The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 103

Chapter 103

*Misa’s POV

On weekdays it’s me, and on weekends it’s Haru.

This is a rule proposed by Haru.

While I can act as Rento-kun’s girlfriend at school without feeling uncomfortable, Haru can’t do that, so the idea is that at least on weekends, Haru should be able to spend time with him as lovers.

That’s why I make sure not to touch Rento-kun’s body too much on weekends when Haru is around. Furthermore, while Haru is being affectionate with him, I make it a point to watch quietly.

When I first received that proposal, I thought it was a great deal to be given 5 days out of a week for myself. It’s true that I had more time than her.

But humans are greedy creatures, and I found myself wanting the remaining 2 days as well.

However, since I can’t take that time away from her, I started to think of the time before we met up with Haru on the weekend and the time after we parted as precious moments when I could have him all to myself.

I’ve never minded getting up early.

I wake up 3 hours before our meeting time and take my time to get ready.

Ever since I became conscious of him, my mornings on the days we go out on the weekends have always been like this.

He compliments my inner qualities, but he also praises my appearance.

Wanting to live up to that, not wanting to disappoint him, and desiring more of his compliments, I find myself doing all this.

It was a few months ago that I laughed in surprise at finding such a maidenly side in me.

Now, I can accept that this is also a part of me.

Maybe I have him to thank for that.

Having nearly finished getting ready,

I use the scrunchie he picked out to loosely tie my hair.

Now I’m perfect.

Last year, my dad used to drive me to the local area, but now I make my own way to the nearest station from home.

Because he’s there.

Because there are sweet moments with him.

“Good morning, Rento-kun.”

***

Our outings have been limited to long and far trips or private rooms like karaoke.

Today, we came to karaoke.

I didn’t know until I first came to karaoke with Rento-kun and the others, but it seems I like singing, and karaoke has become quite a favorite place of mine.

But now, I hate this space.

“Hey Ren. If you don’t hold me tighter, I’m going to fall.”

“Even if you say that, it’ll hurt if it gets any stronger…”

“It’s okay. I like it better that way because it feels like I’m connected to you, Ren… Please?”

“…let’s not do that. This is the limit.”

“…Then, will you pat my head?”

“Well, if it’s that…”

With a troubled look on his face, he gently pats Haru’s head as she wishes.

Then, sitting on his lap and being embraced from behind by him, she shows an expression of complete happiness.

I was sitting on the sofa across from them, watching the two of them.

I understand that I have to endure this much because, on school days, it’s almost as if I monopolize Rento-kun too.

Still, my heart aches when I’m confronted with such a scene right before my eyes.

Even when I try to distract myself by singing, the pain in my chest makes it hard to breathe properly, and it’s difficult to sustain my voice.

While looking at the display that shows the lyrics, I can see Haru acting spoiled in the corner of my eye, and my attention shifts there, causing me to lose track of the lyrics I’m supposed to be looking at.

The song ended, and I weakly placed the microphone on the table.

Having reached my limit after witnessing the person I love getting along with another woman right before my eyes and unable to properly execute even my attempt at escapism through singing, I quickly gulped down the now lukewarm coffee that I had gotten from the drink bar when I entered and stood up from my seat.

“I’m going to get a refill.”

“Ah, yes. Take care.”

“Take care!”

I hold the cup in my hand as I head towards the door to go outside.

Just as the door closed, I saw Haru turning back towards Rento-kun.

The expression she showed him at that moment was something she would never show to someone of the same sex like me.

Driven by the urge to get away from this place as quickly as possible, I swiftly move towards the drink bar.

While a new coffee is being poured into the cup after pressing the machine’s button, I hold my chest.

If I didn’t, it felt like my heart would fall apart right then and there.

The machine finishes pouring the coffee and stops. But I didn’t feel like picking up the cup.

If I took the cup, then I would have to go back to that room. With that thought, my body wouldn’t move.

I couldn’t bring myself to think about going home alone today.

I didn’t want to leave Haru and Rento-kun alone together for a long time.

That’s why I always make sure to be present when she meets him.

No matter which option I choose, I suffer.

It’s just the way it is today, so I try to convince myself that it can’t be helped, but my body still refuses to move.

Tormented by an endless internal struggle, I hear the sound of someone walking towards me.

