Chapter 29: I spoke to my childhood friend's boyfriend

I spoke to my childhood friend's boyfriend

I wandered aimlessly inside the school building.

――Turn back.

――Just go home today.

According to a gut feeling, I would definitely run into Tokita if I stayed at school today.

――It’s better not to meet today.

――Turn right and head back.

I see.

Tokita seems to be beyond this corridor.

As I walked, I pondered.

According to my gut feeling, if I were to meet Tokita now, I’d be farther from my goal.

But I felt a strange discomfort.

Even though both the gut feeling and my ultimate goal were aligned, there was a sense that the route wasn’t right.

It’s as if I’ve pressed the wrong button…

Perhaps it was triggered by Aya’s leap beyond the bounds of intuition on the rooftop. That’s what it feels like.

…But regardless.

Considering the burden on Aya’s heart.

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I thought it was necessary to confront Tokita now.

Creak.

A door opened in front of me and Tokita emerged from there.

He was surrounded by girls from other classes.

It seems there was a committee meeting.

“Oh hey, Boyan.”

One of the girls called out to me.

Without responding, I stared directly at Tokita.

“Tokita, do you have some time today? Just a little.”

“Hm, what is it, Boyan?” Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Tokita answered with a slightly nervous expression.

On the other hand, I tried to maintain a calm demeanor.

“There’s something important I need to talk to you about regarding Aya.”

The girls around us looked astonished.

Tokita tightened his lips, then glared at me.

“…I also have something to discuss with you, Boyan. I have to go to the haunted house, so can we do it later? I’ll message you.”

“Yeah, then later.”

Tokita turned his face away abruptly and walked away.

Facing away from Tokita, I headed towards the school building exit.

A resounding clang echoed through the air.

I waited for Tokita at a batting center located near the school.

Sitting on a bench, I watched people stepping into the batter’s box.

Back in elementary school, Aya had taken me here a few times.

Aya was into softball and often practiced here.

But it seems she stopped holding the bat when she got to middle school.

――Go home.

My gut feeling had been warning me for a while.

I glanced at my smartphone’s clock.

It was past 4 o’clock.

Normally, Tokita, as a committee member, would be busy, making it difficult to slip away at this time.

As I idly stared at the entrance, I saw Tokita approaching on foot.

“Hey there, Boyan.”

“Sorry, even though you’re busy…”

“No, it’s fine. Let’s just hit some balls for now.”

“Sounds good.”

Tokita bought some coins from a nearby vending machine.

I also bought some coins and the two of us stood in line at the batting boxes.

On a distant monitor, baseball players were shown, winding up and throwing the ball. The next moment, a pitch was sent from the pitching machine.

“Boyan, did you ever play baseball… hah!”

With a clang, the ball flew diagonally forward.

Even though I wasn’t part of the baseball club, I could see that it was an impressive swing.

I can understand why many girls are charmed by Tokita.

“Nah, I’ve never played.”

A fast pitch whizzed past me.

I’ve never been good with ball sports.

Even when I came here with Aya a long time ago, hitting the ball with the bat had been a struggle for me.

“Well, it’s Boyan after all. It’s been ages for me too. Aya doesn’t like places like this… Huh!”

With a clang, the ball flew diagonally to the side. Foul.

“Oh, so you’ve never been on a date here?”

While saying that, I remembered.

In middle school, Aya was unusually complaining.

She had invited Tokita to the batting center, and Tokita had declined with a “It’s probably boring to go to such a place.”

“When it comes to dates, we usually go where Aya wants to go.”

“I see.”

“Well, we’re going on a date this weekend too, but I plan to take her where I want to go this time. Like a love hotel… just kidding.”

“I see.”

Tokita seemed slightly irritated by my lackluster responses.

“Hey, Boyan… you know about the ‘Best Couple Award’ at the festival tomorrow, right? It seems that me and Aya are going to be chosen.”

“I see.”

“Since I haven’t been paying much attention to her lately, I thought of doing a little surprise, or well… probably something Aya will like.”

Was it about the Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf costume?

Although she seemed to be randomly chosen and bothered by it, it seems Tokita is quite involved in the plan.

Or perhaps Tokita doesn’t know that Aya and I kissed on the rooftop.

I thought he would have heard it through the rumors since many people saw it happen.

Is this also the work of god?

As I absentmindedly pondered these things, a fast pitch once again whizzed past me.

