Oneshot: A Story About a Girl Who Loves Her Childhood Friend

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Translator: Soafp

Full title: A story about a girl who loves her childhood friend, but ends up being too tsundere and ends up getting him to date another girl, and ends up despairing as she witnesses the moment they kiss.

---

I have someone I like.

His name is Yuki Mitagawa. I call him Yuki, and I've liked him for a long time.

As far as I can remember, I probably became aware of Yuki in kindergarten.

I used to be shy and timid, and Yuki often protected me.

“Are you okay, Mina?”

“Y-Yeah…”

“I see. I'm glad.”

Even though he was scraped all over, Yuki smiled with a scrunched-up face.

I still vividly remember how my heart skipped a beat seeing that smile.

Yuki looked like a prince. My own prince who would save me.

It would be strange not to fall in love with someone like that.

But I thought there's no way Yuki would like me as I am now.

After all, I've only ever relied on him and never done anything for him.

“Hey, Yuki.”

“Hm? What's up, Mina?”

“I'm going to become stronger. Strong enough that I won't trouble you anymore. And when that happens…”

“When that happens?”

“N-Never mind.”

Please stay with me forever.

I swallowed the words I wanted to say and silently vowed to become stronger.

More than ten years have passed since then.

Yuki and I are now in high school, and I've managed to overcome the timid personality I used to have.

I can walk with my head held high, and I take care of my appearance too.

Thanks to that, I've made several friends. I've even been confessed to multiple times by boys, proving how much I've changed.

Of course, I have no intention of dating anyone other than Yuki, so I politely decline each time.

Anyway, the weak person I used to be is gone.

I can confidently say that I've changed, and all that's left is to confess to Yuki and start dating him.

That's how it should have been, but…

“Idiot Yuki! This isn't what I asked you to buy!”

“S-Sorry, Mina! I'll go and get the right one right away!”

Right now, I'm in the middle of yelling at Yuki, the person I love.

“Uwa, Mitagawa's getting yelled at by the queen again.”

“Well, he's pretty clumsy, so it's no surprise that Mina's mad.”

Our classmates watch us from a distance, giggling.

Not only does no one try to help Yuki, they even seem to look down on him.

It makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable, but I can't say anything.

Because it's me who's treating Yuki like a slave.

(Uuuuuuugh… Why did it have to turn out like this…?)

In conclusion, I've changed too much.

As I tried to act tough and avoid being bullied, somehow my relationship with Yuki turned into this master-servant dynamic.

(B-But, it was Yuki's fault that time… So, I'm not in the wrong… Right…?)

I think it all started with jealousy.

In middle school, I happened to see Yuki happily chatting with a girl in our class.

That sight made me so angry, and I lashed out at Yuki. I didn't even explain why—I just yelled at him.

And yet, Yuki only apologized with a troubled expression, saying sorry.

Just like when we were kids, Yuki was always kind to me and never got mad.

He never stood up to me, not once. Even then.

So, I couldn't find a way to resolve the situation, and that day ended with me just being angry.

I still think that was a mistake.

If I didn't say what I was angry about, nothing could be fixed.

After that, every time I saw Yuki talking to someone else, I'd get angry again, and Yuki would apologize.

I felt guilty for being jealous, and at the same time, I was frustrated with Yuki for apologizing even though he'd done nothing wrong. And so, I blamed him even more. It was a vicious cycle.

Before I knew it, rumors had spread that I didn't like Yuki, and that's how our current relationship was established.

I wish I could have reset things when we started high school, but unfortunately, I'm not that skilled of a person.

Even though I said I've changed, at my core, I'm still the same timid person.

I was probably scared of people saying, “What's up with the sudden change in attitude now that you're in high school?”

There were quite a few people from our middle school who ended up at the same high school, and I was afraid of their eyes and the judgment of those around me, so I kept acting the same as I had in middle school.

As a result, even though we're now in our second year of high school, Yuki and I still aren't dating.

In fact, things have gotten worse. It used to be that I was the only one bossing Yuki around, but lately, even my friends—more like my followers—have started mocking and looking down on Yuki.

(Don't get carried away. Yuki belongs to me!)

That's what I wanted to say, but I couldn't.

I was terrified that if I did, they would turn on me instead.

I knew I was practically sacrificing Yuki to save myself, but I couldn't do anything about it.

“Mitagawa's such a loser. No doubt he's still a virgin.”

“Of course. Who'd want to date him? He's been marked by our queen, after all.”

“Seriously. Poor guy, he's totally screwed.”

“What are you talking about? You don't actually feel sorry for him.”

“Oops, busted! Hahaha!”

Every time I hear their crude laughter, it frustrates me.

—What are you laughing at Yuki for?

—The real Yuki is kind and strong.

—He's always been my prince, the one who's helped me.

I wanted to say that, but I couldn't. Of course I couldn't.

How could I, the very person responsible for creating the situation where Yuki is being ridiculed, ever say something like that?

