I am that male friend in the harem story

"Sorry, did I bother you?"

Yukinoshita, who was alone in her room, couldn't help but call him and then apologized as she wondered whether she had troubled him, especially when she thought that he might still be working now.

"No, I am just thinking of calling you."

"Oh? What's wrong? Do you need something from me?"

While Yukinoshita was confused, Tobe said softly, "It's not that I need you for something, but I just want to hear your voice. I kind of miss you now."

"..."

Yukinoshita felt her face was burning as she felt a sensation on her body that made her unable to calm down, so she moved around her bed like a maniac.

"Yukinoshita-san?"

"...me, too. I miss you..."

Even though it was faint, Shiori couldn't help but clutch her chest when she heard Yukinoshita's voice, which was so gentle and sweet, yet at the same time, she also felt guilty as she knew that she had done something wrong. She might think that it was nothing special, and she just took care of her junior, yet without a doubt, having to invite him out when he had a girlfriend was wrong.

Then again, wasn't he just too calm?

Even though he had said that it was his first girlfriend, it felt like he was so experienced, yet at the same time, a question emerged in her heart, but—

'Let's talk about it later.'

Still, fortunately, Tobe and Yukinoshita didn't talk too long, as he told her that he was eating out, and she was also about to sleep.

"Um, good night. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Yukinoshita felt as though her heart was about to burst, while Tobe felt Shiori's gaze, which was somewhat penetrating. "What's wrong?"

"Do you even love your girlfriend?"

"Do you think I don't love her?"

"...."

While Shiori wanted to say that, she knew she couldn't, especially when Tobe's expression was so gentle as he spoke with his girlfriend. It was good that their relationship was good, yet it made her vexed and quite disappointed.

"No, I can see that you love her dearly."

"...it's weird when you say that."

"What do you think I will say?"

"Hmm..." Tobe thought for a moment and said, "I think that you might say that I am like someone who is used to dating someone, then after I get bored, I will break up with her."

"...I don't know whether what you said was a joke or not, but it doesn't look like a joke at all!" Shiori was speechless, then asked, "Will you break up with her?"

"...your question sounded like a mistress who asked her married partner to divorce his wife."

Yet, instead of showing anger or hatred, Shiori laughed. "Did I sound that way?"

"...why do you seem happy?"

"There is a novelty of being a mistress who is kept by a wealthy man."

"...."

Tobe wasn't sure what to say.

"Retort it! It won't be a joke if you don't say anything!"

"Is that even a joke?"

"It is!" Shiori sighed and said, "Even if I look like this, I am pretty pure!"

"...."

"Say something!"

"How about we eat?"

"You are going to ignore me?!"

Still, Shiori was also angry, so the two started to eat, and as expected, she ordered a salad, a salmon salad. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Tobe ordered a Milano gratin and chicken wings, and a self-service drink, which she also ordered the same.

"The chicken wing is good, Tobe-kun!"

"...don't you have your salad?"

"Don't be stingy!"

"I am not stingy, but eat your vegetables."

"But a human isn't a herbivore; it is impossible for them to eat a salad all the time. I need meat!" Licking her moist, seductive lips, which were stained by the oil and fat of the chicken wing, Shiori put her eyes on his Milano gratin. "Is your gratin good?"

"Do you want to try?"

"Ahh..."

"You want me to feed you?"

"Ahh..."

As Shiori opened her mouth, Tobe stared at her for a moment, wondering whether she was okay with all of this, but he had no taboo, so he fed her, which made her a little shy, yet she hid it with a chewing movement. "The taste isn't bad. It's like an authentic dish."

"A gratin isn't an authentic Italian dish."

"By the way, do you want to taste my salad?"

"Let me try."

"Ahh..."

Instead of letting him pick her salad, Shiori tried to feed him, which left him at a loss.

"What? Are you shy? You are such a virgin, Tobe-kun~!"

"..."

Tobe was helpless, yet while he opened his mouth, which was somehow kind of seductive in Shiori's eyes, he was stunned.

"Ah?"

"O-Oh."

As the crunchy vegetable entered his mouth, Shiori asked, "How is it?"

"It's a salad."

What could he say?

It was impossible for him to say that he loved the natural taste of the vegetable or pretend as if he were eating a fresh vegetable that was just picked from the plantations in southern Italy.

"The dressing is kind of nice, though."

"That's where all the calories come from, though."

"Do you still want to order dessert?"

"I want to!"

Unexpectedly, the restaurant offered a wide variety of desserts, including apple strudel, gelato, semifreddo, tiramisu, pudding, and many others.

More importantly, as all of them were cheap, Shiori was more than happy to order them, including his takeout desserts.

"Are you going to eat them tomorrow?"

"Well..."

While Tobe wanted to keep the dessert for Yukinoshita tomorrow, he knew well that he couldn't say so and could only nod in agreement.

"You are such a glutton!"

"Let's just say that I am young."

"I feel jealous that you can't get fat."

Rubbing his belly again, Shiori sighed, thinking that it was firm.

"...if you keep touching me, I will touch you, too, you know?"

It was unfair that a woman could touch a man so easily, yet he couldn't.

"Then, touch me, if you want to." Shiori smiled as she presented her belly.

"...."

Sighing, Tobe decided to look away, which made Shiori laugh, and as expected, thinking that he was still a virgin.

Regardless, the two enjoyed their time together, eating and talking about many things, as he was being treated by her. Still, while it was enjoyable, he had to go home, and as she had promised, she would send him home.

Sitting side by side, Shiori started the car, but Tobe thought that this position and the place where they stayed were the fastest way for one to get closer.

Yes, according to his research, sitting side by side inside the car as they talked was the fastest way for two people to get closer.

"I have noticed it before, but how come you never play any music or the radio in your car?"

"I am afraid that I can't focus. I just got used to it."

"...this car has insurance, right?"

Shiori laughed and said, "There is no need to worry. I feel strangely good when I drive when you are on my side."

"Are you telling me that you are okay with me getting into the accident, too?"

"It might be."

"..." Tobe.

"By the way, sing something, Tobe-kun."

"Sing?"

"It's strangely quiet if you don't say anything."

"Why sing? We can just talk normally, right?"

"Eh...? Just think of this as a way to repay me for treating you, and I also want to hear your voice, so I can tell whether I can invite you to the karaoke or not."

Did she mean that this wouldn't be the last time they went out?

Yet, Tobe didn't intend to say it out loud and just thought of a song to sing until—

"Oh, it's raining."

"Ah." Shiori started to panic, especially when her vision was interrupted by the harsh rain, as she hadn't learned how to drive in the heavy rain, but—

"It's fine. I am here. Just drive calmly.

His voice calmed her and soothed her, which made her follow his words and drove them softly.

"Hey, don't forget to sing something."

Somehow, because Shiori realized that she had shown her embarrassing side, she asked him to sing, wishing him to sing badly, so that way, she wasn't the only one who was embarrassed.

"I won't sing."

"Eeeh! How cheap!"

"If I sing, who will watch you out during this rain, then?"

"..." Shiori.

"By the way, can you go home by yourselves after you send me home?"

"I-I can do it!"

Yet, Shiori continuously gulped down her saliva as she looked at the heavy rain, which made it impossible for her to see the road clearly.

"....." Tobe.

"I can do it. You don't have to worry." Despite her trembling voice, Shiori forced herself to show a confident smile.

"..."

Yet, watching the rain that grew stronger and stronger, which made him worried, thinking that she might crash into someone, so Tobe stared at Shiori for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to stay at my place first?"