Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 41: "...Strangle?"

“…Strangle?”

“So, what about it? Hina-chin, what exactly do you mean when you say you want your neck to be squeezed?”

“Um, well… that’s… it’s kind of a weird thing to talk about…”

“It’s not weird at all! Like I said before, the club is a place to confront your true self!”

“Uh, yeah… I mean, it’s not like I want to be roughed up, it’s more like… within the context of, um, a play…”

“Kusakabe-chan!? Wait, am I allowed to hear this conversation too!?”

“Um, well… yes… I mean, I also… want to hear… the opinions of men…”

Amidst the lively discussion about self-identity around the desks where four people sat facing each other, Kusakabe, the client, Yuzuru, the president, Hasegawa, the vice president, and Sagiri, the mood maker, and myself standing alone in the corner of the club room, looked at her intimidatingly.

It’s not bullying, it’s not bullying.

There are only four seats available, so it was inevitable. Normally, we would settle this with rock-paper-scissors, but for some reason, this time, led by Sagiri, everyone unanimously decided to leave me out.

It’s a little… sad.

“Hina-chin, do you want to be strangled by men?”

“Y-yes… I mean, not just any men… but people I’ve come to like…”

“I see! It’s a story of love!”

“Y-yes…”

“Love takes many forms, huh…”

Even from afar, Kusakabe’s face was bright red.

It’s only natural, considering she’s sharing something she usually keeps hidden while surrounded by the other three.

That takes quite a bit of courage.

“Y-yeah, you understand the appeal of being choked, right!?”

“…Hm?”

As if seeking a lifeline, Kusakabe turned to me. In response, the gazes of the other three also turned to me.

That’s right, she still misunderstands that I’m being strangled by Sagiri…!

“You’re always being strangled by Yukumo-san with his tie, aren’t you!!”

“Eh!?”

“Eh!?”

The one who was surprised was Sagiri, sitting next to her.

Reacting to her voice, Kusakabe shifted her gaze to Sagiri.

“I-I’ve always been watching in the classroom…! Yukumo-san pulls the tie and strangles the neck of her comrade! I gained courage from seeing that! I-I’m not the only one! U-uh, Yakumo-san is of the same sex, so she’s not my target, but… I also want a partner who will strangle my neck like a comrade!”

“Uh, um… okay…”

Sagirii was taken aback.

He probably didn’t think that she was the catalyst.

Certainly, Kusakabe always used to come closer to me, so it’s not unreasonable that she didn’t know.

“Renji…”

This time, it was Sagiri seeking help from me.

Despite the situation, I couldn’t help but feel a little fluttered by her trembling and tearful eyes.

“…Strangle?”

“What are you talking about while sneaking glances at classmates?”

The word “strangle” sounded like a double entendre.

“N-no, no, no, that’s not okay! I-if I were to offer my first neck strangling to a man… I might fall in love!!”

This time, Kusakabe’s face turned bright red.

The heart of a maiden seems to be very complicated.

Offering your first neck strangling… that was a phrase in Japanese I had never heard before.

“I-I… I want to be loved by someone who truly loves me!”

—Kusakabe stood up abruptly and poured out her feelings with all her might.

Taken aback by the biggest voice we’ve heard so far, we could only be surprised and remain silent.

For a moment, silence enveloped the small club room.

“S-sorry…!”

Then Kusakabe snapped back to reality, slumping her shoulders and returning to her seat.

Her face was now so red it looked like it might explode.

“Hmm-hmm. Hmm-hmm-hmm!”

And it was President Yuzuru who began nodding repeatedly, placing a hand over his mouth.

“So, Hinachan, you’re thinking about wanting to be strangled by someone you love, and you’re looking for someone of the opposite sex who loves that desire of yours, right!!”

“U-um… I’m sorry…”

Kusakabe nodded vigorously at the summarized request, her face even redder than before.

From a distance, it seemed like she was reaching her limit soon.

“There’s no need to be ashamed, Hinachan! Embarrassingly enough, we at Jibuke are beginners when it comes to strangling too! But by sharing that concern, we can think about it together! From now on, Hinachan is also part of the group!”

“K-Kido-san…”

“That’s right, Hinachan! Thank you for telling us things we didn’t know about you! Um… I might not be able to give much advice, so… as-ask Renji!”

“Y-Yakumo-san…”

“I might not understand much about strangling yet, but I understand the feeling of longing for love! Let’s push forward on the path of love together!!”

“H-Hasegawa-kun…”

Yeah, it’s probably about time.

The conversation seems to be coming together nicely.

“Can I interrupt for a moment?”

“W-what is it, Comrade…?”

“Comrade Renji, what’s up!?”

“Comrade Akahori, do you have any opinions!?”

Yuzuru and Hasegawa, who were indulging in teasing her by calling her by various names, were temporarily ignored.

“I agree with supporting Kusakabe, but she has her own pace. Trying to force her into our usual banter will only overwhelm her, don’t you think? How about we take a break for now?”

“W-what, Comrade…!”

Although I couldn’t see it behind her long bangs, I felt a glittering gaze directed my way. I guess I was pushing a bit too hard.

“Alright, I’ll go get some juice. Is the usual okay?”

“Yay! Renji, you’re the best!”

“We can always count on you, Renji!”

“We’ll pay you back later!”

“What!? No way!”

“Why!?”

Their camaraderie is something else.

But it feels like the arrow of friendship is pointing more from Hasegawa to Yuzuru.

“Kusakabe, I can’t carry it all by myself. Can you help me?”

“Uh, um, yes! Of course, Comrade!”

So, about that “comrade” thing… No, there’s something more important now.

“Is the usual… grape juice okay, Sagiri?”

“Uh, yeah… um, Renji?”

“Hm?”

But it seems like Sagiri’s concerns are different from mine.

“Y-you can’t… strangle anyone, okay?”

With a hint of uncertainty, she looked up at me from her chair.

She’s a complicated woman going from asking if it’s okay to strangle to saying it’s not okay.

“Y-yeah, I know…!”

Seeing our exchange, Kusakabe unleashed a sparkling beam that could pierce through her long bangs towards me.

I said I wanted a break earlier, but maybe I’m the one who needed it the most among us.