All I can do is go along with them, saying things like, “Yeah, he's really hopeless, isn't he?” while trying not to hurt Yuki too much.

That alone makes the group laugh out loud. They're such idiots.

What's so fun about bad-mouthing someone? Every time I say something bad about Yuki, it hurts me, and when I get home, I always end up apologizing to him in my room.

“Hey, why don't we find a girlfriend for Mitagawa?”

As I was feeling down, one of the girls in my group suddenly said something ridiculous.

“Huh? A girlfriend?”

“What, are you going to be Mitagawa's girlfriend?”

“No way. You know that quiet girl who's always reading in the corner of the classroom? Sumita, right? Let's hook him up with her. They're both quiet and gloomy, so they'd be perfect for each other!”

She said, pointing while laughing about something I couldn't understand.

At the end of her finger, a quiet-looking girl with glasses was silently turning the pages of a book, not talking to anyone.

—Eh? That girl? As Yuki's girlfriend?

Just as my mind was catching up with the situation, the first thought that hit me was, “No way.”

There's no way a plain, gloomy girl who looks like she can't stand up for herself could ever date Yuki.

Yuki's supposed to be with me. That's why I've worked on improving myself and become popular in our class.

A girl who hasn't made any effort as a woman and just hides in her shell? Her, as Yuki's girlfriend? That's beyond a bad joke.

“Hey, Mina, what do you think? It's not a bad idea, right? We can make Sumita confess to Mitagawa. Even if it fails, we'll have two toys to play with.”

I should've denied it, but when they all turned their eyes on me, my words caught in my throat.

—You're going to say “yeah,” right?

Their eyes were saying that.

The silent pressure. What would happen if I went against them? Before I could even think about the consequences, my mouth moved on its own.

“Hm. Well, I guess it's fine. Even if she fails, we can still tease them both.”

No. That's not what I wanted to say.

But their devilish smiles scared me, and I couldn't reveal how I truly felt.

---

And then, after school that day, I was sitting at my desk.

My friends were seated around me, surrounding my desk. No, it wasn't just us.

There were two other students in the classroom, standing in the corner, and we were all watching them.

It felt like a freak show. That's the best way to describe it.

“Umm, Mitagawa-kun, I… um…”

Yes, we were watching a spectacle.

Sumitani, that quiet girl, was about to confess to Yuki. The so-called confession between two introverts. Some people even had their phones out, filming, while others shouted nasty comments like, “We're recording everything, so you'd better make it good!”

“Um…”

“Hey, hurry up and say it already! We can't leave until you're done. I want to go to McDonald’s after this!”

The voice pressuring Sumitani came from right beside me.

It was unbearably irritating—both hearing her voice and seeing Sumitani trying to confess to my Yuki.

Both were absolutely the worst. Just watching them made me sick.

(Obviously, she can’t say it. She's never even talked to Yuki.)

I've always been by Yuki's side, so that's only natural.

There's no way Sumitani knows Yuki better than I do, and the same goes for Yuki knowing her.

They've never had any contact, never had a chance for feelings to develop.

Without any romantic feelings, there's no way they could end up together. This confession is doomed to fail. There's not a single factor that could lead to success.

(But… damn it. It's still so frustrating.)

It irritates me to no end seeing another girl standing in front of Yuki.

And what's with her trying to steal Yuki's first confession? Who does she think she is?

It makes me furious that another girl is trying to do what I was supposed to do, right in front of my eyes.

“I-I… I’ve liked you for a while now, Mitagawa-kun, so… please go out with me.”

Even after Sumitani finally finished her confession, my feelings didn't change.

In fact, my irritation only grew. This girl had just casually said the words I'd wanted to say for years.

(How can she say it so easily? I've never been able to say it…!)

I've liked Yuki for so much longer than her.

How could she just say it so casually? That's not right.

Her feelings are so shallow. There's no depth to them. I can tell.

I immediately knew that I care about Yuki way more than she ever could.

So, of course, Yuki would turn her down. That's what I thought… but…

“Um, your answer…”

“Uh, um…”

For some reason, Yuki's face was turning red. He was clearly flustered.

(Huh? Why? Why are you making that face?)

Can't you see what's happening?

She's obviously being forced into this. She doesn't actually like you, Yuki!

Why don't you realize that? Just reject her already. This is all wrong.

I love you more than her. I care about you so much more than this girl does. So why…?

“Yuki, why are you hesitating? Hurry up and give her an answer.”

Unable to hold myself back, I found myself speaking out.

“Oh, Mina-chan. Um…”

“No ‘um.’ You understand, don't you? She just confessed to you. It takes a lot of courage to confess, you know. You shouldn't keep her waiting. She's trembling, waiting for your answer.”

Prompted by my words, Yuki suddenly looked at Sumitani.

Indeed, her body was shaking. Of course, it was. She had probably never confessed to anyone before, and on top of that, she was being humiliated in front of everyone.

There's no way a girl with such a weak mentality could stay calm in this situation. The fact that she wasn't crying was already impressive.

