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!

Then… (1)

Eight months have passed since I started dating Rinka.

We were living together for a while, but that has now ended. The biggest change in these eight months is that now I’m a third-year high school student.

I haven’t fully dived into studying for university entrance exams yet, but it’s about time I start taking it seriously.

That’s how it is these days.

Right now, I’m on my way back home after finishing my part-time job at my family’s wagashi shop.

After doing some shopping at the department store, I’m currently on my way to Rinka’s house.

Walking beside me is Rinka, she has her arm wrapped around my left arm. We are so close with each other that our shoulders are touching. Even after eight months, there is no sign of ‘cooling-off’ in our relationship. We are very much in love with each other and still as affectionate as ever…though, I’m embarrassed to say it myself. I should probably stop bragging.

As my cheeks start to blush, Rinka looks at me with a big smile on her face.

“Senpai, I’ll treasure this for the rest of my life.”

She raises her right hand towards the sky. The silver ring on her finger sparkles.

“‘The rest of my life’ sounds a bit of an exaggeration, doesn’t it?”

“That’s not true at all. It’s something I’ll wear for the rest of my life. But…you’re right. Then, I’ll wear it until you give me another one worth three months of your salary.”

“That’s a lot of pressure…”

“Hmph…what, do you have any complaints about marrying me?”

“N-No, it’s not that. I mean, isn’t it a bit early to be talking about that?”

“No, it’s not too early at all. Let’s go against the trend of late marriages.”

We’re still high school students, there are still college and careers ahead of us.

But yet, here she is making such bold statements.

By the way, today is Rinka’s birthday. I got her the ring she asked for.

I got some money from my part-time job, so that isn’t an issue.

However, the finger she chose to wear the ring…feels a bit heavy. At first, she tried it on her left ring finger. After some back and forth, we finally agreed to put it on Rinka’s right ring finger.

“What do you want for your birthday, Senpai?”

“What I want, huh…hmm.”

I look up at the darkening sky and think for a bit.

I don’t really have many hobbies to begin with. So, when I think about what I want, nothing really comes to mind right away.

“If there’s nothing you want, then how about something you want me to do for you?”

“Ah, if that’s the case.”

“What is it?”

“Stay with me.”

“…w-we’re always together, aren’t we?”

“Yeah, but I think that what makes me happiest.”

Rinka’s cheeks turn bright red quickly, and she suddenly stops walking, looking down.

She looks away, as if trying to avoid me.

“Senpai, you sometimes say things like that so suddenly. It’s embarrassing, so please stop.”

“I’m just being honest.”

“That’s exactly the problem. Seriously, it’s frustrating how you’re so oblivious about it.”

“Why are you getting annoyed…?”

My girlfriend can be quite tantrummy sometimes.

Despite so, the way she refuses to let go of my arm is just too cute.

And so, as we continue our conversation on our way to Rinka’s house…

“…ah, Naegi-kun! Perfect timing!”

I recognize a beautiful girl—no, a man dressed as a woman calling out to me. He comes running towards me.

A platinum-blonde, short cropped hair and a doll-like face, it’s Masamune Sasaki, my classmate from middle school.

Sasaki hides behind me and crouch down.

“S-Sasaki? What are you doing”

“I’m being followed. There’s a suspicious person after me!”

“A suspicious person? Eh, wait, are you okay?”

I take a step forward and hide Rinka behind me. It’s so sudden that I can’t fully grasp the situation, but then a tall man catches my eye.

“Eh, that’s…?”

Rinka murmurs softly.

Sasaki is the first to react to her words.

“Suspicious person. He’s the suspicious person. It seems that he is after me. Please, Naegi-kun, be my boyfriend!”

“Boyfriend? I mean…I already have Rinka.”

“Of course, I know that! Just pretend! Also, I told you, I love girls romantically! But usually, guys who tries to hit on me are a real nuisance.”

Sakaki is panicking on his own.

However, both me and Rinka start to calm down.

At first, the word ‘suspicious person’ put me on guard, but it turns out the person chasing Sasaki is someone we know. Although, knowing him doesn’t entirely put us at ease.

“W-Why are you running!? I’m just trying to return your wallet that you dropped—wait…Toshiya?”

When he—Shintaro Nakajo meet my eyes, he immediately stops dead in his tracks.

He isn’t wearing his glasses, so his handsome face stands out even more.

Perhaps because he isn’t wearing his glasses, he doesn’t recognize me until he got closer. His vision is probably too blurred.

In the middle of the street, silence falls over us.

Despite the noise of cars passing by and traffic signals, it feels strangely silent.

“U-Uh…is he someone you know, Naegi-kun?”

It’s Sakaki who breaks the silence.

“Well, I’d say he’s an acquaintance. I’m sure you know him too, Sasaki.”

“Eh? Ah, could it be…Nakajo-kun? You’re not wearing your glasses, so I didn’t recognize you.”

Glasses make a big difference in how you look. Moreover, if it’s been years since you last met someone, it’s hard to match their current appearance with your memories.

“Do you know me?”

“Of course I do, we went to the same middle school.”

“…sorry. I’m not very good at remembering people.”

“Hmm. I’m supposed to be pretty well-known. It’s kind of complicated.”

Sasaki’s frightened expression from earlier is now gone. Instead, he is puffing out his cheeks with a dissatisfied look on his face.

“You dropped this earlier. It seems there’s some misunderstanding, but I just came here to return your wallet.”

“Ah, you’re right. Sorry about that. I thought you were some persistent guy trying to hit on me”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Wait! W-What…you’re too close!”

“Let me get a better look at your face. I might be able to remember you.”

He moves his face closer, about less than ten centimetres away from Sasaki’s face.

Sakaki blushes slightly and leans back.