The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 108

Part 14: I Can’t Take It Anymore

Chapter 108

Today was the day for the first meeting between Haru and Saki-chan.

For me, it was a long-awaited day.

I thought the two of them would get along, and I believed I would be freed from the guilt that I had been feeling in my heart.

However, the result was that Saki-chan got angry and left after learning about our relationship.

Later, Haru also became dejected when she found out that Misa and I had been doing ‘it’, so we all decided to go home.

Normally, I would get off at the same station as Misa, but I was worried about Haru, so I decided to get off at the same station as her.

Perhaps it was too awkward to stay together any longer, or maybe because today was Haru’s day, Misa did not get off the train with us.

Haru has been looking down ever since. I want to comfort her, but I am the reason she is feeling this way.

Even though this isn’t the closest station to our high school, it’s still in the neighborhood, so there are quite a few students like Haru who live around here.

That’s why it’s not easy for me to touch her.

——What am I saying at this point… Such a thing.

In the end, isn’t this just me thinking about myself?

So, to clear this murky feeling, even if it’s hypocritical, I should at least take the hand of the girl I like who’s feeling down.

With my mind made up, I silently grabbed Haru’s hand as she walked beside me.

In an instant, Haru, who had been looking down until now, suddenly lifted her face and stared at me.

Some tears were gathering in her eyes.

“No, you can’t, Ren. In a place like this… if you hold hands with me, it’s not…it’s not okay.”

Despite her saying such things, I can’t feel any strength from her arm, and it doesn’t seem like she’s resisting.

“I’m just worried about you looking unwell, Haru, so I’m holding your hand to make sure you don’t stumble and fall. That’s all.”

“…Is it really okay?”

“It’s okay.”

“…I see. It’s okay. Ehehe.”

Brightness returns to Haru’s expression, and the grip on my hand gets stronger.

I’m glad to have cheered her up, but I look down at my hand and think.

Haru is, without a doubt, my girlfriend.

She’s my lover. Yet, I line up convenient excuses and avoid being tied down as a lover like this.

Is that how I make her feel satisfied?

How cowardly I must be…

I want someone to judge me. For my own relief. I crave some kind of punishment.

Someone to judge me… Someone who understands me and can speak their mind without reservation.

——The image that came to mind was a junior with a cheeky expression on her face.

***

Without passing by anyone of the same age, I managed to arrive in front of Haru’s house.

Arriving at the house means it’s time to part for today, but Haru doesn’t seem to want to let go of my hand.

Understanding her feelings, I find myself cherishing her.

But we can’t stay here forever.

“Haru. Let’s go out somewhere again tomorrow.”

“…I don’t want to go home.”

“We’re already in front of your house, though.”

“No.”

“We can’t just stay here forever, right?”

“Then come inside the house too, Ren.”

“No, that’s… your parents are there, right?”

“…So what if they are?”

“I would be a bother for them.”

“You won’t. In fact, my mom would be happy.”

“Yo-san might be so… but your dad is there too, right?”

“…Ugh.”

Unable to retort, Haru let out her usual cry, then after gripping my hand tightly, she said.

“…So, it would be better if my parents weren’t here.”

“Huh? No, that’s not what I mean──”

“Just wait a minute. Don’t you dare go back home. I believe in you.”

Despite having shown no intention of letting go just moments before, Haru suddenly released my hand and dashed into the house.

Having been told she believed in me, I couldn’t just leave on my own, so I waited for her return.

In less than three minutes, she came back.

She showed her face, but without saying anything, she ran over to me. Then, with that momentum, she hugged me and began to rub her face into my chest.

“…Haru?”

When I called out to her, a muffled voice replied, still with her face buried in my chest.

“I checked.”

“Checked? What did you check?”

“Mom and Dad, they’ll be at home tomorrow too.”

“…I see. Then let’s go out somewhere tomorrow. Any place you want to go is fine.”

“…Yeah, I got it. I’ll contact you later.”

I’m a little puzzled by Haru’s surprisingly easy retreat. I had expected her to be more persistent.

