The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Today is a holiday. So we’re going out again today.

My body is getting used to this kind of life.

But today, I’m not heading out to town as usual.

We had come to a large park in the middle of a certain town. It’s not near our house, so I’ve never been here before.

“Sorry. Not only did the plans change suddenly, but I also ended up having both of you come to see it.”

“Don’t worry about it. We can’t just leave Haru and go out to play by ourselves.”

“That’s right. Besides, I’m used to it because of Saki, so it’s no problem at all.”

“Ren, Misa… Thank you! Well then, let’s say hello to each other. Momo-chan, can you say hello to this Onii-chan and Onee-chan?”

The girl who had been by Haru’s side nodded slightly when asked by Haru and, while holding onto the hem of Haru’s clothes with one hand, greeted us.

“I’m Momoka, 5 years old.”

The young girl, Momoka-chan, who somehow exudes an aura similar to Haru’s, greeted us by showing her cute right hand open flat.

In response, we also introduced ourselves briefly.

“Hello, Momoka-chan. My name is Rento. Haru calls me Ren, but Momoka-chan can call me whatever you like.”

“Well then, Ren-nii.”

“…What is this fluttering feeling in my chest?”

“Come on. Get it together, Rento-kun. Nice to meet you, Momoka-chan. My name is Misa. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes! Nice to meet you too, Misa-nee.”

“Haah…”

Just like me, Misa is also trying to calm her fluttering heart after being overwhelmed by Momoka-chan’s cuteness.

It seems that the Onee-san Misa hasn’t developed any immunity from Saki-chan.

That’s why the violent force of this little sister attribute is utterly defeating both of us.

“Haru-nee. What happened to the two of them?”

“Ahaha. It seems they were smitten by Momo-chan’s cuteness.”

“…Ehehe. Momo is cute.”

Momoka-chan placed her hands on her cheeks, making a shy gesture.

Indeed, she resembles Haru. It was the same with the Misa and Saki-chan pair, perhaps it’s to be expected of cousins.

Today, we were supposed to go out to town as usual, but Momoka-chan’s father had a sudden back injury and had to be hospitalized, so her mother, busy with preparing for the hospitalization, and Haru’s parents, who were helping out with the shopping by driving, had Haru take care of Momoka-chan.

Upon receiving that message, Misa and I said we’d help out too, and that’s how this situation came to be.

“Do you often meet up with Momoka-chan, Haru?”

“Hmm, maybe just during Obon or the New Year’s holidays when relatives gather. I don’t think I’ve ever spent time alone with Momo-chan like this.”

“I see. Even so, hehe, it feels a bit strange to think of Haru as Onee-san.”

“What do you mean?”

She didn’t seem to quite understand, but I completely agreed with what Misa was saying.

Haru is an only child, but she has a latent younger sister vibe.

The idea of Haru being an older sister felt incredibly odd.

Now, while pondering what to play, I crouched down to meet Momoka-chan’s gaze and started talking to her.

“Momo-chan, is there something you want to do?”

“…Hmm, I don’t know.”

“Don’t know? Then, what do you usually do for fun when you come to the park, Momo-chan?”

“Umm, well. I play tag or hide-and-seek with my friends. Momo is fast at running!”

“Is that so? Then, shall we play tag? I’d like to see how fast Momoka-chan can run.”

“…No way. Momo will definitely lose. Haru-nee is faster than Momo.”

Looking over at Haru, Haru let out a wry laugh with an ‘ahahaha’ and scratched her cheek with her finger.

“When I was in my third year of junior high, Momo-chan came to support me in a spring tournament once. She’s seen me run seriously.”

“I see.”

If she had seen Haru’s running during her prime, it’s no wonder she would think she couldn’t compete with her.

Honestly, even if Momoka-chan is the fastest among her peers, due to the difference in physique, we could probably win against her.

In other words, games that rely on physical strength might be difficult.

We could go easy to make it competitive, but Momoka-chan doesn’t seem like the type who would enjoy that.

“Then, how about we play on the playground equipment? It’s my first time here, so I’d like you to show me your favorite equipment, Momoka-chan.”

“My recommendation? …Mufuu. Well, you see, I really like the athletic playground equipment here.”

“Wow, there’s an athletic playground here? The parks around my house don’t have one.”

“Whaaat, athletic courses are so much fun, Ren-nii. Come with me! Momo will show you around!”

Momoka-chan lets go of Haru and grabs my hand, pointing at the athletic course as she starts walking.

I stand up carefully to avoid tripping and follow her lead.

I thought Momoka-chan was shy around strangers since she’s been clinging to Haru ever since we met, but it seems that’s not the case. Maybe she’s warmed up to me.

After that, I kept Momoka-chan’s safety in mind while keeping up with her childishly energetic play.

Being Haru’s cousin, Momoka-chan’s athleticism was impressive, and honestly, I struggled to keep up.

It was arrogant of me to think I could easily win a race against her just because of our size difference.

I even wonder if her father’s back injury happened while trying to keep up with her lively movements.