I couldn’t monopolize the drink bar like this, so I tried to make my body move.

“Misa”

I was called by the person approaching. I know without looking.

The voice I love.

The attention I wanted directed at me all day today is now finally given to me.

My body, which refused to move just moments ago, turns around with agile motion. And then, I gaze at the face of the person I adore standing before me.

“Rento-kun”

“You seemed to be spacing out, are you okay?”

“…Yeah, I’m fine. By the way, why are you here? Where’s Haru?”

“She said she was going to the restroom. Even Haru wouldn’t ask me to follow her there, right?”

“…I see. So that’s how it is.”

“Yeah. Well, actually, there’s another reason.”

He said that and then glanced back briefly before speaking.

“I was worried about how you looked when you left the room, Misa. I came to check on you, and then I found you spacing out. Are you feeling sick?”

“…maybe so. I’ve been feeling unwell since a while ago, and I’ve been wondering what to do.”

“S-seriously? Then maybe you should go home right now? Even Haru wouldn’t complain if she knew you were feeling sick.”

“It’s okay. I have a secret remedy for that.”

“A secret remedy? What kind of—mmffh!”

I pressed my lips, which had been trembling until a moment ago, against his.

Just that made the pain in my chest lighten.

And when I pulled away from his lips, there was a faint taste of citrus.

“Mi-Misa! To suddenly do that in a place like this…”

“It’s okay. We are lovers, after all… right, Rento-kun? What were you drinking today?”

“What? Just oolong tea.”

“…I see. With all the different juices available, you go for something so bitter.”

“Oolong tea is just right for preparing my throat to sing.”

“But you haven’t been singing, have you?”

“…I also genuinely like Oolong tea.”

Just having such a trivial conversation makes my heart skip a beat.

I realize once again that he has made my body react this way.

My health has significantly improved after being able to take this ‘special medicine’.

——However, perhaps because it was mixed with impurities, the effectiveness of this medicine was not as good as usual.

***

Today, we came to a dog café at Haru’s request.

It seems to be a café where you can play with dogs, a suggestion fitting for her who loves dogs.

Honestly, I’m not very good with dogs. No, I’m not good with animals in general.

It’s hard to understand what they’re thinking, and since they have a different appearance than me, I don’t know how to interact with them.

“—Being together like this, it feels like we and these kids are a family.”

The sight of Rento-kun sitting cozily with the three puppies made me see it the same way, and it caused a ‘pang’ in my heart.

As I held my chest with my hand, a store clerk came over with something in hand.

“Would you like to give these little ones some treats?”

“Ah… Yes.”

Receiving the puppy treats from the clerk, I stood there, unsure of what to do.

“Misa. Try giving them some.”

Paying attention to me as I stood dumbfounded, Rento-kun said so to me.

“But I don’t know how I should give it to them.”

“I think if you place it on your palm and offer it, they’ll eat it. Let’s see, the one who seems to want a snack… Charo is a bit too eager. It might be tough for someone new. Kuro is… it seems like he’s lost interest already. Okay, why don’t you try giving it to Shiro? Haru, could you let go of Shiro?”

“…Yeah, got it.”

When Rento-kun asked, Haru reluctantly released the white-furred puppy she was holding.

Then that puppy, Shiro, came trotting over as if to gauge my mood and sat down in front of me.

“Then, go on. Place the cookie you got earlier on the palm of your hand and hold it out in front of Shiro.”

“Okay.”

When I do as Rento-kun instructed, Shiro looks into my eyes, and when I return a stiff smile, Shiro hesitantly takes the cookie from my palm with his mouth.

“H-he ate it.”

“That’s great, Misa.”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, Rento-kun. Thank you.”

When I express my gratitude, Rento-kun shows a slightly embarrassed reaction.

That in itself is quite adorable.

By giving snacks, I feel like the emotional distance between Shiro and me has narrowed.

Now, I think I can touch this child; no, I want to touch him, so I cautiously reach out my hand toward Shiro.

And just as my hand was about to touch Shiro, he licked my hand even though I didn’t have any snacks.

It tickled me, so I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Fufu. Sorry, I don’t have any snacks right now… Oh, you licked me again. You’re too much.”

As I played with Shiro, I felt like Rento-kun was smiling beside me.

——At the same time, I felt a piercingly cold gaze stab through me.