My Best Friend is so Popular it's a Problem (BL) - Chapter 25

By the time lunch break was ending, Haruto returned to the classroom. He was walking lazily, dragging along a huge number of people with him.

…Lately, Haruto always looked like that. He seemed careless, like he was saying there was nothing fun in the world, and watching him made me feel helpless too.

When we were together, he wasn’t like that… He would sometimes be spoiled, sometimes laugh, sometimes sulk—but even then, he had never looked at everything like it was boring before.

“From what I can see, Haruto seemed more eager to be in a relationship with Yuto.”

“If you like Haruto, go for it, Yuto!”

“…………”

—I’m going to tell Haruto how I feel.

Whoa.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

Ugh…
Just thinking about it makes my heart feel like it’s going to die.

I quietly turned my gaze toward Haruto. Hashiba, from our class, had his arm around Haruto’s shoulder, trying to pull him close.

I felt a surge of anger and almost stood up, but before I could, Haruto brushed the arm away, and I came back to my senses.

I don’t understand. I don’t know if everything Sora said is right.

But there’s one thing I do know.

I don’t want to see Haruto like that.

I really don’t want to see him like that!!

As soon as class ended, I quickly stood and headed toward Haruto’s seat. But everyone seemed to notice my movement and gathered around him.

“Haruto, you’re going home already, right? Come with me today.”
“Or better yet, we should decide who you’ll go out with soon.”

It was like they were trying to stop me from getting close to Haruto. Everyone stood in front of me.

“Haruto!!”
I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted his name loudly. My voice seemed to reach him because his body twitched for a moment.

He turned to look at me, still wearing that sulky expression. I felt nervous, but I clenched my sweaty palms and gathered my courage.

“I need to talk to you, Haruto.”

I looked straight into his eyes and said that. His eyes trembled slightly. A mix of confusion and caution, an expression I couldn’t read.

“Haruto, I—”
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

So noisy!!
Why does my heart have to thump so loudly at a time like this!
I feel like it’s going to break!!

“I’m sorry, Haruto, I… I…”

Ahh, geez!
I’ve never told someone my feelings like this before! I didn’t know that saying just one word—“I like you”—would be so hard.

Haruto watched me fidget and hesitate, and for some reason, his expression darkened more than before.

“It’s okay, Yuto. —I’m sorry too. You don’t need to worry about that anymore… Let’s go home, Tanaka.”
“O-Okay!! Let’s go!”

!!?

Haruto’s face looked resigned, and he started leading everyone out to go home.

Wait a second! I haven’t even told him anything yet!!

“I like you! I like you, Haruto!!”

I shouted, and everyone turned around in surprise. Of course, Haruto did too.

But Haruto didn’t seem to believe my words. He seemed to think I had rejected him, or that I still had to keep pretending to be with him.

“So it’s fine now—!?”

Haruto’s words were blocked by me.

Yeah. My body moved on its own.

Before I realized it, I had pulled Haruto close and pressed my lips against his.