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

The Answer I Arrived At

I can still recall that day vividly.

Feeling bored at home, I decided to go to an acquaintance’s arcade. As I walked, kicking a ball to avoid inconveniencing anyone, I suddenly saw a girl in the park, crying with her face buried in her hands. I couldn’t just ignore a girl in such distress.

“What are you doing alone? Your eyes are red…”

With those words, you lifted your head, and that’s where our time together began.

If someone were to hear about this moment now, they might call me nosy, right? Well, say whatever you want. I can say it as many times as you’d like now. I’ve liked you since that moment.

When I arrived at the park, Ayana wasn’t there yet. It was my first time visiting this place as Towa, but memories of meeting Ayana resurfaced as if they were my own. It was here that I met her, and our time together began.

Meeting Ayana, meeting Shu, playing together, spending time together…

It wasn’t all just fun memories; there were tough times too.

After the accident that left me unable to play soccer, when my heart was in tatters, Shu asked me to support my relationship with Ayana, and with hesitation, I visited her at home and started a relationship with her.

It was depicted in the fandisc as well, but it’s true that our feelings back then must have connected and progressed. But the sight of the cornered Towa at that time became the final push for Ayana’s revenge.

“…That’s why, we need to settle this.”

To put an end to this ongoing ambiguous relationship, and to deny what Ayana has been carrying, I called her here today.

After a short wait, the person I was waiting for, Ayana, appeared and happily ran up to me when she saw me.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

With a cheerful smile, Ayana stood by my side, causing my cheeks to relax involuntarily.

“Thank you, Ayana, for coming.”

“If Towa calls, I’ll go anywhere.”

With a smile, she said those words, and my heart warmed up. At the same time, I thought to myself – yes, I’ll protect this smile.

As I looked into Ayana’s eyes, she gazed back at me directly. There was no trace of wariness in her eyes, only a complete trust in me was evident.

Now, it’s time to convey it. That is the reason why I am here today.

“I have something important to tell Ayana today. Something crucial about our future.”

“Our future…? Um… does that mean…”

In an instant, a blush spread across Ayana’s cheeks. Indeed, the way I phrased it… could be taken as a confession. In a sense, that wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but before that, there was something that needed to be settled. Isn’t that right, Towa?

Sensing someone nodding within me, a smile escaped me briefly, but I quickly returned my focus to Ayana.

“There’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Maybe… Ayana, you’ve been carrying something that you shouldn’t have been burdened with all along.”

“Something I shouldn’t have been burdened with…?”

Ayana nodded at my question, and I voiced the answer.

“The sorrow and hatred that I carried back then… in the hospital.”

“!?”

Ayana’s expression changed noticeably.

It was to be expected. I understood this because I had played the game. Ayana had been harboring hatred, trying to keep it hidden from Towa. And as a result of holding onto it, it would eventually explode in a place where Towa was unaware.

“Was my observation wrong about that?”

“… “

Ayana didn’t answer my question as she looked down. But soon, she spoke – her words filled with passion.

“… Those are not things that should be let go. They… those people said such terrible things to Towa-kun, right? It’s unforgivable… How could one endure being called such things by someone they love!?”

Perhaps, Ayana’s emotional words were something I would never have heard. She stared at me while breathing heavily. Her eyes seemed pained, on the verge of tears. I felt the urge to run to her and embrace her right away, but I managed to hold myself back. I couldn’t afford to be weak here. If I did, neither Ayana nor I would be able to move forward.

“… I’m sorry, Ayana.”

“Eh…”

“I hadn’t realized until you reached this point. I was just basking in the happiness of having you by my side, not truly seeing you for who you are.”

“N-no, that’s not true! Towa-kun has always been watching over me!”

At the point where Ayana made that face, it wasn’t something I could say. Ultimately, I had been relying on her all along. Just feeling happy because Ayana was by my side, selfishly reveling in my own happiness. I was the person who had been oblivious to the darkness Ayana carried, living carefreely – that was who I was now.

“In the end, I was just like Shuu. I had been relying on you all this time… on your kindness.”

“We are not the same! Towa-kun is different from him!!”

I couldn’t bear to watch Ayana shake her head in denial. She, who usually smiled by my side, was not here now. She was a girl who continued to reject the words I conveyed, a sight of Ayana that I had never seen before, neither in this world nor in the game.

“Hey, Towa-kun. It’s okay… Leave those people to me. I will make them regret it… So, please… Please…!”

Perhaps Ayana herself didn’t know what she should say. She pressed her forehead against my chest, repeating the same thing over and over. If I heard her say she would make them regret it, I would respond. I would deny her misguided determination to save Ayana.

“Ayana, you don’t need to do that.”

When Ayana lifted her face at my words, her eyes seemed to ask – why would you say that? The answer was clear. Otherwise, no one would find happiness… especially Ayana wouldn’t find happiness.

“Ayana, I plan to overcome it today. The sadness and hatred I felt back then, various things.”

“… Ehh”

Moving away from the wide-eyed Ayana, I picked up the soccer ball I had hidden in the shade of a tree. Ayana looked surprised at the sight of me holding the ball. Probably… no, definitely. I hadn’t touched a ball like this since being hospitalized. I had distanced myself from soccer to that extent. Therefore, Ayana must have been surprised to see me holding the ball now.

“U-um, Towa-kun…?”

