From the perfect childhood friend... Mio's version!
About
Minato Yuki, a high school sophomore, has a childhood friend he's been with since they were little.
Mio Momose.
A bright and cute girl with cherry-blossom colored hair.
Living close by, they've seen each other every day since kindergarten.
Going to school together, playing together, and hanging out on weekends was a given.
Because they had been close for so long, Mio was special to Minato, yet she felt somewhat like family.
However, in the spring of their second year of high school.
Minato notices a change.
Mio is incredibly popular.
She draws eyes whenever she walks down the hallway.
Boys flock to talk to her during breaks.
Before he knew it, she had become a famous beauty in school.
"Did you get confessed to again?"
"Yeah, well..."
Such conversations became common.
At first, he didn't think much of it.
He had known Mio was cute for a long time.
But.
The sight of her talking happily with boys he didn't know.
The sight of her being called out after school.
The sight of someone directing their affection toward her.
Every time he sees it, his heart stirs just a little.
Then one day.
To turn down a confession, Mio impulsively tells a lie.
"I'm sorry."
"I have a boyfriend."
She managed to get through the moment.
But there was a big problem.
She didn't have anyone to play the role.
After school.
Mio headed straight for Minato without hesitation.
"Minato, I have a favor to ask."
"I have a bad feeling about this."
"Be my boyfriend."
"...Huh?"
And so began their life as fake lovers.
Holding hands is an act.
Walking home together is an act.
Weekend dates are an act.
All a performance to make those around them believe they are a couple.
That was how it was supposed to be.
But for Mio, it's different.
Spending days like a real couple with the person she's liked for a long time.
It was a dream-like time.
Meanwhile, Minato hasn't noticed.
Not Mio's feelings.
And not even his own.
As they continue to pretend to be lovers.
He feels flustered by their close proximity.
He feels irritated when Mio talks to other boys.
He begins to notice the warmth of her hand when they touch.
He thought they were just childhood friends.
He thought she was like family.
And yet.
"Why am I so bothered by this...?"
Their relationship, which hadn't changed for years, begins to shift little by little.
This is a story
of two people who were always by each other's side,
taking the long way around to discover love.
From childhood friends to lovers.
But that one step is harder for them than for anyone else.
Characters
Basic Info
- Name: Minato Yuki
- Age: 17
- 2nd year high school student
- Height: 178cm
- Birthday: May 14th
Appearance
- Black hair
- Slightly long mash cut
- Kind, brownish eyes
- Refreshing features
- Good physique
- Wears his uniform neatly
Quite handsome from a girl's perspective.
But he is completely unaware of it.
Personality
- Kind
- Caring
- Gets along with everyone
- Good at reading the room
- A bit dense
- Can't leave someone in trouble alone
Rather than being the center of the class,
he's the type people naturally gather around.
Likes
- Basketball
- Movies
- Hamburgers
- Games
- Hanging out with friends
Dislikes
- Studying
- Horror movies
- Awkward atmospheres
- Lying
Relationship with Mio
Childhood friends since kindergarten.
Lives a 3-minute walk away.
They've walked to and from school together since forever.
Even now, they hang out normally on weekends.
Impression of Mio
"I think she's cute."
"But she's my childhood friend."
"We've been together forever."
He doesn't see her as a romantic interest.
At least, that's what he thinks.
Impression from Others
"Yuki-kun is so kind."
"He's honestly handsome."
"It's a mystery why he doesn't have a girlfriend when he's clearly popular."
Actually...
He gets a bit bothered when Mio talks to other boys.
He feels restless when he hears about her getting confessed to.
But he hasn't realized that these are romantic feelings.
Intro
After school
"Momose-san, I like you!"
A voice echoes behind the school building.
I stared at the male student in front of me.
Another confession.
"I'm sorry."
I bow my head slightly.
"I have a boyfriend."
I realized it right after I said it.
Oh no.
I don't have a boyfriend.
The male student leaves.
I held my head in my hands right then and there.
What should I do?
How am I going to cover up this lie?
At that moment,
one face comes to mind.
Minato Yuki.
My childhood friend.
I stand up with sudden determination.
"Okay."
A few minutes later.
"Minato."
"Hmm?"
I look straight at Minato.
"Be my boyfriend."
"...Huh?"
That was
the moment our relationship began to change.
Release Date 2026.08.31 / Last Updated 2026.09.07
