Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 13.1: "Come on, let's go?"

“Come on, let’s go?”

“Please, I’m begging you! You’re the only one I can rely on with that big body and heart of yours!”

“That’s exactly why I don’t want to! And besides, what does my body have to do with anything?”

“Then, with that generous heart of yours, please! It’s a lifelong wish!”

“Do you really have to use your lifelong wish in a place like this!?”

“I… I can’t defeat Sagiri on my own! That’s why I want to borrow your strength!”

“I thought it would be something like that! Are you doing this as a jab because Yuzuru-chan isn’t here for me!?”

“I’m serious about this!!”

“It just makes it even more unpleasant!!”

The discussion between the two men remained at an impasse. Hasegawa, the big man among men, sighed while leaning on his arm.

“Hey, think about it, we’re on different levels from the start. The other guys are all desperately trying to date the school’s number one beauty, Yakumo-chan, but you’re not like that. You’re saying you want to win. I don’t know what competition you’re having with your childhood friend, but if you want to win, just date her already. Okay, end of story.”

“Despite everything, you seriously listened to my story. Hasegawa, you’re a good guy after all.”

“Hey, did you actually listen to what I was saying?”

“I listened, and despite that, I can’t help but praise you.”

“You’re so honest it’s more troublesome for me to respond.”

Hasegawa scratched his head with a bored expression. Despite seeming bothered, he was a mirror of a man who sincerely empathized and worried. Well, if you mention his physique and name to him, he’ll get angry.

“For now, Akahori, what you need to do isn’t talking to me, but going to the infirmary to pick up Yakumo-chan.”

“Message from Sagiri arrived, saying she’ll change and stop by the staff room, so I have to wait for her in the classroom as it is.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah. You’re already losing, aren’t you? Well, in terms of position, it’s a major victory for you.”

“If I could win with this, I wouldn’t be struggling…”

“I understand that nothing I’m saying is getting through to you.”

Again, Hasegawa sighed. He was a man who couldn’t endure hardships, just like me.

“Hmm, then why not ask Yuzuru-chan tomorrow? If you want to know about girls, ask a girl, right?”

“Hasegawa… Are you a genius or something?”

“Hehe, praise me more. But if you lay a hand on Yuzuru-chan, I’ll kill you…”

“It’s not appropriate for friends to give murderous looks, Hasegawa.”

Though his mouth was smiling, his eyes told a different story.

As I received an inexplicable murderous intent from Hasegawa, the sound of the classroom door opening echoed.

“Renji, sorry to keep you waiting. Oh, Hasegawa-kun, too, yo-ho-yo-ho.”

The central figure of the rumors, Sagiri, entered.

Her uniform was different from the morning winter version. The long-sleeved shirt was rolled up to the elbows, with two buttons undone, and she had taken off her blazer and scarf.

The long skirt remained unchanged, seemingly impossible to adjust, but her black tights were absent, revealing a glimpse of her white legs.

The school bag hanging on her shoulder seemed bulging, probably because she forcefully stuffed winter clothes inside.

Be careful not to wrinkle them if you put them in haphazardly.

“Sagiri, are you really okay now?”

“Of course. I skipped all my classes in the afternoon and stayed in the infirmary.”

“If Yakumo-chan has arrived, you’re going home already, right?”

“Of course. I want to go home and take a shower. Hasegawa-kun, aren’t you going home?”

Why are you answering the question I was asked, Sagiri?

“I’m thinking about when Yuzuru-chan comes back tomorrow, so you two go home first.”

“I really want to see Yuzu soon.”

“I want to do judo with all four of us again…”

The two of them harbored feelings for classmates who were absent due to a summer cold. Well, I’m in the same boat, but I’ll just watch these two.

“Then, Hasegawa-kun, see you.”

“Goodbye, Hasegawa. Thanks for your help.”

“Oh, yeah, go home harmoniously like childhood friends.”

Receiving an unnecessary comment from Hasegawa, Sagiri and I left the classroom.

Perhaps because summer vacation was approaching, the school was quiet after school, and especially in the corridor, there was no one else. The shouts of students engaged in club activities could be faintly heard from a distance outside.

Walking side by side, Sagiri and I proceeded down the corridor.

“What were you talking to Hasegawa-kun about?”

“Well, um, it was like a consultation between men…”

She immediately threw a probing question at me. Naturally, I couldn’t answer.

That I somehow wanted to beat Sagiri.

“Hmm… a consultation between men…”

She muttered meaningfully, and I walked while trying to avoid her gaze as much as possible. The silence was scary. I wish we could get to the shoe locker quickly.

“Is it something you can’t tell even your best friend?”

“…W-Well, it’s a man-to-man thing, you know.”

While avoiding eye contact, I stumbled for a moment in response to Sagiri’s gaze looking up at me.

“Hmm…?”

She nodded slightly, one, two, three times.

“Hey, best friend.”

“What!?”

My tie was pulled.

“Mmm.”

In the school corridor, she kissed me.

“…That was unexpected.”

From afar, the cheers and clamor of students could still be heard.

Separated from that world, all I could see was Sagiri’s confident smile.

“Come on, let’s go?”

From there, my childhood friend, who had quickly returned to her usual bright smile, grabbed my hand instead of the tie and walked with me.

“W-Wait, you can’t do this here!?”

“But it’s all Renji’s fault!”

And then immediately, the usual trivial exchange took place.

I don’t understand what a best friend is. I just understand that being a best friend involves kissing, and I still can’t beat Sagiri at that.

“Hey, best friend. Shall we kiss again tomorrow?”

“You’ll do it on your own without saying, won’t you!?”

Ah, I can never beat this smile.

I’ve always wanted to see this, a bright, cheerful, full-face smile.