Chapter 23: These Hazy Feelings Toward My Best Friend

“So that’s where you were! I was wondering why you were taking so long—you were chatting with my mom!?”

Haru poked her head into the living room and voiced her frustration.

—Crap.

I glanced at the clock and realized more time had passed than I thought. No wonder Haru’s upset.

“Sorry, Haru-chan. I just had a few things I wanted to ask Kiriya-kun, so I borrowed him for a bit,” her mom said apologetically.

“My bad, Haru.”

Haru’s discontent was plain on her face, and both her mom and I offered apologies.

“Haru-chan, dinner will be ready in about an hour, so come down then, okay?”

“…Got it. Kiri, let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Still looking dissatisfied, Haru turned and headed upstairs. I followed her back to her room.

“Sorry about that, Haru. —Haru?”

“Hmph.”

You could practically hear the hmph from her pout. Even after we were back in the room, she sat there sulking with her lips stuck out.

Something about her felt off today. Sure, she was cute like this, but I couldn’t just ignore it.

She must’ve really felt lonely.

This one’s totally my fault.

—But this level of sulking… could it be…?

“Haru. I’m sorry for leaving you alone. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

Saying that, I gently wrapped my arms around her from behind.

If we were just best friends, she’d never allow something like this.

So—let’s see if this goes well… or terribly.

Haru’s body jolted slightly for a moment, but then, she placed her hands over mine.

“—F-fine. I’ll forgive you. …But just this once! Don’t think you’ll get away with it next time!”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Thank god. She’s finally cheered up. Honestly, the way she missed me—Haru right now doesn’t feel like a best friend at all. It’s more like…

And just then—

“Wha—! Don’t hug me, gross!!”

She suddenly remembered herself, shoved my arms off, and pulled away.

Guess it’s not going to be that easy.

“But you were lonely, weren’t you? This much should be fine.”

“Don’t say I was lonely! That’s not it! I was just… well… you know…”

“Lonely?”

“No!! I mean… K-Kiri wasn’t coming back, and when I came downstairs you were all chummy with my mom and… so…”

I see.

“You were jealous of your mom?”

“!? No I wasn’t!! Don’t say stuff like that!! Even best friends get like that sometimes, okay!?”

Bullseye.

Well, I get it. That feeling—I really do.

Even between friends, or maybe because you’re best friends, you can get jealous.

Like, if Nozomu ever prioritized someone else over me, I’d be annoyed too.

But I think what’s happening here runs a little deeper than that.

Still, Haru probably wants to believe it’s just best-friend jealousy.

Fine by me. I’ll let her have that—for now.

“More importantly! C’mon! Let’s keep playing!”

With that, Haru booted up the game again.

A blatant attempt to change the subject—but I played along.

Because honestly, this side of her was cute too.

While snacking on sweets and sipping our drinks as we played, it eventually reached the time that felt just about right for lunch.

“Alright! Let’s break for lunch!”

“Yeah, sounds about right.”

As we wrapped up the game and headed down the stairs together, her mom happened to peek out from the living room.

“Perfect timing. I was just about to call you two.”

“Yeah, we figured it was about time, so we came down.”

“Thanks for the meal.”

“And sorry again about earlier, Haru-chan.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m over it.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Now Haru-chan, help me set the table.”

“Okay, sure.”

Looks like they made up. Good.

The last thing I’d want is to be the reason for tension between them.

And then—

“Oh, I’ll help too.”

“No need! Kiri, just sit down! You’ll only get in the way!!”

“That’s harsh.”

Haru shoved me out of the kitchen and sat me down at the dining table.

Well, no helping it. I’ll behave for now.

From the dining table, I could see the beautiful mother-daughter pair chatting and laughing as they laid out the dishes. It was such a warm, peaceful sight—something truly heartwarming to watch.

At the same time, though, I couldn’t help feeling a little envious. Their closeness was genuine, and seeing it made me feel oddly sulky. The mix of admiration and longing left me with complicated feelings.

“Here. This one’s for you, Kiri.”

Before I realized it, my meal was set in front of me.

The portion was huge—my rice bowl was heaping, and the side dishes looked nearly double what Haru and her mom had.

