Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 6: “Here should be fine, right?”

“Here should be fine, right?”

“Hey, best friend.”

“Wha—!?”

At the moment Homeroom ended, it happened. Sagiri, who hadn’t looked at me once since lunch break, suddenly directed a smile as if nothing had happened.

Moreover, she called me best friend.

“Wait a moment.”

“H-Hey, you!?”

She grabbed my tie.

This was the classroom, and right before the end of homeroom. Naturally, all the other classmates were present. She called me her best friend and then grabbed my tie.

The reason I was troubled by the word “best friend” was that our understanding of the term “best friend” differed. On one hand, it referred to a friend with whom we shared familial bonds, and on the other, it was someone with whom we could kiss.

Moreover, Sagiri calling me her best friend and grabbing my tie was the same situation as during our first kiss, and everyone was still present. Nevertheless, Sagiri didn’t stop; without hesitation, she pulled my tie and simultaneously brought her enchanting beauty closer—

“Come.”

“…Huh?”

—Her face stopped right in front of mine.

Well, even just that was a significant event. The face of the most beautiful girl in the school was right in front of me. In the classroom, a public place. Even I couldn’t be unaware of what this meant.

“Did she… kiss? Did she really kiss!?”

“N-No, she didn’t! It’s safe! Something’s wrong; Yakumo-san is glaring at Akahori!”

“A-Ahh! That surprised me…”

“Huh? But isn’t the distance too close? Are those two really like that!?”

“But didn’t she say they were best friends!?”

The classroom erupted into chaos as if it were only natural. I wonder how we appear to them. Just thinking about it is terrifying.

I don’t even know, though.

“Stand up.”

“W-Wait, you…! Ugh, my neck!?”

Even after her captivating smile withdrew, her hand that grabbed my tie remained. In this state, I was being led by Sagiri.

“That Akahori will be dragged away without saying anything!”

“Woww, it’s like he’s a dog!”

“Huh, huh… Which hobby is it? Which hobby is that thing!?”

“Ugh, I’m envious… I also wanted Yakumo-san to do such a play for me!”

“A secret relationship with a childhood friend…!?”

While hearing the lively speculations of my cheerful classmates, I left the classroom, still being pulled by Sagiri. I decided not to think about the contents of the various rumors circulating.

“Hey, Sagiri!?”

“Hurry up, or people will come!”

The force of my childhood friend pulling my tie didn’t wane as we advanced through the corridor. Quick walking, a tightening neck. It was genuinely fortunate that there were no other students walking around. …Or was it really fortunate?

“Be careful on the stairs; it’s dangerous, okay?”

“W-Well, if you let go, I can walk, you know!?”

As if it were revenge for lunch break, I was made to climb the stairs.

With Sagiri walking ahead, the discomfort due to our height difference was alleviated by the staircase’s steps. But that wasn’t the most important thing.

“Ah, I was nervous.”

“H-Hey, you…!”

We reached the endpoint of the stairs—a space in front of the door leading to the rooftop, resembling a setting often found in manga and anime. However, in reality, the rooftop of this school was closed off.

“Here should be fine, right?”

Being closed off meant that no one would come.

“Well—”

“Mm!”

Before I could respond, our lips met again.

For the third time, my tie was being pulled in the empty space of the staircase.

“…This is for today.”

“…Y-You.”

Soft lips parted before I could reply. The pale cheek that looked up at me seemed to be dyed in vermilion.

For the third time, I had anticipated it. However, getting used to kisses in just one or two days was impossible. My heart continued to pound.

“Mm!”

“Mm-mm!?”

Here came the fourth time. A more forceful and longer kiss than before.

“…………”

“…………”

Slowly, our lips separated.

I could only silently gaze at Sagiri, who looked up at me. The noise of after-school activities began to echo from below.

“…This is my gratitude for earlier.”

“…A-Alright.”

This must be gratitude for what happened during lunch break.

However, there was no impure thought that a kiss could be a form of gratitude. I had no such considerations.

“Hey.”

While still holding my tie, my childhood friend looked at me with moist eyes.

I had never seen this expression before. Although I had seen her crying many times, this gaze, filled with warmth, made me speechless.

“Best friend.”

She called me best friend.

“Mm~.”

For the fifth time, we kissed.

She didn’t tell me what this kiss meant for.