Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 53: "...Me?"

“…Me?”

“Cruel.”

“…Sorry.”

“…Cruel.”

“…Sorry.”

“…Cruel.”

“…Sorry.”

I was under a fierce attack. In the same bed.

If having conversations using a shared pillow is called “pillow talk,” then this might qualify as one as well.

One of us in baggy old clothes, the other in a summer school uniform. Despite the lack of disorder in our clothing, there was still a visible disorder, our decorum.

“…Cruel.”

“…Sorry.”

The reason for this predicament is simple.

I couldn’t resist kissing Sagiri, which led to me kissing her multiple times, and then, the sulking Sagiri pulled me into the bed… more precisely, into the same blanket.

Even though she’s sulking, she’s intertwining her legs with mine. While I acknowledge that I’m mostly at fault, I can’t help but think that Sagiri is also quite something.

“…Renji’s here.”

Her thin, cool right hand touches my cheek. I can’t tell if Sagiri’s temperature has dropped or mine has risen. But her touch feels pleasant, and I find myself unable to look away from my childhood friend beside me.

“In my dreams, Renji was there too.”

“Dreams?”

“Yeah, dreams. From the past…”

I also sometimes dream about the past. Is it similar to that?

“He’s as gentle as he is now, but he wasn’t this cruel.”

“You’re the one…”

I was about to say she wasn’t this selfish, but then I stopped myself, realizing she was indeed selfish.

“…Me?”

But the selfish princess wouldn’t let that slide. Her faint-colored eyes urge me to continue with just a glance.

“This… this…”

She’s become cute, wonderful, and charming.

The words that come to mind first in my head are being denied, as they’ve likely been the same since forever. What has changed with Sagiri? No, perhaps it’s me who has changed, or maybe it’s the nature of our relationship itself.

“…I never thought I’d become such close friends with you back then.”

“Ah… mm…”

I pull her close in the bed and kiss her.

Every part of my childhood friend that touches mine, from her lips to her body, feels warm.

“Ren… ji…”

She squirms with sweet sighs. But with her legs entwined with mine, there’s nowhere to escape.

Kissing despite being best friends.

The dilemma that had plagued me for so long had diminished considerably once I realized my feelings for Sagiri. Though it still lingered in the depths of my heart, accepting her friendship and affection in front of me was a separate issue.

“Re…”

But I won’t use my tongue.

I’ll respect Sagiri’s words.

Instead, I’ll try to say something, to catch my breath, to gently nip at her evasive lips. It’s payback for when she did it to me on my bed.

“…Haa… haa…”

In ragged breaths, my childhood friend, who had become teary-eyed before I knew it, was there.

Rather than crying, their eyes were moistened with a warmth, and their warm breath touched my face at close range.

Despite coming to visit me, I felt like I was making things worse.

“…You’re mean.”

This time, Sagiri kissed me.

“…You’re mean.”

Leaning closer.

“…You’re mean.”

Wrapping her arms around my waist.

“…Renji’s.”

To prevent them from escaping.

“…Best friend’s.”

To ensure they don’t let go.

“…You’re mean.”

In a room cooled by air conditioning, in the same bed.

We pressed close to each other until we were both sweating profusely, repeating kisses that only best friends could share.