I Was Betrayed by My Childhood Friend, so I Won’t Lie to Myself Anymore

Episode 18 – I had Declared My Lover

After school on weekdays, we gathered in the library to study for tests, and if Asahi fell asleep, I would kindly wake him up by giving him a chop on the head or stomping on his foot, and he would wake up with a scream and almost get banned by the library staff. 

Of course, to keep Asahi in high motivation, we stop by a Family Restaurant on the way home and we don’t forget to take a little detour. Because of that, he managed to make it through the week.

And then Saturday came. 

I sighed when I saw my mom and Ayaka waiting in the living room Just because I told them beforehand that my friends are coming over.

“I told you I had a friend coming over today, didn’t I?…I mean, why are you two more fidgety than me?”

“But, hey. Isn’t this the first time for Ryouma’s friends to come over? I’ve met Asahi kun in the past, but I don’t know what he looks like these days.” 

“Hey, hey Oni chan, don’t you think these clothes are strange?”

“Haa…… you are cute as always, but you don’t need to dress up like that…”

How did this happen?

No, it was completely my fault, though.

When I got home yesterday, I told my family at dinner that Asahi and the others are coming over tomorrow, but I said it  the wrong way. 

“Ahh that’s right. Sorry for the sudden info, but tomorrow Asahi and two other friends are coming to the house, so it might get a little noisy.” 

“Ara ara, is Asahi kun coming? It’s been a while since I met him. I wonder what the others look like when they come over? Oh, is it a girl?” 

“Aa, Asahi’s friend and my Girlf-…..my friend.”

Oops, I almost said something I didn’t want to. Even though it was after Isuzu san had already been informed that I had broken up with Yuina, and Koharu is not my real girlfriend… Damn, I was too careless…

“Heh～. That kind of friend hmm.” 

“….what’s with that tone of voice? We’re really just friends.” 

“Yes yes…Understood~”

There was such an exchange last night.

I guess I’ve been so natural with Koharu lately. Makes me think that we are real lovers.

Ding dong*

As I was feeling self-loathing about yesterday’s mischief, it seems that Asahi and the others had arrived, so I told my mom and the rest not to come out of their room and opened the front door to welcome them.

“Welcome.”

“Welcomee~!”

“Hey Ayaka !”

“Ou, Good morning Ryouma~. Ohh, Ayaka chan long time no see!”

“Hello~! I’ve seen you in middle school, Imouto chan is so cute~!”

“Good morning Ryouma kun, so she is your sister. Nice to meet you. My name is Igarashi Koharu. Here, I bought a cake as a souvenir, if you like. Fufu, the strawberry tarts here are delicious.” 

“Helloo~ I’m Ayaka, the little sister ! Thank you very much ! I really wanted to eat this cake ~!”

Before I knew it, Ayaka, who was waiting behind me, greeted the three of them. She took the cake and went back to the living room.

“Haa. sigh…I told you not to come out…Sorry for being the noisy sister to all three of you…and thanks for the cake Koharu.

“N-no! It would be rude if I don’t bring something when I come to visit you ! hmm….as expected im still not used to calling each other by name…”

In fact, a few days ago we started calling each other by name.

After studying, we were having dinner at a family restaurant when Akari chan pointed out to me that it was strange for me to keep calling her by her last name, no matter how temporary it was.

“I’m also not used to it yet, well, let’s get used to it little by little. I don’t think it’s good to talk here, so let’s go upstairs.”

I take the three of them to my room on the second floor. 

“Ohhh~? Almost nothing.”

“When I threw away the Yuna-related stuff, almost everything was gone.”

“S-so this is Ryouma Kun’s room…”

“Like I said, there’s hardly anything here, so sit down, everyone.”

I urge Koharu and the two others to sit around the table, open the textbook and start studying.

We focused on the areas that would appear on the test, with me teaching Asahi and Koharu teaching Akari chan.

After concentrating on solving the puzzle for a while, there was a knock at the door of my room.

“Ryouma~, I brought some drinks and sweets~.” 

“Oh, thanks Mom.”

[[[Thank you very much]]]

I took the tray from Mom and once I moved my textbooks off the tray and put them on the desk, for some reason Mom also sat down beside me and started talking.

“Mom, they are uncomfortable.”

“Eh~ isn’t that fine. Hey, Ryouma. They’re very cute girls, but which one is Asahi kun’s girlfriend?”

“Aaa, Yes ! It’s me ! My name is Nitta Akari ! Saeki kun’s mom is so beautiful !”

“Ara~ Thanks. So this girl over here is Ryoma’s friend, right?

“Ahh Yes it is. Well it’s fine already so please go back to the living room.”

Before Koharu could answer, I answered first and tried to get Mom out of the room quickly.

“Mou~ I’ll be right out. Don’t push me like that, I just wanted to say something. …… are you really just friends??

Mom’s calm expression toward Akari chan turns to a serious one when she asks Koharu.

“I already told you we are just friends…”

“No, my name is Koharu Igarashi and I am dating Ryoma kun. Please rest assured because Ryoma kun has told me all about the concerns with his childhood friend, Kanzaki san.

Koharu interrupts my words and declares that she’s my lover to my mom.

“Is that so….. That’s a relief then～, sorry for sounding like i was testing you. Please take care of Ryouma from now on Koharu chan. 

Perhaps relieved to hear those words, Mom smiled and left the room.

And at the same time, Koharu sat down with her hands on her face saying she had done it, and Asahi overheard me as I was looking at the excited looking akari chan in a daze.

“….Hey Ryouma. Don’t put away Koharu chan’s feelings that she said so much to your mom, saying that she misrepresented them because she was kind or for some other appropriate reason. You’re aware of it, too, aren’t you?

“……Aa, I’m aware of it.”

I guess Asahi saw right through what I was thinking and nailed me.

(I’m aware of it…but, I’m still not ready to take the first step.)

After Koharu calmed down, we resumed our studies and after about three hours, we finished up for the day as it was getting dark outside.

Then, on the day of the midterm exam, I answered all the questions without any problem, although sometimes, I shifted my answer in the sheets out of habit. 

Asahi and the others seemed to be able to solve most of the problems that koharu and i predicted, it looks like they were able to face the test next week with a peace of mind. 

If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate  Thank you in advance !