Childhood Friend Heroine V2 Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Just Like a Manga
Under a sky dyed crimson, the boy walking beside Lily muttered anxiously, the sight of Koyuki collapsing earlier clearly weighing on his mind.
“I wonder if Shirayuri-senpai is going to be alright.”
“She’ll be fine,” Lily replied, forcing a cheerful tone to mask her own concern. “According to the nurse, it was just temporary stress. She said Koyuki-senpai just needs to rest, so it’s okay.”
Fortunately, the school nurse at Seira High was a licensed professional. If she said it was fine, it must be true. Reassured, some of the anxiety faded from Saito’s face. “Yeah, you’re right,” he conceded.
“…Stress, huh. Then we really need to do something about her relationship with the president.”
“The president?” Lily blinked, confused. “Is something going on between him and Koyuki-senpai?”
With his immediate worry eased, Saito’s thoughts had shifted toward solving the underlying problem—a problem Lily hadn’t anticipated.
“Oh, right, you weren’t there, so you wouldn’t know. Apparently, the president and Shirayuri-senpai haven’t been getting along lately. Even though they’re childhood friends.”
“What!? Those two are childhood friends!?”
“Shh,” he hushed her. “Well, that’s what Kanzaki and Yakumo said. Plus, their parents are close, and there might be an engagement between them.”
“An e-engagement!?”
The shock of this revelation, something even her first-life self hadn’t known, made her voice louder than intended.
Wait, Koyuki-senpai… You had a childhood friend!? And an engagement? I’m so jealous!
For Lily, it was the ideal scenario. Lately, she had been fantasizing about being engaged to Saito, and a pang of genuine envy struck her. She would trade places in a heartbeat—not as Koyuki, of course, but to have that kind of relationship with Saito. The thought of being engaged to any other man was unbearable; she would rather die.
That’s so nice, Koyuki-senpai… being engaged to your childhood friend… But wait, thinking about it rationally, she was still pursuing Haruki in her third year, so the engagement must be fake. I guess childhood friends really do have trouble becoming romantic interests… No, no, what am I getting all defeatist for? Mizuki-chan is an example too. We’re us, they’re them. I’m definitely going to make Saito fall for me!
“Heeey, Lily, you okay?” Saito asked, peering at her suspiciously. “Your expression is going wild.”
The news about Koyuki and Takumi had sent her on an emotional roller coaster. “Ah, sorry,” she said, quickly pulling away as she felt her face flush with embarrassment. “I got a bit flustered. It’s nothing.”
“Yeah? If you say so,” he replied, obediently backing off.
They resumed walking side-by-side, and Saito returned to their earlier conversation. “Do you know why those two aren’t getting along, Lily?”
She searched her first-life memories but came up empty. “Hmm. There’s too little information to say anything yet. Hey, tell me more about what you know.” Her past life was useless here; she would have to rely on the information Saito had gathered.
“Got it. So basically—”
Saito recounted everything, from the unease he had felt the other day to the events of that afternoon. Based on his detailed account, Lily offered her conclusion.
“I think it’s because he doesn’t want the person he likes to get the wrong idea.” It was the answer that felt most natural to her, as she herself was careful not to appear too close with other boys in front of Saito. The idea that Koyuki might have done something to make Takumi hate her seemed utterly impossible. Before her time leap, Koyuki had been a kind rival, listening to Lily’s romantic troubles and helping out when things got dangerous. She couldn’t imagine her doing anything to earn someone’s hatred.
“So you agree with Yakumo, then,” Saito mused, his response lukewarm. “Hmm. Well, if two people think the same thing, I guess that’s probably it?”
“That’s a pretty half-hearted response.”
“Yeah, something about it just doesn’t sit right with me. I wonder why?”
Saito’s ignorance of romance left him unable to grasp her intuition, and he remained unconvinced. He would probably dwell on it all night. As his childhood friend, she felt a duty to help resolve his uncertainty.
