The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Being swayed by the train.

Feeling an unusual sense of tension, I gaze at the platform of the next station where the train will stop.

As the train came to a complete stop and the doors opened, a few passengers got off, and then several more boarded from the platform. Among them, I spotted her.

“Haru.”

“Ren!”

Seeing me, she beamed with a brimming smile and approached me.

Since I had informed her earlier about which car I was in, we were able to meet up with each other easily.

Today is our second date outside.

We talked about going to Kamakura, but Haru said she wanted to make more plans before going to a sightseeing spot, so we decided to head to the city instead.

We chose a somewhat distant city with a bustling crowd to avoid being seen by someone we know from school, ending up with Yokohama as our destination.

“I haven’t really been to Yokohama much.”

“Me neither, really. Usually, the nearby places are enough if I need to shop.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But it might be nice for both of us to experience something new together.”

I responded with ‘I guess so’, and Haru smiled happily.

While transferring trains, we headed towards our destination, gradually moving away from our usual area.

As we became less likely to encounter acquaintances, Haru moved closer to me.

Maybe because of the train’s sway, or perhaps because we were just closer, my hand and Haru’s hand touched.

Haru had been looking out the window for a while. However, her profile seemed somewhat flushed.

Sensing what she might be expecting, I took her small hand in mine, intertwining our fingers and holding firmly.

In response, her body twitched slightly, and after a while, she squeezed my hand back.

“…Ehehe.”

She turned to me with a shy smile, incredibly adorable, making me feel like my heart was captured.

***

After getting off at Yokohama Station, we transferred again and headed towards Minato Mirai.

We had been holding hands since the train ride and continued to do so. Even while passing through the ticket gate, Haru stubbornly refused to let go of my hand.

“It’s good that the weather turned out nice.”

“Yeah. The rainy season is almost here. I really hope it’ll be sunny on the day of our school trip!”

“Where are we going again?”

“I think it’s Enoshima.”

Enoshima, huh?

I remember a junior couple mentioning they had gone there before.

“Let’s go around together during the trip.”

“…Yeah. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah!”

I wondered if ‘together’ included Misa, but I didn’t ask about that.

What will become of our lives from now on?

It seems to depend on my decision, but I wonder if it’s really difficult to continue being close friends with the three of us, just like before.

We walked from the station towards the harbor. There were sightseeing boats docked at the port.

“Oh, that’s a nice boat.”

“Are you interested in boats, Ren?”

“Not really. It’s just that my dad likes them a little.”

“I’ve been thinking, Ren’s dad seems to have quite a few hobbies, doesn’t he?”

“Hmm, maybe so. He once said that since Mom doesn’t pay much attention to him, he ended up expanding his hobbies.”

“That’s… a little sad. Ah, but I’ll always pay attention to you, Ren!”

“Wait, shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“What do you mean?”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

While engaging in such light-hearted conversation, we continued walking and arrived at a large commercial complex near the harbor.

It was much bigger than the shopping centers near our home.

“Wow, this is amazing. It looks like we could spend the whole day here.”

“It really feels like Yokohama.”

We entered the facility, each of us sharing our impressions. The place primarily housed shops, but there were also amusement facilities.

Our goal for the day was the latter.

Since both of us were new to the place, we looked at the map and discussed where to go as we made our way to our destination.

“It seems to be over there.”

“Yeah.”

We found our destination——a bouldering gym——and entered the place excitedly.

After checking in at the reception, a staff member guided us further inside.

Since we had come dressed for the activity, we didn’t need to change clothes and just borrowed special shoes before being led to the course.

“Since both of you are beginners, you’ll start with some instruction.”

We received instructions from the staff.

I thought it sounded difficult, but Haru’s eyes were sparkling with excitement.

After the instruction, we, accompanied by the staff, immediately tried our hand at bouldering.

“So, which one of you will go first——”

“Me! I’ll go first!”

Haru eagerly volunteered to try bouldering first. The staff stood by waiting for her nearby, but Haru’s physical abilities were impressive.

She climbed so smoothly and reached the top quickly that it was hard to believe she was a beginner.

“Ren! It’s really high up here!”

