Love Advice From A Childhood Friend

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Maybe she just wanted some kind of reason to work hard.

She didn’t plan to stay long, and after washing the dishes, Hinagata started to get ready to leave.

Because of what had happened the other day, 8:30 still felt early.

“I’ll walk you home.”

“….Yeah.
Thanks.”

Hinagata put on a pair of loafers and I put on a pair of sneakers; we left the house.

Hinagata started to walk in a different direction than usual, I followed without saying a word.

“What do you want to eat next time?”

“What can you make?”

“Uhmmm….
If I look it up online, I am good with anything.”

For real?

I giggled and then she puffed up.

“Ryunosuke, You don’t believe me?”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just that I was wondering if you are good with anything.”

“I see, you really don’t believe me and the power of the Internet.”

” I guess I don’t.”

It’s Hinagata’s competence that I didn’t trust.

We walked together through the quiet night streets.
It was a complete detour to Hinagata’s house.

The back of our hands touched each other, and I felt Hinagata gasp briefly.

I guess popular guys can easily hold hands in this kind of situation.
But for me, it’s a little difficult.

The guy Hinagata likes might be me, or might not be me.

The latter is probably more likely, so I couldn’t hold hands with her like a boyfriend in this situation.

“I’ll think about what I want to eat next time.
If there’s anything you’d like to make, let me know, I’m always looking for more.

“Okay.”

“You surprised me today.”

“What?”

“You cracked a joke.
If you’re so embarrassed, you shouldn’t have said it.”

“What?”

“About the secret ingredient.
It’s not love, it’s more like friendship──”

I looked at the quiet Hinagata and immediately realized that I had stepped into a place I hadn’t expected to, and at an unexpected time.

“No…it’s not…..”

The words I was about to correct came to an abrupt halt.

It’s not? What’s different? No, there’s no difference.
It’s more like friendship, not love.

So.

So, maybe I wanted you to deny it.
That’s what I’ve been hoping for.

I was hoping that Hinagata would say, “No, that’s not it.”

But Hinagata neither denied nor affirmed.

“…..Here’s fine.
Thanks.”

With that, Hinagata started to run.

I couldn’t stop her.

It’s my fault that she looks so hurt.

….Hey Hinagata.

If you are shocked by that statement, it means that it was hard for you to be called a friend.

So doesn’t that mean that I’m the one you like?