I thought things were going to get really awkward from now on.

I like my best friend's girlfriend.

This is destined to make things... not pretty at the very least.

While that is what i'd expect... i couldn't hide my bitter surprise at seeing Anri as soon as i got out of the train.

—Good morning, Mizuno-senpai.

I took a second to realize who just spoke to me, since im pretty grumpy in the morning, at least before i pass the school gate..

—Morning. Im suprised you're here. Wait, but not in a bad way, i swear.

—You are certainly making it hard to believe, you know... —Anri answered with the tone of her voice only being described as "you're being a bit of a pain in the ass but im used to it".

—Im sorry. I hate mornings.

—Not like i don't know already, so don't worry about it. —she sighed while smiling back at me.

—Even so, i thought for certain that you'd be walking to school with Yuuko.

Shit, i wasn't supposed to bring that up. Im not supposed to know, to begin with...

A awkward silence was presented for a good 30 seconds before i could even look back at Anri or she answered.

—Now that you think about it, you two really haven't been talking much lately. Did you get into some sort of petty fight, or anything?

So she really doesn't want to talk about it, huh...

—Not really. She just seems a bit done with me, and i don't really want to know why. —I lied shamelessly. Yuuko is probably starting to hate me a little bit for the very thing im doing right now. Doesn't help that im not known for a lot of pretty things at school, and Yuuko is well aware of it.

—So that's why she looks upset... —I could hear Anri whisper very softly.

I could guess she was talking about Yuuko just now, but i'd rather play dumb and not bring it up at all. I shouldn't be getting in the way...

—Are you sure you didn't do something questionable that caught her the wrong way? You are pretty unpredictable, Mizuno-senpai. —Anri complained.

—I really didn't, why am i the one at fault? —I forcefully complained with a slight bit of frustration showing on my voice. I couldn't really stop it from leaking out, since it's not the only thing i feel at fault for.

—I was just asking, Mizuno-senpai. Are you sure you didn't do anything? —Anri stopped next to me, and gazed directly into my eyes while getting pretty close to me.

I got pretty nervous, and i felt very anxious, so i met her gaze for a few seconds before lashing out at her.

—This is a pretty unfair way to do things, you know? I can't lie to you anyways, so im telling the truth. —I looked away, slightly panicked and tried my hardest not to look back at her. I felt like if i did, my heart would start speaking for me, and i really don't want that.

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I really don't want to cause any misunderstandings.

—Thank you for telling me that. I was honestly making fun of you, but you look a bit stressed, so im sorry. —Anri spoke pretty softly, and i felt dragged in by the way she spoke those words.

She was smiling weakly, but she was still looking at me with concern, and her eyes looked a bit sad.

My heartrate started rising pretty switly as Anri apologized, and i could feel the words getting stuck on my throat.

She shouldn't be apologizing about it.

—It's fine. Im sorry for being a idiot and reacting like that. —I managed to blurt out with something closer to a defeated whisper than anything.

I still can't bring myself to look at her, and it feels like i've been paralyzed by all of the grim emotions im trying to fight back.

—There you go, making yourself the problem again. Don't do that, okay? —Anri took both of my hands and held them close to her chest.

I just hid behind my bangs and looked away.

Anri clenched my hands a little bit tighter, expecting me to do or say something, so i nodded without saying a word.

—Even if you don't feel very okay, im not mad at you and you aren't being a problem to me right now. Okay?

I nodded again, trying my hardest to not say anything else, or to let my emotions out of control now.

She's always so understanding, and i can feel how genuine her concern is. It's something i've never had, and it's really precious to me, lately.

It's always the way she gives me so much to choose from, but...

There's so much stuff that i really want to tell her right now, but if i do... i'll make a lot of problems for her.

So i'll just keep quiet. It's the best thing i can do for Anri.

To keep my mouth shut, and to silently take her kindness in, until she has no good left to give.

After our small moment, we kept walking silently to school, and before we got to the entrance, i noticed Yuuko talking to Goro-san, at the Taiyaki shop i always come across.

