I was Rejected 10,000 times by My Childhood Friend, but After I Gave Up, I Suddenly Started Getting Popular? - Ch. 1 - Episode 1 p8

A new childhood friend relationship

“B-Back to being childhood friends?”

“T-That’s right…”

Since we were talking on a string phone, I couldn’t see what kind of expression Karen was making; all I had were her words and her voice. Well, even if she had said these words to me face to face, I probably wouldn’t be able to understand what she meant.

To clarify, I asked her for further details, afraid that the meaning of her words would be completely lost by me.

“Um… could you be a little more detailed…?”

“W-Well, I guess I didn’t word it right. I mean that… you should eat at my house and… relax around me like you have before! Okaa-san is also a little worried about you… w-well, I am too…”

“…”

I didn’t expect to be able to talk to her, as a dere, twice in a row.

Impossible. Don’t tell me that the evolution of Karen’s dere has increased the chances of dere Karen appearances? If so, that would be great. Alas, a tsundere character is established.

“I mean, just be my ‘childhood friend’ like before… Ritsu seems to have given up, but…”

I couldn’t hear the rest of Karen’s words because she started mumbling.

Even worse, we were talking on a string phone.

“Hey, Karen. I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

“I-It’s not like I’m asking you to listen to me! Don’t suddenly say things like that!”

“S-Sorry…”

Aah, the tsundere.

However, now that I’ve learned more about her dere side, even as a tsundere, she can give me a sense of security and excitement. She’s an advanced tsundere. This is a rare national qualification. Well, not exactly everyone can do this.

“Well, I’m… not going to force you, but…”

“…”

Wait, she won’t force me to…?

This childhood friend of mine used the same basic intimidation tactics as villains to coerce people into giving in to their demands, but now she’s allowing me to choose whether or not I want to go back to what I was before…

I’ve had enough. I don’t want to waste my time prodding for more details.

Karen has already evolved. She is not the Karen I knew before.

“I see. Well, I guess I’ll take your word for it and go back to being your childhood friend. But don’t worry. I’ll treat you as a friend… as a childhood friend from now on.”

“…Huh?”

“Well, this is a string phone, so I guess it’s a bit hard to hear. Then I’ll say it a little louder. Let’s be friends from now on!”

(TL: lol get friendzoned)

“I can hear you! Can you please not yell it out? It was so loud that I could hear you even if it wasn’t through a string phone!”

“Y-You heard me?! Then give me a response that tells me so!”

“I can’t! I just realized how hard reality can be!”

“What the hell is that even supposed to mean? It’s like a mystery; I have no clue!”

I really don’t know what she’s talking about. She’s become the Karen I never knew about.

Well, she is changing, isn’t she?

When we were children, she was rather mild and kind. But at some point, she had become a tsun character. And now―she has become the elusive tsun’dere’ character.

It’s really hard for me to keep up with her.

I wondered if Karen would continue to change in the future. That’s definitely something I would look forward to.

“Ritsu, it’s okay if you don’t understand now! Anyway, from tomorrow on, you’ll treat me like your childhood friend! And make sure you come have breakfast with me! Also, we’ll go to school together! Bye!”

“Wai—Hey!”

After hitting me with a violent barrage of words, Karen disconnected the string phone.

Thus, the situation became basically impossible to talk about.

Well, she still ended up being pretty forceful…

But well, that’s something that hasn’t changed since the old days when she was still kind and mild-mannered.

Still, tomorrow is another typical day.

I had been keeping my distance from Karen so I would be able to give up on my love for her. Now, after everything that has happened, I’ve been able to rid myself of these feelings, and I don’t believe I am weirdly conscious of her anymore.

And well, even after confessing 10,000 times and giving up, the relationship between me and Karen will continue.

It would be a shame to end our tight-knit friendship here. Besides, I don’t think love with Karen is all that we have.

So, in a way, this is a restart.

“Well, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

I muttered and collected the string phone.

I cut the string and took the paper cup. However, the string was still dangling outside, which I needed to take care of quickly.

As I was retrieving the string that hung between me and Kakoi’s house, I suddenly realized.

“Wait, didn’t I make a promise to Lala for mornings?”

(TL: this chap had me rofl idk why)

(ED: Well at least she’s communicating with him while he’s conscious this time….)