“Boyan, at least swing the bat.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“…So, what’s the talk about?”

Whether he had finished his teasing or not, Tokita asked about the main topic.

I swung the bat.

The ball passed in front of me.

I might look awkward, but I calmly delivered my words.

“I confessed to Aya.”

“What?”

Tokita’s eyes widened as he looked at me from the opposite batter’s box.

“I want to start dating Aya.”

The ball passed in front of me.

Behind Tokita, as he stared at me, the ball also passed by.

“Wait, what are you talking about, Boyan? She’s already someone’s girlfriend.”

Absolutely.

If it were me, I’d probably feel murderous.

But I calmly continued.

“I want Aya to break up.”

“Huh?”

Anger flared in Tokita’s eyes.

“You can’t be serious! How long do you think we’ve been together? Don’t you dare lay a hand on someone else’s girl!”

A fierce demeanor.

That’s right.

If I were Tokita, I’d never forgive a guy trying to steal my girl.

No matter what, I wouldn’t break up.

Even if Aya’s feelings were drifting away.

“What about Yukari? Didn’t she confess to you?”

Did Tokita know about that?

It seems Tokita and Yukari had some kind of cooperation going on.

“I turned her down.”

I swung the bat.

The ball passed.

“Come on, Yukari’s cute too! She’s probably super sexy, that one.”

“I see.”

“Or wait, do you have an interest in girls?”

“Only Aya.”

“Huh!?”

Behind Tokita, multiple balls kept passing.

“No, you’ve been Aya’s childhood friend forever, more like a guardian. That’s why I trusted you to take care of her! Besides, didn’t you push for me and Aya to get together?”

“That’s true. But I’ve liked her for a long time. I realized that now.”

No apologies.

No excuses.

Just looking straight into Tokita’s eyes, I spoke the truth.

“Huh!? When did this happen?”

“On the school trip.”

“School trip… that was just two weeks ago!”

Tokita seems to be desperately searching for a way to make me give up.

However, why didn’t he ask what Aya’s response was?

It’s up to Aya to decide.

Doesn’t Tokita have the luxury to consider that at the moment?

Tokita swung the bat again.

With a clang, the ball flew to the side. Foul.

Tokita spoke to me over her shoulder.

“By the way, what do you like about her?”

It sounds like he’s testing me.

Like when a guy tries to establish dominance.

“No matter what I say…”

When asked again, I hesitated.

“Her smile is cute.”

For now, I answered that.

“Tch, so it’s about looks after all. Well, I had a huge crush too… Aya doesn’t wear makeup usually, but if she does, she transforms.”

I know that.

Now…

“Her laughter is cute too.”

“Oh, I get it… Aya sometimes lets out a super sexy laugh.”

Tokita said proudly.

He knew more about Aya than I thought, how far things have progressed between them.

As I remained silent, Tokita continued speaking.

“Even her body… it’s really soft.”

I know that too.

“Oh, it’s not in a dirty way! Don’t look at her like that. Aya doesn’t like that.”

I understand.

But I can only see Aya in that way now.

“Hey, Boyan, I’m talking about her personality and stuff! Don’t just focus on looks.”

Personality, huh?

There are countless aspects to that.

I’ll mention one for now.

“She’s always cheerful.”

“Sure. She might seem that way, but sometimes she can be a pain. Surprisingly shy and can’t say no. She accepts everything, so I often have to warn her.”

Yeah.

That’s one of Aya’s many shortcomings.

She’s always smiling to ensure nobody gets hurt, nobody dislikes her, and to shield herself from pain.

She’s shy around strangers but friendly.

She can’t swim, but she’ll readily go to pools, rivers, or the ocean if invited.

She rarely gets angry.

She’s comfortable making funny faces, very expressive.

Yet, she cries more than anyone.

She lacks self-confidence in odd ways.

She boasts about being energetic, but at home, she constantly complains, “I’m tired” or “I’m exhausted.”

I love Aya just the way she is.

Annoyed by my silence, Tokita said in a firm tone.

“Hey, Boyan… let’s have a competition.”

“A competition?”

“A three-pitch match. The one with the most hits wins. If I win, give up on Aya.”

“Huh?”

“Then from me…”

With a sharp, satisfying sound, the ball flew toward the pitching machine. It was a hit.

Apparently, there are no conditions for what happens if I win.

