Crossing Paths, Traumatized, and Yet… - Chapter 41

Since the vacations, Daiki has been concentrating on his high school life.

It is not that he despises his hometown, but by concentrating on his high school life, he does not have to think about it so much, and it has become an excuse for him to keep his distance from Wakaba.

The number of high school friends increased, and they often went out together after school.

Sometimes girls were with him, and he had more opportunities to talk with Shion than ever before.

Shion was a girl who could talk to anyone without any distinction, and she had become one of the girls in Daiki’s life whom he could talk to without any concern.

Since then, he has had minimal contact with Wakaba.

He has gotten used to it, but he also wants to talk with her more.

It’s a contradiction, but it’s the only way Daiki could think of.

They are from different schools, so they almost never see each other.

If he had more chances to see her, it would be less likely, but for now, he thought he was able to cover up his feelings.

Wakaba has been worrying about her relationship with Daiki since that day.

If she sent him a message, he would reply.

If she called him on the phone, he would answer.

However, she felt that everything was more indifferent than before.

After much thought, she could not come up with an answer.

After thinking about it for a while, she decided to ask her friend Chika Sasaki for advice.

“I feel like Daiki has been a little curt lately.”

She asked Sasaki during a break time at school.

“Daiki?

I can’t imagine it.”

Chika said.

“I feel the same as before, but I feel he’s not very open and honest with me.

So I don’t really know what’s going on.”

Just as she said this, the chime sounded.

“We don’t have club activities today, right?

Let’s go to a cafe on the way home! I’ll ask you the rest of the story there!”

Chika said, and together they decided to go to a café on the way home.

After school, Chika and Wakaba headed to a stylish café.

When they arrived at the café, they both ordered a cake and latte set and started talking while eating.

“So, about Daiki, it’s not only that I feel he’s not being very open with me, but I also feel like he’s avoiding me.”

Wakaba said.

“Avoiding you? Why?”

Chika said so.

“Whenever I’m playing with everyone, he doesn’t come to me.

If I talk to him, he talks to me, but Daiki doesn’t approach me and doesn’t talk to me.”

Wakaba replied.

Chika was thinking.

“Aren’t you thinking too much?

Daiki is always with Wakaba, so when he is with everyone else, he at least talks to his friends other than Wakaba?

I think it’s something like that.

Do you have any messages that make you think that way?”

She asked.

Wakaba had nothing to hide, so she showed her the exchange of messages.

Looking at the exchange, it seemed straightforward, but it also seemed normal.

“I still think you are thinking too much?

Maybe you’re worried that he’s in high school?”

Chika told her.

“And what about when we’re with everyone else?”

Wakaba asked.

“Instead of when you re with everyone, you’re with Shiraishi-kun, aren’t you?”

She got right to the point.

Chika sighed and said

“Wakaba and Shiraishi are always together.

I think he’s just being careful, you know?

We don’t mind because we see you in class, but Daiki’s in a different class, so he feels like he shouldn’t bother you!

I think the boys told Daiki that too.

So I think he’s just so careful not to disturb Wakaba and Shiraishi-kun that he doesn’t talk to you?”

She said.

Wakaba froze with a surprised look on her face.

Chika was a little surprised when Wakaba froze up.

“I think everyone is wishing you would go out with him!”

She has been telling her so, though she does not intend to push it.

Wakaba thought she understood a little more now that she was in high school, but there were still many things she was unaware of.

Wakaba was shocked that Daiki thought so, although she didn’t know why.

“Wakaba probably thinks of Daiki as a younger brother.

In the past, it was like that, but now, Daiki is like a big brother to you, right?

Daiki is calm, cheerful, and can read the air, so he’s quite popular, you know?

But you didn’t seem to be interested in love, and it seemed like he was watching over Wakaba, so I think he’s acting to make you happy.”

She further informed her.

Wakaba had thought of him as a younger brother, but before she knew it, the tables had turned.

Wakaba was shocked and asked

“You mean he thinks of me like a little sister?

Does that mean Daiki is trying to watch over me?”

She asked.

“I don’t know how Daiki feels about you, but from my side, it looks that way, no?”

Chika said.

She was indescribably happy.

But the fact that Daiki is so popular is very interesting to her.

“Is Daiki that popular?”

She asked.

“He is quite popular! He is kind to everyone and can read the atmosphere, right?

He can talk with us!

We thought he was like a little brother to us, so until now we just thought he was a nice boy!

But when we met him for the first time in a while, he looked the same as ever. He used to have a cute face, but he’s grown taller and more handsome.

Everyone looked at him differently!

He’s going to be popular in high school!”

Chika told her excitedly.

After that, while talking about Daiki, Wakaba had a strange feeling of being bewildered.

It was an indescribable feeling, but…

“Thank you for listening to me today, Chika!”

She thanked her.

“I’d like to hear more about what happened with you and Shiraishi-kun, okay?”

she smiled wryly.

Wakaba told Chika that she really only thought of him as a good friend, but Chika was not convinced, and after that, she asked deeper and deeper questions, and ended up telling her everything that had happened.

From the next day on, Chika was even more eager to get the two of them to get closer.