I am that male friend in the harem story

"Excuse me." 

"Welcome, Yuu-kun~! Please enter~!" 

As Ishigami said those words, Tsubame welcomed him to her home with a gentle smile. 

"Please wear those slippers, Yuu-kun." 

"Thanks, Senpai." 

It might be something in Asia that people usually take off their shoes when they enter the house, and even sometimes wear slippers, so the house would remain clean. 

Taking off his shoes, Ishigami put on the slippers prepared by Tsubame, then asked, "Where are your parents?" He thought of greeting them first since he had entered their house. 

"Oh, it's fine. They are not at home. They should still be busy with the wedding preparation of my brother," Tsubame said casually, and from her tone, this wasn't something huge, but Ishigami was different. 

While it might be strange, Ishigami felt like he was that girl who was deceived by a boy to enter his house, and when she let her guard down—

He decided to stop his imagination from running amok, and he shouldn't let himself think that he could have a chance with Tsubame during this moment, especially when her parents weren't present. Frankly, he felt that his life was amazing, especially when, on the single day after he was confessed to, many women kept coming to him one after another. 

One confessed to him, the other pushed him down, and lastly, one let him enter her home. 

Was this a fourth-timing relationship? 

Ishigami often heard someone do two-timing, but it was his first time hearing that someone did four-timing, and the one who did it was himself, which made him even more complicated. 

"Is this fine?" 

Nevertheless, while it was a bit of a cowardly move, he decided to ask since he didn't think it was good for him, someone with a girlfriend, to stay alone with another girl in her home. 

Well, those words might be a little too late when he considered what he did with Kobachi, but as expected, a certain ritual of politeness was necessary for this type of thing. 

"It's fine. It's fine. Or..." Tsubame looked at Ishigami with a mischievous smile and asked in a slightly flirty tone, "Did you think that we might do something pervy, Yuu-kun?" 

"...I have never said that. I think that you are the one who is too thirsty to think something like that, Senpai." 

While there was a party for him who thought that was a possibility, Ishigami knew that the possibility was low, and instead of hoping for a miracle to happen, he might as well focus on studying since he knew well that on the weekend, he wouldn't touch any books related to the school. 

Still, he had never thought that Tsubame would blush as if being caught doing something wrong before she quickly looked away, trying to escape from his gaze. "A-Anyway, let's study first! I will prepare tea. You should go to my room first." 

"....." 

Ishigami didn't say anything and just observed her reaction for a moment before he said, "Let me help, and I don't think it is good for me to come to your room without your companion on my first time here." 

"Shy boy, aren't you?" 

Somehow, his answer brought her courage once again, and she returned to her usual character as a gentle big sister who doted on her younger brother. 

Sister and brother. 

This was probably the most suitable relationship that they had since they shouldn't have fallen in love with each other. He had a girlfriend, and she wasn't ready to be committed to the relationship, but at the same time, they could spend their time together without worry. 

If there was a problem, it would be either of them who might start to change their feelings as they were together. 

However, as long as there were no feelings between them, it was fine, knowing all of that, they could continue this comforting exchange. 

In the kitchen of her house, the two helped each other prepare tea and snacks for their ammunition for their study. 

Calories are important for the body to move and also for the mind to think, so something sweet was necessary. 

At the same time, he couldn't help but look at the luxurious apartment owned by Tsubame's family. Not only was it located in Minato, one of the richest districts of Tokyo, but its size was also massive, showing how wealthy her family was. 

According to her tale, she was the daughter of a world-famous bartender and was a regional manager of a multinational food company. 

This might be the reason why there was a bar set up in the middle part of her apartment, showing the interest of the entire family in beverages. 

Still, if he was a normal boy with both parents who were just normal salarymen, then he might feel inferior. At the same time, he also understood why Shirogane studied with all of his might and that he even sacrificed his sleeping time, since if Shirogane didn't, then there was no doubt Shirogane would feel inferior toward Kaguya. 

