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!?

Aobirin Academy is located at the top of a slope called Sakurazaka.

It’s called Sakurazaka because a tunnel of cherry blossoms forms in the spring. The students of Aobirin Academy climb up and down this slope every day.

Well, unfortunately, the cherry blossoms have already fallen now.

After school, Nakano and I were walking down Sakurazaka together.

The reason I was walking home with Nakano was because:

“Itsuki, I have to go to the student council now. Can you please walk Futaba home?”

Akane asked me to do so.

Nakano, of course, refused at first but ultimately gave in to Akane’s insistence.

“Fine, if Sato is okay with it,” she said, leaving the decision to me.

And so, here we were.

As we walked, our bags bumped against each other occasionally.

The distance between Nakano and me seemed to be just about the width of two bags.

“…You’re quite curious, huh? You could have refused.”

While walking down Sakurazaka, Nakano spoke to me.

“Well, it’s no big deal. I’m a loner, too. I thought it wouldn’t be so bad for two loners to walk home together.”

“Shut up, don’t call me a loner. Loner.”

She lightly tapped my shoulder.

“But, Sato, everyone in the class talks to you a lot.”

“Well, they do talk to me, but… I’m not really close enough with anyone to walk home together like this. I’ve tried inviting people, but they say they can’t because Akane is around.”

“Ah… they’re being considerate, huh…”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“Not really… So without Akane, you’d be a loner too?”

“No, I’m not close with Akane like you are with Nakano.”

“Eh? It doesn’t look that way, though. You guys seem like good friends, like you’re under her thumb.”

“Under her thumb” means a situation where a wife has control over her husband in a household.

Huh? A couple with her? No, thank you. Just the thought of being seen as a couple is unpleasant.

Besides, the reason I agreed to walk home together wasn’t because Akane asked me to.

It was to talk to Nakano and learn more about her.

I had been a little wary due to her being a shut-in and the reactions of those around her, but talking to her turned out to be enjoyable.

That’s why I wanted to know more about Nakano and ended up walking home with her like this.

“There’s no such thing.”

I involuntarily denied it with a slightly strong tone.

“No need to be so desperate.”

“Shut up.”

“Eh?!”

As Nakano looked at me with a mocking smile, I poked her right side, causing her body to jerk.

A brief silence followed.

Nakano held her right side with a puzzled expression and stared at me. Her cheeks were slightly red.

“You’re sensitive there… your side.”

“Huh? No way… ah!”

When I poked her right side again, she reacted with an adorable voice and expression.

Hmm. That reaction. Kind of naughty.

“Ugh?!”

Satisfied with Nakano’s reaction, I was unexpectedly jabbed in the side.

“Sorry… I got carried away.”

“Hmph!”

Nakano puffed her cheeks and quickened her pace.

I messed up… went too far.

She seemed completely annoyed and ignored me when I tried to talk to her.

From the side, I probably looked like a pathetic guy desperately trying to get her attention but being completely ignored.

Huh? There’s a sweet smell.

“Hey, there’s a crepe stand over there. Let’s go.”

“…………….”

“I’ll treat you. Want one?”

“I’ll have one!!”

And so, we ended up eating crepes.

“Here’s your Strawberry Dream Special Crepe DX.”

“Thanks.”

I handed the Strawberry Dream Special Crepe DX to Nakano, who was sitting on a bench near the crepe stand.

“Yum!! Crepes taste even better when someone else is paying!”

“Seems so.”

Watching Nakano happily eating her crepe, I sat down next to her.

Our bags were between us. This distance probably wouldn’t close easily.

“Hey, you should stop hanging out with me after today.”

“Ah, this crepe is delicious.”

“Hey, listen to me.”

“Eh? Oh, yes.”

Sighing, Nakano started talking again.

“…If you keep hanging out with me like this, you’ll lose your place in the class, you know?”

What Nakano was saying was probably true.

I’m not a popular person like Akane in the academy, and I haven’t established a solid position.

So, if I keep interacting with Nakano like this, I might be treated like her.

Protecting someone disliked may result in being treated the same way. That might be the case not just in school but in society.

“Maybe so.”

“I didn’t expect you to agree so easily…”

She looked at me, dumbfounded.

“I don’t care what others think or say, as long as it’s not coming from the people I care about.”

Ah, except for Akane! I added that.

She’s the only exception.

Of course, I want to get along with everyone in the class. There are still many students I haven’t talked to. Maybe there are others like Nakano with whom I’d get along.

But if I had to choose between Nakano and the other classmates right now, I’d choose Nakano without hesitation.

“…Why… did I do something to make you like me?”

“Does there need to be a special reason for someone to care about another person? It’s probably not something logical.”

Huh? I feel like I’ve said something similar to someone before.

Oh, right. I remember. Futaba Nakano, you are…

“Sato, you say the same thing as my benefactor…”

Curious about the true meaning of her words, I looked at Nakano and saw her eyes wide open.

Her eyes were unwavering, staring intently at my face. It was as if she had grasped something.

“…idiot. You big idiot.”

This time, she playfully patted my shoulder. Was it a way to hide her embarrassment?

“Chomp!”

“Hey! That’s my chocolate banana!”

She had taken a big bite out of it.

“Hehe, I wanted to try that one too~♪”

Saying that, Nakano smiled with reddened cheeks.