An Old Friend Has Come

Childhood friend, a person who grew up with another person, who seems to have spent a lot of time together. They said that childhood friends don't win on romance, though is that really true? Some say childhood friends can be your strength or weakness in every part of your life. I have a childhood friend, her name is Shimizu Kanao. She is a pretty cute and kind friend who would be helpful to anyone though she has bad grades, so that's one of her flaws. Back then I used to study with her until an incident happened to me. I met her during my days back when I was living in Osaka. She came up to me when I was at the river side looking at the view. She somehow got interested so she talked to me and we became friends.

"So? Why did you come here? Did you need something? If not then go home" I asked coldly.

She remained silent, her face was giving a troubled look as she looked down and didn't speak. I sighed and looked away.

"I...I want you to come back....to come back to school....to me..." was her first sentence to say.

"What the heck are you saying? Listen here, what if I go back and just pop in there like nothing happened then what? Get humiliated? Sorry, but I won't go back" he said as he looked at her.

She stopped talking.

"Did you just come here to waste your time? How stupid. I suggest you get---Oww!?" Suddenly I got pinched for some reason.

Kanao looked at me with curiosity and she was worried.

"A-are you okay Yuu-chan?!" She asked as she came closer.

Apparently Aiko-san got mad and pinched me. She was pouting and was staring at me. Kanao can't see her but when I look at Aiko-san, shes giving me the vibe of her saying "Apologize and be nice". I sighed and looked at Kanao.

"I'm okay, don't worry Kana-chan..." As I subconsciously said her nickname. She gasped and looked at me while tears are forming on her eyes.

I didn't realize it and began panicking when she was already about to cry. I apologized and apologized as she calm down and smiled.

I offered her a drink and we talked for a bit.

"Do you..Do you really not want to go back?" She asked.

I couldn't answer yet since I am not sure myself.

"I'll tell you soon so don't worry" I accidentally smiled.

Kanao became flustered as I told her though, I didn't even know why. After an hour or so, she had already decided to leave, not only that the rain has already stopped too. I bid my farewell as she smiled and left, Aiko-san was smiling too knowing I didn't turn into a bastard like how I acted earlier.

"So even you have a gentler side" Aiko-san said while smiling.

"I couldn't help it since you were getting mad at me....though...I guess I do have to change a little" he said.

Aiko-san agreed and started to cook for dinner for it was almost dawn. I watched and learned from her how to cook such good food. Though I got distracted for a while thinking about Kanao and her question.

Do I need to go back? Can I even stand my chances against those people?

Nope, I can't do it. I'm too weak to face my fears and those people. I can't do anything at all, I'm not smart or good looking or anything at all, just a hopeless nobody.

"Kagami-san?" Aiko-san called out to me.

"Don't worry about me, sorry if I wasn't paying attention. I'll go to my room first, thanks for helping me out" I went to my room then.

Aiko-san is a ghost and yet I'm not bothered by it, why? I don't even understand it myself though seeing Kanao again made me smile for a bit. Maybe I do need to go back and work my courage to face those damn seniors. Though how? Will I be okay? Can I survive it? I make it sound like I'm attending war. I wanted to be a good person and I wanted to at least have a normal life.

"What the heck do I do? I can't do anything to win and have that normal life though" he said and sighed. As if this is a story where the main character be all powerful. I'm not even a protagonist too...what a waste of life.

"I'll guide you Kagami-san" Aiko-san entered the room and looked at me with certain eyes.

"I'll help you" she added.

Upon hearing her request and suggestion, at first I decline but she really insisted and forced her way. I sighed as in the next morning, I told Kanao that I'll be attending class tomorrow. Her respond was that she was happy and that she will be expecting me tomorrow. Did I make the right decision. Either way, I can't back down anymore.

The next morning, I woke up early and prepared myself for school. My heart began to beat so fast as I was really nervous. I don't really do things with myself like fixing my hair or anything but Aiko-san helped me with a lot of things before I left home. I began to walk to a known route which I use to take back then.

Then I entered the school, people were staring at me. Though not in a bad way, they looked at me as if I was a transfer student. I honestly don't understand what is happening but I continued to move on. I entered my classroom as my few classmates stared at me. I looked away as Kanao came to me.

"Yuu-chan! You came!" She seems very happy to see me.

Suddenly they were surprised as they heard my name. Nothing bad happened yet but they kept staring. I went to my seat. As school starts, I did my best to talk to my teachers about all my missing school works and began to have schedules for them. Then my classmates began to talk to me or I guess more like trying to be my friend. I was surprised and weirded out but....it wasn't bad.

As I ate alone on the rooftop since it's a quiet place, Aiko-san was beside me and she was smiling.

"Looks like everything is okay" she said.

"Yeah but...this can't be good to be true" I said.

I know that something will happen and this time I won't run away. Kanao and I started to go home together since she lives beside me. I was able to at least get back half of my normal life. How long will this kind of miracle stay and do it's job?