The speed of the chopsticks in my hand gradually increased.
Ah, this must be the happiness of being part of a romantic comedy!
âIâm happy to see you enjoying the food, Kim-kun. EheheheâŚâ
âSomehow, I’m envious…â
âHuh? Envy what?â
âThe person who marries Kamiyama. If they get to eat this kind of dish every day⌠isnât that enviable?â
As I muttered nonchalantly, Ohana scolded me.
âKim-kun! Donât say such things randomly! Are you doing this on purpose!?â
âNo, Iâm serious. Wouldnât it be great to eat such delicious food every day as a man?â
âEh, eh⌠so, thatâs⌠ehâŚâ
Ohana trailed off, her words tangled in shyness.
***
I ended up eating all the side dishes and rice. It was so delicious that I ended up asking for another bowl of rice.
After I packed my bag and put on my shoes, I turned around and spoke to Ohana.
âThanks to you, Kamiyama, I had a wonderful dinner.â
âYes, Iâm glad you enjoyed it.â
âThen, Iâll head home. Itâs fine even though itâs late.â
âYes! Be careful, Kim-kun!â
âSee you at school tomorrow.â
With those parting words, I stepped out of the house.
***
[Ohana’s POV]
Kiik-tak!
As Hyunjin left and the door to Ohanaâs house closed, she let out a sigh.
âWhewâŚâ
‘Would everything be okay?’ Ohana stared at the closed door, lost in thought.
Had anyone ever truly cared for her like this?
No, that wasnât true. Her childhood friend Ryunosuke had cared for her.
A month had passed since her high school entrance ceremony, and her feelings for Ryunosuke had begun to shift. Their relationship, once close, now felt distant. Conversations were difficult unless she initiated them.
Could she still call him a childhood friend?
No, she couldnât.
Kamiyama Ohana felt the same way. Memories of Ryunosuke were all from kindergarten and elementary school. When she entered middle school, she had moved away for three years due to family circumstances, and their bond had faded.
When Ohana was about to start high school, her family moved next door to Ryunosuke.
Despite their proximity, their relationship remained ambiguous.
Then, a month later, Hyunjin, a male classmate, entered Ohanaâs life.
Ryunosuke always had many friends, thanks to his sociable nature. But Ohana couldnât talk to him like that. They could barely walk to school together in the mornings, but at school, she found it hard to approach him.
Her timid personality and the three-year gap had created a chasm between them.
***
One morning, while walking to school, Ohana bumped into a male student by chance.
Kim Hyunjin.
At first, Ohana thought he was intimidating because of his serious demeanor. But she quickly realized he was kind.
When her teacher assigned group duties, her classmates left all the work to her. It was Hyunjin who stood up for her.
Why? She didnât even know him.
Even with her doubts, Hyunjin helped her complete the tasks. Those few days of kindness eased the loneliness she had carried with her.
And then, one day, on her way home from school, she was nearly accosted by a gangster.
Hyunjin intervened, saving her like a knight on a white horse.
Ohana found herself thinking such thoughts and immediately scolded herself.
âBaka! Iâm so foolishâŚI have Ryu-chan, yet IâŚâ
What was she thinking?
Ohana berated herself.
âWhat is this feeling? What does it mean?â
It was different from how she felt about Ryunosuke.
âMaybe itâs nothing. After all⌠I donât even know what Kim-kun thinks of meâŚâ
She had Ryunosuke, and it felt wrong to think about another man. These feelings must be those of friendshipâanything else would be strange.
Ohana didnât have many friends. In middle school, her shy and passive nature had kept her isolated.
It was Ryunosuke who had first reached out to her during kindergarten and elementary school.
But now, as high school students, Ryunosuke no longer extended that hand.
She didnât blame him. It felt natural.
Ryunosuke had made the effort to reconnect after their three-year separation. Yet, after a month, nothing had changed.
Ohana couldnât think of what else to do to restore their closeness.
What kind of presence was Kim Hyunjin to Ohana now?
Since he had approached her first, could he be considered a friend?
Pondering this, Ohana returned to the kitchen and began washing the dishes left over from dinner.
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