The story of a promise made with a childhood friend.
Or, a tale of reaching beyond that promise.
This is a story wishing for the happiness of a girl who isn't straightforward.
| Published | Title | # |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/09/24 07:10 | 30 Childhood Friend and Ball Game Tournament (6) | 32 |
| 2025/08/12 07:10 | 29 Childhood Friend and Ball Game Tournament (5) | 31 |
| 2024/07/03 12:18 | 28 Childhood Friend and Ball Game Tournament (4) | 30 |
| 2024/06/05 12:11 | 27 Childhood Friend and Ball Game Tournament (3) | 29 |
| 2024/06/04 12:02 | 26 Childhood Friend and Ball Game Tournament (2) | 28 |
| 2024/04/17 12:31 | 25 Childhood Friend and Ball Game Tournament (1) | 27 |
| 2024/03/02 10:07 | 24 Sleeping with a Childhood Friend | 26 |
| 2024/02/27 08:00 | 23: A Chain of Misfortune with a Childhood Friend | 25 |
| 2024/02/10 07:00 | 22 Club Activities and Childhood Friend | 24 |
| 2023/12/13 13:09 | 21: The End of the Rumors | 23 |
The story begins with the protagonist, Usugumo Kouya, reflecting on a childhood promise made to his childhood friend, Miyagi Aika. Kouya describes Aika as a girl who was fashionable and bright, but who cried intensely when they made their promise. He remembers her as a complex individual: cool, cute, strong yet weak, clumsy, stubborn, a bit of a show-off, and incredibly kind.
In the present, Kouya is in a noisy classroom during lunch, talking with his self-proclaimed best friend, Satake Kazuma. Satake points out Aika, who is chatting with the popular group in the class, and comments on how she seems to dislike Kouya, despite being kind to everyone else. Kouya denies this, though he inwardly admits he's not entirely sure. He observes Aika, noting her unchanging beautiful brown hair tied in a low ponytail, which suits her gentle demeanor. Satake explains that Aika's charm lies in her compassionate personality and comforting presence, which many find endearing.
Suddenly, Aika's eyes meet Kouya's, and the atmosphere in the classroom freezes. Her warm expression vanishes, replaced by a blank, emotionless face. The students around her fall silent, waiting for the "storm" to pass. Once Kouya looks away, the classroom's liveliness returns, and he feels the stares of his classmates. Satake teases him about being disliked, but Kouya insists he's not. He reasons that Aika wouldn't walk to school with him every morning if she truly disliked him, though Satake counters with rumors of Aika's "mercy" or Kouya being a "stalker."
Later, on the way home, Aika walks beside Kouya in silence. The weather is hot, and Kouya wipes sweat from his brow. He notices Aika has put significant distance between them. When he questions it, she calls him "inconsiderate." He realizes his comment about sweat might have been the cause. Aika then suggests going to a convenience store, and they stop there. While Aika finishes her business, Kouya browses comics. Aika later offers him half of a split ice cream, and they walk home sharing it in comfortable silence, a stark contrast to their usual awkward interactions. They part ways at their neighboring houses, with Aika showing a rare moment of reluctance to say goodbye, which Kouya notes as her being "not straightforward." He compliments her hairstyle, and she smiles, a rare sight.
Kouya recalls the childhood promise: Aika, crying, confessed her inability to be honest, her tendency to say hurtful things despite loving him, and her inability to convey her feelings. Kouya, disliking seeing her cry and feeling inadequate for making her cry, made a promise. He told her that if she ever disliked him, she should untie her hair, and as long as it was tied, he would believe she didn't dislike him, regardless of her words or actions. He continues to believe in this promise, seeing it as proof of his sincerity.
The narrative then shifts to Aika's perspective, revealing her dreams. She often dreams of searching for Kouya, only to find him smiling elsewhere. She then walks away, crying, and eventually curls up alone. In these dreams, Kouya appears, gently chiding her for hiding and asking what's wrong. He calls her out for starting "hide-and-seek" when she wants to cry. Aika reflects on how she once saw him as a prince, but this changed when she saw his innocent smile away from her. She grapples with conflicting thoughts: gratitude for his help, guilt for causing trouble, wanting him to stay, wanting him to be free of her, and questioning why he always comes to her. She wakes up, despising her inability to choose and her continued reliance on his kindness.
The story then returns to Kouya, who wakes up late after oversleeping. His sister, Usugumo Sui, is already ready to leave for school and scolds him. She shoves toast in his mouth and leaves. Kouya rushes through his morning routine, grateful for the time Aika is waiting for him outside. He notes that Aika's presence, even if she's waiting for his sister, makes her blush slightly.
The next day, Kouya is at school and learns about an upcoming school trip, a "class bonding" event. He and Satake are left out of the initial group formations. Aika, however, is placed in a group with Kouya, Satake, and two other students: the eccentric Suzukaze Misuzu and the popular athlete, Todo Hayate. Misuzu, who is blunt and honest, expresses interest in Satake. Aika reveals she joined the group because she wanted to be with Misuzu, implying Kouya was a secondary consideration, which he finds amusingly frustrating.
Later, Misuzu approaches Kouya, asking to talk. She invites him to her house, but he suggests a family restaurant instead. During their conversation, Misuzu reveals she mistook Kouya and Aika for a couple. Kouya clarifies their relationship and expresses surprise at Misuzu's interest in romance. They discuss their lack of hobbies, and Misuzu eventually reveals her true reason for wanting to talk: she wants to understand Kouya better to ensure he doesn't get hurt by Aika, whom she perceives as a "difficult" person.
The narrative then jumps to Kouya recovering from a cold he caught after lending his umbrella to Misuzu. Aika visits him, and he's surprised by her presence. She admits to having told his sister that she was going to nurse him, which his sister relays to him. Aika's visit is filled with awkwardness and blushing, but she eventually admits she wants to be able to stand by Kouya's side. They discuss their childhood promise, and Aika finally verbalizes her desire to be able to communicate honestly with him.
The story concludes with the class discussing their upcoming trip to "Shirono Usagi Mountain Villa." Kouya's group, consisting of himself, Satake, Aika, Misuzu, and Todo Hayate, is finalized. Kouya reflects on the diverse personalities in his group and his own perceived flaws, while Aika, despite her usual stoicism, shows signs of distress when her name is called for self-introduction. The chapter ends with Kouya contemplating the challenges ahead with his unique group of classmates.