions take over.

Tears streamed down her cheeks to the tip of her chin.

This is probably the first time ...... I've seen Yono cry like that.

"Even if Riku-chan forgives me ...... I can't forgive myself ......!"

"Well, if you look at the results, I'm still alive, right?"

"No! If Ayana-chan wasn't there ...... Riku-chan, you would be dead! And I'm the one who killed Riku-chan!"

"Eh? Calm down!"

Yono was getting upset. I stood up and tried to comfort her.

"Oh no! I'm the one ...... was supposed to die!"

"Yono!"

I impulsively hugged my sobbing childhood friend.

In my arms, Yono was agitated and thrashing, but she gradually regained her senses.

"............Riku-chan?"

"Don't just talk about death or something!"

I thought from the bottom of my heart that ...... I was very thankful that I was not round.

If I die, Yono will definitely follow me.

"If the person I love dies, what kind of face will I have in the future?"

"You shouldn't say ...... about that either ...... Riku-chan."

"That's true. But that's proof of how much I like Yono."

"......I like you too, Riku-chan. Most of my life are the days I spent with Riku-chan...."

""............""

After all the commotion, it was very quiet.

When I saw her, she was in my arms, looking at my face with excited eyes.

"Riku-chan......"

"Yono......"

Is this a signal to call each other by name?

Yono closed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly.

I intuitively understood what she was searching for.

I also moved my face closer to pluck her lips──

--- Kuromine-kun.

"......Hoshimiya?"

"Hmm?"

Just before our lips touched, I stopped moving. Yono opened her eyes in confusion.

"Ah, no... it's nothing, it's just that, Hoshimiya... hmm?"

"I see... as I thought, it seems to be true."

"N-No. I-It's... I'm sorry."

No matter how I tried to explain it, I really looked like an idiot right now.

I, who realized this, couldn't say anything.

What I had just said had ruined the atmosphere. What kind of harassment would I get from Yono?

However, Yono had a friendly smile on his face that seemed to cover everything.

"It's okay, Riku-chan."

"......Yono?"

"You like Ayana-chan too, right?"

"......Yes."

"I like you too, Riku-chan. I like you so much that most of my life is filled with you. So ...... I think it's best for me to make Riku-chan happy now."

"Uh... what do you mean?"

"If Riku-chan chooses Ayana-chan, then I'll ...... accept it."

"............"

"Of course I'll be upset if you two get close, and I'll be jealous to death as well."

Yono repeated the words, "I'm a very possessive girl."

"I......."

"You don't have to answer me now. You still live in Ayana's house, don't you? As long as we live here together ...... Hey, Riku-chan, what if we live in the same room? Wouldn't that be better than living in a dog kennel?"

"Why bring up dog kennels?! Isn't that harassment?"

"Because I don't want ...... Riku-chan to be with another girl."

Yono wrote on my chest with her fingertips. My grouchy childhood friend is so cute.

But still, it felt weird when she suggested a dog cage.

"I think I'm going to be very jealous from now on. Just thinking about it makes me sick."

"Thinking about what?"

"Imagining Riku-chan talking to a girl other than me."

She's really possessive, just like she said. She doesn't even want any girl to talk to me.

"I never imagined it before. But I have to think about Riku-chan's happiness first... ...."

Yono thought of me even though she was jealous.

"I'll confirm it again, but Riku-chan isn't dating Ayana-chan, right?"

"...... Yes."

"But you like Ayana-chan, right...."

"Yes, I think so...."

Hoshimiya is the benefactor who saved my life.

I'm not sure which one I would choose.

I don't think I can ...... choose one of them either.

I don't think I'm in a good position to choose a girl.

"In that case, I'll ...... wait until Riku-chan gives me an answer."

"But you're jealous, right?"

"Yes."

Yono replied immediately, but her possessiveness was alive and active ....... in a way, she had a crafty heart.

But, well, I feel like I've gotten ride of my hostility towards her.

That's a step forward, if I must say so.

"If Riku-chan chooses Ayana-chan, I won't hold a grudge against her. ......I'll probably be irritated and even cry. But I also think I'll be jealous enough to attack you every day."

......This is an indirect threat, isn't it? I was horrified.