The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 88

Part 11: The Future of the Three of Them

Chapter 88

Several days had passed since I was able to completely deny the rumours Arahira spread to set me up.

During that time, I ended up dating both Misa and Haru for some reason.

I thought to myself that this was exactly like the rumours, but their determination was strong, so I continued to be their boyfriend with a ‘Whatever will be, will be’ attitude.

And so, I came to a yakiniku restaurant with Oda on Sunday to talk to him who had supported me all this time about everything that had happened.

“Dealing with the bill is annoying. Let’s just go for the all you can eat.”

“Okay.”

Oda’s body had slimmed down compared to the start of school, but that was due to him working out and getting toned; though his bottomless appetite still seemed very much intact.

According to him, if you keep moving your body at this age, you won’t easily rebound.

(TN: Rebound here probably means something like regaining weight.)

Having opted for the all-you-can-eat, we ordered without restraint while grilling the delivered meats tirelessly.

And then, we devoured what was cooked with delights.

“It’s delicious.”

“Hmm. It’s just as I expected.”

The yakiniku restaurant we visited this time was one Oda had been interested in for a while.

To be able to choose all-you-can-eat at such an affordable price and to have such delicious food served is the best for high school boys.

After enjoying some delicious food for a while, we took a breather and started our conversation.

“Then Seko, let’s hear your story.”

“Ah… I once asked you what if that rumour was half true, but it turns out it’s completely true.”

“Hmm. I had somewhat guessed that much.”

“Right… I like Yosaki. That’s probably something all our students know, but I’ve also come to like Hinata.”

“I had a hunch about that too, when Seko started talking about Torupani last month.” (TN: Chapter 24)

“Man, you’ve really read me… Honestly, I don’t know when I started liking Hinata. I had fallen for her and started thinking about her before I knew it,. However, there is one thing that I think triggered these feelings.”

“Hmm.”

Even as we spoke, Oda continued to grill and eat meat.

This prevented a seriously tense atmosphere from forming, making it a little easier for me to talk.

Perhaps this was Oda’s consideration.

I put down my chopsticks and looked straight at Oda.

“The truth is, since last year… I’ve been in a physical relationship with her.”

“…I hadn’t expected that.”

The shock was such that, for the first time, even Oda’s chopsticks stopped.

“The circumstances are… sorry, I can’t talk about it. But I want to make it clear that it was under mutual agreement.”

“Hmm. Well, I don’t think Seko would force anything, and from the way she acts, she doesn’t seem to dislike Seko. I have no doubts about that.”

“…Thank you.”

“What for. There’s no need for thanks… So, after building that relationship with her, Seko stopped his confession, right?”

“Yeah. I just felt it was dishonest towards Yosaki. But, you know, in order to end this twisted relationship, I had to date Yosaki. As I was doing that, I started to lose track of what I wanted to do and what I should do…”

“So you just let things slide without any changes, and eventually, it turned into the situation like the rumours say?”

At Oda’s remark, I nod my head up and down.

“By the way, does she know about your relationship?”

“Ah, she found out recently. It was on the day of the get-together event.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Then Oda crossed his arms, and after pondering with a ‘hmm’, he leaned in a bit closer.

“Seko, could you close your eyes for a moment?”

“…Ah, okay.”

Normally, I would have made a joke, but Oda’s eyes were unusually serious, so I obediently closed my eyes.

And then──I felt a sharp pain on my forehead.

“Ouch…”

As I held my forehead and opened my eyes, I saw Oda’s finger, which had apparently flicked me.

“Sorry, Seko. However, their hearts must have been in much more pain.”

“I know… Thank you, Oda.”

“It’s nothing. I simply gave my best friend a wake-up call.”

Oda said that as he sat back down and began grilling the meat again.

It seemed to suggest that this was the end of the conversation.

“Honestly, what Seko is doing is unethical. It’s not something to be praised; rather, it’s an act that should be condemned. However, I’m also aware of Seko’s struggles, and since the two of them don’t seem to be put off by you, this is all I can do. After all, I’m an outsider.”

