Main Character

A side character’s role is to support the main character.

That is something that I have always been doing for as long as I remember, and I am willing to continue supporting him even if I can’t stand beside him any longer.

That guy, Shuugo Arisugawa, has always been the main character in my eyes.

‘What makes a main character so special?’

That was a question that I always ask whenever I read novels.

Main characters are not just main characters because the author feels like giving them the role without any reason to. In every story that I read, they are the most interesting person, the most likable, and the most complicated.

Shuugo Arisugawa is one such a complex character.

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“What are you doing here?”

It was Sunday when Shuugo showed up in front of my home out of nowhere. As always, he has that cheerful smile on his face while waving at me.

“Man, why are you so cold to me?”

“What do you expect me to do? Prepare a banquet for you?”

“Wow, rude!”

He frowned at me profusely. I just sighed to myself.

It’s Sunday, for crying out loud! I should be sleeping all day without a care in the world but Shuugo has to show up now of all times.

Still, looking back on it, it has been a while since he last came over to hang out.

As children, the two of us used to hang out all the time. We were inseparable as if our hips were glued together. We always went to each other’s house as if it was our second home. Even my parents are fond of him to the point that I sometimes feel that they favor him more than me, their own son.

Of course, I didn’t bear any grudge from that. I know that my parents are just looking out for him and after all, I have been doing the same thing as well.

If our small family can provide a place of solace and sense of normalcy for him, we would be glad to be of help.

That’s because… Shuugo’s family is not quite similar to our simple family.

His parents are not getting along with each other and decided to divorce once and for all. Both of the adults don’t want to take custody of him so his grandmother stepped up and decided to take Shuugo in.

The first time that I met him, he was an extremely gloomy child who did not utter a word. He was quiet and unresponsive at times, it might seem like you’re talking with a wall.

Compared to the Shuugo standing in front of me now, I can say that this is a huge improvement. But I know for a fact that the wall that he put up as a child has yet to disperse, because if it was indeed gone, his growth as a person won’t be hindered like this.

“So, what brings you here?”

Inviting him inside the house as a form of hospitality, I offered him some refreshments and asked him to make himself comfortable in the living room.

“Are your parents not around?”

“They’re out at the moment.”

“I see.” He looked around to observe the place. “Tomoru’s home is still the same as I remember.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? Eichi is the only one here right now, but this place doesn’t feel lonely at all…” Shuugo has a forlorn smile on his face.

That’s right, Shuugo’s home is a lonely place.

Whenever I visit there as a child, it feels like a cold place all the time. The only warmth that he could feel in that empty home was the embrace of his grandmother.

His grandmother is still there but he’s no longer a young boy that could openly ask for affection from his guardian. He must’ve been holding his loneliness inside all this time.

“You can go here whenever you feel like it, you know,” I said to him with a clear voice.

“Eh? Ahaha… I can’t do that, I’ll be bothering your parents and also, aren’t you uncomfortable with it?” he forced a laugh to come out.

It was during our middle school when he suddenly stopped visiting all of a sudden. It was also then when the distance between us started to grow apart, yet we still remained best friends.

There are just things that we gave up in the process.

“When did I ever say that?”

“Uhm…”

“When did I ever say that I’m uncomfortable with you coming over?”

“...”

I stared at him with resolution.

“Ah, it’s alright, Eichi. I didn’t mean to do that, really. Let’s not talk about it, okay?” A strained smile formed on his lips.

“Alright, we’re not kids anymore so it’s useless talking about those things.” I just seconded. “However, when you feel overwhelmed with things, you can go here whenever you need it. This was your second home, wasn’t it?”

Shuugo’s eyes widened and his mouth slowly gaped at me. After a little while of silence, his lips turned upward and he smiled at me sincerely.

“You’re really amazing, Eichi. Ever since we were kids, you were always the one who looked after me. That’s the you that I really like, thank you, Eichi.” He beamed at me with a bright smile.

“H-hey! Don’t say that with that kind of face, you can make anyone fall for you if you do that again!”