“Ah!”
“You thought of something!?”
“Ah, yeah. There was something similar in the manga I read yesterday.” A scene from the manga she had just finished came to mind. In it, a young master, who was a childhood friend, saw the heroine getting along with another boy and decided to distance himself to avoid getting in her way, acting cold and aloof.
However, Lily didn’t think it applied to Takumi and Koyuki. The young master in the manga was merely standoffish, not cruel; there was a gentleness in his actions, a clear desire not to be truly hated. Takumi’s behavior seemed to lack that softness. It was different.
Just as she was about to explain this—
“Really? Then I’m coming to your place today to read that manga!”
“…Huh?”
Saito’s interruption steered the conversation toward him coming over. She knew she should correct his misunderstanding, but the allure of having him at her house was too strong to resist.
“Sure,” Lily found herself nodding.
◇
A short while later, Lily returned home with Saito in tow.
“I’m hoome!”
“Pardon the intrusiooon!”
A beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair peeked out from the living room. “Welcome, welcome! It’s been a while, Saito-kun!”
“It’s been a while, Lucy-san. You’re home early today.”
The woman who greeted Saito with a beaming smile was Lily’s mother, Machigane Lucy. A native of France, she had come to Japan to study languages, where she read a novel by Lily’s father, Masanori. Deeply moved, she immigrated, became his most fervent fan, and after aggressively pursuing him at signing events, ultimately married her favorite author—a truly fierce woman. Her personality was unfailingly bright, and she adored children, doting on Saito as if he were her own son ever since he started visiting as a child.
“Hehe, I rushed home when I heard you were coming, Saito-kun,” she said. “I’m making your favorite hamburg steak tonight, so look forward to it!”
Originally, the menu was supposed to be Lucy’s favorite tomato pasta, a dish she had been eagerly planning for two days. The immediate change to Saito’s favorite meal was a testament to how much she spoiled him.
“For real!? Thanks! Man, I’m so glad I came over. We were going to have bitter melon stir-fry at my place, so this is a lifesaver.”
Saito’s face broke into a delighted smile. His joy was so extreme that Lily suspected his main objective wasn’t reading the manga but escaping the bitter melon stir-fry.
“But knowing Yahana-san, she’ll probably just serve it for breakfast tomorrow, you know.”
“It’s fine. We only use one goya at home, so the two of them will definitely finish it… probably… maybe… hopefully.”
His flustered reaction confirmed her suspicions. A refund on the admiration she’d felt for his supposed selflessness was in order. Lily furrowed her brow and sighed.
“AHAHAHA, it really gets lively when Saito-kun comes over, doesn’t it?” Lucy laughed merrily, pushing Saito’s back to usher him further into the house. “Now, now, don’t just stand there—go wash your hands and make yourself comfortable!”
After they washed their hands, Lily left Saito in the living room. “I’m going to change real quick, so wait here.”
“’Kay.”
She retreated to her room, quickly swapping her uniform for a hoodie and hot pants. Grabbing the manga in question, she returned to the living room and sat down next to Saito, who was relaxing on the sofa.
“Is that the manga you mentioned?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the book.
“Yep, this is it,” she said, handing it to him. “The title is Living Together with My Childhood Friend Prince Is Surprisingly Ordinary. It’s published by a friend of my dad’s.”
“For real? One of Masanori-san’s friends drew it? Man, he’s amazing, knowing manga artists and all.” Saito observed the manga with renewed interest.
“Despite how he looks, Dad’s a professional in the creative industry. He has a lot of connections,” Lily explained with a wry smile.
“The world’s surprisingly small, isn’t it?” Saito flipped through the pages. “Also, you actually read a rom-com? I thought you weren’t into this stuff, just like me.”
“I’m not against them,” she clarified. “I just avoid them when they turn into harems. If it’s a pure love story between the heroine and the protagonist, I can read it just fine.”
