Unusually, I had come to school alone and was walking quickly to my classroom.
This is because today I have to explain the current situation to Kanae and give her instructions for the future.
Huh, why would I have to do this?ā¦ Basically, I donāt want any troubleā¦
I couldnāt help but sigh.
āThereās too much lack of awareness in the first place, Kanaeā¦ā
Kanae still doesnāt understand her role as a childhood friend.
No, itās true that it would be difficult for someone like her to understand the subtleties of the situation, unless I have experienced similar situations in novels on a daily basis and have constantly refined my problem-solving skills.
āBut if thatās the case, then I guess Iāll just have to give the orders in the endā¦ā
If it were true, I would like to just fade out and move on to a peaceful life as a loner, but Chris, Rinka, and Azaka-senpai would never allow me to do that.
The three beautiful girls surrounding me wonāt let me lead a solitary life no matter what.
And from today on, my childhood friend Kanae has joined them. Itās a little hard for me, a mere dork.
So please allow me to at least shout my true feelings in my heart.
Everyone! Please let me have a peaceful life as a loner!
-But no matter how much I scream my soul out like this, the current situation will never change.
The fact is that without me, that miraculous relationship between us wouldnāt be possible.
The reality is that without me, Kanae will have no one to guide her in the future.
āIām not sure if this is the fate of childhood friends or not, butā¦ā
I guess it is the duty of a childhood friend to take care of a dumb childhood friend ā so I decided to accept my fate.
However, despite my resignation, a smile naturally appeared on my face.
Not at allā¦ I guess Iām mostly a softie, too.
Then, as I slowly shook my head, shrugging my shoulders at my own sweetnessā¦
āIāll take responsibilityā¦!ā
I heard a voice that didnāt sound like it belonged in the hallway of a school building.
I looked over and saw my childhood friend Kanae, who had been occupying my thoughts until just now, pacing as she walked into the classroom.
On the other side of the room, in front of the washroom, I saw another childhood friend, Yukiya, standing there in a daze.
I called out to Yukiya.
āHey, whatās with the dumb face in the morning?ā
āOh, yeah, thatās Souta. Good morningā¦ā
Yukiya is somewhat fluffyā¦ It looks like he was with Kanae just now. What happened?
āHey, Yukiya, what did you do to Kanae?ā
Even though I hadnāt heard anything yet, I couldnāt help but take an accusatory tone ā after all, Kanae is an important childhood friend to me, too.
Then, perhaps intimidated by my intimidation, Yukiya replied sluggishly.
āNo, I was lent a towel. Thatās allā¦ā
Yukiya looked slightly uncomfortable.
What is this guyās reaction? Is it possible that he feels bad for me? Or is he simply embarrassed?
If itās the former, I have to say that youāve got the wrong idea. It is possible to guess what Kanae thinks of me from her actions and moods, but I have no intention of understanding what she means, and I donāt remember making Kanae my girlfriendā¦
And even if Kanae were to be my girlfriend, Iām not so narrow-minded that Iād be offended if she lent someone a towel, and I have no intention of forcing Kanae to do anything.
If it was the latter, it was indeed too much of a first time experience. Well, that may be inevitable for Yukiya who, unlike me, is probably still a virgin. Everyone is not used to dealing with the opposite sex until they have no experience.
However, Iām basically a shady guy, and I only had secret relationships with a few girls in junior high school after they asked me out. Iām not going to mount my virginity, though, because after that, I never went out with or talked to any of them.
So, I added, looking sideways at Yukiya.
āWell, Kanae seems to have someone sheās interested in, so itās not like she has ulterior motives, is it?ā
I didnāt like the idea that I was restraining him, but Yukiya was a man, and I didnāt know what he would do if he got the wrong idea, which was characteristic of a virgin. For Kanaeās sake, I think she needs to be nailed down a little.
Furthermore, weāre in a difficult time, and Kanae has a role to play by getting even closer to me so that she can have more say in the matter and take charge of our relationship.
āYeah, rightā¦ā
In response to my words, Yukiya smiles weakly.
Maybe Yukiya had a crush on Kanae. However, there was nothing he could do about it. It was Kanaeās feelings that should be respected.
It may be heartless, but I wonāt follow up on it either. Yukiyaās problems should be solved by him.
-While I was thinking about this, I arrived at the classroom.
I left Yukiya, who had come with me from the washroom, and went to my seat.
Kanae, the girl in question, was sitting diagonally behind me as usual, staring at something and not moving.
I wondered what she was looking at, but I shouldnāt be the one to talk to her. I acted as if I were ignoring Kanae.
āHey, hey, Souta-kun. It looks like you just came with Yuki-kun. How was Yuki-kun?ā
Then, as if she saw it coming, Kanae approached me.
In response, I gave Kanae a warning about how to treat Yukiya as a virgin, and also told her that I had given him a little warning.
Kanae made a hundred faces all by herself, as if she was surprised or impressed, and then turned her face in the same direction as before and stopped moving.
Oh dear, I guess Iāll have to explain the current situation and give instructions on what to do after the first period class is over.
I decided to go ahead and start preparing for class.
But this was a mistake. I had no idea that I would end up being the one to take the backseat.
āYuki-kun!ā
As soon as the first period class ended, Kanae shouted in a voice that echoed throughout the classroom.
Then, as everyone in the class, including me, paid attention, Kanae ran up to Yukiya at a glance and dragged him out of the classroom.
The next moment, the rest of the classroom was in an uproar. The carefree people whisper, and the lesser ones make a misunderstanding.
As I listened to them, I thought. I have a duty to protect Kanae, and Kanae has an important role to play in our friend group.
I immediately followed the two of them.
Yukiya and Kanae walked out of the classroom, and I saw them a short distance away on the landing of a staircase that was less popular.
āWhatā¦?ā
In the face of the astonishing sight I saw there, I had a clear realization.
Oh, Yukiyaā¦ apparently you are nothing but an enemy to our friend group.
A small click of the shutter sounded.
I turned on my heel and rushed out, phone in hand.