I am that male friend in the harem story

"....."

Tobe didn't immediately answer Yuuta's question, but started to wonder why this guy took the initiative to ask him this question. If it was before, he was sure that Yuuta would ignore him, and just pretend not to see anything, focusing on the job as a staff member of the bookstore instead of talking about his relationship.

At the same time, were they so close that Yuuta could ask him this question?

Was his slight gesture of kindness mistaken as if Yuuta could question him about anything, as if Tobe was the prisoner and Yuuta was the interrogator?

Then again, Tobe also understood that as a young person, it was normal for them to think about right and wrong, rather than looking at everything from the perspective of an interest.

Whether it was Tobe or Shiori, they were happy with their relationship, but Yuuta thought that they were wrong, especially when Tobe had a girlfriend.

Was it okay for the two to be intimate even though Tobe had a girlfriend?

Yuuta came to Tobe to ask this question since he didn't dare to question Shiori anymore, as he was afraid that nothing could be done.

However—

"Asamura." Tobe looked at Yuuta and asked, "Are you under the impression that we have become friends after I talked to you a bit?"

"..."

Yuuta couldn't say a single word, and his expression became one of shock, filled with disbelief, and he even staggered, never expecting such words to come out of Tobe's mouth.

Earlier, Tobe had talked so warmly, showing his interest in him, which made him feel a closeness. However, in just a moment, he became so cold and distant, which made him understand that they were never friends, and his question was out of line.

"Do you like Shiori?"

"I..."

Yuuta's expression was that of an uncomfortable hesitation, and even awkward, like a thief who was discovered.

"You should ask that question to Shiori instead of me."

Why did Yuuta come to him?

Wasn't it because Yuuta didn't dare to face Shiori that he came to Tobe?

Yet, did Yuuta think that Tobe was a pushover, the evil dragon, the one that he needed to save the princess?

What if it were the princess who seduced the evil dragon?

Who made the first move?

It was Shiori, and it was she who tried to seduce him, even though Tobe had reminded her that he had a girlfriend, but as he had never refused, and this was how he was. Having one woman to live with alone might be great, but for him, who had tasted the feelings of being with many women, it was hard to just stay with one woman alone.

Equality.

Tobe wanted to say that a relationship had no need to worry about the difference in status; when two people had the same status, their situation would be in harmony.

If one of them had a lower status, then naturally, this relationship wouldn't be easy since one felt like they had given too much, or the other felt inferior.

Yet, wasn't it love that made them be together, and because they had decided to be together despite the difference in their status, they decided to be together, and because of that, they had to pay a certain price.

Naturally, if they couldn't pay that price, they would part ways, but Tobe had never been afraid to pay that price, as he had the confidence to do what most people couldn't do.

So, Tobe didn't have much patience toward those who wanted to use this chance, trying to make them feel like they were on a high above ground, being the right one, and felt better as they had subdued the evil within their beliefs and prejudices.

Tobe knew well the price and the consequences of his actions, so he had no need for someone to remind him.

Still, after he changed into his part-time job uniform, he left directly, ignoring Yuuta, who was still in a daze, and lowered his head since the two of them knew well that the reason why Yuuta acted that way was because he was sulking as Shiori had become so distant.

Instead of hugging Tobe and making him into the fake boyfriend in front of the guy who tried to pick Shiori up, wasn't it better to act that way to Yuuta, who had no girlfriends?

After all, during his time as a part-time worker in this place, Yuuta's role had been that of a fake boyfriend to prevent those pickup guys from being persistent with Shiori.

Unfortunately, that role was no longer his, and Yuuta had even given up on women, thinking that they were all the same. When they saw someone better, they would give up their previous one, forgetting that many guys often did the same things. As men grew stronger, wealthier, and more powerful, they often forgot their old wives and took on a new girlfriend or mistress, ignoring their wives, who had been by their side when he was still poor.

"Hmm..."

On the other hand, Tobe, who had walked out of the locker room and was ready to work, met Shiori, who asked, "Did Asamura-kun say something to you?"

"Oh, can you tell?"

"I feel like he might say something to you." Shiori frowned, without hiding her displeasure.

"..."

Unlike guys, who could perfectly hide their emotions even if their opponents were unpleasant, as their logic allowed them to think with a clear head, thinking it wasn't good to be led by emotions, women were the slaves of their emotions, and they were easily moved by what they felt.

This was why, to be with a woman, it was like treating a car, as the two of them needed to be maintained.

If one doesn't maintain a car according to its needs, then it will break, right?

A relationship with a woman was like that, too, if one didn't try to maintain it and just treated it as nothing after they got her, then don't blame them for leaving the guys despite being married.

It was troublesome, but that was the price if one wanted to have a relationship, and the gains from this trouble were great, right?

"Don't get angry. He is just worried that you might be seduced by a scumbag."

"...I have already been seduced by a scumbag, though." Shiori stared at the scumbag in front of her, speechless.

"But I am glad that you are being seduced. If not, then this scumbag can't have you."

Tobe wanted to hug Shiori, but in the end, he resisted.

Yet, with Shiori's feelings and love, how could she do anything after she heard those words?

So she looked around for a while and, after confirming that no one was around, she clung to him happily with a silly, loving smile on her face.

"I miss you..."

"Me too..."

Looking up at the face of the man who had taken her virginity, Shiori's expression exuded lewdness as she said, "Do you want to go back to my place~?"

"..."

What could he say at that moment?

It was obvious, but as Yuuta had come out, the two quickly parted away as if nothing had happened before they continued their part-time job peacefully and couldn't wait till it was the time for the end of their part-time job under the complicated gaze of Yuuta.