Reborn as the Man Who Takes Away the Protagonist’s Beloved Childhood Friend

Conveying thoughts into words

A bitter past.

Thinking without acting, a foolish woman who ended up losing the person she loved… a common story.

I got to know a boy from the neighborhood by chance, and as we talked more, I found myself drawn to him. Being shy, I never mustered the courage to confess, but at that time, just being by his side made me happy.

But… my first love never bore fruit.

I secretly wished to stand by his side someday, but that position was taken by an unexpected girl. …Taken, but it was more like a resentment. Still, I couldn’t accept that fact. Even though I had been by his side all along, even though I liked him more… yet, he chose that girl, and she seemed happy enveloped in his love.

“Why is that kind of girl…”

I couldn’t understand why a rough girl lacking even the dignity of a woman was by his side… I really couldn’t comprehend it.

But… somewhere deep down, I knew it was my own doing.

“…………”

Mother, who lowered her face looking distressed, appeared like someone I had never seen before.

The words my mother spoke, and that photo I saw… To be honest, I’m curious. But what would knowing change? I can’t forget the words my mother said at the hospital. It’s a fact that her words at that time only widened the gap between us. I don’t know what my mother has been thinking since then.

It’s pointless to stay silent like this. I’ll only convey what I want to say.

“Mother, Touwa-kun saved me.”

Saved. As I conveyed this, my mother’s body trembled, and she slowly raised her face to look at me.

“I had been enduring for a long time. I always abided by Mother’s words to cherish Shuu-kun and followed them faithfully—except for that day.”

Mother, you remember, don’t you? That day when I first met Touwa-kun. It was the day that changed my life, the day I met the person I truly fell in love with.

“Every day, I felt burdened going to Shuu-kun… But on that day, just once, I defied Mother’s words, ran away, and met Touwa-kun.”

My mother remained silent at my words. I continued without concern.

“We played a lot. A world where I could be myself without restraint. That’s what I felt beside Touwa-kun.”

I’ve said it many times, but I feel like meeting Touwa-kun was a turning point for me. If it weren’t for that encounter, I probably wouldn’t be who I am now. Just accepting the world given by mothers and continuing to kill myself… It honestly sends chills down my spine.

“Then, as I spent time with Touwa-kun, my feelings turned into love. I loved watching Touwa-kun play soccer; supporting him became my purpose at that time—until that day.”

“…Hmm.”

…I don’t intend to blame Mother anymore. Despite her words, the accident was purely accidental, and Touwa-kun, as the party involved, showed determination to overcome it. That’s why I have no right to speak on behalf of Touwa-kun’s anger or sadness.

But I wanted to convey the feelings I had at that time.

“Back then, you thought I was a bad child. ‘With a mother like that, it’s natural the education is lacking,'” Mother said those words to me. I never forgot those words… I even wondered why I was related to this person.

“…Ah.”

This time, my words made Mother shed tears. Regardless of what I felt in the past, from Mother’s perspective, she should be able to confidently say that she raised me with love. But in reality, I made remarks implying I was unhappy to be her daughter… It stings to see Mother in front of me like this.

Certainly, Mother said harsh words. I don’t know what she’s dealing with, but the hostility she had towards Touwa-kun from the moment they met is unforgivable… But still, the person in front of me is my mother. I owe her for raising me this far, and she must have felt some love for me.

“The pain and sadness at that time, Touwa-kun said he would overcome them. He kicked the soccer ball in front of me, breaking free from the past. So I decided to move forward too. Seeing the person I love taking steps forward, I couldn’t just stand still.”

“…Overcoming the past.”

Mother muttered softly.

I don’t know if my words reached Mother. But this is my resolved feeling. …Truth be told, my mother was also on my list for revenge. I never directly said anything to Touwa-kun, but I couldn’t tolerate comments belittling his efforts and Emi-san’s affection. However, watching Mother, who seems to be bound by the past like me, I realize hurting her is impossible.

Turning my gaze away from Mother, who had lowered her head, I looked around the living room. The space was too vast for just Mother and me; Father was absent by the time I became aware, and it felt a bit lonely.

(…Would this space also become warmer if Touwa-kun were here?)

I recalled the words Touwa-kun said when leaving his house.

“I don’t want us to stay estranged forever. I’ll do my best in my own way to talk to Ayana’s mother. Let’s try to get her to accept our relationship.”

Not long ago, I might have thought there was no need for that, that Mother’s opinion didn’t matter. Of course, if being with Touwa-kun posed an obstacle, I would consider cutting ties… But my beloved Touwa-kun, who saved my heart, gives me hope that he can create a future where he and Mother get along well, which is quite intriguing.

A future where Touwa-kun and I, Mother and Emi-san, sit down for a drink and chat… hahahaha, wouldn’t that be nice?

“Mother.”

When I asked, Mother raised her head.

“I love Touwa-kun. I won’t let anyone interfere with or deny this feeling… That’s how much I love him. Please understand that.”

That’s all I have to convey. The rest will be resolved with time… I don’t know if it will, but I want Mother to understand my feelings.

As I turned my back on Mother and headed to my room, I felt like she said something, but I didn’t hear it.

Just before her daughter’s back disappeared, Hoshina, Ayana’s mother, murmured.

“…In the end, it seems I was just spinning my wheels.”

Ayana showed no sign of hearing Hoshina’s muttered words and headed to her room without looking back.

Alone now that Ayana was out of sight, Hoshina reflected on the past. She had thought her favorite person was stolen from her, and her strange pride hindered her from acknowledging it. So, not wanting Ayana to go through the same, she took the initiative to mediate between Shuu and her, resulting in this—Ayana didn’t like Shuu; she found him bothersome. From Ayana’s perspective, Hoshina’s presence must have been quite irritating.

“……Yukishiro Towa.”

Seeing the resemblance of the person he once liked when they first met, he instantly understood that it was that person’s child. The frustration he had almost forgotten reignited, and he ended up displaying an attitude unbefitting of an adult in front of the young Towa. “I see,” Hoshina thought. Showing such an attitude and continuing it would naturally lead to Ayana, who liked Towa, getting fed up with him.

In the end, he realized that he had not understood a single thing about his daughter, and it was Towa who could understand and help his daughter more than anyone else.

“……Ayana.”

It’s not that he doesn’t love Ayana. She is a precious child he bore with great pain… Of course, he has affection. That’s why, when Ayana denied their blood connection, he felt like his heart stopped. It was that shocking. But upon hearing Ayana’s words, he realized that he was the foolish one.

It was not just Ayana’s problem but also Towa’s… In a sense, it involved Shuu as well.

After being told by Ayana to that extent, what he could do from now on – Hoshina still couldn’t find an answer.

“……?”

Lost in thought, the doorbell rang.

Normally, he would check who it was, but in his current exhausted state, Hoshina didn’t have the composure to do so and headed to the front door to open it. And there stood…

“……Oh, hello. Ayana forgot something, so I came to deliver it.”

The boy he met after several years, Towa, was gazing back at Hoshina without any hesitation.