Childhood Friend
Miyuki’s PoV
Eiji wanted to kill himself?
When I heard this shocking truth, memories of my actions came rushing back.
That I had been having an affair with Kondo-senpai behind Eiji’s back.
That I had canceled Eiji’s birthday plans to go on a date with Senpai.
When everything came to light, I lied to Eiji out of fear and self-preservation.
As a result, Eiji was bullied, isolated, and eventually driven to contemplate s🬀🬀cide.
“No! I’m not the worst woman. I’m not…”
I finally understood—or rather, I always knew, but I was too afraid to admit it. When the affair was exposed, I was terrified of losing the honor student image and the friendships I had carefully built.
But I was a fool back then.
Because of that selfish act of self-preservation, I lost the most precious thing I should have protected.
Without realizing it, I found myself in our usual park.
The neighborhood park where Eiji and I used to play together.
We spent countless hours here, talking and laughing on the swings.
I sat on one of the swings and let myself be consumed by memories.
“When I grow up, I’m going to be Eiji’s wife.”
A childish promise I made when I was in first grade.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be with you forever.”
I said those words to comfort him when his father passed away.
“You finally confessed to me. Yes, I’ve always loved you too.”
Those irreplaceable moments kept replaying in my mind. The ten years I spent with Eiji were the most important years of my life. Why… why was I so selfish?
Eiji had always been there for me.
Instead of returning his kindness, I betrayed him. I…
My gaze fell on a notice board nearby.
[Notice of Playground Equipment Removal: Due to renovation, equipment will be replaced during the following period.]
The swings and slides we used to play on together—symbols of our memories—were going to disappear. The realization made tears fall uncontrollably.
“I love him, I love him, I love him… I lost everything because of me.”
My heart ached with the weight of this cruel reality.
I betrayed kind-hearted Eiji. I deserve hell. I don’t deserve happiness. Even Kondo-senpai, the one I chose, will leave me. Even my mother will abandon me.
I was truly an idiot.
I can never go back to that warm and happy place.
Dizzy and tearful, I left the park of our memories. I had no choice but to return to the emptiness waiting for me at home.
But amidst the crowd, I noticed a familiar shadow.
The one person I had always wanted to meet.
“Eiji?”
I couldn’t stop myself from calling out to him, even though I had no right to.
Eiji turned around, surprise flashing across his face as he looked at me.
“Miyuki?”
His expression was filled with confusion and a hint of fear. That gentle smile I used to know was nowhere to be seen. I knew… it was already too late.
“Eiji is a lousy, violent boyfriend. He was just my childhood friend… and yet persistent and stalker-like.”
The cruel words I had said came crashing back into my mind.
“What!? Did you come here to laugh at me? Miyuki! You told me never to talk to you again!!”
His voice was cold, so different from the Eiji I once knew.
I realized just how deeply I had hurt him.
“No, no. It’s not like that. I… I want to go back to how things were, even if it’s just a little bit.”
The fragile bond we once shared as childhood friends had completely shattered. His wary voice pierced my heart.
“What are you saying?”
His voice was sharp and clear, and I looked down, my heart breaking from his cold words.
“I’m sorry. I know I did something unforgivable. That’s all I wanted to say…”
Eiji sighed, his expression unchanging, his eyes distant.
Eiji’s PoV
I realized how cold I was being to her sudden apology.
I realized that the childhood friend who once occupied such a big part of my heart was now just a distant stranger.
“I think I’m going to get angry. Hah… Is it true that the opposite of love is indifference?”
“Eh? What do you mean, Eiji? I’ll do anything if it means you’ll forgive me…”
Maybe this was Miyuki’s way of apologizing, but it felt wrong. This wasn’t what I wanted.
It wasn’t about forgiveness.
It was something else entirely, something I couldn’t quite name.
“It’s not that. I just… I don’t want you to tarnish our memories anymore. I think it’s better if we never see each other again. Yes, that would be better for both of us. I don’t want to hate you, Miyuki.”
Hearing those words, Miyuki froze in place.
“Eh?”
Feeling a pang of guilt, I added softly,
“I’m in love with someone else.”
With those words, I turned and walked away, leaving her behind.
“No… I don’t want this. Eiji… Eiji…”
But I had no reason to turn back. I kept walking forward.