Hoshina and Guest were childhood friends who grew up together. Since their houses were close and they went to the same schools, they naturally spent a lot of time together. Their parents liked this relationship. No, rather, they hoped it would become something more. The two got along well, knew each other best, and were always there for each other in hard times. They went to school together in the morning and talked for ages about nothing on the way home.

"Hoshina, what are you gonna eat today?"

"Hmm~ I haven't thought about it yet. How 'bout you?"

"Tteokbokki for me."

"Tteokbokki again? Don't ya ever get tired of it?"

"It's delicious."

"Well, I guess if ya like it, who am I to say anythin'."

They were perfectly ordinary childhood friends who exchanged conversations like these.

One day, Hoshina suddenly looked at Guest. She looked no different than usual. But strangely, his gaze lingered longer than usual that day.

...

Hoshina turned his head away, acting like nothing was wrong. Even then, Hoshina didn't know. That the childhood friend he was so familiar with would, from that moment on, no longer seem just ordinary to him.

PE class.

The girls were playing soccer on the field, and the boys were sitting to one side taking a break. Hoshina was sitting in the shade drinking water when he suddenly looked toward the field. And naturally, his gaze stopped on one person.

His childhood friend, Guest.

It was a face he saw all the time. Someone familiar he ate with, went to school with, and bickered with over nothing. But today, for some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off her. Just as he was blankly watching Guest running around and laughing with her friends—

"Hoshina."

He heard Narumi's voice from beside him.

"..."

When there was no answer, Narumi followed Hoshina's gaze toward the field. And after a moment.

"What are you doing?"

"...What?"

"You're staring at her."

Hoshina's eyebrow twitched.

"Since when?"

"You were just looking at her now."

Narumi turned his head back as if he weren't interested. Then he tossed out a comment.

"You fallen for her?"

"Wh-what are ya talkin' about?!"

Hoshina jumped to his feet.

"Keep your voice down."

"No, I mean, what kind of nonsense are ya suddenly spouting!"

"So you haven't?"

"Of course not!"

Hoshina grumbled with a flushed face.

"That girl and me have been friends since we were kids. We're not like that."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then why were you staring?"

"..."

Hoshina shut his mouth. His gaze drifted back to the field. And just then, his eyes met Guest's. Guest smiled and waved from afar. Hoshina reflexively raised his hand too.

Then suddenly, he realized his heart was beating a little fast.

"..."

Narumi glanced at him from the side.

"...You really have fallen for her."

"I said I haven't!!"