Haru waved at me with one hand, and I waved back with a wry smile. The staff member also expressed their admiration, saying, ‘That girl is amazing…’

The thought of having to follow her was difficult, but seeing how much fun Haru was having, I started to feel like I might enjoy it too.

“…No, impossible.”

My limit came just past the halfway point. It turned out that thinking I could do it like her was just wishful thinking.

As we left the bouldering gym, Haru, laughing, patted my slumped back.

“Ahahaha. Don’t worry about it!”

“There is a fellow beginner who looks so cool, and then there’s me…”

“Well-well. The staff praised you, right?”

“After that, they were all praises about Haru.”

“Well, sports are one of the few things I’m good at.”

Haru said this with a slightly gloomy expression. Unable to bear seeing her like that, I stroked her head.

“Ah…? What’s wrong?”

“Haru, you have a charm that makes everyone like you.”

“Eh? What?”

“At first glance, you seem like an energetic, lively person, but you’re aware of your surroundings and you’re considerate.”

“…Uh.”

“Most importantly, you’re cute. Also——”

“E-enough already! I get it, I get it!”

Haru, her face turning bright red, waved her hands frantically to stop me from speaking.

Thinking I might have overdone it, I tried to remove my hand from her head, but she grabbed it.

“…don’t stop doing that.”

“Okay, okay.”

Continuing to stroke her head, Haru squinted her eyes in contentment.

However, instead of the redness in her face fading, it spread to her ears.

“…Thank you.”

“No, it’s nothing. I just made a clueless girl aware of her own charm.”

“Made aware? …I don’t really get it, but thank you anyway. You can stop patting my head now.”

With her permission, I lowered my hand.

Immediately, Haru grabbed it, intertwining our fingers.

“I guess it’s better outside.”

“What about at home?”

“Both!”

“A greedy brat, huh?”

“What’s with ‘brat’ all of a sudden! Stupid Ren!”

Haru seemed to be pouting one moment, but then she showed a smile right after.

In any case, I’m glad to see that her nearly clouded mind has been cheered up.

***

Earlier at the bouldering gym, I thought I was in a pinch.

When my fellow beginner, Haru, excelled and reminded me of my next turn, I reached my limit and felt I couldn’t climb any further.

We left the bouldering gym, but soon I found myself in another pinch.

“I can’t go into an underwear store.”

“Please, Ren. Come with me.”

Haru was pleading cutely with her hands together, but honestly, entering an underwear store was just too awkward.

“Why do I have to go into that store with you?”

“Because I’m usually in my school uniform. I’d really want to wear something you’ve chosen for me, but with a uniform, my choices are limited. That’s why it has to be underwear. Please, Ren. Choose my underwear. I’ll wear anything Ren pick.”

“…Alright. I’ll go with you.”

“Ehehe. Thanks.”

She seemed a bit unstable, but maybe she was more subdued than usual since she was in a good mood from our date.

Still, I didn’t know what would happen if I refused, so I decided to brace myself.

An underwear store… it’s called a lingerie shop, right?

The moment I stepped in, I realized this was really not a place for me.

Looking around, there wasn’t a single other man in sight.

If there was at least one, I could find some solace in camaraderie!

“What color do you like, Ren? How about, um, black? Like this one?”

“Black… That’s pretty mature.”

“Do you think it wouldn’t suit me?”

“No, I think it would suit you, but it’s a little too bold——”

“Then I’ll buy this one.”

“That was a quick decision. Wait, let’s think this through and choose more calmly.”

“But Ren, you think this suits me, right? Then I have to buy it.”

” ‘I have to buy it’, huh?”

I do think it suits her, but I wonder if most high school students wear black underwear.

Well, I don’t really know what kind of underwear typical high school girls wear.

Looking around briefly for something with more subdued color, my eyes landed on a set of underwear.

Then I pointed it out to Haru.

“How about this one?”

“Yellow underwear… It’s cute. Do you like this one, Ren?”

“More like, I thought it would suit Haru better.”

“Then I’ll buy this one too.”

“Decided so quickly again, huh?”

“Because Ren chose it, and I have no complaints about it either. …for now, I’ll try it on. Will you look at it for me?'”

“I think that’s a good choice. Let’s just buy that.”

“I’ll go try it on.”

