For the next month, I paid close attention to each and every one of Hoshino's actions. Aside from skipping class, sleeping during lectures, and refusing to wear his uniform, he didn't do anything too out of character.
Sure, the Hoshino I knew wouldn't have done those things. But at the same time... what was I expecting? He wasn't going to remain that pure, simple little kid forever. Everyone has a phase of breaking the rules at some point in their life. I had mine in middle school—who was I to judge his? It was just part of growing up.
Everything else felt the same. We talked. We played basketball after school. It was like we'd never been apart.
Then there was Luna. Apparently, they got really close around the second half of the first year. They didn't share the same friend group, but they were practically best friends.
When I transferred in, Hoshino introduced us. Despite how different we were, she and I hit it off right away—but we weren't best friends or anything.
The real turning point came when Hoshino was sent to the office for sleeping in class. Since Hoshino was our mutual friend, it felt awkward being alone with her at first. After all, I hardly knew her.
But once he returned, our seating arrangement changed. Luna and I sat in the back of the class, while the teacher moved him to the very front—away from us.
That day, Luna and I deliberately talked louder than usual. We laughed more. Made inside jokes. Pretended not to notice him. And made sure that he could hear every word he was missing out on. Maybe it was a little cruel, but to us, it was hilarious.
He would turn around occasionally with an exaggerated glare, and that only made us laugh harder.
On top of that, I helped Luna get a part-time job at the place I worked. We shared the same shifts. Naturally, we talked more there, too.
Over time, she and I became our own set of 'best friends' that didn't rely on him to mediate. We could hang out alone like it was the most casual thing in the world.
Thanks to him, I gained another lifelong friend.
Somewhere along the line, I asked him about Kevin. When I did, he simply said they had grown distant after he changed schools.
As someone who had moved countless times, I understood. Friendships you think would last forever can become fragile when distance wedges itself in between.
After observing him for that entire month, I eventually reached a conclusion. Nothing was wrong. He was still the same simple ball of happiness that I had known all those years ago. So I let the unease go and moved on with my high school life.
***
Months passed. It was now the middle of summer vacation. The heat seared the air, pressing down on the mall. Luna and Hoshino wanted to go clothes shopping; I just went for the company.
"Man, it's so hot!" Luna exclaimed.
We were all slumped on a bench, an empty water bottle in each of our hands. Luna had stolen Hoshino's fan and was using it with zero intention of sharing.
"Luna, please," Hoshino muttered, sweat dripping from his forehead onto his lap. "Can't you hurry up? We've been sitting here for twenty minutes. At this rate, I won't even get a chance to use it by the time the day ends."
Hoshino brought his hand up and wiped it against his forehead. Seeing the sweat stain his wrist, he clicked his tongue. He held a surprising amount of disdain for being dirty, after all.
"Luna… please… give me back my fan!"
He lunged forward. Luna shrieked and leaned back, lifting her legs and kicking wildly to keep him away.
"No!" she shouted desperately. "Wait for your turn! I only just got it!!!"
"Wait, my turn?" he spat, struggling to evade her barrage. "It's MY fan! You can spare five minutes!"
"NO! What happened to ladies first?! Can't you be a gentleman for once in your life?!"
"Sorry, but I'm not Yu."
Hoshino dodged her kicks, grabbed the fan, and mercilessly yanked it out of her hands. A despairing wail echoed in the mall.
Hoshino leaned back into the bench and began fanning himself, enjoying this moment of pure bliss. "Ah… much better."
Luna, meanwhile, just sat there with a series of pathetic, dramatic sniffles. When she realized Hoshino wasn't falling for her pity trap, she tried to grab it again. But he effortlessly held her by the face with one hand, keeping her at a safe distance.
After a minute, he leaned toward her with the fan. Her eyes sparkled with hope—only for him to ignore her and hand it to me instead.
Luna's face twisted in betrayal. "Y-you animal! How could you betray me like this!"
"What are you talking about?" Hoshino replied smoothly, as if it were only natural. "Yu is the only one who hasn't had a turn yet. There's no way you would be mean enough to take it away from him when he's been patient this whole time… right?"
Damn. He got her there.
As if realizing the trap, Luna staggered back. "T-that's… low! A new low—even for you!"
He chuckled cluelessly. "Well… you always coulddddd. I bet Yu would give it to you if you asked. But that'd be sooooo mean. So how about you wait a little longer?"
I couldn't help but shake my head.
What a sly devil. There's no winning for her.
I felt a little bad, but not bad enough that I'd hand the fan over unless she asked.
With no options left, Luna pouted and crossed her arms, looking away from us the whole time.
After three minutes, I passed it to Luna. She snatched it instantly. Her mood improved just as fast.
We sat there in the hum of the mall until a high-pitched cry pierced the air. "Mom, where are you?!"
Luna and I jumped up. My eyes scanned the area until they landed on a small child standing alone.
Her hands were buried in her face as she struggled to suppress the tears that stained her cheeks.
People walked by offering looks of pity—but no one ever stopped to help.
Beside me, I heard a soft click of the tongue.
Before I could even react, Hoshino had already stood up. As if it were just another day, he walked over and gently tapped her on the shoulder. Luna and I were right behind him.
The kid looked up at him through tear-blurred eyes. He gave her a reassuring, kind, and flawless smile.
He didn't ask her name. He didn't ask where she last saw her Mom. He didn't even try to stop her crying. He simply took her hand and led her directly to the nearest security officer.
He explained the situation with the precision of a technical manual. The officer took over. Within minutes, an announcement was broadcast through the mall about a missing child waiting at the security office.
I watched it all from right behind him.
Realistically, he did exactly what anyone should have done. He solved the problem with maximum efficiency and minimum fuss. And that's when the unease returned.
He did nothing wrong. Not a single mistake. And that was exactly why it bothered me.
The Hoshino I knew was straightforward. Pure, innocent, and emotional. If he saw someone struggling, he would have stayed with them and tried to make them laugh—just like he did for me all those years ago.
But this time—there was no hesitation. No 'sincerity.' Only do. What's the fastest solution? What's the 'best' way to solve it? It was only a calculation.
I still don't know what this means. But I do know this. Even if everything looks the same—he's changed.
And I can't ask him about it. Because I know he's hiding something. And worst of all, if he lied—I might not be able to tell. That's what scares me the most.
So despite how much I want to ask...
Despite how much it unsettles me...
In order to preserve our friendship...
No. That's just an excuse.
In order to preserve whatever simplicity he has left. To let him feel safe. To let him stay comfortable. To let him laugh like he always did...
I'll smile.