Chapter 45: Praying for the happiness of my childhood friend turned lover

Praying for the happiness of my childhood friend turned lover

[Aya’s Perspective]

“Aya, go to bed after changing, okay?”

“Yeah…”

As I climbed the stairs after returning home from the family restaurant, my mother nailed me with a comment. As expected, the moment I entered my room, I felt like being drawn into the bed… but I resisted.

The white, thin cardigan was chosen by my best friend, Kanappe. I have to be careful not to wrinkle it.

I hung the cardigan on the hanger and collapsed onto the bed. My body sank and bounced. Somehow, my body still felt light and fluffy.

“Boyan, you.”

I touched the lips that had become pointed. The sensation of the kiss on the outside stairs of the family restaurant still lingered in my mind. Because of Boyan’s slightly dry lips, my heart always seemed to want to burst. Every kiss made me freeze as if it were the first.

Boyan was wearing a jacket today. As I thought, it suited him well because he’s tall… no, even more than I expected.

“Fuah~”

My chest tightened again, so I yawned to calm myself down. Come to think of it, ever since the school trip, Boyan has kept me excited. Despite being forceful, he cares for me as if he can see through my heart. When we’re alone, he’s very manly, but his soft smile hasn’t changed since the past.

My stomach is warm.

I’m sleepy, but I can’t sleep at all. And it’s all because of Boyan…

“Marriage…”

Next to me, I recall Boyan’s profile as he greeted my family. His cheeks were slightly red, and the hand I touched was cold. I could feel his nervousness, and that made me happy. He looked cute eating hamburger steak while puffing away.

“Fuaaa~”

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I forced a yawn.

No good. I can’t sleep. It’s going to be morning before I know it.

Boyan is working tomorrow, so I can only see him on Monday.

What should I do? I wish the day after tomorrow would come soon.

…In times like this, it’s Boyan’s seal.

Dragging my heavy body, I reach for the pig sticker on the headboard. I’ve rubbed it every day recently, so it’s so worn out that you can’t see its original form anymore.

“It’s different from the past, isn’t it?”

We went from simple childhood friends to lovers.

Strangely, there’s no anxiety. There should have been some vague worries until yesterday, but today, when Boyan came to school, held me a lot, greeted my parents, and my dad said, “Boyan looks good, doesn’t he?” in praise that I don’t quite understand, and everyone laughed, my heart became light.

It’s always like this. Boyan wraps me in his warmth and somehow turns my anxious feelings into warmth. So, from now on too, I’ll surely… Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

“Faa…aaaah, no good.”

The heat in my body doesn’t subside. I want to see Boyan.

He said he has to get up early tomorrow, but it’s okay if it’s just a good night. Is it okay?

I reach for the smartphone lying next to my pillow. My face with a wrinkled forehead is reflected in the dark screen, and I’m startled.

“…I’m just demanding, aren’t I?”

The screen lights up with a beep, and a short message appears.

The sender was—Kanappe.

『Aya~ Sorry, are you free tomorrow? Come to my place because Fuyumi got confessed to! Bring snacks.』

I quickly replied, then lifted my heavy body.

I decided to change into pajamas.

- - -

Everyone gathered at Kanappe’s house around noon.

“So, Fuyumi, did you respond to the confession?”

“I kind of gave an OK response… through text.”

“After Aya, now Fuyumi too, huh?”

Kanappe draped over Fuyumi. Shee was in her usual black sweatshirt and sweatpants. Even so, Kanappe, with her slender figure, seemed somewhat alluring as she twisted her body. Today, she casually tied up her black long hair and even I could understand that guys probably liked this kind of look, with a clean neck.

I wonder if Boyan likes this kind of thing too.

I’ve known Kanappe since middle school and she has been my secret admiration since then. I wish I could be a bit more like Kanappe…

“Hey Aya, were you listening?”

“Huh, sorry, I was lost in thought.”

“It’s Boyan again.”

“Ugh…”

I couldn’t deny it.

“I’m really sorry.”

Kanappe and Fuyumi sighed as they looked at me with displeased eyes.

“Fuyumi is going on a date to Spochi next week, so we decided to tag along. We’re both embarrassed, so we thought it’d be better with another couple.”

“Oh, yeah, we’ll go.”

“Good, good. So, Aya, can you bring Boyan?”

“Huh!?”

“Fuyumi and the others think it’s better if there’s a senior couple, you know? Well, if Aya is okay with it.”

Somehow, I could tell that Kanappe was trying to assist us. When I told everyone that I wanted to date Boyan, Kanappe was the first to support me.

“I hope it works out…”

“Alright, so invite Boyan tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’ll give it a try.”

Boyan probably won’t refuse. He might even be happy about it.

But a date with Boyan at the game center…

“Aya, are you in Boyan mode again?”

“What’s ‘Boyan mode’ supposed to mean?”

“Well, it’s when you’re daydreaming like Boyan.”

“Ugh, sorry, I had a lot going on yesterday, and I’m tired…”

“Heeey, it’s probably related to Boyan, right? Tell us in detail today.”

