The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 107

Chapter 107

It was the night of a day of a school day.

As the mock exams were approaching, I was progressing with my studies in my room when I received a call.

I involuntarily smiled when I saw the name displayed on my smartphone screen.

“Yes, Hello, yes?”

『Hello hello—good evening, Senpai! It’s been a while, but how have you been?』

Koido was as high-spirited as ever, inquiring about my condition today.

“Surrounded by two girlfriends, I’m enjoying a blissful harem life.”

『You seem lively enough to joke around, huh?”

“A joke… Sigh. It’s pointless to even retort here.”

『Right-right. By the way, Senpai, where were you heading after school today, riding the train alone?』

“…Are you stalking me?”

『No way. Since Senpai’s home station is the same as our school’s nearest station, it’s not strange for me, who commutes by train, to spot Senpai at the station, right?』

“You know already, don’t you… Please, Koido. Can you keep it a secret from those two?”

『Hmm, I’d like to tell the two of them, but if Senpai says so, I’ll keep it a secret. But just so you know, if it comes down to it, I’ll spill the beans to them.』

“…Understood.”

I glanced at the medicine bag on the desk and replied as such.

How many times have I keenly felt that Koido sees right through anything concerning me?

Since meeting her, I’ve been made painfully aware of it more times than I can count.

Because of that, I’ve lost any inclination to try and deceive her in any way.

Besides, she never lies to me.

That’s why there’s no need for any strange games between us, and talking with her is very comfortable.

『Even so, it feels like it’s been a really long time since I’ve had a conversation with Senpai like this.』

“Well, I honestly didn’t expect to get a full three-hour lecture on the school trip.”

『Senpai, that’s so mean! But you listened to me until the end, Senpai. You’re seriously tsundere!』

“Good night.”

『Whoa—I’m sorry! I was just taking advantage of Senpai’s kindness—I was really happy that Senpai listened to my long story, but I guess I just wasn’t able to be honest about it!』

“So, in other words, Koido is a tsundere?”

『Maybe I was influenced by Senpai!』

“Sure-sure”

As I gave a casual reply, a protest of 『What’s with that?』 came through, followed by a small burst of laughter.

『Senpai. You didn’t really start disliking me because of that long talk, did you?”

“Yeah. Well, it was just a joke.”

『Hehe. I know. Senpai, you were just trying not to make me worry.』

“It was just a joke.”

『Senpai!? If you say that now, it’ll seem like you really did start disliking me!』

“…”

『Now is the time you should’ve said, ‘It was just a joke,’ right!?』

“It was just a joke.”

『Which one is the joke? You’re confusing me! Geez!』

“But really, did you think so?”

『Of course, I understand! I see right through you, Senpai!』

…Yeah. Talking with Koido is always fun.

I suddenly thought that maybe Koido is the best medicine for me.

But if I told her that, she’d probably be totally creeped out, so I ended up blurting out the complete opposite of what I was thinking.

“Being laid bare like this, I’m scared of you, Koido.”

『Huhuhu. Isn’t it good, isn’t it good? (Yoi de wa nai ssu ka? Yoi de wa nai ssu ka?)』

“That’s a bad rhythm.” (TN: I don’t get it.)

『I thought so too a little… hehe.』

“Haha”

We both laughed and then there was a moment of silence. But it didn’t feel awkward at all.

It seemed like we were just waiting for the right moment to talk again.

Thus, my time with her continued a little longer.

***

Until I returned to the cafe after parting with Saki-chan at the station roundabout, I was reminiscing about the time I had a call with Koido the other day.

Just as Saki-chan said, the reason I was late today was because I was feeling unwell.

I managed to wake up at the scheduled time, but I couldn’t move my body and ended up falling back asleep.

Even now, I feel like I might stagger if I let my guard down. But today is one of only two days in the week that is Haru’s day.

She would be sad if I went home now.

Besides, I can sit down at the café, so maybe I’ll rest a bit more.

Ah, but the shopkeeper had reserved the shop again, so staying too long might affect the business.

Well, it’s the shopkeeper’s decision, anyway.

