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!?

“…Oh, that was pretty scary.”

I muttered while watching the end credits of a horror movie at Futaba’s house.

Futaba had invited me over because a horror movie that was the talk of the town had just been released for streaming.

The content was authentic horror with several jump scares. The fear was amplified in the pitch-dark room, with a large LCD TV and home speakers.

I turned on the room light with the remote control.

When I glanced over, Futaba’s face had turned completely pale.

Before watching, she was saying, “Eh? It’s just a movie, right? It’ll be fine,” but now…

I’d like to chat about it with Futaba now, but it’s already completely dark outside. I should probably head home for today.

“Well, see you.”

“Eh, wait!? You’re leaving!?”

“Yeah, it’s late. We’ll discuss the movie another day.”

As I tried to pick up my bag, Futaba grabbed my hand with a desperate look.

“What’s up?”

“Well… you know…”

Futaba mumbled, her gaze wandering.

Does she really want to have a discussion about the movie? Well, the best time to talk about it is right after watching it, so I can understand how she feels.

“Alright. I’ll text you when I get home, and we can talk on the phone.”

“No, it’s not that…”

Oh, it’s not? Then what is it? What is Futaba hesitating about?

“So what is it? Is there something else?”

“No, not really…”

“…If there’s nothing, I’d like to go home. Could you let go?”

“…No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I won’t let go… Please stay with me. Don’t leave tonight.”

Futaba said this and squeezed my hand tightly. As if she never wants to let go.

“…I’m not going anywhere until you say you’re staying over tonight.”

Perhaps due to extreme embarrassment, Futaba’s ears had turned bright red.

Ah, I see. I totally get it now.

“…You’re scared because of the movie we just watched, aren’t you?”

“Yes! Is that a problem!?”

Futaba shouted back at me, looking up.

Looking into her eyes, they were moist, on the verge of tears. She looked like a newborn deer.

The one who suggested we watch that movie in the first place was Futaba… She’s really started something troublesome…

“Ah!? You just made a ‘this is troublesome’ face! It’s not my fault!! It’s the movie’s fault for being so scary!!”

She stomped her feet and insisted on her innocence.

“You’re acting like a tantrum-throwing child.”

“Ugh!! I hate you when you’re mean like this, Itsuki!! Just go home, jerk!!”

“Alright, take care.”

“I was lying!! When I said go home, jerk, I was lying!! I love you!! Don’t leave me alone!! Please don’t go home!! Stay with me forever!!”

“Hey, stop it, you idiot!

“It’s just a water droplet.”

“Ah! I feel like I saw something in the mirror!!”

“It’s all in your head.”

“I, I feel like… there’s a presence watching me!!”

“That’s just my lecherous gaze.”

“Ah, okay… that’s a relief.”

“No, well… you’re supposed to call me a pervert or something at this point.”

By the time we got out of the bath, both of us were pretty tired.

Futaba obviously looked more worn out than right after the movie. Her teeth were brushed, her hair was dried by me, and she was completely ready to sleep.

“Thanks for sticking with me this far.”

“It’s no problem. Don’t worry about it. Now, I’ll be heading home…”

As I tried to leave, she grabbed the sleeve of my shirt.

“Just one last favor… can you hear me out?”

“…This is really the last one, right?”

“Yes… I want you to close your eyes. Please.”

Futaba looked so serious that I obediently closed my eyes as she asked.

And then, I heard a click.

…A click?

When I opened my eyes, there was a handcuff on my right hand. On the other end of the handcuff was Futaba’s arm.

In other words, Futaba and I were handcuffed together.

“You fell for it! There’s no way I’m letting you leave! I’m going to keep you here tonight no matter what! Ahahaha!”

“What… what are you doing…?”

“I bought these handcuffs at Don Quijote just in case something like this would happen!”

“No, you shouldn’t be looking so smug about that, you know!?”

In the end, we ended up sleeping in the same bed, handcuffed together.

“Hey… a man and a woman, under the same roof, sharing a bed… don’t you think we should be a little more aware of that?”

“Yeah… If it wasn’t for the handcuffs, I might have been.”

“Uh… are you still mad?”

“Not at all~”

“I’m sorry… I was acting weird today, wasn’t I?”

“Yeah.”

She seemed taken aback by my immediate answer and looked at me with a face that seemed to want to say something.

Given her actions today, it’s hard not to answer immediately. It’s more than just being scared of the movie.

“I think I was probably jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Lately, you’ve been talking a lot with the student council president and Kanzaki-san… and you haven’t been paying much attention to me…”

Come to think of it. I have been spending my lunch breaks in the student council room lately… I haven’t had a relaxed chat with Futaba like this in a while.

I didn’t think I was neglecting her, but it seems Futaba didn’t feel the same way.

“Watching you talk and laugh with the student council president and Kanzaki-san… it feels like you’ve stolen my friends… It’s frustrating to see you having fun without me… and it makes me feel insecure.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I hadn’t realized that my actions were causing her to feel this way.

“I’m sorry, Futaba. I didn’t realize… I’ll be more mindful of that.”

Silence fell between us for a moment. All I could hear was the steady rhythm of our breathing.

“Hey, can you promise me something?” She asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

“What is it?”

“Promise me… that you won’t forget about me. No matter how many new friends you make, or how busy you get, don’t forget about me.”

I felt a pang in my chest at her words. She really was feeling insecure.

“Futaba, I could never forget about you. You’re important to me. I promise.”

With those words, I could feel her relax beside me, even if we were still handcuffed together.

“Thank you…” she whispered, and soon after, I could hear her soft snoring. I lay there, listening to the sound of her breathing, and thought about how things would change from tomorrow.

I had a lot to think about, but for now, I had to figure out how to sleep with these handcuffs on.

So, you’re saying that it’s like you hate seeing a friend getting along with someone you don’t know?

“You… You’re quite a handful, aren’t you?”

“Hey, don’t say it so directly like that!”

“…Haha, no, okay… I’m sorry. I’ll stick with you through and through today. Can you forgive me?”

“…As long as you keep paying attention to me, not just today but from now on… I’ll forgive you.”

“…Yeah.”

And so, Futaba and I started a review meeting of the movie we had watched earlier.

The next morning.

“We really talked all the way till morning, huh?”

“Yeah… Um… about the handcuffs key…”

“Okay, wait a moment…………… Huh?”

“What’s wrong? Why has your face gone pale all of a sudden?”

“…I lost the handcuffs key.”

“…What?”

And so, Futaba and I, still handcuffed together, ended up going to Don Quijote in the morning to buy new handcuffs, while everyone around us was murmuring about the “pervert couple”.