“I see. From what I can tell, there are no battles, so it’s not my thing, but I’ll give it a try for Takumi-senpai and the others.” Convinced, he obediently started reading from the first page.
“Then while you’re reading, I’ll go help Mom.”
Thinking it best not to disturb him, Lily joined Lucy, who was humming in the kitchen.
“I’ll help, Mom.”
“Oh, thank you! Could you please make the salad and soup?”
“Yep! Leave it to me.”
Fifteen minutes later, as she was about to set the finished dishes on the table, she saw that Saito was already seated, the manga abandoned on the sofa.
“Did you actually read it?” she asked, giving him a flat stare. He clearly hadn’t gotten very far.
“With such a delicious smell wafting around, I couldn’t concentrate,” he deflected casually. “I’ll read it properly in your room later.”
“…Same old glutton,” she sighed, impressed by his brazenness. “Well, as long as you’re planning to read it, fine. For now, enjoy Mom’s special hamburg steak.” She placed the plate in front of him.
“Ooh, looks good today too.”
Just then, the living room door opened, and a dandy, handsome man entered. “Hm, this smell. Today was supposed to be tomato pasta, though— Ah, I see. Saito-kun is here. Welcome.”
It was Lily’s father, Masanori. She had messaged him about Saito’s visit, but he must have been too engrossed in his work to notice. He looked puzzled by the aroma of hamburg steak but smiled warmly upon spotting Saito.
“Masanori-san. Hey, thanks for having me.”
“It’s been a while since you came over, hasn’t it?” Masanori sat across from Saito, the two beginning to chat like an uncle and nephew. “How have you been? Enjoying high school?”
“It’s been pretty hectic, but I’m having a blast. I’ve made some friends, and best of all, Lily’s in my class.”
“That’s good, that’s good. I’m glad to hear it. I’ve been getting updates from Lily, but it’s reassuring to hear it directly from you, Saito-kun.”
It was still strange for Lily to see her father so kind to other children. In the past, he had detested them after Lily was bullied. She vividly remembered him directing a bone-chilling voice and contemptuous eyes at some middle schoolers who were blocking their path while they were shopping. Seeing this version of him now, she sometimes wondered if they were the same person.
‘Hey, hey,Lily. What do you think would make Saito-kun happy? The latest game console? A complete manga collection? An expensive tennis racket?’
‘I think he’d be happy even if you didn’t buy something that expensive. He’d be thrilled just getting a Ma○ hamburger.’
‘Alright then, a hundred thousand yen worth of Ma○ gift cards it is.’
‘Dad, that’s way too expensive!’
‘What are you saying,Lily? For a growing boy like Saito-kun, this much is necessary!’
The memory of his wild antics during Saito’s first birthday celebration was still fresh. She’d had to enlist Saito’s parents to convince him it was too much for an elementary schooler. That day had drastically changed her image of her father.
“Hm? Is there something on my face, Lily?” Masanori asked, patting his cheek curiously, having noticed her staring.
“Hehe. No, I was just thinking you two get along as well as always,” she said with a laugh.
“Well, it’s Saito-kun. Of course I’d get along with such a good kid,” Masanori said, moving to Saito’s side and putting an arm around his shoulders.
“Oh, Masanori-san, you’re building muscle. Glad the training’s going well.”
“Oh, you can tell? I found a good method recently and have been able to keep it up every day.”
“Really? I’d like you to teach me after we eat.”
“Sure thing, sure thing.”
“Saito, don’t forget why you came here,” Lily interjected, cutting through their excitement. “And Dad, it’s already past seven, so don’t get too loud.”
“I knooow.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll just teach him the basics real quick.”
Lily brought the rest of the dishes to the table. “Let’s eat!”
The meal was livelier than usual.
“So good! The demi-glace sauce has even more depth today. It’s amazing,” Saito exclaimed.
“Hehe, I tried adding Godi○a chocolate as a secret ingredient. I’m glad you like it!” Lucy beamed.
