I am that male friend in the harem story

When the call was connected, there was no voice from the opposite. 

She was quiet, and only the sound of the air conditioner and clock could be heard from this call. 

Yet, Ishigami didn't care at all and just softly called her name, "Kobachi, how are you? Have you eaten?" 

He was well aware of Kobachi's attempt to disrupt his date with Onodera the previous day. Despite the rudeness of her actions, he understood that given the nature of their relationship, it was not unjust for him to disregard her. However, his emotional intelligence was not lacking, and he knew what he had to do was to comfort her so she could recover from her emotional discomfort. 

While the beginning of their relationship was kind of forceful, it didn't change the fact that he had greatly benefited from Kobachi. 

Double Charm. 

If it wasn't for this reward, he knew that Chika wouldn't easily fall for him. 

Originally, he might be handsome, but it was far from enough to make Chika accept his naughty conduct, who had a relationship with several women at the same time. However, as he had become more handsome, it aroused her desire to be with him. 

After all, like a man who got excited by having a beautiful woman by his side, a similar thing could happen to the opposite side. 

If he gave an example, it was like those female fans who could even give their bodies to their superstars, even ignoring their men, who had stayed with them for so long. 

A handsome face really brought him that much of an advantage. 

Yet, this reward wasn't the only reason why he treated Kobachi gently. He wasn't that shallow after all, and as they had decided to make this relationship, he had decided to take responsibility, even if this girl was a bit... confusing to him. 

"...I am fine, and I have." 

"Really? You don't sound like one, and you don't sound good, though." 

"Then, do you know the reason why my voice is like this?" 

"I am sorry." 

Ishigami wasn't wrong, but he decided to apologize, and as expected—

"...no, I am wrong, too. I am sorry for being selfish, Yuu..." 

Ishigami showed a soft expression as he heard her answer, and at the same time, he wondered why Kobachi loved him so much. Usually, it wouldn't be weird of her to throw a tantrum, ignore him, and even break up with him, yet when he decided to apologize, she also decided to apologize instead of trying to blame him and take advantage of this situation. 

Kobachi was a gentle girl, he thought, which was why he felt so strange when she suddenly moved on him. 

While he knew that Kobachi had feelings for him, he wondered what made her so crazy about him. 

As he tried to search from his memory, he didn't remember that they had much of an interaction. Their first interaction was when he came to the library when it was about to close, and except for that, he was just a little close to Iino, who was Kobachi's only friend. 

He really didn't understand why Kobachi was so fixated on him. 

"It's fine. What are you doing now, Kobachi?" 

"Oh, I am..." 

They talked about many things, especially how Kobachi spent her weekend and many other random things. 

This talk was meaningless for him, and many men would think that this was just a waste of time, especially when they just listened to the rambling of a woman, but a woman just wanted to be listened to and had her man accompany her.

Even if it was just a voice. 

Still, while Kobachi had reflected on herself, knowing how selfish she was by forcing herself on him and even blaming him for ignoring her, she couldn't help but long for his presence. 

His voice was so gentle and warm that it made her at ease, but when she thought about how he had been with Onodera for the entire weekend, she felt so jealous that she almost went crazy from it.

She knew that she was wrong, and frankly, she should just leave, but the thought of his tight embrace that almost made her suffocated, his sweet voice that made her smile, and that gentle smile that made her days all sunny were all given to someone other than her, making her unable to stop her tears. 

'Even if I want to ignore you...' 

When Ishigami called her for the first time, she thought of ignoring him, making a distance between them and showing her temper. However, in the end, she accepted his call and made up with him since she didn't want him to leave. 

Still, while she wanted to see his face and used a video call, she didn't want him to see her messy face, especially when she had been crying for the past few days. 

Nevertheless, she was so glad that they could talk like this. 

She might not be his girlfriend, and their relationship was something that she was forced upon, yet Ishigami never blamed her and even treated her gently. 

Facing him, she couldn't help but say, "I love you, Yuu." 

"Hmm..." 

"You don't love me?" 

"It's hard for me to say that when you kiss me so suddenly like that." 

"...then, why did you accept everything?" 

"Because you are beautiful." 

"It's all my face in the end!" 

"Then, can you say that your personality is your best trait?" 

"..." Kobachi. 

"But I don't hate this part of you, though." 

"...love." 

"Don't love me so much like that. I am afraid that I might take advantage of you." 

Kobachi smiled when she heard his words. "No, you won't. I know that you won't." 

"..." 

Ishigami was speechless and said helplessly, "You really love me so much, huh?" 

"What was that? You were so narcissistic!" 

"Weren't you the one who loved me so much that you forced yourselves on me?"

The two kept talking to each other as they returned to their intimate feelings. 

Kobachi tried to ease her longing for him as they had parted ways for the entire weekend, and Ishigami decided to be mature and accompanied her. 

Everyone was lonely, whether they were a man, a woman, old, or young. 

Ishigami was lucky that he had good parents and also a lovely girlfriend, but it was different from Kobachi, whose parents had divorced in her childhood.

"It's already midnight. You should sleep." 

While Kobachi wanted to talk more, Ishigami couldn't help but remind her. While he appeared to be cornered about her, he was sleepy and wanted to sleep, but he couldn't be so straightforward and tried to be gentle, so she wouldn't feel disheartened by his words. 

"Oh..." 

Kobachi was disappointed, but she knew that they had to go to the school tomorrow. Still, when she thought about how the one that Ishigami would be with was Onodera, her chest felt tight once again. Thinking how much she hated it, she said, "Yuu, can you go to school early tomorrow?" 

"Hmm... I want to sleep a bit later."

"Yuu!" 

"Okay, okay. I will go to school early." 

"Promise me, okay?" 

"I promise." Ishigami yawned and asked, "What do you want to do? You don't want to do something lewd, right?" 

"....." 

"Oi!" 

"Anyway, see you tomorrow~!" 

The call was then hung up. 

"....." 

Ishigami's lips twitched, and then he let out a helpless sigh as he lay on his bed. 

As he put his smartphone on the nearby table, he wondered whether everything was right. 

If all the girls he had been with were horrible girls, then he wouldn't have any guilt, but unfortunately, all of them were gentle and kind, so his heart was often riddled with guilt. 

Their trust in him was undoubted, and for him, they probably could give their everything. 

If they could accept each other, it would be wonderful, but could they? 

Shaking his head, he couldn't think of a solution, but then again, this was a choice that he had made. If he regretted it, then he knew that all the struggle he had done before was meaningless, and while he felt guilty, he knew that all the rewards he gained were something that was impossible to reject. 

'There's no point in guilt, huh?' 

He might not have found the answer, yet he knew that all he could do was treasure them in his own ways, and at the same time, he hoped that Kobachi wouldn't be crazy and push him and take his innocence. 

---

By the way, do any of you follow "Love Live Superstar"? Or watch "Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko"?