This isn't even close to the route Yuuko takes to school, so i instantly knew something was off. Anri got used to walking to school with me, so she takes this one whenever she does, but Yuuko rarely came with us. She would usually meet us at the entrance gate, so my gut instantly told me that something was going to happen.

I shook my head silently, and tried to soften my expression as much as possible to hide the bitterness that was flooding it, as we walked closer and closer to the point where Anri could see her too.

I took a quick glance at Anri, and she looked... bitter.

Was it the little moment we had before? Did something happen to her at home, maybe? Is she maybe worried about Yuuko seeing us together?

No... maybe she doesn't want to see her to? She did mention she looked upset... Did something happen between the two of them?

Wait, Haruna. This isn't any of your business, isn't it?

I shook every question that i just asked myself, and just continued to walk to the Taiyaki shop.

—Oi, Haruna! Come here! —Goro-san shouted my name, and waved at me to come closer, as i waved back and gave him the same smile i always give everyone.

—Anri, come with me a little bit. It won't be long, so don't worry about being late. —I spoke with my voice now in school mode. Im sure Anri is used to my "personality swings" as i like to call them, but she looked a bit freaked out at them right now.

I could feel my heart ache a little bit at her shocked and slightly afraid expression, but i tried not to think about it and just moved on, with her walking slowly behind me.

—You look a lot better this mornin'. Somethin' good happen to ya? —Goro-san happily asked away as he opened up shop in the morning.

—But i always look this way, Goro-san. You're seeing things! —i replied, acting excited with the very limited amount of energy that i had.

—Hahah, maybe. I am gettin' old after all. Anyways, this young lady was lookin' for ya. —Goro-san pointed at Yuuko, who was sitting quietly near by.

—I know. I just wanted to come say hi before talking to her. Hope business is good today for you. —I bowed and waved at Goro-san as i walked towards Yuuko, without realizing Anri left my side at some moment and was next to Yuuko, with her expression being unusually fake...?

She was smiling, and she was laughing. But... it seemed off.

Does it?

No, im just seeing things. She's with her girlfriend. Im just overthinking things that aren't really my problem.

I buried my thoughts deep in my head, and just walked up towards the two of them with my heartrate slightly faster than it should be.

—Morning, Yuuko. Quite the detour you took, right? —I mockingly told Yuuko, hoping she'd clap back as im used to... i really just want things to stay like they were before, so i hope she plays along with me.

—Morning. —a cold, and very distant voice spoke. I couldn't even link it to the person i thought of as my best friend.

I just nodded in place, before thinking to myself

"Wait, that's it?"

She stood up, and started walking with Anri by her side in front of me, and i was stunned for a few seconds before i snapped out of it, and i started walking behind them.

I could have walked faster, i could have caught up with them and try to force myself in like i would usually, but...

Both of my eyes were focused only on Yuuko for now. She was... smiling.

And not in the same snarky way that she usually does with me.

She was wearing such a bright smile, when speaking to her girlfriend. Her cold stare, more akin to a glare was completely gone. Instead, she seemed relaxed, and at peace.

I came to a dead stop when i saw her like that.

"Im just in the way, right?"

The words escaped from my mouth without being able to hold the thought back.

Yuuko wouldn't be that cold to me were it not for any other reason.

Im just taking both of their time, probably. Maybe the same walks i enjoyed so much with Anri to school, would be better off if i let Yuuko take my place.

And, maybe Anri's expression would be less grim if Yuuko doesn't feel jealous of the time i spend with her, and she's not stressed about it.

I wanted to scream, and at the same time i was steeling my resolve to just leave them both in peace, but her words came back to my head.

"—There you go, making yourself the problem again. Don't do that, okay?"

Im sorry, Anri. It's not that im making myself the problem... I know i am the problem this time.

Yuuko has every right to feel uneasy about me being around her so often. I am a bit of a flirt with her, because i really like her. I've never felt this way about someone so quick, and the sincere, yet grounded way she supports me and scolds me when i deserve it is something that i really don't want to let go.

But this time, i have to.

It's the best thing i can do, for all of us, right?