My Best Friend is so Popular it's a Problem (BL) - Special Chapter 1

The rumor spread fast.

“Hayato got back together with his ex. This time, it’s the real deal—his true love.”

In the blink of an eye, that gossip swept through the entire school.

Thanks to that, I became the center of everyone’s curiosity. Even people who’d never paid attention to Hayato before started flocking to my classroom, just to get a look at me.

So now, during every break, the hallway outside is packed full of strangers—mostly guys—craning their necks just to peek inside.

“…There’s so many people.”
“Yuto, don’t look that way.”

Hayato grabbed my chin and pulled my face back toward him. And just like that, I was staring straight into his beautiful face—my cheeks slowly heating up.

“Ahh, geez, Yuto, you’re way too cute. I don’t want anyone else looking at you like that.”
“C-cute? You’re the one who’s beautiful and cute, Hayato. I’m plain and ordinary. I just blend in with the crowd.”
“Ha!? What the hell are you talking about?! Are you serious right now!?”

Hayato’s eyes went wide, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

…Honestly, I’m the one who should be sighing here.

I let out a small breath—half exasperation, half amusement. Hayato made the exact same face.

“Sora, you tell him too! Yuto has no idea how cute he is!”

Hayato turned to Sora, brows furrowed like he was pleading for help. Sora just gave a helpless little smile.

“Honestly, you’re both the same. But if you ask me, Yuto looks cute because of you. He gets all red and shy whenever you’re close. If you don’t want to make him any cuter, maybe back off a little?”

“Haah!? Why the hell should I back away from Yuto!? If I leave someone this cute alone, who knows what kind of wolf’ll try to snatch him up!?”

“That’s not the point! I’m talking about personal space! Move back—like, fifteen centimeters!”

“…Huh?”

Hayato blinked, confused, looking between Sora and me. Then he shifted his gaze, checking the distance between us.

“…Is it really that close?”
“It’s close,” Sora answered flatly.

I nodded hard in agreement.

“Close…?”
Still not satisfied, Hayato lifted a hand to his chin and started measuring the space between us—with no intention whatsoever of moving.

“Then try imagining this,” Sora said. “Could you stay this close to anyone else besides Yuto?”
“No way! You’re kidding, right!?”

Hayato instantly denied it—then froze, eyes wide in sudden realization.

He turned toward me with a pitiful look, tilting his head slightly, his gaze turned upward.

“Yuto… do you… want me to move away from you?”

Zukyuーーn!!

Thump. Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump—!!

His close-range, heart-piercing gaze hit me like a bullet. My face burned red-hot, my heart pounding so hard it might explode.

Wh-what a sneaky move…!
Too cute… way too cute!!

While I was flustered, trying to calm my racing heart, Hayato let out a little growl—“Kuuh!”—and pulled me into his arms with a tight squeeze.

“Ahh, geez! You’re just too cute! I wanna hide you away somewhere so no one else can see you! I love you so much!”

His cheek brushed against mine, warm and soft against my ear. All I could do was freeze, completely overwhelmed, while Sora watched us with a weary expression.

But none of us—neither me, nor Hayato, nor Sora—had any idea that this sweet little scene would soon throw me into an entirely new kind of trouble.