I swung the bat for now.

The ball passed in front of me.

With a dull clang beside me, the ball bounced behind Tokita. Foul.

I swung the bat again.

Once again, I missed the ball.

A sharp sound came from Tokita’s side as the ball veered to the side. Foul.

If I can’t get a hit next, I’ll lose.

“Seriously.”

It’s up to Aya to decide.

This kind of competition has no meaning.

But I don’t want to lose if possible.

To get a little closer to the future I desire.

—Lose.

God’s intuition whispered.

Words directly opposing my will.

—Let Tokita win.

—Let his guard down.

—That would inflict significant damage.

Significant… damage?

“Hey, Boyan, it’s the last pitch! Give up fairly!”

Tokita is pressuring me.

I focused on the ball coming from the pitching machine.

—Step forward half a step.

God urged to let him win.

I didn’t move forward, just stayed where I was.

—Now, swing.

I see.

Then, all or nothing—

Slightly delayed after God’s intuition, I swung the bat.

Clang—.

A satisfying sound echoed from my hands.

I didn’t feel the hit.

But my bat indeed caught the ball, sending it soaring in a grand arc.

“No way…”

I’m surprised too.

Tokita looked up, and my hit ball was engulfed by the distant net. It’s probably a home run.

For a moment, Tokita, who had been dazed, turned to me.

Tokita had a face that seemed to have accepted defeat and said,

“…Well, it’s up to Aya.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

I also think so.

Watching Tokita’s figure as he left the batting center.

Perhaps Tokita is a bit more mentally prepared now.

Even if Aya tells him about the breakup, he might be somewhat understanding.

—— …

God’s intuition is rapidly adjusting its course.

It seems I have deviated a bit from the optimal solution.

This time, my actions might be irregular as well.

…This is perhaps the first time my intuition hasn’t aligned so far.

This power always shows me the optimal path.

The shortest route to attain Aya. I understand that.

However, this time, the route my intuition is guiding me towards doesn’t seem to take Aya’s feelings into account. That’s the premonition I have.

Even if it’s just a little…

If Aya can avoid getting hurt, I want to choose the longer path.

—— …

Whether knowingly or unknowingly aware of my intention,

God’s intuition was incessantly making adjustments.

At dusk.

I stood absentmindedly in front of Aya’s house.

From across the street, I could see Aya’s figure illuminated by the setting sun.

Her silhouette was gradually growing larger.

“Aya, welcome back.”

Aya, who stopped in front of me, had a face redder than the sunset.

“You didn’t have to wait, I said…”

“I wasn’t waiting at the main gate.”

“True, but still”, Aya said, looking down, her expression seeming somewhat happy.

“…Aya, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I talked about everything… Even though everyone had difficult expressions, I think they understood…”

I could tell from Aya’s expression.

Certainly, she probably didn’t receive a warm reaction from her female friends.

Nevertheless, she must have spoken honestly about her feelings and conveyed them.

As I almost tried to hug her, Aya opened her mouth.

“Hey, Boyan.”

“Hmm?”

“Tomorrow, I’ll be at the evening festival. I’ll be there and end it.”

Aya was looking straight at me.

In her eyes, there was determination—

At that moment, a ringing sound echoed.

—Don’t let her go.

God’s intuition sent an image.

This is a memory from the future.

—I was watching Aya from the wings.

On the stage, there was Aya dressed as Red Riding Hood, and Tokita with wolf ears and nose.

Chants of “Kiss, kiss” were coming from the audience.

Aya’s female friends remained silent. Perhaps because Aya had confided in them about me.

Tokita grabbed Aya’s shoulder.

However, Aya said, “Sorry” and refused the kiss.

“Hey, what’s going on?! We can’t skip the kiss here!”

“Sorry, but… we can’t be together anymore.”

“What?”

Tokita’s face clouded unmistakably.

“Well, you see—”

“No, let’s just kiss for now.”

Then, a student hosting the event sensed the odd atmosphere and grabbed the microphone.

“Whoa! Red Riding Hood’s playing hard to get, huh?”

Cheers surged from the crowd.

Tokita leaned in closer to Aya.

His gripping fingers dug into Aya’s shoulder.

“Hey…!”

Aya’s voice just barely resonated over the cheers.

The front-row audience must have heard, as they began to wear puzzled expressions.

In a hurry, Tokita let go.

Aya looked at Tokita intently.

