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

Thank you so much.

“What’s this about talking to Shuu… Did nothing really happen?”

“Nothing did. In fact, that time was necessary for me. I was able to declare to Shuu that I will be happy with Ayana.”

After school that day, Ayana was at my house for no particular reason. Since Mom hadn’t returned from work yet, it was just Ayana and me at home.

Upon coming back, Ayana immediately asked what had happened at noon, so I told her as there was nothing to hide. When I mentioned talking to Shuu, Ayana’s eyes briefly sharpened, but when the conversation switched to declaring to be happy together, Ayana suddenly started grinning.

“I-Is that so… hehehe, that means marriage–“

“That’s the plan. It might seem hasty for high schoolers to talk about marriage, but my feelings for Ayana are that real.”

“Marriage… Marriage… Marrying Towa-kun… Me as the bride… Fufufu.”

“Ayana? You’re making a face you shouldn’t show in public, you know?”

She was so lost in her fantasies that her usually exquisite face crumbled.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Ayana making such a face, as if it were hard to express.

(That’s right. Just having this child by my side…)

No, that’s not it. I need to put these feelings into words. Feelings need to be expressed in words to be understood by the other person. She’ll understand, whether it’s her or him. Such assumptions sometimes lead to the worst outcomes.

“Ayana.”

“Fufu… Y-Yes. What is it?”

I embraced her as she came back to me, and we both lay down on the bed. Ayana let out a cute scream, but she looked back at me with embarrassment and expectation in her eyes.

“Ayana, I truly love you. I will support you no matter what happens in the future and I will protect you. Will you stay by my side from now on?”

To those words, Ayana firmly nodded.

“Yes. I will always be by Towa-kun’s side. And I will support Towa-kun too… Let’s get married.”

“…Y-Yeah.”

“I got your word~? I won’t accept any ‘I can’t do it anymore’♪”

…As expected, Ayana is still one step ahead.

I hugged the person I love dearly who was genuinely smiling in front of me, wanting to feel more of her warmth. A solid connection that has continued since childhood; I will protect that from now on.

That is my determination to Ayana in my arms.

“…So many things have happened.”

It’s only been a few days since I awakened as Towa. Yet, the events that took place in those few days were so intense. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I was experiencing a story as the main character… That’s how those days were.

“…Fumya.”

“?”

Unknowingly, it seems I was petting Ayana like a cat.

Ayana, who is known as the most beautiful in the class, had a relaxed expression that she wouldn’t show to others. When I stopped petting her, she looked at me longingly, wanting more, and I moved my hand again.

“Towa-kun… I love you so much… I really, really love you.”

Ayana, who had risen, reached out her arms and embraced me as if she were pushing me down.

Her face turned red like a cat sniffing catnip… Um, Ayana, your mother is coming back soon, right?

“hehehe… hehehe!”

Oh, it seems like there’s no escaping this…

By the time I thought that, it was already too late. Ayana dropped a kiss on my lips. The sensation of her soft lips, the sweet scent stimulating me, I also wrapped my arms around Ayana.

There were truly… many things that happened.

But, even so, I think Ayana and I are meant to be together from now on. In the future, I will spend an unimaginable amount of time with her. There will surely be fun things, as well as tough and difficult things ahead.

However, with this girl by my side, we can overcome any obstacle.

“Ayana, we’ll always be together from now on.”

“Yes! Of course♪”

We continue walking.

Towards a future filled with hope.

“Towa-kun.”

“What is it?”

Ayana looked at me, took a deep breath, and said:

“Thank you for finding me, for meeting me, for helping me… truly, thank you!”

Thank you, Ayana’s smile as she said that was so beautiful.

It was a smile of hers that I could never forget, engraved in my mind so deeply, from the bottom of my heart.

I’m the one who should be thanking you, Ayana.

Thank you for meeting me, for helping me… truly, thank you.

【Afterword】

And that’s the end of the main story.

What follows will be more like an epilogue.