The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 106

Chapter 106

*Haru’s POV

Today is Saturday, so it’s supposed to be my day, but it’s hard to be as clingy to Ren as usual.

That’s because I’m going to play with Misa’s cousin, Saki-chan.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Yosaki Saki. Thank you for always taking care of Onee-chan.”

“Saki!”

“Ahaha. I think I’m the one who’s being taken care of. You might have heard from Misa, but I’m Hinata Haru. Nice to meet you, Saki-chan.”

“Yes, nice to meet you too.”

Saki-chan seems to be in her first year of junior high school, but she already seems more mature than me.

Sigh.

Being Misa’s cousin, she’s really cute. I bet she’s super popular at school.

I somehow don’t want her to meet Ren…

I just found out from a message earlier that Ren is going to be a bit late today. That’s unusual.

So, while waiting for Ren at our usual cafe, I ended up having a chance to talk to Saki-chan alone.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Onee-chan. You’re her first friend and also her best friend… Thank you very much.”

“Ah!? No-no, you don’t have to thank me for anything. I’m also happy to be friends with Misa.”

“Hmm. As expected, Haru-san is very kind. Perhaps that’s why you get along so well with Onee-chan…”

“Wait, Saki. You’ve been saying whatever you want a little too much.”

“Well, I guess Onee-chan can be a bit self-centered sometimes. It’s hard to get along with Onee-chan if you’re not someone with a kind heart.”

“You… sigh.”

Misa then just sighs heavily without giving another retort to Saki-chan.

I’ve never seen anyone speak so bluntly to Misa, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her so flustered.

Ren sometimes makes pointed remarks at Misa, but he doesn’t go as deep as this.

Saki-chan lifts the glass of apple juice she ordered earlier with both hands, sips through the straw with her small mouth, and seems to enjoy the taste.

Her way of holding the cup is adorable, yet there’s a hint of allure in the way she drinks.

Ugh… I really might not want her to meet Ren.

“Actually, I’ve wanted to meet Haru-san for a long time.”

“Eh, really? That makes me happy. I’ve been thinking I’d like to meet you too~”

“I’m glad. Onee-chan wouldn’t really move things forward even when I asked. But Onee-chan brought it up today. Haru-san, do you have any idea why Onee-chan has changed her mind?”

“Ah? Hmm…”

If anything has changed, it’s our relationship—could that be the reason?

When I glanced at Misa, she seemed to have a slightly awkward expression on her face.

…No way. No way, right? Misa wouldn’t think of doing something that bad, right?

“Sorry, Saki-chan. I’m not sure why…”

“Is that so? Well, Haru-san, you don’t have to apologize. It’s enough if the person herself speaks about it. Right, Onee-chan?”

“…I just somehow felt like it today.”

“It’s always like this.”

“A-ahaha.”

Misa seems to have no intention of answering the question, and that only increases my anxiety even more.

Ren, please come quickly.

The moment I wished for that in my heart, the bell on the shop’s door rang.

I instinctively turned toward it.

──It’s Ren!

Ren noticed us and approached the table with an apologetic expression on his face.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“It’s okay. But isn’t it rare for you to be late?”

“…Well, you know, the mock exams are coming up. I’ve been studying late into the night.”

“That’s true. But remember, getting enough sleep is also important for memory retention.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll be careful.”

After having a brief conversation with Misa, Ren came and sat next to me.

I’m happy. Ren was close by. Just his presence makes me feel blissful.

The gloomy cloud that had been covering my heart seemed to have gone away, and I started to think only about whether it was okay to snuggle up closer to Ren.

Then, with the brightest smile of the day, Saki-chan started talking to Ren.

“It’s been a while, Rento-san! I’ve wanted to see you for so long.”

“Ah… yeah. It’s been a while.”

Ren glanced at me with a look of unease and then responded to Saki-chan.

…What does she mean by ‘it’s been a while’?

Aren’t Ren and Saki-chan meeting for the first time?

Why does Saki-chan look so happy?

Why do they seem so familiar with each other?

“Have you two, um… met before?”

“Oh, didn’t you know, Haru-san? I’ve known Rento-san since last summer vacation when I happened to meet him by chance in town. We’ve been hanging out every few weeks since then. Onee-chan is usually with us too.”