Anyway, after a lot of playing with Momoka-chan and nearing my physical limits, I decided to give her a shoulder ride to avoid running anymore.

“Ren-nii~, it’s so high!”

“I can’t beat the athletic equipment, though.”

“Ehehe. But Momo likes Ren-nii’s shoulder rides better!”

“Stop it, Momoka-chan. If I have a cardiac arrest now, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“Guarantee? I don’t really understand, but hey, let’s keep running! It’s Ren-nii Express!”

“Hmm… Sorry, Momoka-chan. You might get hurt if we run like this,, so is it okay if I give you a piggyback ride instead?”

“Ehh. Momo is okay though? Momo is strong!”

“I don’t want to put even a small scratch on cute Momoka-chan. So, let’s switch to a piggyback ride for my sake too, Momoka-chan.”

“Ehehe. Pout, it can’t be helped~ I’ll switch to a piggyback ride for Ren-nii’s sake”

“Thank you.”

After setting Momoka-chan down on the ground, this time I have her climb onto my back.

It’s definitely more stable than when she’s on my shoulders.

Plus, if I were to fall now, I’d be the only one getting hurt.

“Alright, here we go!”

“Ren-nii, go!”

I run around aimlessly with Momoka-chan on my back.

Even with my physique, it seems that I’m faster than Momoka-chan, as I can hear her cheerful voice from behind.

Telling myself this is the last time, I continue to run when Momoka-chan shouts into my ear.

“It’s so fun! Hey-hey Ren-nii, become Momo’s real Onii-chan!”

” ! ”

At that moment, a sharp pain runs through my head, and unable to bear it, my body staggers.

I somehow managed to hold on without collapsing and called out to Momoka-chan.

“Sorry-sorry Momoka-chan. Are you okay? …Momoka-chan?”

There was no reply, though it had been noisy just a moment ago.

Just as I started to feel anxious, I began to hear the sound of her breathing softly in her sleep.

It seemed heavier than before, somehow.

“Ren, are you okay? You seemed to stagger for a moment. Are you in pain? Does something hurt?”

“I’m sorry. She seemed so attached to Rento-kun that I left her in your care.”

Seeing how I was just now, Haru and Misa, who had been watching us play from the bench, came rushing over.

“I’m okay. But I guess I’m a bit tired now.”

“Thanks, Ren. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen Momo-chan having so much fun.”

“Well, it was worth the effort then.”

“Hey, Ren. You don’t have any siblings or cousins, right? How come you’re so good with younger kids?”

“That’s a difficult question… Well, there was a time when I researched a bit about it. Maybe that helped.”

“Is that so…”

Haru has a knack for sensing people’s feelings. Maybe she even picked up on mine.

She didn’t ask any more about it.

I didn’t really want to talk about it anyway, so maybe it was for the best.

***

Misa and I were sitting on a bench a little distance away, watching Ren play with Momo-chan.

Momoka-chan seemed to really like Ren and even started to act defensively whenever we tried to approach Ren.

Even I wouldn’t get jealous of such a little kid… I’m not jealous at all.

“Ren kind of gives off the vibe that he has younger siblings, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah, I sometimes think that too.”

“Sometimes? You think about it that much?”

“…Yeah.”

After looking at my face intently, Misa shifted her gaze back to Ren as if to avoid the topic.

Not quite understanding the meaning behind her gesture, I tilted my head in confusion.

“But those two really do look like real siblings. Momoka-chan has never looked that happy with me. It makes me a bit jealous~”

“Fufu. I can understand that feeling, just a little… But with such an age gap, I wonder if they might look more like parent and child.”

“Parent and child!?”

Surprised by Misa’s remark, I took another look at Ren and Momo-chan.

…Certainly, Ren seemed to be getting led around by Momoka-chan’s energetic antics, starting to look more like her father.

If that’s the case, then the mom would be… me──

“Fufu. I wonder if this is what our days would be like if I were to have a child with Rento-kun.”

“Eh… Ah, yeah. Maybe so.”

Watching Misa, who was gazing at Ren with a dreamy look in her eyes, I realized something.

We are dating Ren, but if it comes to getting married in the future, I wonder who will do it.

Who will be able to have Ren’s child?

…After all, it might be Misa who is considered to be in a relationship with him by society.

If that happens, do I have a place?

With Ren as the dad, and Misa as the mom, and a cute child between them… what about me?

I have nothing.

Even so, I wonder if Ren will continue to like me… or maybe I’ll be abandoned one day…

…I don’t want that.

I don’t want that, Ren. Please. Don’t leave me behind.

I already belong to Ren, so you can’t go away. You can’t just go off on your own.

I’ll do anything. Anything that makes Ren happy.

So, please don’t abandon me. Ren──

“Ah”

Hearing Misa’s surprised voice, I came back to my senses.

When I realized it, Misa had stood up, and Ren, who was carrying Momo-chan on his back, had stumbled in the direction she was looking.

──Ren!

Filled with concern for Ren, I quickly ran to his side.