The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 34

Part 5: And The Three of Them

Chapter 34

The setting sun streamed through the window. It was the end of April.

I could feel the sunsets getting later day by day.

The sunlight was a little dazzling, and as I moved my hand to shield my eyes, I accidentally touched Hinata, who was next to me.

She was not wearing clothes at the moment, so the touch felt soft.

“What’s wrong, Ren? Not satisfied yet?”

Hinata’s eyes held a seductive gleam as she spoke provocatively.

“No, no. It’s just that when I went to cover my eyes from the brightness, I accidentally touched Hinata’s body. Sorry about that.”

“…I see. So we’re done for today?”

“…I guess.”

Our twisted relationship continues.

I haven’t come up with a way to resolve our current situation; I’m just dragging things out to this point.

——There’s nothing wrong with things as they are. Haru is the one who invited me, after all.

The devil inside me says such things.

But this unhealthy relationship is bound to break eventually.

No, maybe it’s already——

“Hey Ren. Do you really not want to kiss?”

“It’s okay. I’m quite content with the way things are right now.”

“…Got it.”

Honestly, it’s not that I don’t want to.

I actually want to——but I know I shouldn’t.

“I’m really grateful to you, Hinata…for doing this kind of thing with me.”

“You don’t need to thank me…But can I ask for a little something in return?”

“Yeah, anything.”

“…Then, just go along with what I want to do. You can just stay as you are.”

Hinata sat up, her face a little flushed, and brought her soft lips close to my chest——and then she sucked hard, very hard.

My face contorted a little as pain shot through me.

After about thirty seconds, Hinata lifted her face.

Perhaps because of the sunset, her face was beet red.

“Ehehe, it’s firmly there.”

Underneath my collarbone was a small bruise that hadn’t been there before.

It didn’t take long to realize what it was.

“So this is how it’s done.”

“I tried it for the first time too, but it seems like you have to do it pretty hard. Sorry Ren, did it hurt?”

“It hurt a little, but it’s fine now. Is this what you wanted to do, Hinata?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to try it out.”

She could try it on her own arm, but she probably wouldn’t want to make bruises needlessly.

If that’s the case, I’m fine with Hinata using my body as she pleases.

The town bell announcing 5:30 in the afternoon can be heard from outside.

Hearing that, I also get up.

To ensure I don’t forget and leave it in Hinata’s room, I pack the slightly lighter box than when I arrived into my bag.

“Ren, are you leaving already?”

“It’s about time for Hinata’s mom to come back, right? I thought it would be better to leave before she returns.”

“It’s okay. Mom doesn’t mind. After all, I introduced you as my boyfriend the other day.”

That’s right.

The other day, after being taken care of by Hinata like today, I was relaxing a bit when Hinata’s mom came back earlier than planned.

Caught by surprise, we were asked by her mom about our relationship.

It’s possible for close friends of the opposite sex to meet in a closed room.

However, Hinata told her mom at that moment, “He’s my boyfriend.”

As a result, I was welcomed by her mom, and the situation was resolved without any issues——

“That’s why it’s complicated. I’m not sure how I should face your mother.”

“J-just act like my boyfriend, that’s all!”

“Even if you say that…”

In Hinata’s mother’s perception, I am supposed to be Hinata’s boyfriend, but in reality, I am a condemned villain who uses her daughter’s body to satisfy my lust.

Even though I have the false position of being her boyfriend, it’s still awkward to face each other.

“But it’s already late, so I guess I’ll go home.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

I don’t know why Hinata is trying to stop me from going home——but having received her approval, I put on my clothes, picked up my belongings, and was about to leave the room.

Just then, there was a sound from the direction of the entrance.

The lock was unlocked, and the door opened.

“I’m home! Oh, these shoes. Haru-chan, is Ren-kun here?”

“It’s Mom.”

That voice was unmistakably Hinata’s mother’s.

I checked the time on my smartphone, and sure enough, it was just past 5:30 PM.

Normally, she wouldn’t be home yet.

Since we can’t just ignore her, we both leave the room to greet Haru’s mother… Akira-san.

“Ren-kun! It’s been a while!”

“I’m sorry for intruding, Akira-san. You’re home early today.”

“Yes! I finished work early because I thought Ren-kun might be visiting!”

I understand the reason for her early return and internally agree with it.

Akira-san has a very bright personality, and watching her actions, one can be convinced that she is indeed Hinata’s mother.

By the way, I call her ‘Akira-san’ simply because she asked me to.

“Why does Mom come home early when Ren is here?”

“Ah, you’re sulking, how cute, Haru-chan! Of course, I came back early because I wanted to see your reaction!”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Hinata turns away, but her reaction seems to delight Akira-san, who lets out a high-pitched ‘Kyaa!’ in excitement.

However, Akira-san isn’t just using me for her amusement; she genuinely interacts with me as well.

“That’s right! Ren-kun, why don’t you stay for dinner today? We’re planning to have sukiyaki.”

“Sukiyaki!? Yay! Hey-hey, Ren, let’s eat together?”

Sukiyaki… it’s certainly tempting, but I doubt I can enjoy the taste with the discomfort of eating with Hinata’s family.

“I’m sorry, but if I tell my mother ‘I don’t need dinner’ at this hour, she’d be really upset. Please invite me at another time.”

“Arara, that’s too bad. But that’s understandable. It’s the time before dinner in many homes, and it’s like, ‘Too late to say no now!’ By the way, what kind of person is Ren-kun’s mother?”

“What should I say… she’s a very ‘Okan (おかん)’ kind of person. Also, she really embodies the phrase, ‘A mother is strong.’ ”

“Ahaha, she sounds like a strong mother. I’d love to meet her someday.”

“Hey-hey, even though Ren says that, his mother is actually really kind and dotes on her son!”

“Now that I think about it, Haru-chan has already met her. So now it’s just a matter of the parents meeting each other!”

“A-ahaha.”

That’s exactly what I’d like to avoid.

Yet, next to me, Hinata is showing an eager attitude, saying

“Let’s plan it as soon as possible!”

“Well then, I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for having me.”

“Okay then, take care Ren-kun. You’re welcome to come again anytime! Look, Haru-chan. You should see your boyfriend out.”

“Y-Yes!”

“There’s no need to go out of your way. It feels weird for a boyfriend to have his girlfriend accompany him home.”

“Gi-girlfriend… ehehe. Well then, just to the entrance! …is that okay?”

“…then please.”

Asked with upturned eyes by Hinata, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Honestly, Hinata is adorable.

I often feel the urge to hug her, which I always desperately suppress.

That upward glance earlier might have been dangerous if Akira-san hadn’t been there.

Leaving the Hinata household, I face Hinata at the entrance, in front of the house, and say, “See you tomorrow,” for our goodbye.

However, there’s no greeting coming back from Hinata.

She’s blushing and fidgeting. Then, with a determined look, she speaks up.

“Hey. If you call my mom by her name, then you should call me by my name too!”

“Ah… but, is it necessary? Since I call Akira-san by her name, even if you are the same ‘Hinata,’ the way of calling isn’t the same.”

“That’s not what I mean! That’s not it… I just… I just want Ren to call me that way… no?——Ah…”

In the end, I couldn’t control my impulse.

I hug her tightly, and she lets out a weak voice that’s unimaginable from her usual state,

“Haru.”

I call her by her name, and in that moment, I feel her body tremble slightly against mine.

“Ehe, ehehe. Ren…Ren…Ren…Ren…Ren…”

Hinata… no, Haru hugs me back, and her grip gradually strengthens.

Our relationship is twisted.

——But at this moment, it feels incredibly precious to me.