It was because Shirogane's grade was the number one that he could defeat Kaguya that he dared to chase her, or else Ishigami also knew that Shirogane would give up, thinking that there was no chance between the two. 

Confidence. 

This single word was the key to everything. 

Others might get it easily, but for most people, it was hard for them to get it since everyone had their own inferiority, whether it was their appearance, body, family, mind, or many other things. Their hard work was done so they could hide their inferiority and have confidence, which made them able to achieve their goal, whether it was work or relationships. 

Still, for him, who had a system, he was confident that sooner or later, he would stop on the top of Kaguya and make her crawl on his bottom, asking for forgiveness. 

'Well, let's stop the bad joke.' 

The two of them weren't fated, and Ishigami knew that he should treasure his girlfriend more, yet as he thought so, Tsubame felt so relaxed. Probably, this was her first time to feel like this since she had never felt this way with the opposite gender, as they would try to seduce her and make her fall due to her good appearance. 

Even if she had decided to go out with someone, it was so vexing and chained, like she was being treated like an all-you-can-do android with a personality setting that could be changed by her previous boyfriend.

It was a horrible experience, and this guy even cheated on her with her best friend, which made her think that a relationship was something that traumatized her. She even wondered why anyone thought of making relationships, as all the relationships she had were nothing but torture and pain for her. 

All those love, relationships, and romance-related songs and stories she felt it was just a fantasy, especially with her horrible experiences. 

Yet, with him, it was different. 

She could be like she wished for; she was happy, and there was no need for her to be afraid that their relationship might be ruined. 

"Yuu-kun, try this. This snack is good. My father got it from overseas."

"Oh? Let me try." 

Ishigami was about to take the snack from Tsubame's hand, but she moved away and tried to feed him. 

"Open your mouth. I will feed you." 

"....." 

Watching her mischievous expression, Ishigami rolled his eyes and accepted her offer, letting her feed him. 

"Come." 

"Fufufu... you will be surprised at how good this snack is." 

"Now, you make me curious." 

When Tsubame fed Ishigami, she felt his tongue on her finger, which made her face blush and her body hot, but she hid it well as she was older and experienced. 

"Oh, it's delicious." 

"Right?" 

"By the way, I have finished with the yuzu soda." 

"Really? Let me try." 

"Sure." 

When Ishigami was about to give the glass to Tsubame, he felt strange by her action. "What are you doing?" 

Tsubame didn't appear ready to accept the glass. Instead, she just stood in her place as if waiting for Ishigami to feed her. 

"Feed me~! I have fed you before, right?" 

"...." 

Ishigami felt that Tsubame tried to seduce him, but he couldn't confirm it since this was also how she usually acted, considering how mischievous she was. Moreover, based on their relationship, feeding each other was nothing, especially when he had pressed his head against her breasts previously. 

"Okay." 

When Ishigami moved the glass closer to Tsubame's lips, she was a little shy, but she obediently opened her cherry lips and sipped the drink he made softly. 

"Hmn~! Delicious! Perfect! Sensei is happy~!" 

"I have a good teacher with me." 

"My student is good at praising me, but I won't reduce your study later, Yuu-kun." 

"..." Ishigami. 

Watching his devastated expression, Tsubame laughed happily. 

Happy, she was happy. 

It was nice to stay with him, and she was so happy that he could be by her side. 

Yet, she wondered why when she thought Ishigami would spend his day tomorrow with his girlfriend, kissing, and might even stay at the hotel together... her mind became cloudy and gloomy, filled with an annoyance that was rooted in her heart. 

"Senpai?" 

"Ah, nothing. Let's go to my room, Yuu-kun." 

Fortunately, her expression was hidden by her long bang, and she also happened to lower her head, but to calm herself, she walked behind Ishigami, guiding him to her room before she closed the door, ready to start their study session.

---

Naturally, Tsubame doesn't bring a knife.