Chapter 0: Prologue
“I’ve decided to go out with senpai.”
When those words were said by my childhood friend, I realized that it was all a misunderstanding on my part.
Hinagi Suzurikawa – I’ve been close to her since kindergarten, and we’ve known each other since childhood.
I don’t know why she felt the need to tell me that, maybe she thinks it’s her duty as my childhood friend. I can’t read people’s thoughts. Soon after, her words became harsher than usual.
I don’t remember whether we promised to marry each other or not, as that is often the case with childhood friends. But she had always been special to me. She was definitely the reason why I was able to push through a difficult time in my life.
Recently, we’ve had a lot of arguments, but despite the fights, we’ve always remained close. When I started middle School, Suzurikawa became more and more beautiful. She spent more time on her outfits, and with her social and cheerful personality it was no wonder why she became popular.
As I watched her climb up the social ladder, I decided to take the next step in our relationship, this year – in our second year middle School. I was planning to confess my feelings to her at the summer festival that we went to together every year.
I was foolishly under the illusion that she would accept my confession. However, such a naive outlook was shattered. I had mistakenly thought that the feelings she was showing me were feelings of love.
Oh, that wasn’t love at all, was it?
Something broke inside of me, a dark shadow appeared in my heart. For her, it wasn’t love, it was a realization that I was just a childhood friend.
“I wonder if that’s the end of our friendship. We may not be able to hang out as much as usual this summer.”
“Oh yeah, congratulations.”
I was annoyed by how cruelly my childhood friend spoke to my freshly broken heart.
I was annoyed by that. If she got a boyfriend, she wouldn’t be able to be with me. I didn’t know what to say to her, but I couldn’t think of anything, as my mind was just blank.
What came out of my mouth was an honest blessing.
Suzurikawa’s face was momentarily stained with anger.
“I’m not sure what to say. I’m glad he confessed to me, because unlike you, he’s reliable and good-looking.”
The person that Suzurikawa calls senpai is a third-year soccer player who had confessed to Suzurikawa a week ago. Unlike me, Suzurikawa is very popular. Many people have confessed their feelings to her, but she has never accepted a confession until now. I guess I was relieved to see her like that. I was immersed in a convenient illusion that she would never leave my side.
But I don’t think she should have bothered to expose her feelings to me and compare him to me. I don’t know when she came to hate me so much, but I’m certainly not good enough for her. I may have become just a detestable person who only sits in the position of a childhood friend.
I was so excited to confess my feelings. The emotions that I had been holding in were too much to handle, and I was spending my days feeling worn out. I felt both relieved and disappointed when I realized that today was the end of it all.
This was the decision. If my feelings are unreachable anyway, it might be a good idea to finally tell her.
“Suzurikawa , I was going to confess my feelings to you on the day of this year’s summer festival.”
“………… Eh?”
“I’ve always loved you. I was only looking at you. I was proud of the way you were getting more and more beautiful, so I wanted to confess to you this year. I don’t know if it’s too late or if you just didn’t care for me from the start.”
“You are lying ……. …… aren’t you ……? Then what am I doing for ……”
“I thought the feelings you were showing me were love. I thought it was love between us. I’m an idiot. It’s not supposed to be like that. You weren’t thinking of me, were you?”
“No, you got it wrong! I also–“
“Yes, our feelings were different from the start.”
I don’t remember when our differences started clashing, but there is no point in thinking about it now.
“What….. have I done…”
“I’m sorry. If this is the end, I just wanted to tell you how I feel.”
“What …… do you mean with the end? I’m not sure what you’re trying to say,…….”
For some reason, Suzurikawa’s face had gone pale. She’s lost all her strength.
I’m not sure why.
“Goodbye, Suzurikawa. Let’s end our childhood friendship today. Be happy with your senpai–“
Evening. The playset was dyed in mad red.
It’s ironic that the park, which I used to play in often, becomes the place of farewell. If I tell her how I feel about her, it will be impossible for us to remain childhood friends and behave as we have in the past. Even so, I had planned to confess my feelings with that determination. But I didn’t need to do that anymore.
I didn’t want to be there anymore. I didn’t want to see her face, or my own. I started running towards home.