“No, I’m grateful you gave me a piece of your mind. I can’t really talk about this with many people, so I don’t get the chance to be told off like that.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“I really owe you a lot, Oda. I’ll treat you this time.”

“Seko, such formalities are unnecessary between best friends. We’re best friends because we help each other out. Someday, when I turn to Seko for help, just lend me your strength then—that will be enough for me.”

“Oda…. How can you be so cool?”

“Heh. I had a lot of fatty meat today, so my mouth is working quite well.”

As he said this, Oda carried the grilled meat to his plate, and he put them into his mouth one after another.

Watching Oda like that, my appetite came back, and I picked up the tongs.

“Oda, there’s something I still need to tell you.”

“Wait a moment, Seko. I too have something I want to talk about with you.”

“Yea? But, I want to just go with the flow and say it quickly, you know?”

“I also want to say it right now while I’m still in invincible mode.”

“…Say it at the same time?”

“…Hmm. Let’s do that.”

We fall silent for a moment, make eye contact to measure the timing, and after the cue ‘Ready, set’, we continue.

“Actually, I’ve ended up dating both of them.”

“Actually, I’ve started dating a junior in the club.”

“Huuhhh!?”

“Huuhhh!?”

Oda and I confessed at the same time and then simultaneously let out a voice of astonishment, our eyes wide as we locked gazes frozen in place.

“Wait, Oda!? You got a girlfriend?”

“Seko, what do you mean you started dating both of them!?”

“No, I’ll talk about my thing too, but first let me hear your story, Oda.”

“No-no. My story doesn’t matter right now, let’s hear what you have to say, Seko.”

“No, no, no”

“No, no, no, no”

Until a moment ago, we were all insisting on speaking first, but now we found ourselves politely offering each other the chance to talk.

After several such exchanges, it was Oda who finally gave in.

With his face turning red and scratching his cheek, Oda began to speak.

“A-actually, a freshman joined our Manga Research Club this year, and she’s in the same class as Koido. Well, you know, I had my suspicions about Koido, so I was trying to get information about her from her. I kept asking her over and over about Koido, and then she started crying. I was confused, but then she said, ‘Do you like Koido-san too, Oda-senpai? Even though I have been thinking so much about you, Oda-senpai… why do you do such a terrible thing?’ “

“O-oh…?”

“She said that much to me. Even I, who is usually so oblivious, could notice her feelings. And at the same time, the girl I had only ever thought of as my junior suddenly appeared to shine so brightly. Ah, I felt as if I was born into this world just to meet her; my entire perspective changed that much.”

“It’s turned into something quite amazing…”

“But there are many things I must do for Seko right now. I feel bad for her, but I told her I cannot respond to her feelings now.”

“Oda…”

“Then she said, ‘Well, you’ll respond to my feelings after you’ve finished with that?’ “

“And that’s why you gave her your answer the other day?”

“Yes. Just the day before yesterday, I also confessed my feelings to her. I told her I like her too and I want her to go out with me.”

“Ohh! Congratulations, Oda!”

“Thank you, Seko. Thanks to you, I realize the importance of honestly conveying your feelings to others.”

“I see; the living legend wasn’t in vain, huh?”

I feel a little relieved to hear that my legend (laughs) has finally been useful to others.

“So, Seko. I have a little something I’d like to ask you.”

“Hmm, what’s wrong? I’m not really knowledgeable about dating spots or anything like that.”

“No, it’s not about that… Well, the thing is, it’s great that I started dating my junior, but actually my senpai is… our Manga Research Club president has found out about it and has gone berserk.”

“…Hmm?”

“Turns out, she seems to have had feelings for me too.”

“Wait what?”

“So now the Manga Research Club is right in the middle of a feud between my junior and senpai. It seems like neither of them can even hear my voice amidst this chaos.”

“…”

“Hey, Seko. What am I supposed to do in such a situation?”

Oda asked me with a look of genuine distress on his face.

I pondered as I picked up a piece of nearly burnt meat and brought it to my mouth.

——I wonder why everyone comes to me with consultations that they know I can’t possibly have the answers to.