(Not that it matters. I shouldn't be impressed.)

After all, I'm complicit in creating this whole situation.

Even if I sympathize, it won't make Sumitani feel better. The best choice for everyone is to end this farce as quickly as possible.

“Sorry, Sumitani-san. I'll give you my answer right now.”

“Y-yes…”

Sumitani squeezed her eyes shut at Yuki’s words.

Watching that, I nearly burst out laughing.

(What's that? It's like she's actually waiting for an answer to her confession. This is hilarious.)

As I said earlier, this is just a farce.

A twisted joke thought up by my obnoxious friends as a way to kill time.

It was a forced confession—worrying about getting rejected was completely off the mark.

(Yuki's obviously going to reject her. Tough luck. You should just go back to reading your books alone in the corner like always.)

I was sure of it.

Yuki was going to turn her down. That's how it should have gone. It had to go that way, and yet—

“If you're okay with me, then… yes, let's go out.”

For some reason, Yuki nodded.

“…Eh?”

Suddenly, my mind went completely blank.

I couldn't believe what was happening in front of me.

“Whoa, we've got a new couple here!”

“Biggest couple in the class, right here! Let's post it on the class group chat. Wow, they're really going out! This is hilarious!”

Congratulatory words poured in, piercing through my dazed state.

It was all so grating to hear. But I couldn't say anything. I didn't have the presence of mind to respond.

(Eh? Why, Yuki? Why???)

I couldn't comprehend it.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Yuki's supposed to go out with me.

If not, it's just wrong. Completely wrong. So why, Yuki? Why…?

“…Ah.”

And then, it hit me.

That's right, Yuki is kind. When someone's in trouble, Yuki never hesitates to lend a hand.

There's no way Yuki could turn away from Sumitani, who was clearly struggling in this situation.

(Yeah, that's it. I fell in love with Yuki because of his kindness…)

For a moment, the warmth of Yuki's unchanging kindness filled my heart, but in the next instant, despair consumed me.

(Wait a minute. Doesn't that mean Yuki will be with Sumitani from now on…?)

By accepting her confession, Yuki would now have to play the role of her boyfriend.

Regardless of his true feelings, Yuki would start acting to protect Sumitani.

Which means… Sumitani would take my place by Yuki's side.

“You've got to be kidding…”

There's no way I could let that happen.

Some random girl showing up and stealing Yuki from me out of nowhere—no way.

Fueled by anger, I was about to step between the two when—

“Hey, Mina, you should congratulate them!”

Suddenly, someone called out to me.

My so-called friends were all looking at me with smug, grinning faces.

“After all, you were the one who encouraged her to confess, right, Mina?”

“Yeah, totally! You were like, ‘They should totally go out!'”

“Eh? What?”

What are they talking about? I never said anything like that…

“Is that true? Mina-chan?”

“…!”

Yuki turned his gaze toward me after hearing what they said.

In that moment, it felt like my heart stopped.

Because the usual warmth was no longer in Yuki's eyes.

Disappointment. That word was clear in Yuki's expression.

“No, that's… not…”

“Come on, it's not a lie, right? We set all this up because you said so, Mina. Isn't that right, everyone?”

Everyone around me nodded in agreement.

My escape route was suddenly cut off. There was no way out for me anymore.

“T-That’s right! I'm the one who told her! I said I'd get Yuki a girlfriend! You should be happy, Yuki! You better be grateful!”

That's not it.

That's not what I wanted to say.

I want to say it's a lie. I want to clearly say that I never meant that.

I want to tell him not to misunderstand, to say he shouldn't be going out with a girl like her. I want to say it so badly, but…

“I see… so that's what it was, Mina-chan. I get it…”

Seeing Yuki look downcast, I couldn't say anything.

But there was a certain feeling that my first love would end here.

“Come on, you two! Oh, I know! Since you're a couple now, why don't you kiss? It'll be a good memory!”

As if to pour salt into the wound, my so-called friend said something outrageous.

“Yeah! Kiss, kiss!”

“Kiss! Kiss!”

They all started cheering at once, but I no longer had any right to stop it.

Yuki and Sumitani blushed and, looking embarrassed, slowly started to move closer to each other.

“I'm sorry… but in this situation, I…”

“No, it's fine. I'm sorry, too…”

Apologizing to each other, Yuki placed his hand on Sumitani's shoulder.

Yuki's eyes showed he had made up his mind.

“No…”

I wanted to tell him to stop.

I knew I had to say something.

If I didn't, I would lose him.

Yuki would be taken from me. My confession, his first kiss, all taken right in front of me.

The childhood friend I'd loved for so long would belong to another girl.

I couldn't stand it. After all, I—

(I've loved Yuki for so, so long…!)

But even now, I couldn't bring myself to say it.

“I'm sorry, but I promise… I'll take good care of you, Sumitani-san…”

All I could do was watch, helpless, as Yuki's lips touched Sumitani's, filled with despair.