CH 31

Chapter 31 – Confronting a Childhood Friend

At Moriyama-kun’s house, I was treated not only to lunch but also to dinner, and thanks to his cheerful mother, my nerves calmed down considerably and I was able to spend a pleasant mealtime with Moriyama-kun’s family.

After the meal, Moriyama-kun’s mother told me many stories about his childhood, and I heard many stories about his active childhood before he distanced himself from others.

I sat next to Moriyama-kun and held his hand while I listened to his mother’s story and asked him many questions.

From the time he was young, he was a very athletic child who did well in sports and academics, and he never needed any help at all.

He took good care of Haruko-chan, and Haruko-chan was always close to Moriyama-kun.

He had a lot of friends, and he used to have friends who used to come and visit.

He was selected as a relay runner every year at sports day.

He was a member of the class committee every year in primary school.

He was an accomplished calligrapher and has won a gold medal in a newspaper competition.

He was always in the single digit of his grade in regular examinations in junior high school.

It was hard to imagine any story from the current Moriyama-kun, who hates to stand out, except for his studies. I realized how much Moriyama-kun had changed, and I naturally tightened my grip on his right hand.

Although Moriyama-kun looked uncomfortable, he did not interrupt and remained quiet.

We continued to chat about recent events and other things, but the good times flew by and it was getting late, so I thanked Moriyama-kun’s parents for their hospitality and decided to leave.

For the return trip home, Moriyama-kun agreed to walk me home while I walked Dozle-kun, so the two of us walked together.

Haruko-chan came to see me off outside the house, so I held my hands and said, “Thank you so much for today! I had so much fun! Next time, Haruko-chan, come and visit us too!” After thanking her, we said goodbye.

Just as we usually do when walking Dozle-kun, I took Dozle-kun’s lead and started walking hand in hand with Moriyama-kun, who was carrying my luggage, but Moriyama-kun was suddenly stopped from behind.

“Ichiro! Wait a minute!”

Dozle-kun immediately began to intimidate the opponent.

GRRRRR!!!

Following Dozle-kun, I stood in front of the opponent as if protecting Moriyama-kun, and prepared for the attack while paying attention to the opponent’s movement with my hips slightly bent.

“Hey! I have business with Ichiro! If you don’t have anything to do with this, don’t interrupt me!”

“……”

I didn’t answer the other party’s question, but remained silent and alert.

I turned around for a moment and checked the expression on Moriyama-kun’s face behind me, and he was silently staring at the other person with a blank expression like a Noh mask.

I was immediately convinced by the look on his face.

As I expected, this is Moriyama-kun’s childhood friend.

“Who are you to Ichiro!? Are you Ichiro’s girlfriend!?”

“I don’t have to answer you. Who are you anyway?”

GRRRRR!!!

“What the h**l! Ichiro, don’t just shut up and say something!”

As the other person started to get emotional, I unleashed my murderous intent to intimidate her.

Then Moriyama-kun put his hand on my shoulder from behind.

“Urushibara-san, I’m sorry to have bothered you with this. It’s all right now.”

And now Moriyama-kun stepped in front of me and faced his opponent.

“I have nothing to say to you. I have no intention of causing trouble for you, so please do not mind me.”

After he said this, he turned his back on the other person and then grabbed my hand.

“It’s late, let’s go home. I’ll get in trouble with Mama-san if you’re home too late,’ he said, smiling at me.

Moriyama-kun said, “Dozle, come on, let’s go too,” and he and I started walking together.

I glanced back and saw the childhood friend looking down in frustration.

“I’m sorry. She’s the girl who lives next door and I’ve known her for a long time.”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

We walked in silence for a while afterwards.

I had a mixed feeling of bewilderment and joy as I kept thinking about Moriyama-kun’s Noh-like face I had just seen and his kind face smiling at me.

After walking for a while, we started to talk, but he seemed to be consciously avoiding the topic of his childhood friend, and I could sense from Moriyama-kun that he was nervous.

When we arrived at my house, we did the usual hug..

I hugged him tighter than usual and whispered in his ear, “It’s okay. I’m here for you, Moriyama-kun”, before letting go of his body.

Usually, after hugging, I watch Moriyama-kun’s back as he leaves before entering the front door, but on this day I was so embarrassed that I ran into the front door first as if to escape.