Chapter 31: My Best Friend, My Goddess

I closed the curtain to the fitting room, and now it was just me and Koharu-chan in this small space.

She probably didn’t expect the reaction she got from me. Looking awkward, she let go of my hand and apologized.

“S-Sorry, Haru-chan. I didn’t think you hated it that much… I forced it on you, didn’t I? Are you mad?”

She must’ve taken my reaction as a sign that I didn’t like it.

But that’s not it. It’s not that I hated it, or that I was angry.

It’s just… I couldn’t hold back my feelings anymore, and I was about to lose control.

“I’m sorry, Koharu-chan. That’s not it. I didn’t love it, but I’m not mad or anything.”

“Really? That’s a relief… but then, why?”

Why, she asks…

“Kiri… no, that’s not it. I… I mean, how should I put this…”

Even I wasn’t sure how to explain it. My emotions were all over the place, running wild in my head. I couldn’t make sense of any of it.

So I couldn’t say anything. I just stayed silent.

◇◆◇

The one who broke the silence was Koharu-chan.

“—Hey, Haru-chan. What do you think of Kiriya-kun?”

“What do I… I guess… I think of him as my best friend… right now.”

Yeah. A best friend. Kiri is my best friend.

That part hasn’t changed, and I don’t want it to change.

“You said right now. So it was different before?”

Before… yeah. Just a little while ago, he wasn’t just a best friend. For me, Murakumo-kun was—

“Yeah. Until recently, I liked him as the opposite sex… and, well, I think we were dating.”

When I said that, Koharu-chan hummed thoughtfully behind me.

“You were dating and now you’re best friends…? So it’s not like you stopped liking him, right? I mean, when couples break up, they might say, ‘Let’s still be friends,’ and I get that. But after that, they usually draw a line—something even outsiders can see. But you two aren’t like that. You still hold hands, and you’re more casual than before—sure, like best friends. But even so, you’re still super close. That’s why I can’t believe you actually broke up.”

It’s true. It’s not like a normal couple breaking up and becoming “just friends.”

“Kiri knew I was his best friend when I was still a guy, and on top of that, he said he liked the me who became a girl. But I didn’t realize he was my best friend—I just liked Murakumo-kun as a girl would. So I thought we were a normal couple.”

Yeah… up until that moment, I just liked Murakumo-kun normally, as a girl.

“I see. So, did something happen? Like a fight?”

“No, I don’t think we fought. It’s just that… when he told me he was my best friend, that’s when I felt like… our romantic relationship was over.”

“Wait, why?”

“Because… I don’t think lovers can be best friends. And best friends and lovers are different things. For me, Kiri is an irreplaceable best friend I never want to lose.”

When I said that, Koharu-chan wrapped her arms around me from behind and whispered by my ear.

“Haru-chan, I think you’re wrong about that. My Nozomi told me he said the same thing to Kiriya-kun. Sure, for most guys and girls, lovers and best friends can’t be the same. When best friends become a couple, they stop being just friends. But Haru-chan, you were originally a guy and Kiriya-kun’s best friend. That’s why with him, you can stay best friends even as lovers. I believe you two can have both.”

—Because you were originally a guy and his best friend, you can stay best friends and be lovers.

That’s what Koharu-chan said.

If it’s with Kiri—because it’s with Kiri—we can do that.

It’s not like with normal boys and girls. Our relationship is something special.

I hadn’t thought of it that way.

I’d been thinking in terms of normal male-female relationships, and I didn’t realize that what we had was different.

I assumed that if we became lovers, our best-friend bond would disappear.

But… is that really true?

As soon as I asked myself that, I already had the answer.

Kiri right now treats me like both a best friend and a lover.

And me, too—I’m holding hands with Kiri, and it still feels like we’re best friends.

The excitement I feel from holding hands, the happiness of being connected—it feels just like being in love.

I used to think, this is this, that is that. But now I realize—that’s exactly what it means to have both.

Then… maybe I don’t need to hold these feelings back anymore.

Maybe it’s okay to finally say it out loud—that I love Kiri.

“Kiriya-kun… don’t you like him as the opposite sex too? Don’t you want to be more than just best friends? Don’t you want to be lovers?”