Turning away from Ayana’s perplexed gaze, I placed the ball on the ground, balanced it on my toe, and started juggling. Although I didn’t have much experience in soccer, my body seemed to remember well, and I managed to do it skillfully. Without doing anything too physically demanding, I controlled the ball with just my feet to prevent it from hitting the ground.

“… There! Whoops! Got it!”

As I juggled the ball, the scene from when I first met Ayana flashed back in my mind. I had desperately tried to cheer up the dejected Ayana by doing everything within my limited abilities. I wanted to see Ayana’s smile, the smile that I fell in love with, the smile that she showed me back then.

“… Ah… *sniff*”

While handling the ball with all my might, I saw Ayana crying from the corner of my eye… but I saw it.

“Ha ha.”

Ayana laughed.

“Ayana, do you remember? What I did to make you smile like this!”

When I conveyed that, Ayana nodded and replied, “Of course…! I can’t forget… It’s a cherished memory. It’s when my time with Towa began… A precious memory!”

Yes, our time started from there. And it will continue from now on. I’ll make sure it does… I’ll walk into the future with you, my beloved!

I temporarily set the ball down and stood in front of the soccer goal.

“Ayana, back then, I was sad… I held grudges. Why did I have to go through all that pain?”

The anger and sadness Towa felt have turned into my own feelings, still smoldering in my heart. But you know, it’s okay. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future we walk into. I’ll show this world how easy it is to change a future where Ayana is falling apart.

“That’s why I’ll overcome it. So, Ayana! Stop being imprisoned by the past. I’m already fine. You don’t need to carry what I used to. I’ll say it even though I’m one to talk, but Towa, too, right?”

With this one shot, let’s clear it all away. It’s time to stop looking back at the past.

I swung my leg and kicked the ball towards the goal with all my might. The ball released straight towards the goal, got sucked in, made a swishing sound, and shook the net.

This sensation I felt after a long time, it felt like something that had been clinging to me for so long had been blown away, leaving me refreshed.

“Phew. That was a good shot.”

Nodding to myself, I felt a sudden impact as someone hugged me from behind. Their arms wrapped around my stomach. I was taken aback by the suddenness, but of course, I knew who it was… my beloved.

“I never thought I’d see Towa playing soccer again… It’s so wonderful to see you now. I truly… loved watching Towa play soccer.”

…I remember, too.

Ayana, holding a megaphone beside my mother, cheering for me.

“Ayana.”

Gently releasing her held hand, I turned to face Ayana, then embraced her tightly. The fact that the person I love is in my arms, it’s so much happiness that I never imagined.

“I said it before, but I’m fine now. I’ve bid farewell to sadness already. I plan to look ahead towards the future from now on.”

“The future…”

“Yeah. So… um…”

Why do I feel so embarrassed all of a sudden?

Embracing Ayana, and blurted out so many embarrassing things earlier that I wanted to forget! Well, no more shyness!

Taking a deep breath, I looked into Ayana’s eyes and poured my feelings into words. The words I’ve always wanted to say, to end the half-hearted relationship and move forward.

“I want you to walk into that future with me, Ayana. I love you—Ayana.”

“Ah.”

At that time, even though I had a relationship with Ayana, I never managed to express my feelings properly. I confessed my love, Ayana lowered her face, just like before, and pressed her forehead against my chest.

“Towa, you’re a mysterious person. You noticed everything I was carrying… Showed me the appearance I wanted to see again… And gave me the words I longed for the most.”

Then Ayana looked up at me.

“Towa, I’m a terrible woman. I wanted to make those people regret it, and even thought of using the feelings of my childhood friend to start my revenge after learning about them. …And even such feelings sway with just one of your words. I’m a frivolous woman like that. But even so, Towa—”

“I love you. I love the you that I fell for. So I’ll say it as many times as needed… I love you, Ayana.”

There’s no more doubt or need to hide these feelings.

I love Ayana. I don’t… need to hold back anymore.

“Ah, Towa, can I also say it? Can I express these feelings again?”

And Ayana smiled. It was a smile so beautiful, so unforgettable, that it would remain etched in my memory.

“I love you too, Towa. I love you so much that it’s unbearable. I don’t want to be apart no matter what, that’s how much I love you. Even if I’m seen as a burden, I don’t mind, because I love you that much.”

The straight words I heard for the first time filled me with an unparalleled joy in my heart. Almost reflexively, I brought my face close to hers and touched her soft lips.

A kiss that lasted only a few seconds, as we reluctantly pulled away, we both smiled at each other.

“I just realized again, kissing feels somehow… happy, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. Truly… truly happy.”

We separated our bodies for a moment and faced each other.

Although the order got a bit mixed up, this is something we must communicate.

“Ayana, will you go out with me? Forever and always.”

To my words, Ayana—

“Yes. Forever and always, I’ll be by Towa’s side.”

…Finally, our feelings truly connected.

Feeling relieved, and though I know challenges lie ahead, I strangely feel no anxiety. Perhaps it’s all because she’s by my side… Ayana is there.

“Um, Towa?”

“What’s up?”

“Well… I want to kiss you again. Is that okay?”

“…You’re cute.”

There’s nothing we can’t overcome.

Hey, Towa, this is the answer I’ve chosen. There’s no need for sad words anymore, right? Of course, the future may not be smooth sailing, but I believe that Ayana, including me, won’t face a future where our hearts break.

“Ayana, I want you to support me from now on. I’ll support you too.”

“Ah… Yes!”

Let’s vow with this smile. I will definitely protect us from now on.

This is where we’ve arrived, and from here, the true story of our future begins.