I am that male friend in the harem story-Chapter 233: The Prelude

"Congratulations."

When school started, Oreki congratulated Satoshi while holding the new manga magazine that he had bought on the way to school.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

"Thank you." Satoshi looked at the manga magazine in Oreki's hand and asked, "Did you buy that deliberately to see my result?"

"...."

Oreki blushed, feeling a little embarrassed, but he said, "It can't be helped. I am curious, after all." The fact that his friend participated in the manga competition without hesitation and then won surprised him, but he didn't feel envy or jealousy. Instead, he was happy, especially when he could see that nothing had changed about Satoshi.

"But thank you once again."

"No problem. Don't thank me like that. It's a bit embarrassing."

"Do you want me to give you some royalties?"

"Enough of that! I don't need that kind of thing! Do you think I am someone who will ask my friend something like that?"

Frankly, Oreki didn't think that Satoshi used him as an inspiration, especially when the characters and the story that Satoshi drew were different from their relationship, and he also didn't think that he was worthy of royalty since he knew well that even if Satoshi appeared carefree, Satoshi must be working hard behind the scenes, in a place where no one knew, so how could he even have the right to ask something from him?

Still—

"Are you not embarrassed to say that?"

"...you are right. I am embarrassed, so don't poke it when you know!"

"Haha..." Satoshi laughed, which left Oreki speechless. "So, what are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You are now a celebrity. You can get any girls you want if you announce that you are a mangaka now."

Oreki wasn't sure why he had said this, but if he had to point a reason, it was because he wanted to see Satoshi's true nature. He knew well that Satoshi had a girlfriend, and their relationship was so close, yet despite this, Satoshi's relationships with others were also close, especially with females (based on his observation).

Only—

"Bakayaro! Do you want me to get killed when you ask that?!"

"What do you mean—"

Oreki shut his mouth and quickly lowered his head, ready to run away, especially when he saw Kaho, who was staring in their direction with a gentle smile. Did she hear their conversation? Now, he understood why Satoshi said that his words would kill him!

But even so, while they were friends, he wanted to run away as soon as possible!

"Houtaro-san is correct, Satoshi." Kaho approached them with a smile while looking at her boyfriend the whole time. "You have become a mangaka now. You must be happy to know that all the girls will fawn over you."

'I am sorry.'

Oreki apologized quietly, which made Satoshi sigh helplessly. "I am not. I have a cute girlfriend like you, after all. How can I be interested in others? In my eyes, you are the most beautiful, Kaho."

Letting go of Oreki, Satoshi quickly held Kaho's hand, trying to calm her down, like how a firefighter puts out a fire with water. Still, instead of water, his words were like a fire, which made Kaho's lacivious body become hotter.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really..."

When their eyes met, Kaho knew the meaning of Satoshi's eyes, which made her smile before she glared in the direction of Oreki, who gave Satoshi a strange idea in his mind.

"....."

Sighing, Oreki could only lower his head since he knew that he was wrong. Yet, even so, he also had to admit that his friend had changed since not only had Satoshi become more handsome, taller, better in grade, and more importantly, Satoshi also showed how capable he was from how he could win a big manga competition by his own effort.

If Oreki were a female, somehow, he could imagine that he would fall for Satoshi.

Or rather, he might even just choose Satoshi, so he would not need to be troubled in searching for a suitable partner.

A man said that they have a hard time getting a partner, but it is also the same with women, as they can't approach someone on their own initiative, and if they do so, there is a high chance people will say that they are a slut, yet if they do nothing, all the good men are going to be taken, leaving them only the leftovers, who often say that a feeling can overcome everything as they drown in the abyss of poverty.

Still, a normal one was the best, Oreki thought, and as for Satoshi, this guy... somehow, he was afraid that a tragedy might happen to him, especially—

"Fuku-chan!"

"Fukube-san!"

On the corner on their way to the school, Ibara and Chitanda also came their way, holding the familiar manga magazine that Oreki had bought.

Yet, while their happy smiles were obvious, knowing how Satoshi had become the winner of the competition, Satoshi's smile was quite unnatural since Kaho's hands sunk deep into his arm.

'Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!'

Still, fortunately, Irisu wasn't around, Satoshi thought, but what he didn't know, Irisu was also there, staring at him from the 2nd floor of the school building, waiting for a chance to meet him alone.

---

"You want us to keep everything a secret?" 4x

The fact that Satoshi had won a manga competition was only known by a few people, only those that he had trusted or those whom he couldn't help but talk to.

"Yes." Satoshi nodded. "I don't want to become a celebrity." The fact that he had become a mangaka, if it was known by others, he was afraid that he would become a celebrity directly, which would make it hard for him to have a calm high school life. Still, instead of being surprised by his decision, all of them nodded.

"That's a good idea."

"Yes, there is no need for unnecessary drama."

"You can count on me to keep everything a secret."

Kaho looked at Chitanda, Ibara, and Oreki, then bowed her head slightly. "Thank you for helping my boyfriend."

"Um."

While Oreki nodded calmly, he couldn't help but glance at Ibara and Chitanda, who also gave a similar response, yet their response was a little late, and their smiles were quite awkward.

Kaho knew that it might appear that she was petty, but even so, she wanted them not to have any feelings other than friendship toward her boyfriend. Yes, she understood her boyfriend was charming, and it couldn't be helped for someone to have such an idea toward him, yet even so, he was hers, and in this life, she wouldn't give him to anyone.

However, those words of hers made the situation between all of them awkward.

They should say something to fix this uncomfortable atmosphere that surrounded them, but what should they say?

Fortunately, Satoshi said, "If you all don't mind, how about we do a celebration? I will treat all of you."

"Huh?" 4x

They were surprised by Satoshi's invitation.

"Well, it won't be something expensive, though. Let's see... how about pudding at that cafe near the river? Let's have that after school."

"....."

While all of them were surprised by their invitation, they all agreed, which made them smile somehow. Yet, even so, Oreki understood that this might be the prelude to everything.