“O-ohh really…? I see…”

What’s that about?

They’ve been acquainted for about a year?

I remember there were some days last summer when Ren and I couldn’t hang out together, but are you saying that was because he was meeting Saki-chan?

Misa… Have you been keeping Saki-chan away from me all this time just so you wouldn’t lose that time?

So that you could have Ren all to yourself?

…And today, you suddenly let me meet Saki-chan… is it just to ruin my day?

Why would you do something like that?

Misa, you have so many things already. You’re Ren’s first love, you’ve received so many confessions, and even now you can be all lovey-dovey with Ren in front of everyone.

—And yet, you still want more?

It’s so stupid. I’m the only one who has to endure.

What’s this? I don’t understand

…But I’m doing ‘it’. I’m doing it with Ren.

Misa probably hasn’t yet, so I’m the only one who’s slept with Ren.

I’m the only one who’s deeply connected with him.

That’s why I can somehow suppress these gloomy feelings.

But it’s still hard… Help me, Ren.

——Look only at me, Ren.

***

*Saki’s POV

When Rento-san appeared, Haru-san seemed very happy.

But when she found out that Rento-san and I had known each other before, it seemed like Haru-san’s mood suddenly dropped.

Maybe Haru-san too… I think I should check.

“Rento-san. How have things been with Onee-chan lately? Last time we met, you were calling each other by first names.”

“Uhh… well, we’re getting along as usual.”

“I know that. I mean, you’re spending your holiday together right now. What I want to know is──”

“Ren gets along better with me than with Misa. Right, Ren?”

As I expected, Haru-san seems to like Rento-san too, and came out competing.

But it’s a bit different from what Onee-chan told me.

I didn’t expect her to be this aggressive.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Because Ren and I are dating.”

“…what?”

I let out an incredulous voice at this sudden revelation.

When I instinctively look towards Rento-san, he’s looking down and seems a little awkward.

Don’t tell me… is Rento-san really dating Haru-san? Did Onee-chan lose?

“O-Onee-chan.”

“What Haru is saying is true. Rento-kun and Haru are in a relationship.”

“Ehh… t-then, Onee-chan is”

“Saki, I’m also dating Rento-kun. The three of us are in a relationship together.”

The words that came from Onee-chan’s mouth were far more shocking than anything before.

“W-what? You’re joking, right?”

“It’s the truth. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

“T-that’s impossible. Such a relationship is impossible.”

“Fufu, Saki is still a child. When you grow up, you’ll see there are many ways of dating.”

“That’s not the kind of adult I know! That’s just childish sophistry!”

“The child here is you.”

“Ugh… I’m going home now.”

I stood up from my seat and walked towards the exit of the shop.

I knew Onee-chan was clueless about love, but I didn’t think it was to this extent.

How did things end up like this?

Standing in front of the shop’s door, I stopped and turned around to speak.

“I’m directionally challenged, so I don’t know the way to the roundabout. Rento-san, could you guide me?”

***

*Rento’s POV

I temporarily left the coffee shop to guide Saki-chan to the station roundabout.

The cafe isn’t that far from the roundabout, so I thought it would be fine even for someone with a poor sense of direction.

However, the fact that Saki-chan, who had stubbornly denied being directionally challenged, said such a thing indicated she wanted to talk to me.

Walking next to the sulking Saki-chan, I hesitantly started a conversation.

“Is it about our relationship?”

“Yes. Why has it come to this? Being involved with both of them is unhealthy. Besides, there’s no future in it.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“If you understand, then why does Rento-san maintain such a relationship… Is it for Onee-chan and Haru-san?”

“I wonder why… It might be, or it might be for myself. Sorry, I don’t really understand… Not my feelings, nor the right answer.”

“I see… I understand. Rento-san, you’re trying your best for both of them.”

“…uh? No, that’s not what I said──”

“But Rento-san, you were late today because you weren’t feeling well, right? And that’s because of this relationship. Am I wrong?”

“…”

Why is it that the younger ones around me are so perceptive?

Seeing my silence as an affirmation, Saki-chan stopped and turned to face me, saying—

“Thank you for guiding me this far. Dad is coming to pick me up, so I’ll be fine now.”

“…alright, take care.”

“…Rento-san, let’s meet again without Onee-chan next time.”