The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Mothers are strong.

This phrase doesn’t mean that a mother’s physical strength is impressive, but rather that when it comes to protecting her children, a mother can become as fierce as a demon.

However, the literal meaning of the phrase might be applicable in our house.

Even when my friends come over, it’s always my mom who’s in charge.

Now, she’s saying ‘I want to deepen the bond even more with both of them!’ and conducting one-on-one talks with Yosaki and Hinata.

It’s quite a disaster for them, but nobody can really stop my mom when she’s like this.

She’s like a natural disaster.

First, Yosaki was called and went downstairs.

So now, only Hinata and I remain in my room.

I feel like Hinata has moved a bit closer than before

“Hey, Ren. It’s just the two of us now.”

Hinata places her hand on my knee, looking at me with moist eyes.

I notice that the way she calls me has changed.

“Yes? Ah, yeah. I’m sorry you have to deal with my mom’s whims.”

“No, it’s okay. I want to get along with your mom too…So, Ren.”

While keeping her gaze fixed on mine, Hinata slowly moves her hand.

Anticipating her intention, I grabbed her hand.

“Hinata, what are you trying to do?”

“Because the person you like is in your room. We’ve been together up until now, and I wondered if maybe you’re excited, Ren. You’ll be alone with Misa next, so let’s get it over with right now, okay?”

“There’s no need for that. Even if you don’t trust me in this situation, my mom is downstairs. So I can’t do anything like that now.”

“…b-but what if? It’s better to be safe, right? Ren can also feel good, so there’s no harm in it…”

“Hinata!”

I grab both of Hinata’s shoulders.

Her eyes seem vacant.

“Today, my friends came over to play. That’s it. It won’t turn into anything like what you’re imagining, so there’s no need for you to do anything like that.”

“…so, you don’t need me?”

“Ha? You’re an important friend who came to hang out. Of course, that’s not the case.”

“…really? Is it okay for me to be here?”

“Of course it is.”

“…Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Ah, sure.”

“Hold me tight. Squeeze me.”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what she was saying, but by the time I did, I was already doing it.

I felt it was necessary.

“…Hehe. I see… It’s okay for me to be here… It’s okay for me to be by your side, Ren.”

Hinata murmured something and wrapped her arms around my back in response.

The body I had held many times before felt more fragile than ever. I felt that if I let go now, she would disappear somewhere.

That’s why I inadvertently tightened my grip, causing Hinata to let out a slight, pained ‘Mmmn’.

Just as I was about to quickly loosen my hold and apologizing with a ‘sorry’——

“It’s okay. Stay like this. You can do whatever you want, Ren——”

She whispered in my ear, along with a warm breath.

Holding her this tight, would I break her? Or would it be…

After holding each other for a while, Hinata slowly pulled away.

She sat beside me, turning her beautiful eyes my way. Then she began, “By the way,” in her usual tone.

It seemed she intended to pretend the earlier moment hadn’t happened, so I decided to play along.

“I noticed there’s no ‘Torupani’ on your bookshelf. Did you hide it somewhere?”

“You noticed, huh… That’s right. You’ve already found out, Hinata, but Yosaki doesn’t know yet. It’s embarrassing for a guy to have his female friends know he reads something like that.”

“Well, Misa doesn’t seem to be very knowledgeable about that sort of thing. She might have been disillusioned if she’d found out. Good call on your part.”

“It’s not that extreme, but losing a friend would hurt. I’ll give myself a pat on the back for yesterday.”

“By the way, Ren, who’s your favorite character?”

“… It’s a secret.”

“Come on, a guy who’s keeping secrets like that has no charm! Just spill it, you’ll feel better!”

“Am I a suspect or something…sigh.”

Exaggerating my sigh, I averted my gaze from Hinata and looked at my room’s wall, murmuring,

“It’s Fuu (Fū). Fuu is my favorite.”

From beside me, I heard an “Eh?”.

She had started reading ‘Torupani’, so she knew exactly what kind of character Fuu was

“…Ohh, really? Hehe.”

She gave a shy, bashful smile.

At that moment, she looks just like the character I have in my mind…

***

In place of Yosaki, Hinata went to have a one-on-one talk with my mom, which they called a “girls’ chat.”

