Chapter 74 Endo and Another Childhood Friend

Endo and Another Childhood Friend

Endo’s PoV

“Yumi… How could I forget? It’s been a long time.”

I heard the voice of a childhood friend I hadn’t spoken to in years. Her tone was calm, and I noticed her auburn hair, once long during our junior high days, was now cut short. The last time we saw each other was on graduation day, after I had shut myself away from everyone.

Many friends had come to visit me after Eri’s betrayal plunged me into despair, causing me to stop going to school. But I didn’t want to see anyone. I pushed them all away, and eventually, they stopped coming.

Among them, Yumi was the only one who kept visiting me until the very end.

“I’m glad to hear that. I thought you had forgotten about me since you never contacted me.”

She smiled faintly, but there was sadness in her eyes. Seeing that smile made my chest ache.

“I couldn’t… I’m not qualified.”

In the end, I had been afraid of her kindness. After all, Eri, who was once kind to me, had suddenly turned cruel.

“Qualified? What qualifications? I still missed you, even when you didn’t call.”

She spoke sulkily, just like she used to.

“I gave you the worst rejection, Yumi. Even though you were so kind to me, I pushed you away. I can’t contact you. I don’t deserve to.”

In the end, I was just a coward—afraid of her kindness, afraid of facing myself.

After that incident, I lost all the friends I had made up until junior high.

It was a fitting end for someone like me.

“You’re still kind, Kazuki.”

“Kind? Me?”

The word caught me off guard, and I instinctively asked back.

“Yes, you are. Honestly, looking back now, I realize I was too insensitive back then. I crossed a line I shouldn’t have without considering your feelings. You must have been in so much pain, wanting to be left alone. I regretted it for a long time. You’re kind, Kazuki, and that’s why you keep blaming yourself. I’m sorry.”

That day—the day of our junior high graduation—I had been absent from school. Yumi had been the one to deliver my graduation book and diploma. She was the only person I still trusted, so my parents let her into my room.

“Hey, Kazuki. Just a little bit… During spring break, let’s go somewhere? Staying cooped up in your room will only make things worse.”

She had spoken so gently, trying to care for me in her usual way.

But at that time, I had been overwhelmed by sadness and frustration. I couldn’t take the high school entrance exams, nor could I attend the graduation ceremony. And I lashed out at her.

“Shut up. You don’t understand how I feel. You have a good life ahead of you—a fun high school experience waiting for you, don’t you? Unlike me… Whether it’s pity or some sense of justice, it’s annoying. Just leave me alone.”

The memory of those cruel words haunted me. Yumi had brought me handouts and exam application forms every day, hoping I could keep up with my studies.

And yet, I had said the worst things to her.

Her tears had fallen then, as if something inside her had snapped.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t understand your feelings at all. I was imposing on you, wasn’t I? I’m so sorry.”

Her words cut through me, and a wave of intense remorse washed over me. I had been—and still was—the worst kind of person.

Overcome with self-loathing, I couldn’t find any words to say.

After a moment of silence, she said softly, “Sorry, I’m leaving today.” Then, just before she turned to go, she added, “Bye, Kazuki. I’ve been holding back because of my best friend, Eri, but… I think I liked you.”

“Thanks to you, Yumi… I managed to make it to high school.”

For the first time in years, those words came from my heart.

“I see. I’m glad I could help. Even if it was just a little.”

“It wasn’t just ‘a little.’ It wasn’t nosiness, Yumi. I took my anger out on you back then, and I’ve regretted it ever since. They say you don’t realize how important something is until you lose it.”

She smiled kindly, just like she always had.

“Hey, Kazuki. I heard most of the story from Imai-kun. He’s really sharp, isn’t he? He figured out what was bothering you and reached out to different friends through social media. That’s how he ended up finding me.”

I knew it… Imai…

“So let me tell you this—honestly, from my heart. Please forgive yourself. There’s no reason why Kazuki doesn’t deserve to be happy. I know that better than anyone. And you know what? Our old friends from middle school—they’re still worried about you. Even though they’re busy with exams and job hunting, they listened to Imai-kun and did what they could. They were happy to hear you were back in school and making new friends like him.”

Her words stirred old memories—of warmth, of comfort—feelings I had buried deep to become someone consumed by anger.

“But… for me…”

I couldn’t stop thinking about Eri’s face as she coldly rejected me.

“Be happy, Kazuki. Because you’re kind.”

Her hand, warm and gentle, held my cold one. Slowly, her warmth began to seep into me, thawing the frozen parts of my heart.