When did I become the designated big eater? Not that I can’t eat it, but…

…I really gotta watch I don’t gain weight or anything.

“Thanks for the food.”

As always, her mom’s cooking was delicious, and the atmosphere at the table was light and cheerful.

I couldn’t help but think—I honestly envy this. Someday, I’d love to be part of this family, sitting at this table like it was home.

“Alright, shall we head back to the room?”

“Mm, yeah. Thanks for the meal.”

“You’re welcome.”

Once we finished eating and cleaned up the dishes, we headed back to Haru’s room.

“Okay then, time to settle this once and for all.”

Haru pulled out the usual party game with a determined tone.

“Settle what…? I’m up two wins to zero.”

“Exactly! Kiri’s ahead by two points. But this match is worth three—if I win, I turn it all around!”

“That makes no sense. That’s just cheating.”

“What’s the matter, Kiri? Scared of losing?”

Honestly, as long as we’re having fun together, I don’t mind losing…

—or so I thought, until an idea hit me.

If I lose, I’ll accept a punishment. But if I win, then for tomorrow’s outing—not a date, just a hangout—Haru won’t get any say in where we eat.

That way, I can pick a place with a couple’s discount without needing her permission. Problem solved.

Alright. I’ll accept the challenge—with those conditions.

“Fine. I’ll take those rules. But I’ve got one condition too. Loser has to take a punishment.”

“Huh? Punishment? …No way. Sounds like you’ll make me do something weird!”

“Oh, come on, Haru—you’re the one backing out now? And don’t worry. The punishment’s just that you won’t get any say in tomorrow’s lunch. That’s all.”

“No say in lunch, huh… What are you planning to make me eat? Hmmm… Well, if that’s all, fine. Alright! I’ll take you on! If I win, it’s worth three points!”

Nice. She’s in. Now I just have to win.

“Alright, deal. Don’t forget you said that.”

“And if you lose, Kiri, you get a punishment too.”

“…Fine by me. It’s not like I’m gonna lose.”

“Hah!? —I’m definitely gonna win!!”

With that, the game began. As always, Haru picked “Haruto” as her character.

And me? …“Kiriya,” obviously. Yeah, no contest.

“Better be ‘Kiriya’!”

Yeah yeah, I got it.

As soon as I selected “Kiriya,” Haru gave me a beaming smile that was almost too precious.

Seriously, she’s way too cute.

And “Kiriya” is just way too loved. Well, as a best friend, anyway.

It made me happy—but also just a little lonely at the same time.

And thus began our all-out, no-holds-barred battle in a party-style sugoroku game—where losing was not an option.

“So… got anything to say?”

“Why the hell would I roll three dice and end up with triple ones!?”

“That’s not what you’re supposed to say, is it? Come on.”

“…I lost. I’ll accept my punishment during tomorrow’s lunch…”

“Very good. Ahh, I can’t wait for tomorrow!”

I managed to win—just barely.

Things got dicey near the end, but a win’s a win.

Now I’ve got something to look forward to for lunch tomorrow.

“Damn it! I really thought I had it this time!”

“You almost did. I gotta thank you for saving me, Kiriya.”

“Ugh, was that supposed to be a jab!?”

“No, I mean it. Thanks for rolling those triple ones.”

“Graaargh!!”

“Hahaha!”

And just like that, we spent the rest of the time playing games, chatting, and hanging out—just like old times between best friends.

It brought back memories of our middle school days. Kiriya really hasn’t changed at all.

Eventually, the time came for me to head home, and I was seeing myself out at the door with Kiriya seeing me off.

“See you tomorrow.”

“I’ll come pick you up.”

“Okay.”

What I realized today is that, deep down, my feelings for Murakumo-kun as a girl have been smoldering more than I expected—and once that part of me is poked, those feelings surface pretty easily.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t something like a date at a couple’s café be incredibly effective?

I keep thinking that maybe, if the emotions I have as a best friend blend nicely with the ones I have as a potential lover, things might just fall into place.

And so, I’ll make sure not to forget to act strictly as a best friend—and sometimes like a lover.

Because what I want from Kiri is to be both my best friend and my partner.