If you know the back story, you will laugh out loud

"...I did it"

　Sohei, Shizuna's childhood friend, had a headache as soon as he arrived at school. He found Shizuna as soon as he left the house in the morning. We talk a lot, and sometimes we meet... Unlike in the past, there's less physical contact, but there's no doubt that Sohei is interested in the opposite sex.

"Shizuna! 』

　I hugged him from behind while calling his name... I used to do this a lot in the past. I thought that if nothing changed from the past, I wouldn't be rejected. However, contrary to Sohei's expectations, she said that she didn't like her. It was a shock to her, and she suddenly understood that if she did something like that, even if she was a close childhood friend, she would be treated like that.

"... I really did it"

　Shizuna's gaze was sharper than I thought, and there was some pressure in her voice. Sohei left the place as if to run away from the eyes and words he had never seen before.

(...Ryuichi Shido)

　A tumor in the class, one of the bad students that even the teacher can't handle. He has heard many rumors that he lives in a different world than Sohei. Rumors were circulating that it was not just Sohei, but also Shizuna.

　Recently, Shizuna has been talking to Ryuichi a lot. Until now, I had never seen such a situation at all, but suddenly the two of them shortened the distance. Ryuichi looked troublesome, but Sohei couldn't believe that Shizuna was willing to talk to him.

"...Why"

　I can't think of any reason.

　Sohei doesn't know about Ryuichi, but he doesn't want to talk to him. It's the same as someone who wants to live a peaceful school life and doesn't want to get involved with delinquents.

"Yo, what happened Sohei?"

"huh....Toshiki ?"

　(Yamamoto Toshiki) classmate who can be called a close friend of Sohei. She had been staring at Sohei, who had been holding his head for a while, but it seemed that she couldn't help but worry about him. But of course, there was no way Sohei could honestly say that he hugged his childhood friend and was rejected.

"Nothing. It's the same as usual."

　I said that while averting my gaze, but Toshiki seemed to find it out normally. However, Toshiki replied that he understood Sohei's intention to deceive him. Shizuna came to her classroom at the end of such words.

　The beauty that everyone in the class looks at gets into the friends. During that time, she never looked at Sohei even once. It was a little lonely, but it was also a moment when I realized that everything was different from the old days.

"Hey, I wonder what's really going on with Rindo lately."

"Are you talking about Shido?"

"That's right. Because we haven't talked until now, right? You're definitely threatening me."

"..."

　Thinking that she was being threatened, Sohei warned Shizuna. But Shizuna said otherwise. She cannot deny the possibility that she lied because she was threatened, but she repeats Shizuna's words at that time in her head.

"I'm not threatened. Is Shido a good person? He's a very kind person, and the other day he treated me—』

　In response to those words, Sohei immediately replied, "There's no way that's possible."

　The call was cut off immediately after that, but thinking about it, I think Shizuna's voice at that time was quite displeased.

"..."

　What if... if Shizuna really trusted Ryuichi, then from her point of view Sohei's words would never be pleasant.

"...a"

　While I was thinking about such things, Ryuichi also went to school.

　His conspicuous blond hair and tan skin, his large body and muscular body, his sharp eyes and the piercings he wears on his ears seem to represent his delinquency. Even within the class, there weren't many people who approached him, and at most he was approached by a boy with a bad reputation who would be close to him.

"Shizuna..."

　And with Ryuichi's arrival, Shizuna naturally got closer.

　Ryuichi still seemed troubled, but Shizuna was talking to him with a smile on his face. I can't see her being threatened by that figure, and I can tell that she's genuinely enjoying the conversation.

"... damn it"

　A small murmur leaked out unnoticed.

　Shizuna isn't the kind of girl who gets involved with bad people, as her childhood friend Sohei knows very well. That's why Sohei wondered whether it would be a mistake to accept the rumors and conclude that Ryuichi was a bad person.

"There's never been a scene like that before. Are you sure?

"...that kind of thing is"

　I couldn't say no.

　He's someone I've had vague feelings for for a long time. Rather than worrying about him, it hurts to see him smile like that at someone other than himself.

