I care about you more

This guy likes Sumire, and yet Atushi recalled what happened a few minutes ago. Just now, when Momoi-san rushed off, he looked so distraught. Actually, from the stories he heard. Iwa Ran only just met Sumire not too long ago. It's hard to believe that he is truly in love with her. He may have a little crush on her but highly doubts that Iwa Ran loves Sumire.

Atushi shakes his head. He shouldn't judge another person's feelings like this.

'You don't have to know somebody for a long time to harbor deep feelings for them.'

Still, this would be a good opportunity to ask since he has been the center of attention recently. He has heard all sorts of stories. Everybody seems to think Momoi-san and this guy are a couple.

"How do you feel about Momoi-san?"

At those words, Ran seemed startled. "Wh-why are you suddenly bringing up Futaba? She-she is just my childhood friend, someone who nags a lot-"

Atushi stared at him for a few minutes. If she is just a childhood friend, does he have to react that sensitively when asked this question?

"A-anyhow." Ran trailed off. "Even if Futaba is annoying, she has always been there for me. Because of my short temper, I do not have many friends. But Futaba is different. From the very moment we met, she has never pushed me away. No matter what I said to her."

He seems a bit different from the rumors. Then again, he should know better than to listen to some groundless rumors by now.

How many times has he listened to a rumor and misunderstood a person? Some rumors are certainly true. But there are equally rumors that are lies meant to hurt another person. He has to learn to separate the truth and lies. What better time than to start now?

"Sometimes I become anxious and agitated that Futaba would get sick of me one day. It could happen any day now. I always do stupid things, make her worry and say poisonous words that I don't mean."

"Why are you telling me this?" Atushi did not respond to anything. He just said and asked a new question.

"Normally, I wouldn't chat so much with somebody I don't know. But I have seen how Futaba interacts with you. Yes, she is popular, but she is very clumsy with making friends. The fact that she accepted you means you are a good person."

"I don't know about that. Suppose you have been watching Sumire and me. I am sure you know that I hurt her."

Even though they had just made up, Atushi knew it would take a long time before he could properly regain her trust.

"We all make mistakes, like that stupid one I just made. Whatever you did, you didn't do it out of malice. You didn't do it to deliberately hurt her."

Atushi's eyes widened. 'I was the one who was supposed to be giving him advice, but in the end, I received the answer to my own question.'

Ran suddenly stood up and patted his shoulder. "Hamano, do you know a shop that would sell something girls would like?"

"I do."

"Then come with me."

____

Futaba slumped on her bed. Succhan had just left a few minutes ago. She knew her friend wanted to stay longer, but Mamoru called her just to check whether she had gone home with Mashima.

Suro-kun sounded very weak on the phone, so Succhan had to go.

'If Succhan was going to start dating someone. I always thought it would be suro-kun, but perhaps it's good that she met somebody new.'

Ever since she returned, she hasn't had much of an opportunity to spend time with her best friend due to her model work and catching up on school. However, from the few times, she has seen her. Futaba could tell there was something wrong with her.

Her emotional state isn't good, and her morals have become even worse. Is this due to the breakup with that guy? If only she knew who it was. Futaba sighed, frustrated. She tried asking the other guys about it, but nobody would say anything.

Succhan probably made sure nobody spoke of it, but it's frustrating.

'I am supposed to be her best friend, but I can't do anything about the guy that broke her heart.'

Whenever she is upset, Succhan knows exactly what to do. Futaba's gaze fell on the box of cake left from the cakes shop they visited earlier. Taking her to her favorite dessert place, shopping for clothes, and getting pedicures. The last two were things Succhan disliked, and yet she did them for her sake.

Afterwards, they had gone to her house, and Succhan even allowed her to give her a makeover. Not that she actually needs one. Her best friend probably has no idea.

Futaba's gaze fell toward the window, and noticed something strange. Various items were appearing on her window ledge. For a few minutes, she watched, puzzled, when the last item appeared. It was a sign board that said one word sorry with a bad drawing of a chibi tear-stained face.

She immediately understood and chuckled softly as she stood up and opened the window. There she spotted her childhood friend hanging on a makeshift rope ladder.

"If I cut the rope, you will fall."

At those words, Ran sighed. "That's not cute."

Futaba rolled her eyes and grabbed hold of his arm as she helped him inside.

"What I said to you earlier. It was an accident." Ran trails off. "Recently, the captain has been harsh on me just because of the rumors with Sumire."

Her sweat fell. So, that explains why Nao-kun wasn't at practice.

"Even if you didn't interfere, I don't think he would have allowed me to play in the next match," Ran grumbled.

"Then, maybe you should stop being so bold?"

"But I like her. Why do I have to hold myself back?" Ran grumbled.

For a minute, Futaba is startled, and Ran reaches over and ruffles her hair. "I know you're uncomfortable about it. But nothing will change between us. I care about Sumire, but I care about you more."

At those words, her eyes widened. Oh, it's still the same. This person has repeatedly made it clear that she will always remain the most important. Now that she thought about it, ever since they were kids, he had always been there for her.

She used to think it was because their parents were close friends, and he felt obliged to be by her side. But it is not like that at all. At some point, this person became one of the few people she could truly not live without.