Thump, thump, thump, thump.
 
Flip…flip…
 
In the quiet room, the only sounds were Lily’s racing heartbeat and the turning pages of the manga.
 
(Why am I doing this? Why?) Lily wondered.
 
Soon after he started reading, Lily began to question why she was doing this.
 
She was sticking to him under the pretense of keeping him from escaping, but in reality, it was just a convenient excuse.
 
Just because she wanted to be close to Saito, Lily had ended up in this situation. But now, she regretted it.
 
This situation was awkward … Read the rest

 
As Lily handed over the manga with a wry smile, Saito, her childhood friend, started observing it with keen interest.
 
“Even though he looks like that, my dad is actually a professional in the creative field. He has a lot of contacts too,”
 
“The world is pretty small, isn’t it? Besides, this manga is a romantic comedy, and I know you’re not a fan of those, right, Lily?”
 
Saito asked, knowing that Lily didn’t usually read romantic comedies. He quickly skimmed through the manga and looked puzzled.
 
“I don’t dislike them. I just avoid them if they turn into harems. … Read the rest

Chapter 6: Just Like a Manga

 
Under the crimson sky.
 
“Is Shirayuri-senpai really okay?”
 
The boy walking beside her, her childhood friend,
 
seemed unable to shake the image of Koyuki collapsing from his mind and murmured his worries.
 
“She’ll be fine. According to the nurse, it’s just temporary due to stress. She said she’ll recover if she rests.”
 
Lily felt the same anxiety but hid it with a bright demeanor.
 
Fortunately, the nurse at Seira High School was an expert with a medical license.
 
If she said Koyuki would be okay, it must be true.
 
When she reassured him, Saito’s … Read the rest

“Lucky! This tastes great. Hey, let’s share these with everyone. They’ll love it. If you’re having trouble getting rid of them, right, Shirayuri-chan?”
 
The other was delighted to have a drink and wanted to share the joy.
 
“Ah, yes. That would be helpful.”
 
To Koyuki, her suggestion was a lifesaver.
 
Feeling like a goddess had appeared, she readily agreed.
 
“Yay! I happen to have a plastic bag in my pocket, so let’s put some in here and carry them.”
 
Then, humming, Kawada pulled out a folded plastic bag from her pocket.
 
“Isn’t one bag not enough for all these drinks?”… Read the rest

 
Koyuki regretted knowing these feelings if it meant going through such pain.
 
And then, a miracle happened.
 
Koyuki found herself back a little before she met him.
 
Back in the spring break of her first year of high school.
 
She didn’t understand what was happening.
 
She was stunned.
 
She had no idea what was going on.
 
She couldn’t think straight that day and spent the whole time lying on her bed.
 
After a night, she somehow understood that she had returned to the past.
 
[What should I do now?]
 
The moment she regretted knowing human warmth, time rewound.
 
Perhaps God … Read the rest

Interlude: Hunger

Just before 6 PM, as the sun began to set.
 
“Vice President, where should I take this?”
 
“Please take that over there.”
 
“Vice President, I’m missing some parts here. Do we have any more in the storage room?”
 
“Yes, we do. There are a few spare ones just in case. I’ll go get them.”
 
“No, it’s fine. As long as we have them, we’ll handle it. Just make sure no one slacks off. At this pace, we might barely make it, but if anyone slacks off, we won’t.”
 
“Understood. Thank you.”
 
Koyuki was in charge of directing the … Read the rest

 
“But we don’t agree with the president’s decision. We have a favor to ask, even though it’s sudden.”
 
“What is it?”
 
“Make the president and Koyuki-chan realize it.”
 
“Please.”
 
Their previously carefree attitude changed to one of desperation.
 
Saito could tell they genuinely wanted him to do this.
 
But their request was still vague.
 
“Make them realize? Realize what?”
 
“Sorry, we can’t say more. But you can do it because you can face them directly.”
 
“Our words won’t get through. So please, try. We believe in you.”
 
Leaving Saito puzzled, they walked away.
 
Then Saito realized
 
“But wait! My feet … Read the rest

Chapter 5: The Fiancé

READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net

“President, I’m sorry about yesterday! Are you okay after what happened? I think I might have hit you pretty hard.”
 
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
 
“Really? That’s good to hear. I realized how bad it was when I calmed down. I couldn’t sleep at all last night because I felt so guilty.”
 
“Well, if you’re reflecting on it that much, then that’s enough punishment. But if you do it again, I’ll make sure the teacher increases your reflection paper by ten times. So keep that in … Read the rest

“Don’t interfere, you random guy! It’s creepy how you’re trying to act cool in front of a girl.”
 
“? I’m not trying to act cool. You’re too heated to invite anyone properly. I’m just here to calm things down. Let’s take a deep breath. Come on, inhale~ exhale~.”
 
“Who would do that, idiot! Ugh, this sucks. I’m out of here.”
 
The boy, losing patience, finally revealed his true nature and stormed off.
 
He roughly shook off Saito’s hand and dashed up the stairs as if to escape.
 
“Hey! … Ah, geez, he got upset.”
 
Saito scratched his head awkwardly, watching … Read the rest

Chapter 4: Frontline of the Childhood Friend Strategy

 

• Childish body types are a no-go.
   
• Prefer a girl who can play sports and games together.
   
• Higher rating if she can cook delicious meals.
   

“~♪~♪”
 
At eleven o’clock on a quiet night when her family was fast asleep,
 
Lily Machigane hummed a tune while jotting down today’s insights in a certain notebook.
 
Its title: The Childhood Friend Strategy Notebook.
 
Lily started writing in this notebook at the end of April, when she first realized her feelings for her childhood friend, Saito Minazuki. The notebook contained records of … Read the rest