Chapter 10: The Ambiguity of Friendship and a Magical Girl’s Secret

What constitutes a good friend?

How do two people truly qualify as good friends?

These two questions, it seemed, defied any rational standard of definition.

For instance, one might devise a questionnaire, with questions such as: ‘What activities have the two of you shared?’

Analyzing the responses would yield a ‘Good Friend Index.’

Yet, weren’t there other scenarios to consider?

Even strangers meeting for the first time could find themselves in bed together.

People who disliked each other might still seek comfort in one another out of loneliness.

Undoubtedly, then, ‘friend’ was an exceedingly ambiguous term.

Adding the modifier ‘good’ before ‘friend’ only rendered the concept even more elusive.

Until today, this term had never caused me any confusion.

An apple was simply an apple; I wouldn’t question why an apple was an apple.

Similarly, Hayato was my closest friend, an undeniable truth that required no scrutiny.

By any conceivable ‘good friend’ metric, my relationship with Hayato should have long since maxed out.

We had known each other since the age of three, attending kindergarten, elementary, and middle school together; though occasionally in different classes, we always remained in the same school.

For school, Hayato and I almost invariably moved as one.

During periods without club activities, we would always walk home together.

After all, we lived in the same house.

However, it was precisely because of this profound familiarity, this complete absence of pretense between us, that certain actions became impossible.

In the past, Hayato would absolutely, unequivocally never knock before entering my room.

Normally, his simply pushing the door open was the behavior that befitted our relationship.

Then, Hayato would offer me an ice pop, a bottle of barley tea, or whatever else he found in the refrigerator.

Hayato had always been this way, and over the years, I had largely grown accustomed to this dynamic.

“……”

Come to think of it, I had also become quite strange.

Why was I so flustered?

My heart pounded as if I were facing a crucial entrance examination.

The desk lamp cast a yellow glow, illuminating the text and illustrations in my textbook.

My notebook lay on the other side, with pencils and ballpoint pens resting securely in the pen groove.

The air conditioning seemed a bit too cold; upon entering, Hayato instinctively rubbed his arms.

Today was no exception; a chilled yogurt sat on my desk, the very same drink that Little Black Cat Lingling was currently lapping up from the bedside table on the other side.

How to put it? It felt somewhat unfair that, in this situation, there was still an audience only I could perceive.

Upon closer inspection, Hayato’s hair tips were still damp, and his face, with its fair skin inherited from Aunt Chinatsu, resembled that of a shoujo manga protagonist.

Therefore, a super ikemen (TL Note: A Japanese slang term for a very handsome man, often idealized) and a super normie (TL Note: A Japanese slang term referring to someone who lives a fulfilling, socially active life) must, mathematically speaking, share an intersection.

Due to our extreme familiarity, I had never truly observed Hayato’s face in such lighting before.

I began to grasp, with a touch of genuine clarity, why those girls were so captivated by Hayato.

“Aren’t you going to drink it?”

Hayato gestured towards the yogurt, which had already left a condensation ring on the tabletop.

“Oh, oh…”

I stiffly reached out and tore open the yogurt’s seal.

As I did, I caught the scent of Hayato, fresh from a shower.

How strange.

Shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent—all were the same brand, yet why was it only after Hayato entered that I perceived that particular scent?

The sweet, tart, and creamy taste touched my tongue, accompanied by a cooling sensation.

As the sugar entered my system, my anxious thoughts immediately eased considerably.

“Hayato, is there anything you want to ask?”

Since I didn’t know how to explain, it would be best to let Hayato ask the questions.

I would tell him everything I knew.

“Are you sure it’s okay? To tell me?”

Hayato’s gaze fell upon the poster in the corner, depicting a black-haired girl with a hime cut (TL Note: A Japanese hairstyle characterized by straight, side-swept bangs and blunt, cheek-length side locks), her eyes sharp and piercing.

It was a bonus item that came with a magazine I’d bought a few months prior.

The magical girl, named Maihime, was adorned with vibrant red peonies and plum blossoms blooming across her black kimono.

It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t yet seen what ‘I’ looked like after transforming.

“Probably not a problem.”

I secretly cast a glance at Lingling, who was happily enjoying the yogurt, utterly oblivious to the current awkward atmosphere.

Wait, how did its cat paws manage to tear open the yogurt seal?

Amidst my silent musings, I heard an unsurprising question from Hayato:

“Um, Ren… are you really a magical girl?”

Hayato’s voice was as clear and bright as that of a boy in an audio drama.

Unlike him, my sixteen-year-old self’s natural voice still sounded quite childlike.

Fortunately, I didn’t have many friends, so I wouldn’t be mocked for it.

“I suppose… so?”

Having said it, I felt a flush of heat spread across my face and neck, a prickling sensation like needles in my back.