Koharu-chan said it deliberately, like she was daring me—pushing me forward.

Come on. Make up your mind. That’s what she was telling me.

“I—I…”

“Hold on.”

Just as I was ready to speak—ready to commit—Koharu-chan stopped me and slipped out of the fitting room.

Huh? I barely had time to blink, and then suddenly—Kiri was shoved inside.

No way. She set me up.

Damn it, Koharu-chan. She really went and did it.

A whirlwind. A thunderclap on a clear day. A flash of lightning out of nowhere.

—But yeah. I get it now.

This is what it means to make up your mind.

“What’s going on all of a sudden—? Crap, sorry! You’re still in your swimsuit, huh? I’ll head out—”

Kiri started to back out of the fitting room, but I grabbed his arm tightly.

“W-Wait.”

“What? Sorry, I swear, I didn’t mean to. Kazuhi forced me into it.”

“No, it’s fine. Just… listen to me for a second.”

“About earlier—sorry. I really am. Forcing you into that swimsuit when you didn’t want to… I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s not what I want to talk about!!”

I couldn’t help raising my voice.

Kiri froze and stopped trying to leave. He turned to face me head-on.

“Earlier, Koharu-chan asked me what I thought of you.”

Even now, even after I told myself I’d made up my mind—I still couldn’t look at Kiri’s face.

I was scared. Scared that if I glanced at his expression and saw even the slightest hint of disgust, I’d realize it had all been a misunderstanding.

“That’s when I realized I’d been wrong. I kept thinking of you as my best friend—someone I never wanted to lose. And I thought that if we became lovers, we’d stop being best friends. That I’d rather stay your friend than risk losing that bond.”

Kiri didn’t say anything. Just clenched his fists tight and listened. I couldn’t read his face at all.

“But I get it now. That kind of thinking only applies to normal guys and girls. We’re different. We’re something else. I was a guy, and we were best friends. That makes us special. So staying best friends while becoming lovers—that’s something we can do. And when Koharu-chan said that, it all clicked.”

I pushed on, not letting myself stop.

Even if I was wrong—even if Kiri was about to reject everything—I had to say it all before he could.

Before he could shut me down.

“I’ve been holding these feelings inside for so long, and sometimes… sometimes they just slip out. Emotions that aren’t friendship—they rise up and I can’t hold them back. But now I know. I don’t need to hold them back anymore. Kiri—no, Murakumo Kiriya—you’re my one and only best friend. And as the opposite sex—as a woman—I love you. I love you so much it hurts! Please… tell me how you feel!!”

I poured every last ounce of courage into those words.

And yet, even now, I couldn’t bring myself to look at Kiri.

I kept my head down.

Of course I did—how could I possibly look at him after saying all that?

If he told me he couldn’t see me that way, couldn’t see me as a woman…

I’d want to disappear on the spot.

Kiri slowly unclenched his tightly gripped fists, then exhaled deeply and spoke.

“…Can’t believe you beat me to it.”

With those words, Kiri gently lifted my chin, forcing me to face him.

His expression was just as sharp as always—but now, his eyes were soft.

“I feel the same way, Amari Haruto. You’re my greatest friend… and the only woman I’ll ever love. You’re the only one for me. I’m sure of it. If it’s us—then yeah, we can be the best friends and lovers, at the same time. I love you just as much—no, even more. I love you more than anything in this world. So this time, be mine… for real, Haru.”

And with that, Kiri kissed me.

It had been so long since we kissed. His lips were sweet, and sent a dizzying rush straight to my head.

After that soft kiss, we held each other tight.

Wrapped in Kiri’s warmth, his big arms, his heat… the reality of it all began to sink in.

Everything was real.

“All of me belongs to you, Kiri. But don’t forget—all of you belongs to me, too.”

I don’t need to hide my feelings anymore just because we’re best friends.

We held each other closer, and kissed again.

This time it was deeper—hungry. A kiss that said we belong to each other.

I could feel Kiri’s heartbeat, his warmth, his scent, his taste—everything. Every sensation flooded me with joy.

If only this moment could last forever.

Right now, I can say with pride: we have the most perfect relationship in the world.

God, I’m so happy.