I looked away out of embarrassment. I could feel my blood rushing to my cheeks.

This guy is really underestimating the charm that he holds! It won’t be a surprise if boys confess to him one of these days.

“Really? Then why can’t I make Yamazono-san fall for me?” Shuugo frowned as he pondered to himself.

“Hmm? Did something happen with Yamazono-san?”

“Eh? A-ah… F-forget about it!” He frantically denied.

“Shuu-go…” I called with a threatening voice.

“N-no! Don’t glare at me, Eichi! My heart can’t take it if my best friend looks at me with hate!”

Oh, it appears that he won’t talk no matter what, huh.

In that case, the most effective way to make someone talk is to use their weakness against them!

“Hey, Shuugo. I actually have some coupons for the newly opened cake shop near the station, but… what should I do? I want to invite Shuugo but it seems like he won’t tell me anything… ah, am I really his friend?” I dramatically said with a pitiful expression.

“A-ah! Eichi is my friend! I’ll talk!”

Got him.

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Those coupons are actually something that I got from a trusted source, Yuuno-san. I requested this from her because I planned to have Shuugo invite Yamazono-san to go out together.

It might be a cliched way of inviting someone, but at least having an excuse would make an invitation reasonable and appropriate rather than just inviting someone without one.

Well, it appears that I have to use the coupons now. It’s not like Shuugo can invite Yamazono-san if something bad happened anyway.

Shuugo has always liked sweets so I assumed that by using this way, I can get him to talk, or at least loosen up a little. I have no intention of forcing him if he doesn’t want to.

Looking at him who has been playing with the cake and not even taking a bite really makes me worried.

“Shuugo.”

No response.

“Shuugo.”

“Ah! Y-yes? What is it?”

He looks out of it.

“Was it difficult to talk about?” I asked calmly. “Was it something you can’t tell me?”

“... Eichi.”

“I’m listening.”

“Uhm… I feel like Yamazono-san is avoiding me lately.”

Huh?

“A few days ago, I went to school earlier just as you told me and I happened to meet her in the morning. I would like to greet her but she ran away as soon as she saw me. Eichi, am I hated?” Shuugo looks like he’s about to cry.

Is this for real? I’m sure that things will go well when I suggested Shuugo to go to school earlier because I found out from Yuuno-san that Yamazono-san is always early.

It must be because Yamazono-san is too shy to talk to Shuugo.

“Eichi, what should I do? It’s not just that! When I was playing basketball, I noticed her sitting on the bench so I wanted to call out to her but she just looked away.”

Oh, wow, being in love really is troublesome.

“Hey, Eichi, say something!”

What a pain in the ass.

“Eat your cake or else I’ll never treat you again.”

“Eh? Aren’t you going to say something?”

“There’s nothing for you to worry about, Shuugo.”

“What do you mean nothing?! Yamazono-san is ignoring me! What if she hates me? What if she thinks that I’m no good? Eichi!!”

He continued whining like a high school girl. Not that I’m taking pleasure seeing him like this, but it’s actually entertaining.

“Why not confess to her then?”

“Eh?”

Shuugo froze in his place as he fell silent all of a sudden. He doesn’t want to meet my eyes, probably because of guilt.

“Sorry, Eichi…” Shuugo answered with a downcasted voice. “I’m trying my best but… confessing… is still too much for me.”

No one talked during the entirety of the time in that cake shop.

I also felt like that is not the proper place to press him to talk but I made sure not to leave it as it is today.

On the way home, we took the longest path and that is where I decided to address it.

To be honest, I’m reluctant to open up this topic as his friend but I know that no one else can talk some sense to him. If not me, someone who can straight up tell him what to do, then who else?

“Shuugo, can you hear me out for a while?”

If things didn't turn out well, I might end up being hated by Shuugo. Even then, this is a necessary part of the plan, I have to do this.

The reason why Shuugo is incapable of confessing his love for Yamazono-san is because…

Shuugo Arisugawa does not believe in love.