Blue Spring Tragedy | Kou Mabuchi x Reader

25: Heat Haze Days

A group of teenagers walked down the street, returning from another study session at Mabuchi's home.

"Man, I never expected to learn a lot from the study session. Thanks for teaching me, Murao-senpai~!"

The said girl leered away from the blond. "Keep your distance, Kominato. You do not have the same charm as Mabuchi."

"Ehhhh? What does he have that I don't?"

"Uh, Shuu-chan, if it makes you comfortable, I can stand in between you two."

"Sure, Yuri-chan."

"Makita-chan, you traitor!"

While the three bickered in the background, two girls—one with soft brown hair and another with (h/c) hair—walked ahead of them, not knowing what to say.

They hadn't had a proper conversation in a while. Futaba thought of striking up a conversation with her middle-school best friend but couldn't get around to doing so. Quite frankly, she was afraid of appearing awkward or stuttering during their conversation.

Suddenly reuniting with a memory from the past left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She wanted to know how it was for (f/n) though. She wondered whether she thought they were friends anymore.

No, of course not... Futaba pouted. After not noticing her for a year, how could that be possibly...

"Hey,"

Futaba perked up.

"You doing okay?"

Nothing except an awkward question left (f/n)'s lips.

"You were pouting... Is there anything wrong?"

"Ah—no, I'm fine! I'm fine! Really!" Futaba forced a laugh too loud to be real.

This only made the girl beside her chuckle. "Yoshioka-chan, I know that your laugh is fake. Do you want to talk about what's wrong?"

Futaba almost frowned at the use of her last name. She knew they had drifted apart, so why did the distance hurt her?

"Nothing's wrong. I was just worried about whether Kou enjoyed us bothering him, that's all..." Futaba lied.

"Still thinking of Mabuchi, I see."

"W-what do you mean by 's-still'? I d-don't know what you're talking about!"

"Well, y'know... when we were in middle school and all, you told me that you..." (F/n) noted the tense expression on Futaba's face. "You already know. There's no use if I bring it up again, right?"

An awkward silence pursued.

"...Is it really that obvious?" Futaba muttered.

"To others, who knows? I've known you long enough to read your emotions, no matter how hard you hide them." (F/n), in an attempt to lighten the mood, continued talking with a smile.

"That's kinda creepy." Futaba teased.

"Oh well," she shrugged.

The two chuckled a bit.

(F/n) cleared her throat, "Er—apart from that, how's your mother doing?"

"Good. She's doing good."

"Good."

"How's your mother?"

"She's doing well. Work's keeping her busy though."

"I see, hope she rests well."

"She'll be happy to hear that."

"And your brothers?"