As the two of them watched Yuuka rubbing her cheek against me and clinging without letting go, their faces filled with intense curiosity.
“I’m kind of interested to know why she’s so attached to you.” (Kouhei)
Kouhei said it out loud, clearly brimming with excitement.
Why was a girl who refused to build relationships with others so fond of him?
I explained everything that had happened since we first met.
As they listened, the two were initially thrilled, but when I reached the part about Yuuka being bullied and how I got hurt protecting her, Kouhei and Kaori looked as if everything now made sense.
“If something like that happened, I can see why she’d be this attached.” (Kouhei)
“I agree. It feels like the two of you were bound by the red string of fate.” (Kaori)
The two of them moved closer to Yuuka and whispered to her in low voices.
“We’re cheering for you, Yuuka-chan.” (Kaori)
“That’s right. We’re on your side.” (Kouhei)
Upon hearing those words, Yuuka looked into their eyes and gave a small nod.
Then she brought her lips close to my ear and reported in a very clear, pure voice.
“I can trust these two, so I’m willing to be their friend.” (Yuuka)
“You shouldn’t be saying that to me—you have to tell them.” (Yuuto)
I wanted Yuuka to use her own voice to speak to the two of them, so I gently nudged her to stand in front of them.
Fidgeting from embarrassment, Yuuka spoke in a small voice.
“P-Please… be friends with me.” (Yuuka)
Seeing Yuuka’s growth made me really happy. In the past, even if I told her to, she would never talk to anyone else. This time, even though I told her to, she actually spoke to them—just seeing that made me deeply happy.
“Ah, of course. Nice to meet you, Yuuka-san.” (Kouhei)
“Nice to meet you, Yuuka-chan. Are you half-Japanese, or are both your parents foreigners?” (Kaori)
Given Yuuka’s hair color, it was natural to think she might be a foreigner or of mixed heritage. I thought the same thing when I first met her.
“My… father, mother… both have black hair. My grandpa and grandma too… I don’t know why.” (Yuuka)
It was truly a mystery. When I asked Yuuka’s parents about it, they said:
“Maybe someone way back in the family married a foreigner, and the hair color comes from them.” (Yuuka’s Parents)
But it was too complicated for me to understand clearly.
After that, the four of us spent every day together—playing, studying, and having fun.
Then we graduated from elementary school and became middle school students.
Naturally, Yuuka, Kouhei, Kaori, and I all went to the same middle school.
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
Footnote:
- None