“No, Haru-san! Don’t go!”

My plea for her not to leave me alone didn’t reach her, and she disappeared into the fitting room.

And now I’m alone In this lingerie shop that screams ‘no boys allowed,’ all by myself…

This is like torture.

I mentally urge her to come back quickly, looking towards the fitting rooms.

However, staring intently might draw weird looks from others, so my gaze drops to the floor eventually.

Where should I send these thoughts, I wonder.

To someone in Brazil, maybe?

“Hey, Senpai.”

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears. I turned around quickly.

“Koido. What are you doing here? Are you from Brazil?”

“I don’t know about Brazil, but ‘What are you doing here?’ is my line! It’s like wherever I go, there’s Senpai. And right now, Senpai is in a lingerie shop? Which one of us seems more suspicious?”

“I lost.”

“That was a quick decision.”

Koido said, ‘Well, jokes aside,’ and cleared her throat with a cough.

“I came here to buy a big backpack in preparation for the upcoming school trip. Look, what do you think of this backpack? I just bought it.”

Koido turned around to show me the backpack she was carrying.

Compared to her flashy hair color, the backpack was an ordinary black colored bag.

“Black, huh? That’s a little surprising.”

“I do care about fashion, but I also consider practicality! I mean, it might get dirty on the school tripl.”

“I see, that’s smart. Also, a little surprising.”

“That ‘surprising’ sounds like an insult! By the way, what color do you think would suit me, Senpai?”

“Let’s see. How about red with a lock?”

When I answered that as a joke, Koido froze with a serious face.

I was wondering if I had said something wrong, but then she showed her usual teasing smile.

“Isn’t that a randoseru (school backpack)!? What, I knew it——Senpai was a lolicon after all?”

“Hey, what do you mean ‘I knew it’? Have you always thought that about me?”

“Well, Hinata Senpai is small, right? Ah, but she does have a big chest.”

“Is Hinata included in the Lolita category…?”

Sure, she’s not very tall and has some childlike qualities, but she’s normally a proper high school girl.

But I guess those elements do exist…

“Hey, Senpa,. don’t take it so seriously. It’s just the usual joke. So, why are you here?”

“I came to hang out with Hinata.”

“Oh, you’re together today too? I only heard about that yesterday.”

“It was decided yesterday.”

“Ah, I see. But still, coming here to buy underwear that Hinata Senpai will wear for you…Senpai, you’re really something else.”

“It’s annoying that I can’t fully deny it.”

“Eh, I was joking. Is it true?”

“I should mention that I was the one asked to choose.”

“Whether I believe that or not is up to me. Guilty then.”

“Yeah, you’re right…There’s no trust in me… Sorry… Maybe I got carried away…”

“Whoa, just kidding! I believe you, please go back to being the usual Senpai——oh wait, this is the usual Senpai!”

After our usual playful exchange,

“Well then, Senpai. I think I’d be intruding on something, so I’ll head back now!”

“Ah, thanks. You helped me pass the awkward time. I appreciate it.”

“Oh, I didn’t really do anything to be thanked for! See you at school then!”

I also waved back as I watched Koido leave while waving goodbye.

I seem to bump into her a lot outside, but each time, she ends up helping me.

Maybe I should treat her to another strawberry milk again.

“Ren! Come here!”

Haru called me from the fitting room, so I hurried over.

“I’m here.”

“Ah, Ren. Come inside. I want you to see this.”

Well, Haru couldn’t exactly open the curtain in her underwear, so I guess I had to go in.

I slightly opened the curtain and peeked in.

There was Haru, wearing the yellow underwear set I had chosen, and on her chest, I could see several hickeys I had left yesterday.

“How does it look?”

Haru, her face blushing, asks for my comment. But I couldn’t find the right words for her.

Instead, I just swallowed nervously.

Haru didn’t miss that, letting out an ‘ehehe’ with a smile.

“You’re excited, Ren.”

“…Yes, embarrassingly.”

“No need to be embarrassed. I’m happy. …Hey, Ren.”

At that moment, Haru’s eyes light up seductively.

“Next time, should we do it in this underwear?”

Again, I couldn’t say anything, just swallowing nervously.

With that, Haru smiled contentedly.