“Ugh…”

Eventually, after being questioned persistently, I ended up staying over at Kanappe’s house. When Fuyumi and I were about to go home, Kanappe hugged me and asked me to stay.

Kanappe’s family is often away due to work, and today, no one was home, so she felt lonely alone.

“Actually, it’s making alibis for the future.”

While eating delivery pasta, Kanappe grinned.

“What’s that?”

“Well, you see, if in the future you want to stay over with Boyan, you can say you stayed at my house, right? If we set this precedent, Aya’s family won’t find it suspicious.”

“Oh, um… thanks.”

My face is hot. Kanappe’s grinning face becomes even more pronounced.

“I’ll take a bath first.”

“Sure Aya, the host approves. But look at that relaxed face in the mirror.”

Looking at my face in the bathroom mirror, it indeed seemed a bit mushy. This is… the face of a girl in love. It’s embarrassing to think that I always have this face when I’m with Boyan.

“But, Boyan too…”

I remember Boyan’s face when he eagerly desires, his gentle smile when we go to school together like the morning sun, the sharp eyes when he’s thinking seriously, and that challenging expression when he teases me.

I get excited about all of them.

“Ugh…”

I set the shower to lukewarm and let the water flow from my head.

“Kanappe, I’m done with the bath. Thanks.”

“Alright, I’ll come in too. Oh, that pajama suits you. Ah, there’s a hairdryer and various things over there.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Smiling, Kanappe left the room.

Drying my hair with the hairdryer, I remembered the day Boyan came to my house on the last day of the school trip. In that stuffy room, under the red evening sun, Boyan hugged me many times.

I, too, uncontrollably yearned for Boyan…

“My head feels hot.”

By the time I finished drying my hair, sweat had formed on my forehead.

Holding a bottle of barley tea that came with the delivery, I opened the window in the room. Stepping onto the balcony in sandals, my body shivered in the chilly air.

Looking up, the almost round moon illuminated the night sky. It truly felt like autumn.

“Summer is over already…”

Thanks to Boyan, this summer, this month, passed by in the blink of an eye. Yet, memories of the school trip feel so distant.

“Right, it’s been exactly a month.”

“What’s been a month?”

Kanappe had somehow positioned herself next to me.

“Isn’t Kanappe taking her bath to fast?”

“It’s normal. Aya is just spacing out too much.”

Checking my phone, indeed, more than thirty minutes had passed.

“I feel like I’m not doing well…”

“Again with that. Aya easily slips into a negative mode.”

“Well, I can’t blame you. Boyan seems like he’d go all out for you and looking back, you’re head over heels for him. He’d make a great boyfriend. It’s understandable if you think it might be unbalanced.”

“…I didn’t say all that.”

She hit the mark. As Kanappe said, I find myself wondering if I’m good enough for Boyan.

I always receive from Boyan, but am I properly giving back?

It’s probably unnecessary thinking, but it still crosses my mind. I don’t particularly like that about myself.

“Well, do your best. Boyan is putting in a lot of effort.”

“…I know.”

“Sigh… Honestly, I want to say, ‘Aya, you’re giving plenty of love to Boyan as you are’, but I guess that won’t be enough for you, right? So, try even harder?”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

“There you go, good girl, Aya.”

Kanappe pets my head. So, I reciprocate.

“Kanappe is a good girl too, a good girl~”

“Hehe… pet me more~”

Kanappe rubs her head against me. Petting her glossy black hair, I feel strangely moved.

“Thanks a lot, Kanappe. I’m glad I gathered the courage to tell everyone.”

“Yeah, yeah~ sentimental Aya is cute.”

Suppressing tears, as I pet Kanappe, I notice her gaze on my phone. With cat-like narrowed eyes, she glances at me briefly, then returns her focus to my phone.

“Is something wrong with my phone?”

“Well, no… I’ve been thinking, Aya, your wallpaper has been the Great Buddha for a while now.”

“Oh, this one.”

The wallpaper displayed the Great Buddha we took a picture of on the first day of the school trip. That day, I consulted Boyan at the base of the Great Buddha. Thanks to him, I remember feeling a bit relieved.

Then, surprisingly, Boyan started worrying about things, desperately encouraging me.

“Is it a modest choice for Aya… or is it disrespectful to the Great Buddha? So, what’s the wish? Something like a prayer?”

“Well, maybe something like that.”

At that time, Boyan wasn’t getting better quickly, but we got a message from the team to return. Feeling uneasy, I parted with Boyan. As he left, he said, “I hope things get better for you too.”

So, I made a wish.

“May Boyan find happiness.”

Since then, I set the Great Buddha as my wallpaper. It was a small wish as a childhood friend.

But now, being with Boyan, realizing my feelings, entering a relationship, I can’t change this wallpaper anymore.

“So, did that wish come true?”

Kanappe asks in a tone that’s hard to decipher whether she’s interested or not.

“I wonder if it came true… I hope it did.”

I gently stroke the soft cheek of the Great Buddha.