“Mom, isn’t that too extravagant for a secret ingredient!?”
“Hmm. It definitely has more depth. It’s delicious, Mama,” Masanori added.
But the lively dinner came at a price, as her parents began to unearth embarrassing stories from her childhood, depleting her mental gauge.
“The first time we celebrated Saito-kun’s birthday,” Lucy began, “the reason we were late was because Lily took an incredible amount of time choosing his present. She was agonizing so much—it was so adorable!”
“Wait, Mom! You promised you wouldn’t say that!”
“Ahaha, sorry!”
“Oh, the waist pouch you gave me in first grade,” Saito recalled. “So you worried that much about it. Thanks. I still use it, so I treasure it.”
“~~!? O-oh. Then I’m glad.”
“Speaking of birthday presents,” Masanori chimed in, “the blue ribbon Saito-kun first gave Lily. She really loved it and has worn it every day since, right?”
“Thanks to that, Lily awakened to fashion,” Lucy added. “She was experimenting with all kinds of hairstyles that suited ribbons—it was so cute!”
“And when it got tattered and she didn’t know what to do, that was the best.”
“That’s right! When she was about to cry, Saito-kun gave her a new one along with other presents—the look on her face! It was her best smile ever!”
“You liked it that much, huh,” Saito said. “The current one’s color is fading a bit too, so I’ll give you a new one for your birthday next month.”
“…Please. Just stop already…~” Lily muttered, her face buried in her hands.
Overall, though, it was an enjoyable meal. Afterward, while she helped with the dishes, Masanori began teaching Saito his workout routine. The predictable stomping and noise made her hold her head, but thankfully, her father kept his promise and finished in just a few minutes, likely sparing them a complaint from the neighbors.
“Alright, let’s go to my room,” she said once things settled down.
“’Kay.”
In her room, they sat on the floor side-by-side, leaning against her bed—their usual setup for playing games, watching TV, or just lazing around.
“Alright, I’ll read it for real this time,” Saito declared.
“Good luck~. Don’t run away this time, okay?”
“I knooow. Wait, why are you leaning on me? It’s hard to read.”
“It’s to make sure you don’t run away,” she said, pressing against him. “Come on, don’t mind me. You’re doing this for the president and the others, right?”
“Haa, fine then.” He sighed in resignation and opened the manga.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Flip… flip…
In the quiet room, the only sounds were the turning of pages and the frantic beating of Lily’s heart.
Why did I do this?
She had used the excuse of keeping him from escaping, but it was purely a selfish desire to be close to him. The anxiety was overwhelming. She worried he might hear her racing heart or smell the faint scent of sweat, though she hoped the sweat wipes they’d used were enough. From his direction, she could only smell the clean scent of the wipes mixed with his characteristic soft scent, like warm sunlight—a scent she found herself embarrassingly absorbed in.
To make matters worse, the manga he was reading had a scene almost identical to their current situation. She was on edge, terrified he might look at her and ask, ‘Do you have a thing for me?’ While she would welcome him becoming conscious of her, there was no guarantee it would go well. He was completely engrossed in the manga, showing no reaction, just calmly gathering information. Confessing now felt like a surefire path to rejection.
She wanted to pull away, but her body, honest and traitorous, refused to let go of his warmth. What should she do?
Alright, I’ll just sleep.
It was pure escapism. If she could just lose consciousness, she could forget the embarrassment and anxiety. Pathetic, perhaps, but it felt like her only option. Lily squeezed her eyes shut. The darkness sharpened her other senses, and at first, she couldn’t settle down. But as she focused on the gentle warmth enveloping her, a strange sense of ease washed over her, and she drifted off to dreamland.
◇
“Zzz… zzz…”
“She actually fell asleep.”
About ten minutes after he started reading, Saito heard the soft, rhythmic breathing of the girl leaning against him. He knew she had been tired lately, but to fall asleep while he was struggling through an unfamiliar genre felt a bit too carefree. He considered standing up and letting her fall but decided against it, remembering he was still in the middle of the manga. Taking a breath to calm himself, he resumed reading.
