My Childhood Friend Who is My Girlfriend was Stolen by My Best Friend. From Now on, I'll Flirt with My Ex-Best Friend's Little Sister! - Chapter 20

My Former Best Friend’s Feelings Won’t Reach Me

“Toshiya. I did everything I could to help you and Tsukimiya-san get together. But now, you’ve broken up with her…and on top of that, you’re dating Rinka? Sorry, but that’s something I can’t accept.”

My former friend places both hands on my desk and leans closer to me.

“I broke up with my childhood friend properly before starting to date Rinka. I haven’t done anything wrong. Rinka herself is fine with it.”

“Even so, why Rinka…?”

“Why? Because I’m in love with her.”

“Are you really Toshiya?”

“Huh?”

“The Toshiya I know isn’t that kind of person. At the very least, he would never start dating someone right after a breakup.”

He glares at me sharply through his glasses.

Not that kind of person, huh?

He’s probably right. If it was just a normal breakup due to misunderstandings or differences in values as lovers, I probably wouldn’t have started dating someone else so soon.

“Then let me ask you.”

“What?”

“Are you the same Shintaro I used to know?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Shintaro I know is a total siscon, but he’d never do something to hurt someone. He’s bad at keeping secrets and blurts out whatever he’s thinking. He’s not the kind of person who would do anything behind someone’s back…so tell me, are you the Shintaro I know?”

I glare back at him.

My former friend doesn’t flinch, he just snorts quietly in response.

“Yeah, that’s right, I am.”

“I see…then you’re the only one who’s mistaken about me.”

“What…?”

My former best friend’s cheeks twitch.

In reality, I’m the one who has misunderstood him.

I smile slightly, mocking myself.

“Well, anyway, you won’t get in our way unnecessarily right, Shintaro?”

“…you didn’t show any signs of that at all. Toshiya, you were all about Tsukimiya-san, and you never thought of Rinka as anything more than my little sister.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But my feelings have changed.”

“Then why didn’t you talk to me about it? When you confessed to Tsukimiya-san, you were all hesitant and indecisive, but with Rinka, you confessed right away! Why!?”

“Why are you even asking me that…hey, Shintaro.”

“W-What?”

“Do you have any romantic feelings for Rinka?”

I look directly into his eyes.

His eyes widened slightly, and beads of sweat start to form on his face.

“So what if that’s true?”

“Rinka is your little sister. You get that, right?”

“Yeah, I know. But we’re not related by blood. We’re only step-siblings! …don’t get in my way, Toshiya.”

“There’s no ‘getting in the way’. In this world, it’s all about who acts first.”

“…why did it end up like this.”

Shintaro puts his hand on his forehead, and his face distorts in agony.

A moment of silence engulfs him, then suddenly—

“Senpai ♪”

Light brown hair, tied in a side ponytail on the left.

It’s my girlfriend with her voluptuous figure, Rinka.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just want to see you, so I came.”

Rinka hasn’t told me anything about coming to my class.

Maybe she’s here to keep an eye on things, making sure my childhood friend isn’t causing any trouble.

Shintaro’s expression twists in a complicated way.

“Rinka…”

“Ah, you’re here.”

“You really don’t pay much attention to me, do you?”

“Um, could you leave me alone with Senpai for a bit?”

Rinka is speaking in a formal and distant tone.

But this has nothing to do with their blood relationship.

It’s simply due to the difference in their feelings.

Shintaro has feelings for Rinka, but Rinka has absolutely no romantic interest in him.

This difference in feelings is what created this distance between them.

“Why does it have to be Toshiya? There are plenty of other guys out there.”

“By the way, Senpai, I forgot to ask you something earlier.”

“You’re…ignoring me?”

Clutching his chest tightly, my former best friend stands there in shock.

Ignoring him, I turn my attention to Rinka.

Rinka leans in close to my ear and whispers,

“Are you free after school today?”

After school…I don’t have any plans today.

“Yeah, I’m free.”

“That’s great. Then please give me some of your time after school, Senpai.”

“Alright.”

“…ah, homeroom’s about to start. I’ll see you later.”

She waves her hand and leaves the classroom.

As I wave back, I glance at my stunned former best friend.

“Homeroom is about to start, so why don’t you head back to your seat, Shintaro?”

“…yeah…I guess so.”

With heavy steps, he returns to his seat.

I don’t even bother to watch him walk away.