Being the Best Friend in a Romantic Comedy Isn't Easy! - Chapter 6: Subaru Aoba Fulfills the Role of the Best Friend

Episode 5: Subaru Aoba Fulfills the Role of the Best Friend

“Jeez, Hinata… Sorry, everyone. I’ll be going too. I’ll properly greet you another time, Tsukinose-senpai.”

The exhausting lunch break ended.

After finishing the last class of the day, I stretched widely.

For today, I honestly couldn’t care less about the classes.

I was too preoccupied with Tsukasa and Tsukinose’s relationship.

I’ve tried to probe a few times since then, but I was brushed off every time.

“Alright, good job today, everyone.”

The classroom door slid open, and Mr. Ohara walked in.

Once the end-of-day homeroom session was over, we’d be free from school.

He stood at the teacher’s podium and glanced around at us.

“I’ve got just one announcement. You all know there’s a regular exam at the end of this month, right? Make sure to study properly.”

Oh, right. It’s May, so there’s the first regular exam of the new semester at the end of the month.

As students, we can’t avoid the tests known as regular exams.

Shiori High School is a fairly competitive school, so naturally, there’s a high level of enthusiasm for various tests.

After all, many students here probably want to get into good universities…

But even so, there aren’t many people who like tests.

“No way! I totally forgot!”

“Ugh! I hate tests!”

Many of my classmates were groaning.

I hate them too. I really hate tests.

“It’ll be Tsukinose’s first test since transferring, but… well, you should be fine.”

Thinking about it, why did Tsukinose transfer in May? It’s such an odd time…

There are probably various reasons, personal or family-related, so I can’t delve too deeply.

Tsukinose calmly responded to the teacher’s words with, “I’ll do my best.”

Seeing how she is in class, tests probably won’t be a problem for her.

“Speaking of Tsukinose, Asahi.”

“Huh? Me?”

A sudden call by name.

Tsukasa, who was probably spacing out, was startled and made a loud noise with his chair.

“If you have time after school, show Tsukinose around the campus. It must be tough moving between classrooms.”

Wow… an unexpected campus tour event.

This is another typical romantic comedy scenario.

Mr. Ohara grinned. He seems to be enjoying Tsukasa’s situation…

“Why me though—”

“Tsukinose, is it alright if Asahi shows you around?”

“Yes, no problem. I’d appreciate it.”

Tsukinose didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Alright, Asahi, you’re in charge.”

“This is so unfair…”

Heh heh… suffer, suffer.

You should suffer from dealing with girls, just like the protagonist of a romantic comedy.

—Wait, what’s with that envy?

I wanted to escort Tsukinose-san too!

Grrr…

“And that concludes homeroom! Dismissed!”

× × ×

As soon as homeroom ended, the classroom erupted into noise.

For high school students, after-school time is the real deal.

They chat about going to clubs or where to stop by on the way home…

My classmates were all excitedly chatting with their friends.

“Well, it can’t be helped if it’s been decided… Tsukinose-san, I’ll show you around.”

“Sorry for taking up your time, Asahi-san…”

“It’s fine. I don’t have any plans anyway.”

Tsukasa spoke to Tsukinose with a hint of reluctance.

Come to think of it, Tsukasa acts a bit differently when talking to Tsukinose compared to other girls…

I can’t exactly pinpoint what it is, but something feels different.

“Haruka…”

I glanced to my side.

Nagisa was whispering to Hasumi.

Then, she glanced towards Tsukasa and gestured with her chin.

It was as if she was saying, “You should go too.”

…I see. Nagisa is trying to support Hasumi as well.

“Uh, uh…”

On the other hand, Hasumi, though she understood what Nagisa was implying, couldn’t take that first step.

Nagisa was exasperated by Hasumi’s hesitation.

Hmm…

I guess this is also part of my role…

“Hey, Tsukasa.”

I stood up and spoke to him in my usual manner.

“Why don’t we all go together? It’d be a good chance to get to know each other.”

“All of us?”

I nodded.

Tsukasa himself probably didn’t think much about walking around the school alone with Tsukinose.

However, for the heroines, it wasn’t something they could just overlook.

“Yeah, see, there are two people over there with nothing to do, right?”

