Sirimiri ; ODAJIMA YUKEN

Chapter 17

Honoka

"Uh.."

"So.."

"You guys were childhood friends, right?! That's so cool!"

I laughed as I thanked Fujio-kun slightly in my mind for breaking the tension.

"Yeah..Honey-chan.." I looked over at Ryo who was a bit shy for mentioning what I can assume my nickname when I was younger.

"Sorry- I mean...Honoka-chan used to be my playmate when we lived in their neighborhood." Ryo explained, correcting himself.

"Were we close?" I asked and he smiled.

"Yeah, you used to call me your brave Prince Charming." He said as I felt myself smile.

"So why did you guys move away?" Fujio asked as Ryo's smile dropped.

"My dad's business went bankrupt and we couldn't afford to stay there anymore so..." I frowned, feeling bad for him.

"So, you had to move right? That's too bad..." Fujio finished as Ryo nodded as it went silent again.

"Were we good friends?" I asked, making them all turn to me and earning a gentle smile from Ryo.

"The best. My dad and your mom always scolded us for dirtying our clothes and we'd get colds from staying out too late to play." He gushed and I smiled, vaguely remembering my childhood.

I winced as my head began to hurt, prompting me to reach for my temple.

"What's wrong Honoka-chan?" Fujio asked as he placed a hand on my shoulder, tone laced in concern.

"Yeah..probably just a migraine. I should get back home..." I said, beginning to get up, making the chair beside me screech which was a sign that Fujio had gotten up as well.

"I'll drop you off-"

"Fujio-kun, I'll be fine. Isn't Tsukasa-kun looking for you? He did say Murayama-senpai was coming over to talk today-"

"I can drop her off." Fujio and I turned to Ryo and Kohei who looked surprised at the offer.

"Oh.. It's okay, I don't-"

"I want to. It'll give us time to talk, yeah?" He suggested and I found myself nodding along as I got up from my seat.

"I'll text you when I'm home Fujio-kun and tell Murayama senpai he still owes me something." I said mysteriously much to the cluelessness of the Oya leader. I waved goodbye and he did the same, still confused.

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"No way! I fell into a pond?" Laughter was abundant as we walked to my house with Ryo telling me all kinds of stories that I sadly can't remember yet.

"Yep. You were trying to help a baby duckling go back to its mother and I think you may have underestimated the distance between the bridge and the pond and fell on your butt into the pond. It was pretty funny seeing you drenched and you screamed when a toad leaped on your head." He joked, laughing loudly as I groaned in embarrassment as I imagined a little me doing something like that.

"Oh gosh~ How embarrassing." I said, stopping as I noticed we had arrived at my house.

"Well, here we are. Thank you for again for walking me home and for the stories. I hope I can remember on my own soon, it'd be nice to remember those stuff too.." I said sadly, earning a smile from the elder as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't stress too much. It'll come back eventually, I just know it will." He comforted and I smiled before going inside the gate and on to the house.

"Honoka-chan." I turned around as he called out for me.