According to my childhood friend, “high school students have the protagonist attribute,” apparently.

If it's an anime or manga set in the modern day, a pretty large number of protagonists are high school students or something like that.

“Sure, there’s more content now and sometimes the setting is a company, or they go to another world, or even when they reincarnate they’re adults, but still, when you talk about the protagonists, it’s high school students!”

At the time, I did think, Isn’t that just because what you watch happens to be those kinds of works? but I kept that to myself and only replied with a “Huh” and let the comment slide.

Now then, speaking of that kind of talk, my childhood friend who had been enthusiastically going on about it from around the time we were close to graduating middle school, Sakura Ayuri, would be…

～♪

Having finished the enrollment ceremony and now wearing the uniform that served as proof of being a high school student, she hummed to herself, occasionally spinning around, as she headed home together with me.

She looked incredibly cheerful and like she was having fun, but since she was on the shorter side even among people our age, her behavior made her look less like a high school student and more like a kid who had just started middle school.

“…Ayu, stop it, it’s dangerous.”

“I’m watching out for cars so it’s fine!”

“You almost tripped just now though.”

“Then Gin-chan can catch me again!”

“Haa.”

Even if I let out an exaggerated sigh like that, this childhood friend of mine didn’t care in the slightest.

I had thought this ever since the time she happily talked about her future high school life, but I honestly couldn’t understand what was so fun about it.

“Okay, stop right there, if you keep this up I’m telling your mom or a senior.”

“Uwoah… mgh.”

When I forcibly grabbed both her shoulders and stopped her spinning, a protesting glare shot over at me from my childhood friend.

She looked exactly like a child who had been stopped from playing a game midway.

And yet, this idiot goes around declaring that she’s a reincarnator, which makes it all the more ridiculous.

Yes, according to this childhood friend of mine, Sakura Ayuri… she’s supposedly a reincarnator with memories of her previous life.

This girl who had been acting just like a complete brat a moment ago, apparently.

“…Ayu, you do tell me that you’re a ‘reincarnator,’ right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let me ask, how many years have you lived in total including your previous life and what was your gender back then?”

“At least over thirty and my previous gender was male!”

“Ugh.”

I want to praise myself for not going as far as saying that’s gross.

“Kuuhn…”

Even though I held it back to just an “ugh,” it seems my feelings still got across.

The moment she saw my reaction, Ayu, still being held by the shoulders, quieted down a bit.

If you’re going to be embarrassed anyway, I wish you’d act a bit more appropriate for your mental age, but well, she calmed down, so I guess the result is fine.

“Seriously, even looks aside, the inside is a proper adult and yet this is so stupid…”

“…Gin-chan, the idea that people automatically become adults just by aging is wrong, you know. Rather, it’s when you’re freed from all kinds of heavy responsibilities that the restraints come loose more easily…”

“No matter the reason, spinning around outside while heading home is dangerous.”

“Mgh, that’s totally fair.”

Seeing that she finally seemed convinced, I released my hold on her.

Honestly, if our other friends were around, she’d be more normal, but when it’s just the two of us, she drops all restraint, which is a pain.

“Seriously, what’s so fun about it anyway. My long break just ended and I’m at max-level lethargy, you know.”

“Oh, is Gin-chan feeling gloomy about life from here on out? Then let me make you imagine a fun high school life…”

“That’s fine, I’ve already heard it plenty of times. Besides, the source of your high school life stories is either stuff you heard from others or manga and anime, so it’s not reliable.”

At my comment, Ayu muttered “Right where it hurts…” and finally went completely quiet.

Maybe I went a bit too far, or so I thought, but we had just moved up from middle school to high school. It’s only natural to be conscious of what comes next, and unlike Ayu, who I don’t really know if she’s experienced it once already or not but has special circumstances, feeling anxious about an unknown future is normal.

“…Gin-chan, we’re already in front of your house.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

While I was lost in thought like that, we were already right in front of my place.

Good grief, today’s babysitting is finally over. Once I get back to my room, I’ll relax and play some games.

“See you later, Ayu. See you tomorrow.”

“…Ah, wait, Gin-chan!”

“…What?”

What does this idiot girl want now? With the feeling of I’m completely in the mood for a single-player game today so I’m not playing with you, I turned my gaze toward my childhood friend.

Then she walked up to me with a smile.

“Here you go.”

“What’s this? Throat candy?”

“Yeah, we couldn’t bring snacks to school in middle school, right? From now on we can bring them openly!”

“…School ended in the morning today, so what are you even going to do bringing snacks already?”

“Ehh? But it’s tasty, you know? This.”

As she said that, she forcibly pressed an individually wrapped candy into my hand.

“…This is Ryukakusan. I’m not really into the minty cooling feeling.”

“It’s blueberry flavor so it’s not that minty and it tastes good, you know? If you eat something tasty, I think it’ll help distract you a bit too… well then!”

“Ah, hey!”

“See you later, Gin-chan! Looking forward to tomorrow too!”

After making sure I had completely accepted the candy, Ayu dashed off home.

…Honestly, Ayu’s house is only about a five-minute walk from mine at most. If I really hated this candy, I could chase after her right now and return it. I could, but well…

‘Cheering someone up with candy, what are you, an auntie from Osaka?’

It was a gift from my strange childhood friend after all, so I might as well accept it. Returning it would be a hassle too. Thinking that, I opened the wrapper and popped the candy into my mouth.

‘…It’s actually pretty good.’

Well, she’s a weird and noisy one, but still. With her around, my high school life starting tomorrow will probably end up being fun in one way or another. At the very least, I won’t be bored.

Feeling slightly annoyed that my gloom had eased just as Ayu said it would, I opened the front door and went home.