Chapter 1 My Childhood Friend Girlfriend
#21MotoKanojoMy Childhood Friend Girlfriend
I have only one childhood friend.
She’s a very precious person, someone I always want by my side.
With her long black hair exuding elegance, mesmerizing amber eyes, a well-shaped nose, and plump lips… she is, without a doubt, a flawless beauty.
Her figure is stunning—long, slender legs like a model’s—and despite her slim frame, she has curves in all the right places.
Academically, she’s brilliant, consistently ranking in the top five of our grade.
Her friendly and kind personality makes her approachable to everyone, an angel… no, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she’s more beautiful than an angel.
On the other hand, I’m just an ordinary guy. My looks are plain, my grades average, and I’m not particularly athletic.
That’s why, whether at school or in town, people always look at us curiously whenever I’m with my childhood friend.
They’re probably wondering, “Why is a girl like her hanging out with such an unremarkable guy?”
But no matter what others thought or said, I always wanted to stay by her side. I couldn’t imagine being away from her.
And so…
During the spring break before we advanced to our second year of high school, I—Naoe Yuuta—confessed to my childhood friend, Kasuga Hiyori.
And then…
“Yeah… okay…”
I was overjoyed.
It felt like a dream.
The girl I had always longed for, night after night as I lay in bed—Hiyori—was now my girlfriend.
To be honest, I had prepared myself for the possibility of rejection.
After all, with her looks and personality, there was no way other guys would leave her alone.
Guys in our class constantly tried to talk to her whenever they got the chance, and boys from other classes would peek into our classroom during breaks just to catch a glimpse of her.
To top it off, even Sasaki-senpai, the captain and ace of the soccer team, had made advances toward her.
But… Hiyori chose me.
That moment was, without a doubt, the pinnacle of my sixteen and a half years of life.
“Hey, Yuu-kun, let’s go to the beach during summer vacation!”
While we were studying together for the midterm exams of the first semester, Hiyori suddenly brought up the idea.
It would be our first summer vacation as a couple, and naturally, I wanted to create lots of fun memories with her.
“Yeah! One of our summer vacation plans is definitely the beach!”
“Ehehe, I can’t wait!”
Hiyori smiled shyly, her happiness radiating from her face.
Yeah… Hiyori really is the cutest.
But going to the beach… that means expenses, right?
Looking at the contents of my wallet, I clenched my fist tightly. I decided to start working part-time until summer vacation began.
On weekdays, I worked evening shifts at a beef bowl restaurant until just before 10 p.m., and on weekends, I sorted and loaded packages for a delivery service.
Honestly, if it were just about going to the beach, I wouldn’t need to work this hard. But Hiyori’s birthday is on August 4th, and I wanted to prepare a special present for her.
That’s why I was pushing myself.
More than anything… I wanted to see Hiyori’s happy face.
Naturally, this meant spending less time with her. However, I always made an effort to be with her at school, and after work, we’d call, text, or occasionally meet for brief chats.
That’s why I didn’t feel lonely, and Hiyori, knowing the reason behind my hard work, always cheered me on with a “Do your best!”
And then, after school that day, as I picked up my bag and was about to leave the classroom to head to work…
“Yo, working hard again with your part-time job today, huh?”
The one who greeted me with a smile and a firm slap on the back was my classmate, Yokoyama Kazuki.
He’s been my friend since second grade in elementary school, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him my one and only best friend.
After all, he was the one who encouraged me the most to confess to Hiyori.
“Haha… Well, I just really want to see Hiyori’s smile.”
“Ugh… Don’t spout such embarrassing lines with that happy face, you lucky b🬀🬀tard.”
“Shut up. If you’re just here to tease me, go somewhere else.”
As Kazuki’s mouth twitched with amusement, I scowled at him and made a shooing motion with my hand.
“Come on, come on. By the way, about that beach date—let me tag along!”
“Why would you?! Don’t ruin our time together!”
Ignoring Kazuki’s teasing grin, I turned to leave the classroom.
“Yuuta! Do your best!”
Kazuki grinned and gave me a thumbs-up as he cheered me on.
Haha… he’s really hopeless.
I returned the thumbs-up to him with a smile.
The first semester ended, and summer vacation was finally here.
With the money I’d earned from my part-time jobs in my wallet, I headed to the shopping mall near the station.
Of course, it was to buy Hiyori’s birthday present.
“Hmm… Everything here suits Hiyori so well. I want to buy it all…”
For nearly an hour, I stood in front of the jewelry shop’s display window, tilting my head in deliberation.
Maybe a delicate aquamarine pendant that perfectly matches Hiyori’s elegant image… Or no, perhaps a ring to let everyone know she has a boyfriend…
As I was mulling it over…
“Hehe, are you picking out a present for your girlfriend?”
A beautiful shop assistant approached me with a smile.
“Yes… I’m trying to decide on a birthday present, but I can’t choose…”
Scratching my head, I replied with an embarrassed laugh.
Saying something like this—it’s definitely a privilege of being a boyfriend.
“In that case, I’d recommend a pair of rings as a symbol of your relationship. Especially these ones here…”
The shop assistant began explaining in detail, recommending various items while lavishing compliments about me and Hiyori.
Swept up by her professional smile and persuasive talk, I ended up buying a pair of rings… Ugh, the cost for two rings…
B-but, on Hiyori’s birthday—August 4th—on a sunset-lit beach, we’ll exchange these rings and put them on each other’s fingers…
Yeah, this choice is definitely not a mistake.
Imagining such a scene, and since I was already at the shopping mall, I decided to head to the bookstore to pick up the latest volume of my favorite light novel. Then—
“Hey, what should we do after this?”
A cheerful girl’s voice reached my ears as I walked.