I looked at Hasumi and Nagisa in turn.

“…Huh? Me too?”

Naturally, Nagisa pointed at herself in surprise.

Then, she narrowed her eyes and gave me a sharp look.

That look clearly said:

—”Why didn’t you just let Haruka go?”

I avoided her gaze without saying anything.

“It’s just a tour, nothing major…”

Shut up! For us, it is a big deal!

Internally exasperated by Tsukasa’s obliviousness, I called out to Hasumi next.

“Hasumi, didn’t you want to talk more with Tsukinose? Do you have any plans?”

“N-no! I don’t have any! I-I’d love to go with Tsukinose-san… if that’s okay?”

She looked up at Tsukasa.

Unlike Hinata, she’s probably not doing it on purpose… but looking up like that is quite a heroine move.

When a beautiful girl looks up at you like that, well…

“F-fine. Let’s all go together.”

Tsukasa gave in.

He looked embarrassed and averted his gaze…

I felt relieved that Tsukasa had normal high school boy feelings.

…Hasumi-san, could you look up at me like that later???

“What about you, Subaru?”

“Huh?”

Oh, now it’s my turn. I was surprised.

“Aren’t you coming with us?”

Sharp guy. He noticed I was subtly excluding myself from the tour party.

When he called my name, the girls’ eyes turned to me.

Whoa… the beautiful girls are looking at me. I’m nervous.

One of them seemed to be looking at me with scary eyes, as if saying, “You’re coming too,” but it’s probably my imagination. I’m not looking.

…If I went, it wouldn’t serve the purpose.

I shrugged dramatically.

“I have plans. If I didn’t, I’d totally be coming along, you harem guy!”

“Harem?”

Seriously, dude, seriously.

Just say, “Sure, leave it to me!”

“I don’t get it, but… alright. Let’s go, everyone. See you tomorrow, Subaru.”

“Yeah, take care.”

“What’s there to be careful about?”

We laughed together.

Tsukasa waved lightly and left the classroom, with Tsukinose and Hasumi following.

“See you tomorrow, Aoba-san.”

“See you, Aoba-kun.”

“Yeah, see you.”

But there was still one person left.

“Aoba.”

Nagisa looked dissatisfied and was staring at me.

“What’s up? Hurry up and go.”

“Why didn’t you let Haruka go alone?”

As expected, that question came.

Nagisa wanted Haruka to go alone. I interfered and even made her join.

No wonder she’s upset.

I did it fully understanding that.

“Why, you ask…”

I sighed and looked Nagisa straight in the eye.

“Do I have to spell it out?”

“…”

Nagisa said nothing.

She understood my intent better than anyone else.

That’s why she couldn’t argue back.

“Ruirui? What’s up?”

Hasumi’s voice called from the hallway.

Nagisa looked like she wanted to say something but tightly pressed her lips together and turned her back to me.

Phew, close one.

I almost said something unnecessary.

Thanks, Hasumi.

“See you.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Nagisa’s typical curt farewell.

I watched the last member of the party leave the classroom and sighed deeply.

Those few minutes of interaction were utterly exhausting.

Nagisa at the end… was scary…

“Alright… time to head home.”

### Episode 5: Subaru Aoba Fulfills the Role of the Best Friend

I had no plans.

It was just a convenient lie on the spot.

If I had gone with them, Hasumi wouldn’t have been able to properly appeal to Tsukasa.

I wasn’t trying to favor anyone in particular, but with the arrival of Rei Tsukinose, an extraordinary heroine, Hasumi’s presence had faded today.

I felt a bit sorry for her.

Hoping she would be able to appeal to Tsukasa, I grabbed my bag hanging beside my desk.

—I sighed deeply.

Being the best friend in a romantic comedy isn’t easy—

“Ts-ts-tsukasa senpaaai! Are you here?!”

………….

Thud, thud, thud.

An energetic voice burst into the classroom.

Suppressing the urge to ignore it, I reluctantly looked towards the entrance.

There stood…

“Huff, huff…! Huh? Where’s Tsukasa-senpai?”

Hinata Kawasake, out of breath.

Seriously.

Why do you always have to make such an entrance?