This young master is super similar to the president.
The character in the manga was strikingly similar to Takumi in both appearance and personality—brusque yet kind, and someone others relied on. He understood why Lily had brought up this manga. Still, he didn’t understand why Takumi was being so cold to Koyuki. Hoping for a clue, he kept turning the pages until a particular scene appeared.
‘Who is that guy? He seems awfully close with my childhood friend.’
‘She shows him that expression, huh.’
‘She never shows it to me.’
‘Maybe… she’d be happier with that guy instead of me?’
It was a scene where the young master witnessed his childhood friend getting along with a classmate. Anxious at seeing a side of her he’d never known, he began to distance himself, acting cold to prevent anyone from thinking they were in a romantic relationship that might hinder her happiness.
This is totally it! That’s exactly what the president’s doing!
A jolt of electricity ran through him. It clicked. The shock of understanding was something he hadn’t felt when hearing others’ opinions. It had always felt strange that someone as kind-hearted as Takumi would intentionally hurt Koyuki. He had wondered if Takumi hated her, but that wasn’t it. Thinking back, Takumi’s harshness during the upperclassmen’s fight was likely a desperate attempt to keep her out of it. He had realized that forceful intervention was the only way to stop the fight, even if it meant his childhood friend would get hurt.
Saito understood. If Lily were about to be hit by a car or fall from a high place, he would prioritize her safety over his own without a second thought. His childhood friend was that precious to him. He wanted her to be happy.
Takumi was probably the same. He was acting just like the young master in the manga, deliberately doing things to make Koyuki hate him so he wouldn’t get in her way.
…I don’t like it.
He understood, but he couldn’t accept it. Just as the student council member Gouda had said, this way, Takumi only loses. He ends up being hated by his childhood friend, with nothing to gain. It wasn’t fair. Neglecting your own happiness for your childhood friend’s sake was wrong. Saito was selfish, greedy, and childish; he couldn’t make the adult choice of sacrificing one for the other. He wanted to find a way for both to be happy.
So that’s what they meant by making him realize.
He didn’t need to act like an adult. That must have been what the two student council members wanted Takumi to realize. What Saito needed to do was simple: tell Takumi that, directly and honestly.
“…Thanks,” he whispered to the sleeping girl beside him. Thanks to her, he had found the truth. As a reward, he gently patted her head, and she let out a pleased “Mm~” in her sleep.
“Alright, I’ll finish reading it for now.”
He had his answer, but the manga might hold more useful information. He decided to read the remaining pages and stumbled upon something else interesting.
‘Ah, so I like her, huh.’
Near the end, a conversation with his childhood friend revealed that the young master’s true reason for wishing for her happiness was that he was in love with her. Saito thought, Isn’t that obvious since they’re childhood friends? But if the young master was only just realizing it, it must be true. He didn’t know if the same applied to Takumi, but if it did, then he definitely needed to stop acting so cold. Being hated by someone you like had to be painful.
“Wow, feels like I made serious progress,” Saito murmured to himself as he closed the manga. A single book had brought him so much closer to solving the problem. Everything in it seemed to capture the subtleties of the heart perfectly.
As he skimmed through it one last time, a scene from the middle caught his eye.
‘Don’t sleep in front of people. You’re cute, so they’ll get the wrong idea.’
‘…It’s okay. Girls only do this in front of people they like.’
He had skipped right past this scene before, his mind preoccupied with Takumi. But now, with more mental space, the meaning of the words sank in. His eyes immediately went to his childhood friend, sleeping defenselessly beside him.
If this applied to all girls… then Lily sleeping here meant she thought of him as—
“—Someone she likes… huh.”
Muttering the words to himself, it didn’t feel quite real. He understood the dictionary definition of “like”—being attracted to someone—but he knew the word was far more complicated than that.
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