Prologue

What is a childhood friend? If you were to ask this question, the answers would vary. Some say that they are just strangers as time goes by, while others say that they are irreplaceable memories.

In many stories, they are the losing heroines. In reality, they were just close friends when they were young. However, there are some people who don't fit into either category. For example, for me, a childhood friend is my most beloved person.

I, Tsuzuri Sasaki, have a childhood friend whom I love very much. For her, I'd risk my life, and if I had to die for her, I'd gladly cut my own throat.

Many of you are probably wondering here. What is it about childhood friends that makes an adolescent boy say so much?

In order to satisfy your expectations, I shall now passionately explain my "love for childhood friends" to you.

Her name is Shirayuki Kotoba. She is a Goddess blessed by the world, with a beautiful appearance and a brilliant mind. Her skin is translucent and fair, and her silver hair is as smooth as silk. Her eyes are sharp and dignified, and her lips are thin and pale like a cherry blossom. If I had to compare her appearance, I would have to say, "A Peony when it stands, a Peony when it sits, and a Lily when it walks."

No, she is even more beautiful than a lily.

And isn't it a common belief that if you have a beautiful appearance, you also have a charming personality?

Kotoba's character is the very essence of a Kuudere. The dere that can be seen in her cool demeanor has the strongest level of destructive power in this world. She is also serious, shy, and wary.

For example, when she was in middle school, she was often approached by boys, but she cut them all off. Many boys were traumatized by her poisonous tongue and cold eyes, and she was given the nickname " The Cruel Goddess".

But the truth is that she is a kind, gentle girl, a little clumsy, and caring in small ways. But she doesn't show that kind of attitude at school, or rather to anyone but me. Is it because she's trying to avoid guys, or maybe she has a crush on me?

Well, to put it simply, this is Shirayuki Kotoba. We were born on the same day in the same hospital, and spent kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school together, so I can only describe her as a "Person of Destiny."

I loved Kotoba so much that I spent three years of middle school improving my studies, athletics, and appearance. I wanted to become someone worthy of her. All for the sake of having a lovey-dovey high school life with her!

I had everything ready. The entrance ceremony of our high school would be tomorrow. With great anticipation, I headed to my neighbor's house, "her house."

━

I, Shirayuki Kotoba, have a childhood friend. His name is Tsuzuri Sasaki. He's smart, athletic, good-looking, and a Prince on a white horse to me.

I am in love with him, I don't know when it happened but it happened.

He has been with me since I was born, and whenever I was in trouble or crying, he would come running to me immediately. He was always there for me.

Being with him like that, I guess I naturally fell in love with him.

When we were in middle school, he suddenly started saying, "I'm going to start improving myself!" I was bewildered. He was smart, athletic, and good-looking. The sudden change in him attracted a great deal of attention from a lot of girls.

I couldn't help but feel uneasy. I felt that he, who was always there for me, might leave me. And I couldn't help but get angry. I wondered if any of those people had ever really met Tsuzuri-kun. I believe it to be false love for the sake of improving their own status.

I'm a weak person. I wondered if he would ever get tired of me being so pushy and unreasonable. I was worried. But he never left me...

You may think I'm being overly cocky when I say this, but he probably likes me.

I don't know when it started, but it was obvious that his attitude was different from when he was with other girls. Besides, in middle school, I often heard rumors that he liked me.

Moreover, he looked very anxious, especially when he heard that I was going to confess my feelings to someone. Don't worry, I really like you!

I was happy to hear this, but at the same time, I felt a great deal of anxiety. The truth is that tomorrow I will be starting my high school life.

There might be a lot of girls there who are more attractive than me. I was very worried that he might take off for some other girl.

I'm thinking that I need to be very vigilant about this. I decided to be a little more honest from now on, so as not to create an opening for a thieving cat.

While I was thinking about this, before I knew it, the sun had started to set.

Now, it's time for him to come to my house. With a new determination in my heart, I began to prepare dinner.