…Well, maybe this is natural.
After all, I just called her by her family name a moment ago, trying not to stand out.
My last memory of Remi was from our elementary school graduation, and now we’re high school students.
Even with Hanazono, we’ve grown distant after a six-month gap.
The passage of time can turn people into strangers.
Even if they were childhood friends who once seemed to have a good thing going.
With this formal atmosphere, it seems impossible to rekindle that good feeling.
“So, I’m supposed to be your guide today.”
“I know. I’m counting on you, Yoshiki-kun.”
“Oh… right.”
As I struggled with the distance between the Remi in my memories and now, two girls next to us let out excited squeals.
They were two girls from Yuzuha’s group.
“Yoshiki and Nikaido-san are reuniting after so long, isn’t that just too sweet!?”
“I know right? If I were any other guy, I’d be so jealous of Yoshiki!”
“I-It’s not like that!” I hastily replied.
The two girls got even more excited, saying, “Of course it is!”
Although we’re not that close yet, how can they get so worked up about a potential romance between two people who barely know each other?
No, these two are outgoing friends of Yuzuha. Maybe they’re just trying to hype things up.
Feeling grateful inside, I was about to tell them to knock it off when Remi spoke.
“But really, I felt relieved seeing Yoshiki-kun’s face. Having someone I know at my new school is more reassuring than I thought.”
“I… I see. That’s good then.”
…To be honest, I still feel nervous around the current Remi.
After all, the smiling Remi before me is a hundred times more beautiful than the one in my memories.
How did I manage to interact with Remi like we were just friends of the same gender?
At this age, I understand that it’s fundamentally impossible to interact the same way.
But there’s also a tinge of sadness.
“Acquaintance.”
Those word denied the expectations of the past.
…It’s been years since I couldn’t confess.
After that, I didn’t give up; I fell in love.
Since we never made any promises to each other, it must be the same for Remi.
…So I wish Remi would speak more casually like she used to.
Being treated like a mere acquaintance by such a beautiful girl makes me nervous, childhood friend or not.
Besides, once I accept the current Remi, I felt it would be difficult to return to how we were before. It’s a matter of which is worse: not being able to talk because of physical distance, or becoming the kind of acquaintances who only exchange pleasantries.
I preferred the former.
I know it’s selfish.
But I want Remi to remember the atmosphere from back then too.
And if possible, the time when we were supposed to have had something good going.
“Hey, Nikaido. Compared to elementary school, something seems differ—”
Just as I was about to say that, Remi interrupted me.
“Yoshiki-kun, thanks for accepting the role of guide earlier.please guide into the hallway.”
“That’s fine, I’m on day duty after all. But more importantly, Nikaido, you really seem differ—”
“Since we’re at it, why don’t you start showing me around now?”
Remi stood up with a clatter and went out into the hallway first.
The other girls looked at me with confused faces.
…Come on, what’s going on?
Did I say something to upset her?
I can’t leave her alone now, so I hurriedly chased after her, and Remi, who was waiting near the exit, shut the door with a snap.
“Hey, there’s not much to show you during such a short break, you know?”
“Then, well… just show me where the restroom is for now.”
“Is it okay for me to do that…?”
“It’s fine, I need to go quickly!”
“Whoa!?”
She tugged at my sleeve forcefully, then let go just as suddenly.
I almost stumbled, but with that momentum, I walked ahead of Remi.
As we walked in silence, students we passed by would often turn to look at us.
It was more noticeable than with Hanazono, but that’s understandable.
The sight of an unfamiliar beautiful girl wearing the familiar uniform and indoor shoes is bound to be curious.
Exposed to the gazes of the students, we remained silent throughout.
Enduring the awkward feeling, we finally entered a less crowded area after about one or two minutes.
The restroom is just ahead.
It would be inconsiderate to escort her right to the door, so I’ll wait here—
At that moment, my vision swayed violently.
There was a light impact on the back of my head, and it took a split second to realize I was pushed against the wall.
…Huh, this feels… nostalgic somehow.
Click, a piece of memory fell into place.
“What are you thinking!? Suddenly bringing up old stories, are you teasing me!?”
There, without a doubt,
stood the Remi Nikaido from back then.
“Huh!? W-What, what!?”
Shocked by Remi’s sudden change, I let out a ridiculous cry.
The one before me wasn’t the Remi from earlier, but the exact Remi from my memories.
“Don’t play dumb, you’re teasing me, aren’t you!?”
“I-I’m not teasing you!? I mean, why would I do that when we haven’t seen each other in so long!?”
“Hah!? You’ve got some nerve, saying that after all the weird things you used to say back in elementary school!”
Hearing her response, memories of countless tasteless jokes I made back then flooded my mind.