This left me alone with Yosaki.

I had told Hinata that it was no big deal, but being alone with Yosaki made me nervous.

I’m often alone with Hinata nowadays, so I don’t get nervous around her anymore, but I rarely have such moments with Yosaki.

Even when we hang out without Hinata, Saki-chan is always with us except for ‘that one day’.

And for some reason, I felt that Yosaki was closer to me than usual.

The fact that she sat opposite where Hinata sat felt like a strange twist of fate——

“Sorry for making you go along with my mom’s whims. She didn’t ask you anything weird, did she?”

“It was a good time. Especially hearing stories about your childhood, Rento-kun.”

“What did she tell you!? I’m sure she told you something unnecessary!”

“You talk like that, but she said you were a mama’s boy when you were younger. Maybe you still are? Isn’t this what they call tsundere?”

“Stop it! Teasing a boy about his mom during his sensitive period is against the laws of the world!”

“Fufu. That’s a law I’ve never heard of.”

You don’t have to have heard it to understand it.

She might call it unreasonable, but I strongly argue that being teased is even more unreasonable!

“You haven’t told my mom about the nature of our relationship or anything, right…?”

“What do you mean by ‘nature’?”

“Don’t play dumb… like when I confessed to you.”

“Oh, should I not have mentioned that?”

“What?! You actually told her?!”

“…Fufu. Just kidding. The mood wasn’t right for such topics, so I didn’t bring it up.”

“Phew… thank goodness.”

“You really didn’t want her to know?”

“Knowing my mom, she’d relentlessly tease me about it. Plus, it’s simply embarrassing.”

“I didn’t know you could feel embarrassed.”

“How rude! Of course I can.”

I do seem like someone who wouldn’t feel embarrassed shouting words of love in the middle of a classroom, but I do have some shame too, you know.

Yosaki giggled again. She seems to be in a good mood today

“By the way, she said she’d love to meet Saki sometime after mentioning her. So, I’ll bring Saki along next time.”

“I don’t mind, but shouldn’t you introduce her to Hinata first?”

“…Right, I should’ve do that.”

I don’t mind whenever it happens, but perhaps it’s about time to introduce her to Hinata.

My mom’s wild ideas might just be the perfect opportunity.

For some reason, Yosaki looked down.

As I wondered what she might be thinking about, Yosaki slowly lifted her head and said, “I’ve been wondering…” and started asking me a question.

“You were alone with Haru just a while ago, right? What were you two doing?”

“Huh? …Well, we were just talking, that’s all. Nothing special.”

Yes, nothing happened.

It felt like something might have, but I prevented it in time. So, I’m not lying.

But why is Yosaki looking at me so sharply?

“I see. Let me rephrase my question then… Why do I smell Haru on you? You’ll tell me, right, Rento-kun?”

“Ah!”

Her piercing gaze made me let out a pitiful sound.

How did she find out? Sure, we hugged, so it’s not strange for me to have her scent, but is it that noticeable?

“Um… actually, we had a small fight. Hinata teased me too much with the album photos, so I tried to take it from her… and maybe her scent transferred to me during that struggle?”

“…I see. I understand.”

I’m glad she understood.

It was a random excuse I came up with on the spot, but it seems to have worked

“You and Haru do that kind of thing, don’t you, Rento-kun?”

“…what kind of thing?”

“You know… touching each other.”

“W-Wait, that’s not how you should put it! It’s more like a scuffle… just a small fight. You know, I never have such fights with Yosaki.”

“…So you’re leaving me out? Hey, Rento-kun, can I touch you?”

“Huh, why!? Wait, Yosaki!?”

Despite asking, Yosaki didn’t wait for an answer.

Her slender, pale fingers touched my face.

As one of her legs began to straddle my knee——

“I’m back~”

With that voice, Hinata opened the door and returned to the room.

Yosaki’s movements were swift, and she had already returned to her original position

“…What happened?”

“Ah, nothing really. Right, Yosaki?”

“…Yes. Nothing happened. Nothing.”

“…I see. Must’ve been my imagination!”

Hinata laughed with an ‘Ahaha.’

——But her piercing gaze directed at me seemed to say, “Liar.”