When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

In the morning, as usual, I charged myself with a nutrition jelly in 10 seconds, tied my tie, and slipped my arms into my sleeves.

A lot has happened over the past few days.

I ended up helping Akane with her student council president election, met her rival, the saint-like Fumiko… cared for her when she was sick, had dinner together, and even arranged to help me unpack.

Hmm. This situation. It could get complicated if Akane and the others find out.

But wait a minute? Fumiko and I are in different grades and don’t really interact except in this apartment complex.

In that case, Akane and the others wouldn’t find out about our relationship, so there shouldn’t be any problem, right?

“Good morning. You’re late, aren’t you? At this rate, you’ll barely make it on time.”

The sight before my eyes overturned my thoughts.

Fumiko was waiting for me at the entrance of the apartment complex.

Why…?

I froze, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

Fumiko handed me a lunch box while I was still in a state of confusion.

“Here. This is your lunch box.”

“…Eh, my lunch?”

“Yes. From the looks of your fridge yesterday, I figured you were planning to get by on nutritional jellies and supplements for lunch?”

“Too bad. Today’s lunch was going to be a nutritional drink.”

“That’s even worse.”

Fumiko sighed as if she were exasperated.

“You need to eat properly for lunch too.”

“Well… I know that, but…”

This is too much. From the dinner to helping with unpacking, and now a homemade lunch box, it’s all too much.

And here I was just meddling for my own satisfaction…

“Do you perhaps find this bothersome?”

Ah, that’s a bit unfair. If she puts it like that, I have no choice but to accept.

“No… thank you.”

I accepted Fumiko’s homemade lunch box.

I thought I had returned the favor for her taking care of me the other day with dinner.

It’s like lending 100 yen and getting 10,000 yen back.

“You don’t have to worry about the other day, okay? I did it for my own satisfaction…”

“Same here, you don’t need to worry about it either. I’m doing this for my own satisfaction. If you’re still bothered by it, please improve your dietary habits.”

“Okay…”

It seems like it’s time for me to graduate from a diet based on nutritional foods…

In the end, we ended up going to school together.

At this time, there are fewer students, so the chances of being seen going to school together are low.

However, it’s a different story from Sakurazaka.

As expected, students going to school start appearing from here.

Walking with Fumiko in the midst of all this…

I wonder how we’re perceived by those around us. Fumiko is popular in the school too.

She’s a pure and lovely beauty. She’s so beautiful and kind that she’s called a saint. Yet she also maintains top grades and is incredibly good at cooking.

There’s no way she wouldn’t be popular. Therefore, she receives confessions and approaches from male students throughout the school, regardless of grade.

In fact, I’ve heard a lot of such stories.

It’s obvious what would happen if Fumiko was seen going to school with a guy.

“…Fumiko, you should go ahead.”

I stop and say so.

“Why?”

She looks genuinely puzzled, which is a bit surprising.

Is she really oblivious to these things?

“There might be people who misunderstand if they see us going to school together, right?”

“Misunderstand?”

Does she still not get it after all this…

“That’s why… if rumors spread about us dating, it would be a hassle for Fumiko, right?”

“I don’t really mind.”

…What?

“Anyway, let’s hurry. If we stand here, we’ll be late.”

“No… but…”

“If you hesitate anymore, I’ll forcibly pull your hand and take you.”

“Sorry. I’ll go right now.”

In the end, I gave in and we climbed the slope together.

What is it? Both yesterday and today, it feels like the saint-like lady (her goodwill towards me) is unusually high.

At least this level of closeness doesn’t feel like someone I just met yesterday or today.

“…This place, when spring comes, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and it’s beautiful.”

Fumiko talks as if she’s remembering something.

Her expression looked a bit lonely.

“Yeah, I know. I have some memories on this slope too.”

Is that why? I didn’t mean to say it, but it slipped out of my mouth.

“…Memories?”

Fumiko looked at my face with a surprisingly serious expression and asked.

Her expression made me feel a bit down.

“Yeah, uh… I met a girl on this slope in spring. A girl whose name I didn’t even know… I called her ‘Sakura’.”

I’m sure Sakura must hate me by now.

I was always meddling… and then I suddenly disappeared due to my sudden transfer.

“How dare you come to see me after all this time?”

If we ever met again, she’d probably say something like that and reject me.

“Yeah, but… I’m a little worried.”

“Worried?”

“She was like a little sister to me, so I worry if she’s gotten involved with a bad guy or joined a biker gang or something…”

Suddenly, I was jabbed in the ribs by Fumiko from the side.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“It’s a Hiyo-chop.”

No, that’s not what I meant…

I never imagined she’d engage in such childlike playfulness.

“…She may not have joined a biker gang, but she might have gotten involved with a bad man. I wouldn’t know.”

My hand was gripped and pulled.

Fumiko’s hand was tightly clenched and showed no signs of letting go.

“Hey!? Fumiko-san!? Let go of my hand!!”

This will absolutely be misunderstood!!

“Okay. If you call me by my first name, I’ll let go.”

“Hi… Hiyo… let go of my hand.”

“Alright. I’ll let go when we get to school.”

“Wait!?”

“I didn’t say I’d let go right away.”

Why is her goodwill towards me so high!?

Being led by a seemingly cheerful Fumiko, we climbed the Sakura slope.