The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Today, we decided to have a study session at my house.

I hadn’t expected that we would do it the day after we talked about having a study session.

We considered other places like the library, but since we needed to speak out loud to teach each other, it wasn’t really suitable.

The opinion was that we needed a place where we could speak freely and feel at ease, and so my house was chosen.

It was Haru who suggested it, but Misa also jumped on board with the idea.

Last night, when I told my mother about it, she thought for a bit and then agreed with an ‘Alright.’

It seems like my mother will be at home, but once again, my father will be going out.

It looks like he’s going to play golf today.

It’s been a while since I’ve been home on a weekend, but it can’t really be called a rest since the two of them are coming over.

I was cleaning my room, which I hadn’t finished last night because I fell asleep. That’s when the house intercom rang——

I was about to go down the stairs to greet them, but Mom had already taken care of it.

“It’s been a while, Rento-kun’s mother. I’m sorry to bother you today.”

” I’m sorry to bother you.”

“Welcome. Please make yourself at home..”

“Ah, um, is it really okay? We’re intruding on your day off.”

“It’s fine-it’s fine. It’s not often I get visitors from my son’s friends. Now, where is that idiot son of mine… ah, here he comes.”

“I’m going to have a study session now so I can stop being an idiot son.”

“It’s a joke, so don’t take it so seriously. I know your grades, so I don’t think you’re an idiot when it comes to academic ability.”

“Are you saying idiot in other aspects? Sigh. Both of you, come in. Let’s go to my room and leave my mom alone.”

In order to not fall under my mother’s control, I hurriedly led the two of them to my room.

As it had been before, as soon as the two entered my room, they started looking around and observing.

I understand their feelings, but I wish they would stop being so obvious about it.

“It’s tidy today as well, but not as much as before.”

“It was just a rush job this morning. This is more what it’s usually like.”

“Ah, there’s Torupani on the bookshelf. You really didn’t have time.”

“Ah… seriously?”

The manga I love to read, ‘Tornado Panic’, commonly known as Torupani.

It’s a bit of an ecchi manga, so I used to hide it, but this time I was in such a hurry that I forgot to hide it.

“Haru, what’s Torupani?”

“It’s a manga that Ren likes. I heard Ren was into it, so I actually started reading it too.”

“…Oh, is that so? Rento-kun, can I borrow it for a while? I’d like to read it too.”

“No-no, I don’t think it suits Misa. It’s clearly aimed at boys.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? If Haru is reading it, then surely it can be enjoyed by women too. I’m borrowing it.”

Misa said this in an irritated tone, and without waiting for my permission, she began to read the first volume of Torupani.

With each flip of the pages, the anger on her face faded away, gradually turning to a blush.

“Wha, wha-wha-what is this? A girl gets blown away by the wind and lands on top of a boy! His face is——his face is under her skirt!”

“Misa is freaking out.”

“Now’s not the time for jokes. M-Misa—If it seems too much for you, maybe you should stop around there──”

“No, I don’t want to stop. I want to understand what Rento-kun likes. I’m going to read it…”

Misa said so while her ears turned red as she continued to read Torupani.

I found myself captivated by her profile.

“Hey, Ren.”

“Hmm, what?”

“You know, I was wondering which volume you like best. For me, I love Volume 4! It’s Fuu-chan’s first appearance!”

Haru picked up Volume 4 and showed me the cover.

I had a bit of a sentimental attachment to that cover, and my eyes narrowed as I smiled slightly.

“It’s Volume 4 for me too. Actually, that was the first volume I ever read.”

“Eh, really? Ehehe. But why start from such an odd place?”

“It was the latest volume at the time, and I was drawn to the cover of the book on the shelf, so I bought it. That’s how I started reading Torupani.”

“Heh, I see. Volume 4 has Fuu-chan and Tatsumaki-chan drawn together, but Ren, you were drawn to Fuu-chan, right?”

“Y-yeah. That’s right.”

“Ehehehehe. I knew it, Ren is a Fuu-chan fan!”

Haru seemed happy as I affirmed her question about my preferences.

“Ah, that’s right. Hey, Ren. I want to see that album you showed me before again.”

“Oh, I don’t mind, but we were planning to study today…”

“It’ll be over quickly! Look, Misa is reading Torupani, so just for a while, okay?”

“Uh, alright. Which one?”