“…Sorry, but let’s break up.”

“Damn it…!”

Tokita probably sensed it to some extent. He knelt down right there.

“Whoa, whoa, did he just get rejected!?”

The student host tried to lighten the atmosphere with a joking tone, his face showing signs of concern.

Laughter filled the hall once again, except for the uneasy front-row spectators.

Tokita managed to stand and spoke to Aya.

“…Let’s talk properly later. Let’s just go back for now.”

Saying that, he grabbed Aya’s hand and retreated to the wings—

I felt a slight wave of nausea from the incoming images.

Yet, God’s intuition continued to send memories from the future.

—Aya and Tokita retreating to the wings.

There, I was waiting.

“…Boyan.”

Tokita had an expression of extreme displeasure—.

The memories of the future kept unfolding.

—Backstage, I faced Tokita.

“Tokita, I took Aya from you.”

I didn’t let Aya apologize directly. I didn’t want to make her feel even more guilty.

“Don’t mess with me!”

A loud thud.

Tokita punched the wall.

His eyes were bloodshot as he lunged at me.

“What the hell’s wrong with you! Boyan, damn it!”

Tokita restrained himself from hitting me, knowing it would be futile.

“What the hell is this! What did I do, huh?! Why today?! Do you know how busy I was as a committee member? I did all this for Aya!”

Tokita slammed the wolf ears and nose onto the floor.

“Seriously, Boyan!”

Tokita was furious.

Being rejected by Aya might have been something he sensed deep down.

But Tokita’s anger wasn’t just because of that.

He had been embarrassed on stage and his reputation crushed. That’s why he was so enraged.

“Damn it, I won’t forgive you…”

Watching Tokita lose control, Aya silently observed.

The tearful Aya held back her tears.

Eventually, she spoke softly.

“Sorry, Tokita. It’s my fault.”

Tokita stared at Aya in astonishment.

His eyes resembled that stalker guy from in front of Ryoji-san’s shop—

I shut out the future visions right there.

I won’t let Aya go through something like this.

I won’t let her blame herself.

Aya’s face, as she looked at the distraught Tokita, appeared pained.

…I absolutely won’t let her have that expression.

God’s intuition should understand what I’m thinking. So, it must have shown me this as a future to avoid.

To guide me to the optimal solution…

“Tomorrow, I’ll be at the evening festival. I’ll be there and end it.”

Aya repeated her words.

No, it seems this is where the future memories end.

Smiling at Aya, I nodded.

“Yeah, I understand.”

That’s the reply I’ll give.

Even if I say it’s not a good idea right now, Aya won’t be convinced.

Aya sighed with relief at my response.

—Don’t let her go to the evening festival.

—Absolutely not.

God’s intuition warns me.

I understand.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I won’t let Aya go to the evening festival.

—That’s just fine.

A ringing sound echoed.

Intuition once again sent memories from the future.

This time, it’s leaning towards the optimal solution.

—In the twilight classroom, I was there.

The haunted house was halfway cleaned up.

Outside the window, cheerful music and cheers could be heard from the gymnasium.

The other students must have gone to the evening festival.

In this somewhat lonely classroom, Aya and I were kissing.

Our breaths intertwined.

Tongues entwined.

Aya’s breasts moved up and down.

An intense watery sound echoed through the classroom.

Aya and I were fervently craving each other.

Aya was smiling, looking blissful.

“Boyan, well then… see you tomorrow.”

Aya’s voice brought me back to reality.

The same blushing smile as before.

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Boyan.”

Even though it’s still evening.

It’s a typically Aya-like farewell. She loves her sleep.

With a wry smile, I replied.

“Yeah, goodnight.”

I watched as Aya reluctantly entered her house.

Just when I thought that, Aya peeked her face out of the door.

“Boyan, don’t catch a cold.”

“You too, Aya. And don’t sleep with your stomach exposed.”

“I’m not exposing my stomach!”

What else could she be exposing?

I found myself smiling wryly again.

Finally, the door clicked shut.

After a while, a light illuminated Aya’s room on the second floor.

I gazed at that window for a while.

On the windowsill, the monkey plushie Aya left this morning was sitting.

“…It’s going to be alright. Absolutely.”

I murmured towards the plushie.

As if trying to reassure both Aya and myself.

In my pocket, I tightly clenched my fist.

I let out a sigh and started my way home.