Chapter 5: Behind the Fireworks Display

I, Ichinose Kanna—just Kanna—have the most beautiful best friend in the world.

When she walks down the hallway, every boy, regardless of grade, turns to look. At the train station, she effortlessly draws attention, stirring the crowd.

Even rumors about her reach other schools, yet no one finds it surprising.

She’s been my best friend since middle school. Back then, she joined the art club when it was on the verge of shutting down, with only two members—one of them a senior.

After her arrival, the club suddenly gained more members, though most were just there to get close to her. But before that, it had been just the three of us for a while.

She was kind, even to someone like me—an introverted, gloomy otaku. She listened patiently, never minding my hesitant speech. To me, she was a salvation.

Yet deep down, I knew I could never be her equal. If things had remained unchanged, I would have been nothing more than a background character (mob), someone she treated with kindness but nothing more.

So, I made up my mind. I would change—not to become someone else, but to be someone who could truly stand beside her as an equal friend.

First, I focused on self-improvement.

Every day, I practiced voice training in the bath, talking to the goldfish she had gifted me to get rid of my stutter.

Which made my mother deeply concerned by my strange behavior, nearly dragged me to a psychiatrist. But no matter what, I persisted—mastering my speech came first.

Next, I tackled my appearance. My messy, lazily tied-back hair was the first to go. I chopped it short and committed to daily hair care, transforming it into something smooth and silky—something I could be proud of.

Then came fitness. Even as I let out croaking, frog-like noises, I powered through twisting sit-ups, determined to slim my waist.

My father, striking a dramatic Gendo pose, asked, "You... have you finally awakened as a man?" His words sent the entire family into a state of confusion.

Thus, the "Kanna-chan’s Great Transformation Plan★" finally bore fruit, and I emerged as a version of myself that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to show anywhere.

And so, I finally earned my place as Onodera Sumire’s best friend.

※※※※※※

It seems Sumire has recently become infatuated with a boy.

Well, calling it "recent" would be misleading.

I had noticed it since middle school. Whenever I followed her absentminded gaze, he was always there. She never approached him directly or made any obvious attempts to catch his attention, but the way her eyes always sought him out—it was unmistakable. She was in love.

There was no way I wouldn’t have noticed.

Shimada Ren wasn’t particularly striking. His looks were slightly above average, and his grades were fairly good, but he wasn’t the social type. Instead, he was always off to the side, absorbed in his light novels.

Although I feel a vague sense of familiarity with him, if you asked me whether he’s the type Sumire-chan would fall for, I’d have to say… it’s debatable.

Aside from being an introvert, he’s a pretty safe choice. He’s one of those guys who are moderately popular and, before you even realize it, somehow ends up with a girlfriend.

With so many handsome and outgoing guys around… why him?

Even as I had such a rude thought, I decided to quietly watch over my best friend’s love life. But nothing ever happened. Before I knew it, middle school was over, and we moved straight on to high school.

High school life, here we go!

I had thought excitedly on the day of the entrance ceremony. But the moment I stepped into the classroom, I was caught off guard—he was there too, casually enrolled in the same high school. That moment still feels fresh in my mind.

Could it be… they were actually in love, and he followed Sumire here!?

Caught up in my wild fantasies, I watched them with excitement. But once again — nothing happened.

And just like that, summer vacation arrived.

However, that summer, something finally happened.

I never liked the atmosphere of festivals and avoided them entirely throughout middle school.

But in high school, I decided to change that. I planned to make my festival debut and eagerly invited Sumire to go with me.

She turned me down with a quick, “I already have plans, I’m really sorry!”

And just like that, my fireworks festival dream went up in smoke.

At that moment, my sharp intellect arrived at a certain hypothesis.

In other words... “A guy, perhaps?”

It’s not arrogance, but I genuinely believed I was her closest friend among the girls.

Precisely because of that, if it were just about going with a friend, she could’ve easily gone with me.

At the very least, she hadn’t even checked if we could go together.

In other words, it had to be someone she wanted to go with alone — someone that special to her.

And as it turned out, my hypothesis was spot on.

On the day of the fireworks festival, the girls who had been rejected by Sumire-chan ended up gathering together, and we decided to go as a group.

While walking with everyone, weaving through the crowded streets, I finally saw it.

Shimada-kun and Sumire-chan, walking side by side.

They had even dressed up for the occasion.

The moment I spotted them, almost on instinct, I subtly guided everyone’s gaze in another direction. Without saying a word, I adjusted our path to make sure we wouldn’t run into her.

I absolutely couldn’t interfere with my best friend’s moment.

For my first summer festival, I was too focused on that. In the end, I didn’t really get to enjoy it.

But strangely enough, as we made it through the night without crossing her path, I felt an odd sense of accomplishment.

※※※※※※

Ever since that fireworks festival, it was like something had shifted. She broke free, acting more boldly than ever. Without caring about the attention she drew, she started confidently going to school with him.

Right after the assignment test, I got a message on LINE:

"Sorry, I might not be able to go to school with you from today."

I understood immediately. Without hesitation, I replied:

"Do your best."

And just as I expected, when I saw her walking to school with Shimada-kun, tears welled up in my eyes.

I wondered if things had finally progressed — if her feelings had finally reached him.

It felt almost like a parent watching their child finally grow up.

But as I watched them, side by side and closer than ever, I suddenly found it hard to breathe.

For some reason, my chest ached.

Still, as her best friend, I swallowed the selfish emotions rising inside me.

Because surely, I don’t have the right to feel this way.

"Loser~♡ Loser~♡ So weak~♡ Isn’t it embarrassing as a man that you can’t beat me in a single subject? Dummy~♡"

"Damn it! You little brat...!! I’ll make you understand!!!"

"Even though I’m always the one making you understand~♡( in study)"

Sumire sits on the bed, legs crossed, twirling my report card in her hand with a smug, provocative smile.

She flips through my answer sheets, snatching them up one by one under the guise of “checking my mistakes.” But all she really does is pick them apart, relentlessly teasing me with each wrong answer.

When did she become such an annoying brat?

She used to be such a nice girl...

“But your grades are improving properly. Good boy, good boy.”

Her voice softens for just a moment as she pats my head like I’m some kind of pet.

I can’t decide what’s worse — her insults or her praise.

Still, since I ranked 18th last time and 12th this time, my grades are improving.

Honestly, getting praised by someone who’s always in first place doesn’t make me all that happy... but I can’t deny it’s thanks to her.

"As a reward, I’ll give you this little candy."

Out of nowhere, Sumire tossed a candy at me.

With my nonexistent athletic skills, I barely caught it — flailing in the most awkward way possible. I really wanted to catch it smoothly, but reality is cruel.

Please don’t throw things at introverts!

After that, I licked the grape-flavored candy while playing Mario for a bit, then reluctantly studied just a little.

Before dinner, she said, "I’ll come pick you up again tomorrow morning," and went home.

Later that night, I opened my reference book, determined to study hard enough to finally beat her.

But before I realized it...

The reference book had turned into a manga.

I didn’t even remember grabbing it. It wasn’t just a case of getting distracted or zoning out.

It felt like something... unexplainable.

Am I sick or something?