“Wait, wait! Yukito, please wait and let’s talk this out —-“
Human emotions are difficult.
If the feelings that Suzurikawa were showing me were not “love” then I may never be able to understand “love” in my life.
Thus, the boy was broken one more time.
Sathus
April 2, 2021 at 4:12 amThanks! Can’t wait for the next upload!
pill
April 2, 2021 at 5:28 amloved it
Inlu
April 2, 2021 at 5:38 amThank you, I can´t wait for the next chapter
papa_pryclops
May 5, 2022 at 10:51 amImma predict this s**t like a psychic here. She tried to pull a smart one on him but it ended up backfiring at her
25th
April 2, 2021 at 7:28 pmInteresting, waiting for more
IWuv2Read
April 2, 2021 at 7:35 pmpoor guy, he had to suffer so much. Well, that’s what she gets for doing that so yeah.
some mob
April 3, 2021 at 2:45 amI like the idea of the plot and the story so far(even though it’s the first chapter), i can’t wait to read more.
imandbz
April 3, 2021 at 4:32 amOh no, I misclicked thr like button!! Please ignore one of the dislike! I meant to click thumbs up. Anyway, the prologue definitely pique my interest. Can’t wait to read more. thank you for the translation.
mighthose
April 26, 2021 at 3:01 amWait… there is a dislike button?
le
May 1, 2021 at 5:41 pmThat’s also my question.
Soafp
May 1, 2021 at 5:42 pmI removed the voting system
Fatpanda
April 5, 2021 at 4:07 amThanks for the series. Looking good.
And somehow I read ch1 first then the propogue. orz.
Kanna Kanna
April 7, 2021 at 3:11 amThanks for the chapter!
Dark Kermit
April 10, 2021 at 3:08 amThanks for the chapter.
SleepyGamez
April 14, 2021 at 3:08 pmTop 10 Anime Failures.
Coming in at number 1, the idiot who tried to use the “senpai confessed to me” trick (which never works btw. Why would they think it would work in the first place?).
Diana Kurosawa
April 15, 2021 at 4:08 pmAhh…. now he broke…. it will take a lot of time and love investment to repair that~
-Bob
April 18, 2021 at 7:21 amThis takes place in middle school, not high school. The next “episode” takes place at the beginning of high school. Thanks for starting this. I have been struggling along reading the machine translation, and am happy to see a readable English version of the story.
Amplifity
April 20, 2021 at 7:17 amYouch, that hurt my heart!
Pilo4444
May 6, 2021 at 11:08 amBuckle up! We’re going to sink.
xeredge
May 20, 2021 at 7:41 pmDamn bro. Thanks for the chapter! Can’t wait to start reading this!
Gin Hindew 110
May 24, 2021 at 5:28 amThis is so dramatically edgy, i love it
A Serious Potato
May 25, 2021 at 5:37 pmThat’s what you get for not being honest and using such a roundabout way of showing your feelings. If you simply lowered your pride and confess from the start instead of waiting for the other party to chase you then maybe things wouldn’t be this bad. I have zero sympathy for people like this who cause their own misfortune.
Strawberry Milkshake
August 30, 2021 at 3:33 amOoooohh this is gooood!
Time to marathon reading, an man, that’s such a heavy blow for the both side but I’m on MC side. Poor lad.
Sehbow
October 19, 2021 at 12:49 amIs it wrong of me to be happy about the utter fail she played?
I’ve always hated it when people play mind games.
Garen
November 8, 2021 at 3:58 amMC’s attitude is super based. No wishy-washy behaviour or whining about being in the ‘friendzone’. If you viewed the relationship as that of love but were mistaken, just speak out your thoughts and cut it off. Don’t hang around in the lobby hoping for things to turn in your favour.
Dulsara
May 16, 2022 at 7:30 pmWait, so it was a misunderstanding?
buttboy
September 22, 2022 at 1:27 pmre-reading this webnovel, i have to say this is an incredible prologue. That last line, “Thus, the boy was broken one more time.” means so much more after actually knowing what he’s been through
Makoto Ren
October 13, 2022 at 7:21 am“The boy was broken one more time” Deym… Interesting first chapter
Red
December 11, 2022 at 4:18 pmWelp time to jump into this series