The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Koido sits down in the cafe where Rento has disappeared and is glared at by the two Senpai on the other side.

“Please don’t glare at me like that. I came here to talk with you two.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Don’t say that, just hear me out.”

“Hey, Koido-chan, why did you send Ren away?”

“That’s because… because you two started talking about Ran-san?”

Koido’s remark made Misa and Haru frown.

“Koido-san, you know about Ran?”

“Yes. Actually, I’m surprised that you senpais knew about it. Well, I kind of understand how you found out.”

“You’ve been listening to our conversation this whole time. Also, you appeared from the back of the shop.”

“Yes, I had the shopkeeper hide me. I figured that Senpai would probably bring the two of you here after school today, so I came ahead.”

“…How did Koido-chan predict Ren’s actions?”

“Hmm, I can only say it’s intuition. Well, I can see right through everything about Senpai… Saying this would make you give me that look, haha. I’m not trying to provoke you, really, yes.”

With a wry smile on her face, Koido is met with sharp glances from the two.

As Koido reflects on his slight blunder, Misa asks a question.

“So, how do you know about Ran?” (Misa)

“Simply put, I heard it from Senpai’s mother.” (Koido)

“From Rento-kun’s mother? But… we weren’t told anything like that by her…” (Misa)

“I was only told that Ren and Ran have similar names, that’s all.” (Haru)

“What’s that? I wasn’t told at all.” (Misa)

“I happened to meet her at the supermarket, and she told me… It’s about Ren. I wanted to keep it to myself, so I didn’t tell anyone.” (Haru)

“…I see.” (Misa)

Misa, perhaps empathizing with Haru’s feelings, didn’t blame her for hiding information about the person she liked.

After a brief silence, Koido resumed the conversation.

“By the way, did Senpai say anything else besides Ran-san’s name?”

“…Right. If you want to know that, you have to tell us what you know about Ran.”

“Ah, then it’s okay. I kind of understand anyway. Probably Senpai was apologizing to Ran-san?”

“Eh. Why…”

“Oh, it really seems to be the case. Hinata-senpai, you are really easy to read.”

“…Ugh.”

Haru, realizing she had inadvertently given away their bargaining chip, hung her head.

Misa sighed as she looked at her, but there was no sign of blame in her eyes.

Observing the two, Koido hummed, crossed her arms, and pondered for a moment.

Then, she made a suggestion.

“Well, I’m fine with a different condition.”

“A different condition? Like what?”

“Firstly, please don’t tell anyone about Ran-san. Of course this includes not telling Senpai. Also, listen to what I’m going to say later on, from start to finish. Please give it serious thought. Don’t abandon your reasoning. If you can promise me that, I will provide you with all the information I know about Ran-san.”

“…That’s all you want? Okay, I understand.”

“Ah, me too. I also want to know anything related to Ren.”

Both of them immediately agreed to Koido’s suggestion.

Acknowledging this, Koido slowly nodded.

Then, with a serious expression on her face, she slowly began to speak.

“First, let me tell you about Ran-san… Well, to put it simply, Ran-san is Senpai’s younger sister.”

“Eh?”

Haru’s eyes widened in shock, frozen by the revelation.

On the other hand, Misa showed a moment of surprise but quickly shifted gears to express her own thoughts.

“Sister…? Wait a moment, Koido-san. Rento-kun is supposed to be an only child. Are you sure you’re not making things up? Or are you suggesting that Rento-kun has been lying?”

“That’s right. We even went to Ren’s house, and we saw his old photo albums. But there was no one like Ren’s sister anywhere. Ren doesn’t have a sister.”

“Hmm, saying that he has one might give the wrong impression. It’s like he has one, but he doesn’t, if you know what I mean.”

Upon hearing Koido’s words, Haru tilts her head in confusion while Misa assumes a thoughtful pose, resting her chin on her hand.

“He has one, but he doesn’t, and then there were Rento-kun’s words at that time… I see, that’s what it was.”

“Misa, you understand?”

“Ah… Rento-kun’s sister, that girl Ran, she has already passed away, hasn’t she?”