(That's right... well. I was dependent on my childhood friend. I can't do anything if I don't move myself... It's a matter of cause and effect. In that sense, Shido noticed me.)

　I thought I'd try to gather some courage.

　Whatever form it takes, I don't want to regret doing nothing. Well, even so, let's wait and see how it goes for a while.

"...Hakkushoi!"

　During his lunch break, Ryuichi let out a hearty sneeze.

　Either someone was talking about it, or maybe it was just a cold, but it was such a big sneeze that it got a lot of attention. Ryuichi took out a tissue from his pocket and bit his nose without thinking about it.

"... let's spend some time on the roof."

　Ryuichi got up from his seat and headed to the roof because there was nearly 30 minutes until the next class. Basically, the rooftop is open all the time, but it is a quiet place because there are not many people visiting.

"...I wonder if I'll show up there for the first time in a while today."

　The bar that Ryuichi mentioned was his favorite bar, and he hadn't been there recently. I don't have any plans with a woman in particular, but that might make the bar manager feel at ease in many ways.

"Shido-kun?"

"... please. Tell me you're not Rindo."

"Sorry, I'm here"

"... huh"

　Ryuuichi let out a sigh as he knew who it was just by the voice.

　Shizuna lined up next to Ryuichi and started looking at the scenery from the rooftop. When Ryuuichi glances at him, he catches sight of his side face holding his hair swaying in the wind with his hand. He was really beautiful again, he muttered to himself.

"So what happened this morning?"

"picture?"

"... well, just for some reason"

　Shizuna's eyes widened at Ryuichi's question. Even Ryuuichi didn't know why he asked such a question, but he didn't have anything to talk about, so he just asked. Shiina spoke slowly.

"... There was nothing in particular, but yeah... I thought again that we were getting older."

"Are you old hag?"

"Excuse me!"

　Shizuna poked Ryuichi's shoulder a little harder.

　Naturally, Ryuichi's body didn't budge at that level. After that, the two of us gazed at the scenery for a while, when Shizuna suddenly said something like this.

"Hey Shido-kun, today is… um."

"What are you going to do at night?"

"... how did you know?"

"... Did you really think so?"

　Judging from Shizuna's hesitant state, I took the first move, but it seemed that Ryuichi's prediction was correct. Ryuichi himself was surprised, but when it came to this, the taste of that nikujaga flashed through his mind. Even though he has finished his lunch, his stomach is rumbling.

"I'm thinking of going to town for a bit at night. Maybe I'll go to the manager's bar."

"Do you want to drink alcohol?"

"As expected, don't drink. I'm underage."

"That look doesn't convince you, Shido-kun."

"... you're pretty rude, aren't you?"

　Compared to when we first started... well, it's only recently that we've actually met each other like this, but Shizuna started talking to Ryuuichi without hesitation. Strangely enough, she wasn't unpleasant, and she had a suppleness that easily entered people's hearts.

"I've decided, Shido-kun."

"what?"

"I'll either make sure that Shidou-kun doesn't drink alcohol, or I'll accompany him to monitor him."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm serious."

"..."

　Ryuichi opened his mouth wide this time.

　I used to think that Shizuna was a mass of action power, but no one would ever think that she was this far. That said, it's important to say no.

"Don't do it, it's not a place for good girls to come."

"Then I'm a bad boy when I follow Shidou-kun. So there's no problem."

"Don't quibble"

　Shizuna is serious. She is seriously trying to follow Ryuichi.

"... Huh!"

"puuf~"

　"What's so funny?" Ryuichi let out a big sigh at the end.

"Mom, I'm going home after eating with my friends today."

"Yes... I understand. Then I should eat outside and go home."

"... you're not listening, are you? 』

"Yeah. Have a good time."

"Yeah♪"

　Sakie smiled at her daughter's joyful voice.

　I told my daughter that I would eat outside at night, so I didn't particularly say to eat here.

"... I wonder if I'll go there after a long time."

　Sakie smiled as she wondered if she should go to a bar where memories of a boy much younger than her reside.