“But give me one more tight hug. I hate it when I’m the only one who’s holding you tight. It makes me feel like I’m the only one in love. So, please.”

“…Okay.”

Urged by Haru, I embrace her body.

Her body is firm yet soft where it should protrude.

She seems so fragile that it feels like she might crumble at any moment.

***

The moment I entered my room after returning home, I was suddenly overwhelmed by intense drowsiness, and, following my desire, I dove into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

As my consciousness was hazy, I heard the sound of an incoming call and jumped up out of bed.

The room was pitch dark, and as I thought to myself that I must have slept for too long, I grabbed my ringing smartphone.

Then I hurriedly pressed the answer button without checking the caller’s name.

“…Hello?”

『Ah, your voice is low. Did I maybe wake you up?』

“…Koido?”

『Ah, you were sleeping. Sorry. Should I call back another time?』

“No, it’s fine. Let’s keep talking. I actually want to talk.”

With a still half-awake brain, I reply to Koido.

Then, the response from the other side cut off.

Had I said something wrong?

As I vaguely tried to recall my own words, I finally heard her voice.

『…Geez, Senpai, you’re hopeless. Is talking to me that important to you?』

“Right now, it is.”

『What do you mean ‘right now’? What’s that supposed to mean! …did something happen?』

“Yeah, well, a little something. But it’s okay for now.”

『Really? You don’t have to be shy, you know.』

“It’s not about being shy. I just want to try a bit more on my own. It’s my silly pride.”

『…I see. Then, I’ll prepare my resurrection magic just in case Senpai collapses at any time!』

“It sounds like you’re assuming I’m going to die. I hope it’s just a close call instead.”

『If you’re going to correct me, please wish for a slightly better situation than that!』

As Koido made such a retort, we both burst into laughter simultaneously.

With that laugh, I finally feel like my brain is waking up.

“So, did you call for a reason?”

『No, it was just for a casual chat. So, you could have hung up anytime, but since Senpai wanted to talk to me, I’m going to go ahead and do it!』

“…Did I say that?”

『You did! Maybe you were still half asleep? Hah. Could it be that was your true feelings? Senpai, you’ve mastered a new technique called ‘sleepy-dere’!』(Neboke dere)

“Goodnight.”

『Wow, sorry, I teased you too much—but I’m happy to hear Senpai’s true feelings.』

Although it might have been a happy content for Koido, for me, it was extremely embarrassing.

Someday, I’ll have to hypnotize Koido and erase her memory.

“Today was Saturday, how did you spend your day, Koido-san?”

『Please stop suddenly distancing yourself from me! But it’s a good question, it seems like Senpai is interested in me! To answer your question, I went out to the city and just wandered around, then I ran into someone I know, so we chatted a bit before I went home——』

“——It was fun.”

『Please don’t add a comment that sounds like it’s from an elementary student’s diary!』

“The content is too thin…”

『That’s terrible! Should I start by explaining what time I woke up and what time I left the house?』

“Ah, looks like dinner is ready. Sorry Koido, that’s it for today.”

『Isn’t that too sudden? Well, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me.』

“Thanks for calling me today. I’d be happy to talk to you again.”

『 Senpai’s dere phase is here! As expected, the tsun up until now was necessary to increase the attack power at this moment—』

“See you later.”

Sensing that Koido was starting her weird antics again, I hung up the call.

Then, Koido bombarded me with a flurry of angry sparrow stickers.

And at the end, a message arrived saying, ‘Let’s talk again later!’

Thanks to Koido, I am fully awake now, so I get out of bed to eat some food.

That’s when my smartphone’s ringtone went off. Thinking it was Koido again, I checked the screen.

The message was from Haru.

It was about the plans for tomorrow. Only the times of the trains leaving from the nearest station to my house were sent. It seemed to imply that I should take one of these trains.

There was nothing written about the destination. Well, the lack of details probably meant that there was nothing special I needed to prepare for.

It’s just a bit earlier than our usual meetup time. I wonder for a moment if that’s how much she wants to be with me, and I can feel my face getting hotter.

I type a short message saying ‘Okay’ as if to cover my feelings and send it.