My Sex Friend Is My Childhood Friend? - 35

Chapter 35: Hotpot Party

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Then Senpai leaned forward.

“A party?”

As expected of a self-proclaimed party animal who had returned from the U.S. He reacted instantly to the word “party.”

“Yeah. A party. Let’s invite Mahiru and Honoka-chan, and have a fun time together!”

Senpai agreed without hesitation. After checking with Mahiru and Honoka, we scheduled the hotpot party for the following weekend. Honoka was reluctant at first, but apparently agreed once she found out Senpai would be there.

Come to think of it, for someone like me, who was a shut-in during high school, having a hotpot party at home with friends is like normies’ dream event.

I was starting to get nervous. On the morning of the party, Mahiru came over early to help with preparations. We bought extra dishes and all the ingredients together. Once most of the preparation was done, I looked around the room.

Dishes, check. Trash can, check. Mahiru, check. All good!!

Now we just had to wait for Senpai and Honoka to arrive. I got a call from Senpai. He said he was meeting up with Honoka and they’d come together.

“They’re already near the station. They should be here in about 10 minutes…”

Mahiru then walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book.

“Nagi-kun, this—‘Real Estate License Exam’? Are you starting to study for this?”

After we visited my father’s grave, I’d done some thinking on my own.

What does it mean to protect someone?

Obviously, it didn’t come down to brute strength. I still didn’t have the answer, but I wanted to change the fact that I had nothing to offer. So, while it might have been a bit simplistic, I decided to go for the real estate license, something I could study for easily with the kind of work I do.

I answered Mahiru honestly.

“Yeah. Not sure how it’ll go, though.”

As I said that and looked at her, I noticed something had blended completely into the background: the box. It was the box that stored Denma. Besides Denma, there were all kinds of things stashed inside that box.

What the hell are we going to do with this?! There’s no place in my apartment to hide something like that!!

This was bad. The two of them would be here any moment. Mahiru and I ran around in a panic with the box.

(Ding-dong)

The doorbell rang. Mahiru quickly placed the box at her seat and set a cushion on top of it.

Is she trying to make it look like a stool?

At that moment, our eyes met. With a sharp look like a seasoned warrior, Mahiru gave me a thumbs-up. “Good job,” it said.

That’s reassuring and all, but you’re the one who threw a fit and insisted we buy that box in the first place.

The hiding place still left much to be desired, but we had no choice but to go along with this setup for the time being.

(Creeeak…)

I opened the door, and there they were. Honoka was small, and Senpai was tall. Today, Honoka was wearing glasses. I couldn’t help but stare at her face.

If this girl were to lose just a little bit of weight, she’s going to be a real beauty…

(Pinch)

Mahiru pinched my cheek.

Ouch.

She puffed up her cheeks and glared at me.

My sex friend is quite the jealous one, huh?

Senpai and Honoka looked unexpectedly well-matched in terms of height and balance. They brought wine as a gift and handed over a paper bag.

“Cheers!”

We started by toasting with beer. Honoka apparently wasn’t good with alcohol, so she drank orange juice. Mahiru made an Italian-style hotpot, with seafood broth, tomatoes, cheese, and hanpen. It was delicious. While I was enjoying the hotpot, I watched the two of them.

Senpai was acting as usual, but Honoka kept glancing at him. Wait—when did she switch to a can of orange chuhai? Honoka’s face had turned beet red, and she was swaying her head wildly like someone headbanging at a concert.

Is she okay?

Then, all of a sudden, Honoka muttered something and threw herself onto Senpai. She then shouted. 

“I’m still a virgin, but… Please go out with me!!”

The room fell silent at that. I had thought that “let’s start as friends” would’ve been a solid win, but a sudden virginity confession right off the boot…? Mahiru and I locked eyes in shock.

As for Senpai…

He scratched his nose as he answered. 

“Eh, sure, I don’t mind.”

His response was clumsy at best, but he didn’t seem opposed to the idea. Mahiru hugged Honoka and said excitedly. 

“That’s great, Honoka!”

But Honoka looked totally out of it. I took the alcohol away from Honoka and laid her down. Then I asked Senpai.

“Senpai, are you really okay with this? Are you retiring as the apostle of love?”

Senpai hugged one knee and tilted his glass before replying seriously.

“Well… Messaging with Honoka-chan reminded me of my first love. She made me want to respond to that kind of feeling properly.”

As he said that, he stared off into the distance, lost in thought.

…………

“Mahiru-chan, doesn’t that make me kind of cool?”

Senpai tilted his eyebrows down and jutted out his chin again. That was the smug, punchable expression he always wore. Mahiru puffed out her cheeks.

“Not cool at all! Just make sure you treat Honoka with sincerity!!”

Senpai waved his hand like a hero basking in applause, saying “Yeah, yeah,” as if soaking up the praise. After that, we drank and enjoyed ourselves as a group. Back in high school, I was a shut-in, and I didn’t go to college either—so I always thought things like this were out of reach for me.

That was why this experience felt so good, like I’d taken back some of the time I lost. Mahiru watched me with a smile on her face. We drank a while longer, and just as the last trains were about to stop running, Honoka started to stir.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes. She didn’t seem to understand the situation she was in. Mahiru graciously jumped in to explain what had happened. But then… Mahiru’s heel suddenly hit the box. 

It rolled sideways, and Denma spun out of it like a top, flying across the room. And so, now… In front of me, Denma lay on the floor, surrounded by a pair of cat ear headbands and several pieces of sexy lingerie. Everyone’s eyes reflexively locked onto the scene.

And in perfect unison, we all said:

“Ah…!!”

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