It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Looking back, I was really too much back then.
“I’m sorry. I really regret how I acted back then.”
“…Huh? I wasn’t trying to blame you for that now or anything.”
Remi let go of me with a puzzled expression.
“I got carried away more than I expected. Sorry, does it hurt?”
“It… it might hurt.”
“Really? Seeing your face made me nostalgic, and I just… I’m sorry.”
Remi apologized again as I exaggeratedly rubbed the back of my head.
…The physical pain had actually subsided quickly.
I just felt awkward remembering how cringeworthy I used to be.
During the silence, Remi scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Um… maybe I overreacted?”
Her silky hair swayed.
It was longer than any hairstyle I remembered Remi having, with beautiful black hair on the outside.
I shook my head.
“No, it’s my fault to begin with. Anyway, I’m glad if it was just a joke.”
“Y-Yeah… that’s good.”
Remi let out a slightly relieved voice, but immediately furrowed her brow.
“But you know, I was half serious too? So, well, let’s call it even. It would help if you could at least consider it settled.”
“How are those two different? And you were actually serious after all?”
“I am serious. You know, back then, I wasn’t exactly the type that everyone liked. I don’t want people to know about how I was back then on my first day of transferring.”
“Ah… so that’s what it is.”
“I thought you might say something weird no matter what, so I’m glad I was on guard. You haven’t changed.”
Remi strung those words together.
The current Remi is a transfer student.
Unable to understand her reasonable feelings, I hung my head and said, “Sorry.”
When there was no response even after waiting for a while, I timidly looked up.
Remi had an indescribable expression on her face.
As I hesitated, Remi quickly softened her expression.
“…Don’t apologize so quickly. If anything, you’re the one who seems different.”
“No, that’s my line. You’ve become so—”
—”Yoshiki-kun.”
The earlier interaction flashed in my mind.
“—polite. You used to be more… blunt in your responses.”
“…You mean in front of everyone? I think it would be more troublesome to maintain an unfriendly attitude at this age. Besides, didn’t I become more friendly around sixth grade? What time are you talking about anyway?”
“That’s true, but…”
A girl who flew freely in all directions, following only her own will.
The Remi from back then was just too intense.
Of course, I remember well that Remi had completely improved her demeanor by sixth grade.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to serve as the class leader, even as an elementary student.
As I recalled this, Remi let out a small sigh.
“I’m a transfer student here, so I’d like to have a safe high school debut. So it would help if you don’t bring up old stories from now on.”
“O-Okay, I got it.”
“Repeat after me? I won’t talk about the past in front of everyone.”
“I won’t talk about the past in front of everyone.”
“…Strange, you’re too obedient.”
“What am I supposed to do!?”
As I protested against her suspicious gaze, Remi slightly furrowed her brow before shrugging as if nothing had happened.
“Well, it’s fine. We’re not at an age where we should say everything we think anyway.”
The lively voices of our classmates echoed in the hallway, and Remi shifted her gaze to the other side of the wall.
Maybe some rowdy students had come looking for Remi.
“Oh no, I’m already standing out. I need to get back quickly.”
The wind coming through the window made Remi’s hair flutter, and her blue earrings sparkled.
A comment conscious of others’ reactions.
Remi, who had grown up both inside and out more than in my memories.
Will I be able to return to the old atmosphere with this childhood friend?
And—does the high school Remi remember that day?
Remi noticed that my gaze hadn’t changed and tilted her head slightly.
“…What? Do you want to talk a bit more?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Being denied like that makes me feel uncomfortable…”
Remi narrowed her eyes, and I hurriedly continued speaking.
“No, it’s just… I thought it would be a shame if Nikaido stopped speaking her true feelings.”
Speaking words without deceiving anyone.
Even if she was alienated by others, the Remi of the past was my admiration.
The reason I keep recalling the old Remi is probably because of this.
“…Sorry. I guess it’s none of my business.”
To my apology, Remi looked a bit troubled before drawing an arc with her mouth.
“…It’s not like that. I did say one honest thing earlier.”
“Huh? When?”
“Yeah. That I felt relieved to see Ryota here.”
I blinked my eyes.
“I… I see. That’s good.”
As I stumbled over my words, Remi’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“Hey, could you stop getting embarrassed when I’m honest? It’s making me feel self-conscious.”
“You said something embarrassing normally!?”
Remi said “Shut up” and turned away, walking ahead to the hallway in front of the classroom.
I pondered while watching her back.
—She just called me by my first name.
I’m such a fickle person to be happy about something like this.
…But still.
Back then, did Remi and I really have something good going on?
I might be able to confirm that soon.
No, I want to make sure.
There was enough material to think so.
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