from what i read in the latest WN, the MC currently looking for the childhood friend since there's a news where she has been executed for treason again some bad noble (the bad noble killed somoene else tho for save face and some sinister plot) the MC doesnt believe she's dead so he's looking for her together with noella to the capital
meanwhile, the childhood friend has just escaped from the clutch of the bad noble and together with her newfound girl friend, disguise herself and looking for the mc
the childhood friend finally realize the new look of the mc and currently chasing him to the capital (they already met each other before, but they didnt realize each other)
so yeah, they looking for each other now (and the mc now finally realize the new look of the childhood friend after some progress in the story)
the scene where the childhood friend breaking down after been feed with false info about the mc death (courtesy of bad noble) is heart-breaking tough, and she become self-loathed to herself after that, i genuinely want some happy end from the childhood friend side