When I brought my childhood friend back home after a long time, she suddenly started undressing and said, "I want you to hold me..."

On the other hand, Sho, who had received Aoi’s (attempted) confession, asked for help from Tatsuya Suzuki, his only close friend at the university.

“… Hmm, so you were almost confessed by her.”

“No, it’s more like I was deceived.”

It looks like Aoi’s immediate deception didn’t work on him.

“If that’s the case, then I guess you should push her more to reveal her true feelings.”

“Even if you ask me to take the lead, it’s not at all easy as I have never been in a relationship with a girl till date.

“Why don’t you atleast give it a try?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Hmm, is that so? For me when you told me your story, the first thing that came to my mind was that you have a very high chance of getting in a relationship with her.”

“If it was like that, then people would have confessed their love without any fear of getting rejected.”

“Haha… It’s not that hard.”

“I’ll tell you how hard it is if you don’t know.　You’re about to get a 4th grade college!”

“Eh?…seriously⁉”

“I’m serious. So please be more or less accommodating.”

“Haa… well, I guess it’s fine. So what kind of help do you need from me?”

“That sounds good. I want some ideas from you.”

“I see, then I’ll help.”

‘Phew, it looks like we will somehow make it work.’

I wasn’t really expecting much from Tatsuya in the first place.

But the thing he can help me with, is experience.

Unlike me, Tatsuya surprisingly has good common sense, and he seems to never make a strange mistake.

However, I’m not saying that he has never been in a relationship. He’s very popular, even in this formidable way.

The number of girls he has dated is already in double digits. If we take a rough count then it easily exceeds 20.

The thought of a 20-year-old man having that many relationships gives me a little shiver down my spine, but I do not believe that he has crossed the line, and at least that is what I believe.

Anyway, I’m looking for some inspiration from Tatsuya, who has been in more than 20 relationships.

“So, do you think you have any specific ideas?”

“Before that, I would like to hear something from you.”

“Hmm…What is it?”

“It’s not that big of a deal, but… Sho, do you really want to go out with this girl.”

I stopped thinking for a moment because of the sudden question he asked me, it was really unexpected coming for someone who has been in so many relationships.

“… What’s wrong with that?”

“There is nothing wrong in it, but if you want the relationship to work out and last for a longer time period, then your feelings must not be something made up on a whim, and it should also be mutual with the other party.”

I was taken aback a little by the sight of my friend acting more serious than usual. As expected, he is a good guy. At the same time I was wondering if what I was stepping in was right or wrong.

‘I’m not really sure, and was it my fault to proceed without thinking much about it.’

“… To be honest, I still haven’t decided properly.”

“I see, anything else you would like to add in it?”

“I am not really sure, but if you talk about my feelings for her then I guess I like her. It’s nearly 50-50.”

“Hmm, so you are not clear about it. Are you childhood friends with that girl?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you like best friends?”

“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other… I don’t really know if our relationship is that deep. But I am certain that our bond is more than that of me and Tatsuya.”

“Oh, more than me?

“What’s with that tone?”

“Well, of course I am jealous.’

Tatsuya was currently looking at me with a grin on his face.

“Uh-huh, that sort of thing cannot happen between us.”

“Hey, I am not a g-y in the first place, hahaha.”

‘This guy… I can’t really think what goes in his mind, sometimes he takes things so lightly and at other times he acts so mature and serious.’

Tatsuya stood up and grabbed my shoulders and said,

“Well, anyway. If you are not certain with your feelings, take things slow at the start.”

“… I see.”

“Let’s hear from you first, how do you want things to go?”

“I am not really sure at what pace I should proceed.”

Why don’t you just confess

“Then why don’t you just confess back to her?”

“Haha, that’s not possible, is it?”

“I don’t think it’s impossible. There are many who take that approach.”

“That’s not true.”

I was actually worried that after the way things have proceeded so far, if I make even the slightest of mistakes then it might affect our future relationship.

However, I have only seen these types of things in comics, drama series and anime.

“Well, for now try something and clear the awkwardness between both of you.”

“What should I do?”

“Think about it yourself. I’ve made a lot of suggestions.”

“You’re being petty, all of a sudden.”

“Well then, I am going to spend my time on Pachinko machines.”

Tatsuya picked up his bowl and headed over to the conveyor belt of the sink. I sighed while looking at his back.

‘Ugh, just what should I do!’

_____________________________________

On the other hand, Aoi…

The night of the next day, when Aoi asked for consultation from her best friend.

Mizuki received a phone call from Aoi after she finished her part-time job. The content of the call was that Aoi was going out on a date! But unfortunately she didn’t have any plans, hearing her Mizuki was stunned.

“Are you serious?”

“…Yeah.”

“Shouldn’t you take things slowly at the start? why are you rushing it!”

“Well, this is what I personally intended to do.”

Aoi over the video call arched her back a little, she was like a purring cat. She did look a little pitiful, but Mizuki was indeed right here.

Aoi and Sho have a different type of relationship as before all formalities, they have already crossed the line, so starting with a date is definitely not the wrong choice. It will be more like deepening their bond and progressing things more smoothly in future.

And as they both took a different route, doing things which are considered ‘normal’ is definitely wrong.

However Aoi, who always goes to dig her own grave, is surprisingly going on with the flow of moments.

“Haa… well that’s fine, if Aoi is okay with it.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have.”

“I didn’t say it like that, it’s just that I hope you are not taking things too fast.”

“Yeah, that’s right…”

“What, you knew about that?”

“… Yeah, I thought this was a good plan, and I have already pressed on the button for the reservation before I knew it, hehe~”

“You are laughing on my demise.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ugh, I can’t handle it anymore.”

“What the h-ll?”