Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 18: "A reward... for you too?"

“A reward… for you too?”

Our Selfhood Research Club’ is, in a way, a recognized club at the school.

The reason why it’s ‘in a way’ is because it exists in a gray area, half officially recognized and half unofficial.

Researching, exploring, and pursuing one’s individuality is a vague activity, and simply stating that is not enough for approval. The formal name is sometimes the ‘Volunteer Club,’ as an example.

In other words, while charity work is the outwardly declared activity, the true essence, named the ‘Selfhood Research Club,’ lies beneath.

By the way, the four members rarely refer to themselves as the Volunteer Club. They only use that term when talking to teachers, more or less.

The club room, constructed in such a makeshift manner, is actually an old warehouse tucked away in a corner of the school building.

It’s located at the far end of the school building where there are special classrooms, on the first floor, right at the back.

Next to the small club room, reached after descending the stairs, is the science preparation room. To put it bluntly, in a place like this, nobody can be seen coming to it school.

Walking down the corridor, where there is hardly any foot traffic, I and Sagiri echo through the silence, our footsteps resonating due to the absence of anyone else.

“Nn! I’m tired of sitting around!”

The advantage and strength of the childhood friend next to me was that she could blow away such a depressing atmosphere just by being there.

Sagiri, who was tired of sitting, raised her hands and stretched out as she walked. The movement alone emphasized her large breasts and made the shirt she was wearing tease her from the inside.

“It really is a lot of fun having Yuzuru-chan around!”

“Oh, oh ……”

The school’s number one beauty, who laughed and said that, raised both hands and twisted her upper body to stretch. I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

No matter what, my consciousness was drawn to her ample chest.

Since that day, in addition to her lips, I couldn’t help but notice her chest as well.

These irregular desires might be deserving of scorn from those around me, but I’m just a teenage boy, so please forgive me.

Men are creatures covered in desires.

“Hmm? What’s with that absent-minded response…?”

Sagiri noticed my gaze. She quietly stopped stretching and, as if to hide her chest, hugged her body with both arms.

“…Pervert.”

“…Sorry.”

I could only continue to receive the piercing glare, sweating nervously.

***

My apology took the literal form of treating everyone to juice, a cash-like gesture of sincerity.

Even if the vending machines at the school were cheaper than those outside, it was a painful expense for a high school student who didn’t work part-time and had only pocket money.

Well, let’s excuse it in light of my feelings for Sagiri, Yuzuru’s return celebration, and Hasegawa’s… Hasegawa’s… um, desire to study.

“Hmm, it’s cold!”

Moreover, the mood of my childhood friend walking in front of me improved, and I could see her smiling.

Sagiri held a can of grape juice in her right hand and a paper pack of milk in her left, pressing them against both cheeks to cool her face. Regardless of the grape juice, the milk belonged to Yuzuru.

“What about you, Renji? It feels cool and pleasant, you know?”

“Even if I did it, no one would be happy, right?”

I also had drinks in both hands but refrained from doing what she did. A can of grape juice in my right hand and a Pet bottle of carbonated juice for Hasegawa in my left. I wouldn’t want to press my cheek against it, specifically since I didn’t want to imagine Hasegawa drinking it afterward.

“Eh, so if I do it, will you be happy?”

With a puzzled look, Sagiri asked me.

“Well, you’re popular, so… you…”

I thought, “Oh no.”

“Hmm…?”

Walking ahead, I felt the color of the gaze directed at me change.

“What about Renji?”

Sagiri’s steps came to a halt.

“Will Renji be happy if I do this?”

My childhood friend, staring at me, sandwiched both cheeks with juice. Honestly, I thought it was cute.

“Anything you do is cute, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

So I passed by quickly, trying not to let her notice.

“Wait, Renji, wait!”

I heard a voice from behind, but I didn’t wait. Even if I left her alone, Sagiri would catch up on her own. See, she easily ends up walking next to me like this.

“…………”

“…………”

Hey, isn’t she getting a bit close?

Until just a moment ago, Sagiri was leading the way in front, but now she’s walking beside me. That’s good. It’s close, the distance is close. My childhood friend is walking so close that our arms might touch.

“…………”

“…………”

We returned to the same corridor we came from and continued walking. In silence, only the sound of our footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Both Sagiri and I fell silent, aiming for the clubroom hidden behind our gazes. However, it definitely didn’t feel like just walking down the corridor.

“Um, hey.”

“O-Oh.”

While walking, Sagiri murmured.

“This juice… Yuzurun worked hard… as a reward, right?”

“Y-Yeah.”

I glanced at her, but since Sagiri was slightly looking down, I couldn’t see her face.

“I also… you know, worked hard studying… with Yuzurun teaching me, right?”

“Y-Yeah, that’s right.”

However, there was something I understood.

“Hey, hey, best friend. How about a reward for me too?”

“A reward… for you too?”

Her shy way of asking, unlike usual, was incredibly cute.

Men are creatures covered in desires.