Upon arriving in front of the coffee shop, I opened the door, which had a ‘CLOSE’ sign hanging on it, and entered, but the shopkeeper was nowhere to be seen.

He must have gone to the back of the shop.

Misa and Haru were sitting facing each other, just as they had been before.

For a moment, I hesitated about which side to sit on, but since it was Haru’s day off today, I decided to sit next to Haru.

“Welcome back, Rento-kun. How was Saki doing?”

“Well, she was kind of angry. She said it’s impossible for the three of us to be together.”

“I see. I had expected it, but I didn’t expect her to oppose it that strongly.”

From the fact that it had not been mentioned until now, it’s likely that Misa had no intention of revealing this relationship to Saki-chan.

However, I think Misa felt compelled to speak out as well to counter what Haru had said to Saki-chan.

“Welcome back, Ren.”

Since Saki-chan had left, Haru clung to my arm. Her grip was strong, and it hurt a little.

“Hey, Ren. Why didn’t you tell me that you’ve been meeting with Saki-chan for a while?”

“…Sorry. I’ve been meeting with Saki-chan and Misa together, and I thought if I told you, Haru, you might feel left out. But in the end, I ended up making you feel that way. I’m really sorry.”

“…No, it’s okay. I’m sorry too. Actually, I heard from Misa earlier. The real reason… Misa was using Saki-chan to create time alone with you, Ren. She didn’t want to lose that time by letting you meet with me and Saki-chan, so she kept us from meeting until now.”

I started hanging out with Saki-chan around summer. If what Haru says is true, then Misa has been conscious of me since then.

…That makes me happy.

As if reading my mind, Haru tightens her grip on my arm, squeezing it even more.

“That’s why, Ren, you don’t need to defend Misa. Yet, why do you defend her? Why are you happy to hear about this? Today, Ren is my boyfriend!? Actually, not just today! Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after that, and forever, Ren is my boyfriend! And yet! Why don’t you look at me!? Why are you so infatuated with Misa!?”

“That…”

“What are you saying, Haru. Since the three of us are in a relationship, it’s not strange for Rento-kun to show affection towards me.”

“…Misa, there are no more secrets, right? There’s nothing you haven’t told me about Ren, right?”

At Haru’s question, I felt a jolt. There was one thing on my mind.

When I glanced at Misa… the corners of her mouth were raised.

At that moment, I had a bad feeling.

And it hit the mark.

“I went to a hotel with Rento-kun.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Oh, you don’t know? It’s a place where adults go.”

“…I know that much. But what did you do there?”

“What else? We had s*x.”

“T-that’s impossible. Because we’ve always been together, the three of us. On school days and on holidays. We’d even call each other when we were at home and even checked to make sure we weren’t secretly meeting up. We were always together, the three of us. So, that’s a lie. There’s no way the two of you had time to go to such a place—”

“You’re right, we didn’t have the time. That’s why I was relieved thinking you and Rento-kun hadn’t done it either. From your reaction, it seems my guess was right.”

“M-Misa, you admitted it. So Misa and Ren haven’t done it yet—”

“What Rento-kun and I did was before the three of us started dating. I think it was on the first day of that rumor scandal.”

“Ah… it was that long ago…”

“Also, fufu. Thanks to Rento-kun, my first time became a good memory. After all, I got Rento-kun’s first time too.”

“…Huh? That’s weird. Because Ren is already with me…”

“Oh. Haru, you’ve never done anything with Rento-kun without something on, have you?”

“…Huh? Without something on, you mean, like, uh…”

Unable to find any words to offer to Haru, who had completely hung her head, I remained silent.

From my reaction, Haru must have realized that what Misa was saying was the truth.

“Ahahaha… What’s that about? I’ve got nothing, do I? Not a single thing where I beat Misa. What should I have done, I wonder… Ah, that’s right, I see how it is…”

In a complete reversal from her usual cheerful demeanor, Haru muttered to herself and flashed a twisted smile.

“──I have to be the one to manage things.”

I couldn’t catch the words she muttered softly.