-Haruki’s POV-
「So, how was Naoki?」
「Ah, as expected, he still really hates me.」
「Hahaha, that’s just like Naoki.」
Since we were kids, I’ve always been with Naoki, who lived next door. Wherever I went, he was there. Whatever I did, he was doing it too.
Back in our school days, we were practically inseparable.
For someone like me, with no siblings or close friends nearby, he was like a little brother I had to look after.
You know how people say small-town relationships can be overly involved?
That was exactly the connection between the Morita family and the Kojima family—it had always been that way.
「He’s doing well lately, right?」
「Yeah, even Grandma didn’t seem too worried.」
Since childhood, Naoki has struggled with PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder.
No one really knows what triggered it after his parents passed away, but the worst part is that he doesn’t even realize he has it.
Once a panic attack subsides, he doesn’t remember it happened. I’ve heard that his hazy recollections of the past are also because of the PTSD.
When he was suffering from the illness, I was the one who took care of him. If something happened at school, I’d drop everything to rush to his side.
There was this one time when Naoki’s grandparents weren’t around, and I ended up making dinner for him. Back then, I couldn’t cook much, so I just threw all the vegetables I found in his house into a pan and stir-fried them.
It was just a simple vegetable stir-fry.
And yet, Naoki, who had been crying after a panic attack just moments before, ate it and instantly perked up. That moment stuck with me.
It made me realize that no matter the illness, food has the power to make people smile.
That experience is what made me want to become a chef.
Naoki gave me that dream.
Originally, I figured I’d just take over the family poultry farm. I’ve always hated anything complicated, after all.
But Naoki kept shaping who I was. When he grew older, his illness stabilized, and he stopped having panic attacks.
And for some reason, that’s when he started to hate me.
Maybe it’s because I’m better-looking and taller than him. Can’t be helped.
Even now, that hasn’t changed.
「His girlfriend’s doing fine too, right?」
「No, she’s not his girlfriend.」
「Haha, you really know Naoki well, being his childhood friend and all.」
「That guy’s super shy. I had to help him work up the courage to talk to people back then.」
During our school days, whenever I tried helping Naoki approach girls, things rarely went well. Strangely enough, it was during those moments that I’d often end up being confessed to instead.
And then there were the girls who would use Naoki as an excuse to get closer to me—those kinds of people were the last thing I wanted to deal with.
There were other times too. Like during a club tournament, even though he had injured his leg, Naoki kept quiet about it so he wouldn’t inconvenience anyone. He’s always been a handful.
Who could just ignore someone who tried to compete in a tournament with a broken leg? Every time I worried about him, he probably saw it as me being overbearing and ended up disliking me for it.
To me, though, he’s like a younger brother, and I can’t help but be concerned.
But of course, Naoki being Naoki, he forgets all about it in no time.
「I’ll let Grandpa know again.」
Still, with Dori-chan and Sena-san around, I think he’ll be fine.
At first, I was worried about him being involved with explorers like his parents, but it seems Naoki doesn’t mind anymore.
If anything, his obsession with Dori-chan is more of a concern.
He probably sees me as nothing more than a nuisance, and honestly, that frustrates me.
Come to think of it, Dori-chan, who always takes Naoki’s side, once told him to get along with me. Was something going on back then?
Even though I don’t know the exact reason, it’s a relief to see him doing well now.
「By the way, when are Yuri-chan and the others coming?」
「Ah, they said they’d like to come sooner rather than later, but can they really adjust to living here?」
I have a wife and daughter now. I met my wife while working—our bond grew closer because her family also ran a poultry farm.
Not long after we got married, our daughter Yuri was born, and the three of us have been living together since.
One day, Yuri happened to come across a video featuring none other than Naoki and Dori-chan.
It was the first time I’d seen Naoki since losing touch after leaving my hometown.
I had no way of knowing what he’d been up to, so seeing him alive and well in the video was a huge relief.
At one point, I considered asking his grandparents about him, but my father always told me not to bother.
Then came the opportunity—a dungeon had appeared near my hometown, and with it, the chance to open a shop.
They say the areas around dungeons tend to develop into cities. Opening a shop there seemed like a sure bet.
I thought my wife, Sakura, might oppose the idea, but Yuri insisted she wanted to live at my family’s home.
She didn’t tell me why, but Sakura also didn’t mind helping out with the shop.
She said she’d been feeling nostalgic about the countryside, so we decided to make the move at just the right time.
I’d already talked about wanting to return to my hometown to start a business, so maybe she was just being considerate.
「Well, if things change even a little around here, it’ll make life more comfortable. You’ve grown up enough to handle it, haven’t you?」
You have to live with a certain level of optimism around here. Otherwise, it’s hard to get by.
Alright, maybe I’ll drop by Naoki’s place tomorrow morning.
Even if he complains, he’ll still end up eating my cooking, just like old times.
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