I am that male friend in the harem story

It might be unthinkable now, but in the past, the smartphone or even a mobile phone didn't exist, especially in the countryside like his place, so Satoshi had to say he felt quite troubled as he couldn't contact Kaho when he had come late. 

"I thought you had left." 

Kaho somehow said those words as she looked at him. 

"I won't do that." Satoshi was speechless by her accusation and said, "I have told you that I want to go home with you, right? So, how can I go home without you? Do you think I am someone who will joke around about that?" 

"....." 

Kaho blinked her eyes and then apologized. "I am sorry. I was joking before since I know well that you aren't someone who will always joke around." 

Satoshi's role might be like that of a joker, but even so, she knew well that the others had only his outer part, and his inside was pretty manly. 

"But thank you for waiting for me. I am happy." 

Watching his happy smile, Kaho also smiled and said, "You should be lucky that you have a cute girlfriend like me who waits for you patiently." 

"..." 

Satoshi was speechless, but he knew that he was the one who had made her wait despite the fact that he was the one who had given the invitation. "Then, should we go back now?" 

"Um." 

As Kaho nodded, Satoshi also took this chance to hold her hand. 

"...you are pretty assertive." 

Kaho was speechless, but she didn't hate his touch. 

Still, he only smiled and said, "I always strike the iron while it is hot, but if you are uncomfortable with it, then I can let you go." 

"...no, it's fine." Kaho lowered her head as her face blushed shyly. "I was surprised at first, but somehow... it isn't bad." 

"Right? Your hand also feels nice to hold." 

"...you are pretty shameless, you know?" 

"If I don't do so, then I can't get you, right?" 

Kaho sighed helplessly, but she didn't let go of his hand and held him since it felt pretty comfortable. 

Still, Satoshi didn't plan to hold her hand too long, but when he was about to let go, she held him tightly. He raised his brows and thought that she was pretty assertive, too. 

Yet, while they were a bit shy, the two went home holding hands. 

Some students naturally saw them and were dumbfounded, but Satoshi and Kaho ignored them as they had their conversation. 

"Do you have to help the teacher every day like that?" 

"Not every day; it is only occasionally. If it's every day, I will refuse her." 

"You can refuse?" 

"Do you think I can't refuse someone? I don't have an awkward or pushover personality, you know?" 

Then, you let me hold your hands after I just confessed to you?

Regardless, Satoshi knew that everything just depended on the mood, and to take the relationship further, one had to take the risk. Naturally, a chance of being rejected existed, but if one was accepted, then it was all good, right? 

After all, if he didn't make a move, then it would mean he had to wait for Kaho to make a move, and he had to let her bear the nervousness and the risk of taking their relationship further, which was pretty unmanly, he thought. 

Nevertheless, their trip home was pretty peaceful and enjoyable, especially with the beautiful scenery of Takayama City as everything was still raw, without being affected by the development of technology, especially with many old-fashioned buildings remaining in good quality, which was one of the reasons why this city was also famous for tourism. 

Frankly, Satoshi also had to admit that this city was pretty weird as it was located in the mountains, isolated from most cities, yet somehow, this city was thriving; but then again, as technology developed, he knew well that if this city didn't develop its specialty, it might become a ghost town in the future, especially with the birth declining problem and urbanization as the income from this city was much less than in the big city.

"By the way, I haven't asked you this." 

"Hmm?" 

"Do you love me?" 

"...that's so sudden, but I guess that's a fair question." 

"So, do you love me now?" 

"...how about you?" 

"Hmm... to be honest, I am not sure, but when you hold my hand and as we walk like this, I feel my heart filled with happiness, and I just want this time to continue..." 

"....." Satoshi blinked his eyes, watching Kaho's face slowly grow redder, but fortunately, the orange sunset masked her cute blush. "Thank you. I am happy to hear from you, and of course, I love you. If I don't, then I won't confess to you, right?" 

If Oreki had heard what Satoshi had said at that moment, he would have definitely rolled his eyes. 

Kaho smiled and asked, "So, how long have you fallen in love with me? Is it love at first sight?" 

"No, I don't think that it is love at first sight, and to be honest, I don't believe in love at first sight." 

"You don't?" 

"Love at first sight is all about appearance, right? If one's appearance is ugly, do you think one can fall in love with him or her at first sight? I think that love at first sight is all about lust." 

"..." 

While Satoshi's words were so blunt that it made her speechless, Kaho also nodded, but somehow, she still wanted to argue. "Then, how does one fall in love? Or rather, how did you start to love me?" 

"Hmm... I guess it all started due to curiosity." 

"Curiosity?" 

"Yes, frankly, I was not that good with you at first as you were quite blunt and often reprimanded me." 

"It was all because you often missed your homework and were a troublemaker." 

Kaho couldn't help but pout as she heard his answer. 

"Sorry." 

"It's fine, so what does it have to do with the reason you fell for me? Do you like being reprimanded?" 

"...I am not a masochist, okay?" 

"Then?" 

"Be patient. Let me explain it slowly." 

"Okay. I will listen." 

Watching her expectant eyes, Satoshi sighed inwardly, then said, "After that, I started to look at you more, watching you from a distance, thinking that even if you often have a conflict and might even be hated due to your straightforward nature, you still continue, never wavering, and... I am attracted to that part of you.

"But I know that I am a pretty troublemaker, so it's hard for me to have the courage to get close to you, but today... I tried to, and I am glad that I did." 

"Satoshi..." 

Kaho was moved by his words, but—

"Can I kiss you?" 

Snorting, Kaho moved lightly to the side and hit him with her shoulder lightly. "It is too early!" 

"That's a shame..." 

Watching his disappointed expression, Kaho blushed and said, "If... if you do well on the next test, then I will think about it." She thought that it might be a good idea to use this chance to make him study harder. After all, even if the knowledge of a school might not be necessary in the adult world, having a good grade is better than not, right? 

"Really?" 

"Really." 

"Then, I will study hard!" 

Kaho only laughed as they continued to walk until they reached her home. 

"Then, I will go home now." 

"Um, be careful." 

While reluctant, Kaho decided to part away from him and walked home, climbing the stairs slowly. Satoshi also started to walk home as he thought about his future and what he should do to make money. 

Still, he had to say, Kaho's home was huge. 

'As expected of the heiress of the largest shrine in this city...' 

Yet, unlike Oreki, who was lazy, Satoshi didn't want to rely on his woman, but he had to say the reward that he gained from Kaho was quite weird. It was just when he was about to go home—

"Father!" 

Satoshi was startled when he heard Kaho's panicked voice, so he quickly ran back and saw Kaho and others, who were frightened and overreacted by something. 

"What's wrong, Kaho?" 

"Satoshi... my dad..." 

Satoshi looked at the middle-aged man, who held his chest tightly, seemingly to be in deep pain, and quickly said, "Call the ambulance. Get a pillow." As he instructed them one by one, all of them followed and quickly helped Kaho's father, who had fallen. 

Still, it seemed that the ability he gained from Kaho was more frightening than he had thought.