“Both the kindergarten graduation album and the school graduation album, all of them!”

“All of them? Are you really going to finish quickly?”

“Yeah. It’s not like I’m going to look at the entire album.”

Half in doubt, I hand over the album Haru requested to her.

Then, true to her word, Haru only looks at parts of the album, and the album viewing is over in no time.

But I wonder why she only looked at the pages with photos and names of my classmates.

***

*Haru’s POV

Today, I came to Ren’s room for a study session.

But I had a different purpose for coming.

I asked Ren to show me again the kindergarten graduation album and the school graduation album that I had seen before.

There hasn’t been a single person named Ran among Ren’s classmates so far.

Not in kindergarten, elementary school, or junior high school.

Since I was also with Ren in high school, I would definitely know if there was someone called Ran.

While thinking that there isn’t much to understand from the graduation album if they’re not classmates, I was flipping through the pages when that photo caught my eye and I stopped.

It was the group photo of mixed grades. (TN: Maybe referring to ch 22)

…Ugh. It’s just a photo, so it’s obvious, but seeing that kid who’s clinging to Ren still makes me feel sick.

I hadn’t noticed it before, but I could see the temple of the glasses, so maybe this kid wore glasses… But whatever, I don’t care. I won’t look at it anymore.

I didn’t find anything in the end, but I’m happy to be in Ren’s room after such a long time.

No matter where I am, I feel happy smelling Ren’s scent, but I have to concentrate on studying right now.

The mock exams before the summer break are coming up.

Unless I strengthen my math and physics, Misa won’t approve of my advancement into a science major.

I’ve been studying math at home with Ren’s help, and it’s starting to feel good lately.

I might be getting back the sense I had during my high school entrance exam days.

But physics just doesn’t seem to improve. Even when I feel like I’ve understood it after Ren explains, I realize I don’t understand anything as soon as I tackle the problems.

It’s a constant struggle.

But Ren is right beside me today. It’s a chance to learn a lot.

I’ll concentrate and overcome my weakness in physics today for sure!

——And right away, I’ve come across something I don’t understand.

“Hey Ren, it’s this part.”

“Hm? Ah, wave motion. Wave motion problems have their quirks, but there aren’t many formulas to remember, so you should be able to do it as long as you can get the hang of those quirks. Let’s see, with this problem…”

Ren explained this unit carefully while using the textbook.

Then, I felt like I kind of understood it and tried to think about how it would apply to this problem.

…Ugh. I still don’t get it.

I understood what the phenomenon is, but I had no idea what to do with that to solve this problem.

Seeing that I showed no signs of being able to solve the problem, Ren also looked troubled.

Sorry, I’m really sorry, Ren. It’s because I’m dumb that I’m making you make such a face…

“Rento-kun. Can I teach her a little?”

“Ah?”

“I don’t mind, but… Haru?”

“Uh, yeah. I don’t mind either… Please, Misa.”

***

Ren’s teaching wasn’t bad at all.

He patiently explained things very carefully with this silly me, and I was grateful for that.

But Misa’s teaching was by far superior.

She pinpointed exactly what I didn’t understand and provided very clear explanations on those points.

Thanks to Misa, I can now easily solve problems that I couldn’t solve at all before.

“M-Misa, you’re amazing.”

“Fufu, thank you. Teaching others is also a good way for me to confirm my own understanding. Haru, from now on, I’ll teach you.”

“Eh. But I’ve been taught by Ren until now…”

“Hmm, after seeing that, I really feel the limits of my ability. For Haru’s sake, maybe it would be better to ask Misa for help with physics. I’ll continue to take care of math.”

“…okay. I’m counting on you, Misa.”

“Yes. By the way, Rento-kun, how is your classical literature going?”

“It is extremely difficult.” (TN: archaic expression)

“Ah, you still haven’t overcome it. Fufu, then I’ll teach you. We’ll do it thoroughly.”

“I humbly request you to be gentle.” (TN: archaic expression)

“Fufu. What’s that?”

Before I knew it, Misa had taken Ren away from me.

What? Today was supposed to be my day, right?

It’s a holiday after all. So, it’s the day I get to be spoiled by Ren.

Yet, why is Misa clinging to Ren?

No, Misa is just teaching Ren. They’re not flirting or anything.

But, but, but——

——I have to study now.