Chapter 26: Friendship

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Translator: Soafp

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“Whoa, I got melon juice on my clothes… Oh well.”

“Hey, idiot! Fruit juice stains easily, you know. Wipe it off quickly.”

Endo-san didn't seem to care that juice had gotten on her clothes and kept munching on the melon, but Haruki couldn't stand it and scolded her.

“Fukase, can you pass me the tissues?”

“Ah, sure.”

When Endo-san arrived at Haruki's house earlier, she gave me a sharp look as if she were glaring at me… but now, I don't feel that at all.

After I explained why I came here, Endo-san’s eyes sparkled and she said she wanted to eat melon—so that's how we got to this point.

“Melon is really good, isn't it? Do you get them from your relatives every year, Fukase?”

“Y-Yeah. One of my relatives runs a melon farm, and they always send us some around this time of year.”

“Wow, that's pretty enviable.”

Considering how bad of an impression I must've left on Endo-san, I expected her to dislike me. But to my surprise, she's treating me completely normally.

“Speaking of which, Haruki told me—didn't you go to a group date too? Are you looking for a boyfriend?”

“Eh!? N-No! I'm not really thinking about having a boyfriend or anything!”

I glanced sideways at Haruki's expression while hurriedly denying it.

“Then why did you even go to a group date?”

“My friend invited me…”

It's true that my friend Azusa invited me to the group date, but the real reason I went was to get used to being around guys.

But if I said that, wouldn't it sound like I was very interested in men…?

“Actually… ever since I was in high school, I've been scared of boys…”

I decided to tell the truth.

I could've given a vague excuse and brushed it off, but… I wanted Haruki to hear this.

I wanted him to know the real me, no matter what.

The two of them quietly listened to what I had to say.

“So you have androphobia and went to the group date to try to overcome it. That's quite a coincidence, huh, Haruki?”

“Y-Yeah. That's right.”

A coincidence…? Just as I was about to ask what he meant, Haruki opened his mouth.

“Actually, I… I have a similar issue, like Shiho…”

This was the first time I heard that Haruki had gynophobia—and what caused it.

Apparently, just like me, he went to the group date to build some immunity toward the opposite sex.

“…Could his condition be my fault…?”

[Disgusting!]

Those words I had once said to him… maybe they deeply wounded Haruki and caused his trauma.

“Well, that's probably it. Shiho's words definitely hurt Haruki. It's trauma, plain and simple.”

Endo-san casually made this merciless comment while eating melon.

But she wasn't being cruel—she was just analyzing the situation calmly.

“If you put it that way, I also shouted harsh words at Shiho when I pushed her away…”

“Th-That was my own fault though…”

Whether Haruki's words were the root of my fear is unclear, but… I think both of us instinctively knew the other had played a role.

In my case, I know it's my own fault—my actions caused it.

“Then how about you two try holding hands?”

“Huh? What the hell are you talking about, Seina?”

Endo-san suddenly came up with this “solution,” leaving both Haruki and me stunned.

“Haruki needs to get used to women. Shiho needs to get used to men. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?”

“There's no need to go that far…”

Haruki looked a little skeptical, but Endo-san grabbed our hands and nudged us into a handshake.

I hesitated for a moment… but then we naturally held each other's hands.

His large, warm hand felt so comforting in mine.

At the same time, my heart was pounding so loudly I was afraid Haruki could hear it.

(What does Haruki think about this…?)

My palm started to sweat from the tension of holding his hand.

I quickly pulled my hand away in embarrassment.

“Ah… sorry. I got nervous and my hands got sweaty…”

“Y-Yeah.”

To be honest, I didn't really want to let go.

Because getting physically close to the person I love so much… might never happen again.

“Haruki and Fukase both looked calm. Maybe your phobias are already cured?”

That might actually be true.

Ever since I ran into Haruki again at the group date, my symptoms have been getting better.

I was able to talk normally with Shiraki-kun and Senda-senpai too.

And I could even tutor boys at the free school without any trouble.

“Yeah… I could talk with your friend Ishii-san normally too.”

Looks like Haruki's condition has improved just like mine.

“Hey, Fukase. Haruki's hand was pretty big, wasn't it?”

“Eh… yeah. It was.”

The warmth and size of Haruki's hand still lingered in my palm.

The feel of a boy's hand—Haruki's hand—was burned into my memory.

Endo-san's comment made me blush from embarrassment.

“H-Hey, I heard from Haruki that you're doing a teaching internship, right, Endo-san?”

I tried to change the topic—it was getting too awkward.

“Yeah. Being at the school made me realize how brutal teaching really is. The kids are loud, and teaching is hard too.”

“I see. Teaching is definitely tough. I help kids study at a free school, so I get it.”

“You work at a free school, Fukase?”

“No, it's volunteer work. There are all kinds of kids with different backgrounds.”

Though our roles were different—her as a student teacher and me as a volunteer—we shared common experiences and quickly hit it off.

“Fukase, do you remember Hashimoto? I'm terrible at remembering names and faces—I didn't remember him at all.”

“Yeah, I remember. He was our homeroom teacher in third year of middle school, right?”

Haruki watched over our conversation with a gentle smile.

---

“Thanks for today, Haruki, Endo-san. I had a really good time.”

“No, I should be thanking you—for bringing that melon.”

We had talked so much that evening had come before we knew it.

“Hey Haruki, walk her home.”

As I was putting on my shoes at the entrance, Endo-san said that to Haruki.

“Ah, yeah. I should.”

“I-I'm fine! It's not even dark yet.”

“Is that so…”

A part of me hoped Haruki would offer to walk me home.

But I was surprised that it was Endo-san who suggested it first.

We had a great conversation just now… Could I maybe call her a friend now?

It kind of feels like we became that close…

“Well then, thanks again.”

And yet, I couldn't help but feel guilty… for having a hidden longing toward Haruki—her boyfriend.

“Be careful on your way.”

They both saw me off as I left Haruki's house.

“Endo-san is a really nice person…”

Someone like me… could never match up to her.

To be honest, until today—until I opened up to her—I was kind of bad at dealing with Endo-san.

It wasn't just because she was Haruki's girlfriend.

Even back in middle school, she always felt like someone on a completely different level.

That wasn't the only reason, but still…

“Maybe I was just jealous of her… I always lost to her in grades too…”

I felt like such a pathetic woman compared to her.

“There's no room for me in his life… I should give up… shouldn't I?”

I love Haruki so much.

And Endo-san is a good person.

They're dating.

They look happy together.

But even when I saw how close they were… I still couldn't let go of my feelings.

---

[Haruki PoV]

“That melon was good. I hadn't had one in a while.”

“…Yeah.”

After Shiho left, only Seina and I remained in the room.

As I washed the dishes, I tried to talk to her…

“But your family's rich, Seina. Didn't you eat fancy melons all the time?”

“…Not really…”

Her response was cold and distant—conversation wasn't flowing.

She'd been enjoying herself earlier, but maybe letting Shiho into the house without asking her was a mistake.

“Seina, I'm sorry… It just felt wrong to send her home after she brought the melon…”

Right after I said that, Seina suddenly hugged me tightly from behind, which startled me.

“Seina…?”

“Ahh… I'm so parched…”

Parched?

I feel like I've heard her say that before…

“Haruki… hold me.”

“Wha…? What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“It's not sudden. We haven't had time together lately, and we haven't… done anything for a while.”

I turned to look at her face, but she pressed herself against my chest, making it impossible to see.

“Seina…”

“Yeah…”

Seeing her small body tremble in front of me, I pulled her close in a firm embrace.