Why had ‘I’ at that moment unhesitatingly admitted my identity to Hayato?

I vividly recalled the emotions I’d felt just before ‘I’ did that ‘unfriend-like’ thing with Hayato.

Pride, excitement, exhilaration—I had protected Hayato once more, finally possessing the power to safeguard those I cherished.

And, a certain inexpressible desire, more viscous than the yogurt I’d consumed.

The outward guise for this desire was ‘my’ code of conduct—

Everything must have a reward.

If something wasn’t received before, it must be received twofold later.

At noon, ‘I’ had rescued Hayato from a shadowy monster; ‘I’ had wanted to hold Hayato’s hand, but in the instant before acting, the dream vanished, and ‘I’ felt a sense of grievance.

On the way home that afternoon, ‘I’ had protected Hayato again, ensuring neither of us was struck by the falling billboard; ‘I’ had wanted Hayato’s praise.

At that time, if ‘my’ identity remained unknown to Hayato, then the praise wouldn’t be directed at Aoyama Ren.

It was for such a simple reason.

As willful as a child.

Upon hearing Hayato’s praise, ‘my’ joy immediately transformed into an even more intense feeling of grievance.

Indeed, compared to the battle with the shadowy entity, this time was clearly much simpler.

Based on this, ‘I’ needed a reward far more substantial than mere verbal encouragement.

The option of holding hands was unhesitatingly passed over by ‘me’.

A hug!

And then, a kiss!

“……”

I had lied; I was, in fact, deceiving myself.

I hadn’t actually forgotten the memory of that moment.

During the run home, fueled by shame, I had recalled everything.

The sensation of embracing Hayato with my shrunken body.

It was like an electric current, making my body tingle.

The touch of our lips meeting.

My brain felt like boiling water.

It was even more pleasurable than those late-night, clandestine activities behind locked doors, headphones on and a website secretly open.

But some things simply couldn’t be done.

Because I, more than that other self—

Though it sounded strange, I cherished my friendship with Hayato even more than ‘I’ did!

“But Hayato, you know magical girls are girls, right?”

I spoke, my gaze firm as I stared at Hayato.

“Ah, mm.”

Hayato seemed startled by my sudden intensity.

“Yet, I am a boy, and Hayato knows that better than anyone.”

I deliberately lowered my voice.

“Mm.”

Hayato nodded.

In elementary school, Aunt Chinatsu often had Hayato and me bathe together, saying that’s just how families were.

“Therefore, forbidden power surely comes with a price.”

I clenched my fists, closing my eyes and lowering my head, unable to bear it.

“Ren…”

Hayato looked at me with concern.

Forgive me, Hayato.

This is the last time I will deceive you.

“That magical girl is actually a kiss maniac.

After a battle, she wants to go and kiss anyone she sees.”

I, Aoyama Ren, had utterly sacrificed ‘myself’ for the sake of my innocence.

As I said this, I attempted to conjure a few tears, but to no avail.

To my surprise, Hayato suddenly grabbed my shoulders with an agitated fervor, his strong grip making me realize for the first time that he truly was a key player on the basketball team.

“Then… how many people has Ren kissed?”

Hayato’s voice turned hoarse.

This was bad; had I caused some kind of backlash?

I quickly raised my voice, shaking my head vigorously:

“I, I only just became a magical girl today, so that magical girl has only ki—with Hayato—”

Should I say it?

I frantically stared into Hayato’s eyes, ultimately losing my nerve.

“Ki… kissed… before.”

“Really?”

Hayato’s grip unconsciously tightened further.

At this moment, I absolutely couldn’t admit to pain.

A true man must never concede weakness!

I squared my shoulders.

Though I hadn’t trained much, I couldn’t lose face now.

Otherwise, the ‘Forever Best Friends, Unbreakable Covenant’ plan would be impossible to execute!

“Yes.

Would true friends ever deceive each other?”

I declared loudly, my words sincere and forceful.

Little Black Cat Lingling’s attention shifted from the yogurt, its brown cat eyes seemingly full of curiosity.

Wait a moment, I wanted to defend myself.

I didn’t know how fairy society operated, but there was one undeniable truth:

Among humans, relationships could not be maintained without benevolent lies.

“In that case.”

Hayato lowered his head, his reaction completely unexpected.

In my imagination, after I revealed this detail, Hayato should have immediately realized that the magical girl wasn’t me.

Then, like a teasing friend, he would mock me, or ask how many beautiful girls I had forcibly kissed.

Why had the atmosphere grown even heavier instead?

After about ten seconds, Hayato looked at me intently:

“After Ren transforms, you only need to kiss me!”

Huh?

Huh?

Had I overlooked something?

I quietly retreated until my heel hit the wardrobe, and the back of my head bumped against it with a thud.

Only the soft hum of the air conditioner remained in the room.

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