Hey, Best Friend. How About A Kiss Today Too? - Chapter 80: "...Can we kiss?"

“…Can we kiss?”

Sagiri came to my house in a too-short and awkward reunion.

Although we had parted with the intention of not interacting with each other, her return after just over an hour left me feeling incredibly conflicted, especially considering the situation of suddenly being alone together with her after my parents left for their trip.

We ate breakfast in silence in the living room, and the lack of conversation made the taste of it almost nonexistent as I pondered what to talk about.

While washing the dishes, I muttered complaints in my mind about my parents not being home anymore, then retreated to my room, where the air conditioner had been left on, making it comfortable.

Now, the problem that had been haunting us from the start was this awkwardness.

I wondered why just resisting kisses caused such tension. Well, why we did—

“Hey, Sagiri.”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you… clinging to me like that?”

—she was indeed clinging tightly onto me.

She fit snugly between me and the wall, lying on my bed in the corner of the room with her legs stretched out, leaning against the wall, her back against me. 

Despite the coolness of the air-conditioned room, her warmth enveloped me, and her long, beautiful white hair emitted a captivating scent.

“It’s comforting, isn’t it?”

“I don’t get it.”

I heard Sagiri’s voice, confident, without turning around.

“If I face you, Renji, you’ll want to kiss me. But if I do this, you can’t see my face, right?”

“That’s a sneaky move.”

“Isn’t it?”

I thought about pinching those white cheeks from behind. Sure, in this position, her face was hidden, but we were still pressed against each other. Almost her entire front was touching me. We were both fully clothed, of course, but it felt like the intimate closeness of a loving couple in the same bath.

“If I really went all out, Renji wouldn’t stand a chance. But where’s the fun in that?”

She was a battle junkie seeking excitement in serious matches.

“That’s my line.”

So, for now, I went along with it. Indeed, in this situation, there was no opportunity for kissing.

“Hmm…?”

“Whoa!?”

A sound of amusement.

Then her hands reached out, wrapping around the back of my head from below. She was very skilled. As she leaned against my chest, she lifted her face.

Her light-colored eyes met mine from an upside-down perspective.

“Do you like me?”

“W-Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

“…Just answer.”

“Uh… Y-yeah. I like you.”

“Do you… think I’m cute?”

“…Yeah, I do.”

“…Really?”

“…Yeah, really.”

“…Can we kiss?”

“Who’s gonna do it?”

“Tch!”

“You’re such a klutz! What’s wrong with you!?”

There should be a bit more emotion or, well, something here. The topic took a sudden sharp turn.

And stop clicking your tongue.

“…I thought you’d be into it.”

“You really think I would fall for that?”

“…………”

“Stop headbutting me in silence!”

She lifted her head from my chest and slammed it back down.

She’s my violent childhood friend, a battle junkie.

“Alright, now, carry me.”

“…Huh?”

“Not ‘huh,’ just carry me.”

“No… ‘huh’?”

What’s she on about now?

It’s ridiculous enough that she brought it up, but my neck’s starting to hurt, so I want her to let go of my head soon.

“Sagiri-chan’s failed plan has deeply wounded her. So, carry her, please.”

“Even with an explanation, I don’t get it. And why did you think that would work?”

“It’s better than kissing, right?”

“Hey! Cut it out! Stop squirming! My neck! My neck is—!?”

Sagiri, snug between my legs with her hand reaching around to grab the back of my head, thrashed around, and each time, my neck was pulled further back.

“Got it! Got it, so stop! My neck, my back, my waist—it’s gonna be a mess!”

“Fair enough.”

“Wanna be tickled?”

“Sorry.”

“Alright.”

My overexcited childhood friend quickly fell silent. The power of tickling is truly mighty.

“…Wait, by ‘carry,’ you mean that kind of carrying?”

“Not that kind, just hug me from behind.”

“Why from above?”

Well, despite my complaints, I’ll do it anyway. It’s a win-win situation, really.

“Then adjust your posture a bit.”

“Huh? Is this not okay?”

“My hands are positioned like I’m gonna grab your chest, you know?”

“Spine straight!”

She straightened up like crazy. Maybe the ambush in the early morning and the chest grabbing were just from being caught up in the moment. Now that Sagiri was somewhat calm, it seemed embarrassing to her.

Touching a girl’s, Sagiri’s, big chest from behind… It’s a dream of a guy, me, but if I were to do that in this situation, things would really spiral out of control. My instincts are already going wild in this situation, but if something like that were to happen during this fight, we’d both just end up hurt.

I want to do things like that properly, once we’re officially together.

“…I’m gonna move my hands, okay?”

“…Yeah.”

Well, hugging from behind isn’t so bad compared to kissing, is it?

“Renji…”

“What now?”

“…Hug me tighter.”

“Is this enough?”

“Ah… Yeah.”

It doesn’t feel like we’re in the middle of a fight or a serious match.

“Renshi…”

“What now?”

“…Can we kiss?”

“You’re still so clumsy.”

“Tch!”

She just had to ruin it.

My childhood friend’s negotiation skills were just terrible.