“…Eh?”

“That’s correct. Ran-san has already passed away.”

“But, even if she has passed away, shouldn’t there at least be one photograph left?”

“That’s what I was wondering too, but maybe that this child… passed away before she was even born into this world. Is that the case, Koido-san?”

To Misa’s question, Koido silently nods in response.

Hearing the conversation between the two, Haru is confused, but after taking a deep breath to calm down, she finally comes to understand.

At that moment, she covers her mouth with his hand.

“…So, you mean Ran-chan died inside Ren’s mom’s belly…?”

“Yes. As far as I know, that is the case.”

“How terrible…”

Haru imagines it.

As a woman, the joy of having a precious life grew inside her, the time spent with a heart swelling in anticipation of meeting that child, and then the despair of that being shattered.

Then, there is the fact that Ren’s mother wanted her to be her daughter.

Thinking about the meaning behind it made her heart ache.

“He once said, ‘I might’ve had a younger sister.’ I thought he meant that it was just a possibility since he had mentioned that his mother wanted a daughter, but it turns out that’s what he really meant…”

(TN: Chapter 22, Mom probably wanted a daughter more than a son. I might’ve had a younger sister, but I can’t really imagine what it would be like now.)

“Senpai was really looking forward to Ran-san’s birth. Senpai’s mother told him, ‘You’re going to be an Onii-chan soon,’ and it seems he was reading books and studying to become a good brother.”

“Ah… that thing he talked about when we played the other day with Momo-chan, that’s what it was about…”

As the two recalled Rento’s past remarks, the credibility of Koido’s story about Ran became more plausible to them.

“This was when Senpai was attending kindergarten. So, Senpai’s oddly caring personality was formed during this time.”

“…I see. That makes sense.”

“Hey, Koido-chan. We were going to talk to Ren about Ran-chan, but you stopped us. I wonder if we brought back unpleasant memories just by mentioning the name…?”

“I can’t say it was completely fine, but I don’t think it’s that damaging. I don’t think that’s what Senpai’s mother meant when she told Senpai not to talk about Ran.”

“What does that mean, Koido-san? Now that we’ve come this far, I want you to tell me everything.”

“Please, Koido-chan.”

Upon receiving their pleas, Koido answered with downcast eyes.

“The cause of Ran-san’s death lies with senpai.”

“…Ren…?”

“…Is that true?”

“Whether it’s true or not isn’t the point here. For example, I think Senpai’s mother would deny it. The problem is that Senpai believes it’s his own fault.”

“I see. So, the reason you don’t want to talk to Rento-kun about Ran-san is because it would torment him with guilt.”

“That’s half right and half wrong. Actually, Senpai doesn’t remember what happened at that time.”

“Huh, he doesn’t remember? But you just said that Ren thinks it’s his fault.”

“Yes. He doesn’t remember, but the memory exists. It’s sealed deep, deep, deep within Senpai’s mind… Senpai was taken to the hospital when Ran-san passed away. Just like the other day.”

“The other day… when we had that argument by the riverbank about Rento-kun…”

“Yes. Suffering from excessive stress, Senpai collapsed and was taken to the hospital, and when he woke up, he couldn’t remember what had happened. It’s probably some kind of defense mechanism of the brain… Since that day, Senpai has occasionally suffered from severe headaches. I think it happens when the effort to recall a similar past memory and the effort to seal it clash due to excessive stress.”

Upon learning the background of Rento’s constitution, Misa and Haru felt a pang in their hearts, thinking about his feelings.

Koido, as if to signal that he had finished his story, let out a sigh and said, ‘Now’, indicating a change in the topic.

“I’ve told you everything I know about Ran-san. Now, it’s time for you to listen to what I have to say.”

“Yes, of course.”

“It’s a promise, after all.”

Looking straight into the eyes of the two who were ready to listen again, Koido spoke.

“The current Yosaki-senpai and Hinata-senpai are not suitable to be Senpai’s lovers. From now on, I will be by Senpai’s side, so please distance yourselves from senpai.”