Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 1: "If We're Best Friends, It's Okay, Right?"

“If We’re Best Friends, It’s Okay, Right?”

High school, second year, summer, after school.

I, Akahori Renji, was waiting for my childhood friend at the small park near the school today as well.

Sitting on a bench in a small park off the main street, next to me was a grape juice I bought from a vending machine.

This had become a habit, an occasional pleasure that had somehow become a part of my routine.

The balance between being a habit and an occasional treat felt just right, offering a satisfying sense of reward.

“Renji, sorry for making you wait!”

This, too, was because of my white-haired childhood friend, Yakumo Sagiri, who approached me with a wave from the park entrance, being too beautiful and therefore popular.

“It’s hot, huh? Isn’t the tie uncomfortable?”

“It’s the rule. If anything, you’re too lax.”

“Oh, it’s the usual grape juice.”

“Hey, don’t drink it without asking.”

“Did you get nervous with the indirect kiss with the school’s most beautiful girl?”

“Too late for that. Sagiri, you and I are childhood friends; come on, let’s go home.”

“Boo.”

With the grape juice she took from me in hand, Sagiri pursed her lips.

She walked away with a sidelong glance, immediately walking beside me.

“Thanks as always. I kept you waiting even though I’m the one being confessed to.”

“Don’t worry about it. If it’s tough for you, you don’t have to come, you know?”

“Since they mustered up the courage to confess, I have to decline sincerely.”

Declining was the premise for my childhood friend.

One full year since enrollment. After school, Sagiri, blessed with both looks and personality, was called out for confessions and turned them down.

“You’re quite sincere.”

“You’re always waiting for me.”

“I don’t want you collapsing again.”

“That was when we were kids!”

Sagiri used to be weak. She’s still not particularly strong, but she was even more frail back then, prone to fainting just from going outside.

“I’ll give you one.”

“Huh?”

“A thank you for waiting for me.”

“Isn’t that my grape juice?”

“It’s grape juice touched by the lips of the school’s most beautiful girl, you know?”

“Come on, seriously…”

Walking beside me, Sagiri thrust the opened grape juice toward me.

“You drink it without any hesitation.”

“It’s mine.”

Indirect kiss or whatever. It’s between me and her. It’s not something to be embarrassed about now.

“Renji, you always wait for me.”

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“Do you ever think about what would happen if I didn’t come, considering I receive confessions?”

“I’ll think about it when it happens.”

“Huh, ew, what’s that? That’s cheating!”

To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it at all. Well, because she’s always been by my side.

“Don’t you ever think that you turn down confessions not just because you dislike them?”

“Well, um, yeah, but…”

She fiddled with her hair at my side.

Because she’s kind, I know she doesn’t want to recklessly dismiss someone else’s feelings.

“Well, I’ll keep waiting. Drink this and take your time.”

Playfully shaking the emptied can as if showing off, a faint sound echoed from the remaining juice at the bottom.

“…Is that, what I think it is?”

As if to confirm, she closed the distance, looking up at me. Somehow, her face seemed a bit red.

“Hmm? Oh, of course.”

“Eh, re-really…?”

We had an understanding that went beyond words. Therefore, the more serious the conversation, the more nervous we became.

That’s why I smiled at Sagiri.

“After all, we’re best friends, right?”

“…Huh?”

Yes, best friends.

We know everything about each other and can talk about anything.

More than just friends, we’re tied by bonds even stronger than family.

“Let’s always be best friends.”

Maybe she got worried.

Always making me wait to hear confessions might be annoying to me.

“…Best… friend?”

“Yeah, right?”

Because she’s kind-hearted, she probably thought about unnecessary things.

Hahaha, what a cute person.

“…Best friends.”

Sagiri muttered softly.

“If we’re best friends, it’s okay, right?”

“Hmm? Yeah, since we’re best friends, don’t hold back—”

She pulled my tie firmly.

The empty can clattered to the ground.

“Mmm!”

“Mm!”

Our lips overlapped.

It felt as if time had stopped.

Sagiri’s face, with tightly closed eyes, was right in front of me. Long eyelashes, closed eyes.

From our touching lips, softness, warmth, and a tremor transmitted.

A kiss.

A passionate, forceful kiss.

My first—

“The taste of grapes.”

“…Eh, what? Hey!”

Sagiri, who slowly moved away from me, smiled as if nothing had happened.

“Hmm, what’s wrong?”

“No, you! Just now!”

She looked down at me, amused, as I panicked.

I couldn’t help but gaze at Sagiri’s lips, the faint peach color.

“Because we’re best friends… a kiss is normal, right?”

The tip of her index finger, gently covering those lips, seemed to hide them. It was a gesture that made my heart skip a beat.

“Hehe, best friend. See you again tomorrow?”

With a cheerful smile, she—my best friend—ran away.

I couldn’t reach out, couldn’t call her back.

I was just captivated by the sensation of her lips a moment ago and the smile I should have been accustomed to.