I am that male friend in the harem story

"Be careful of Chika-san's little sister and older sister." 

As soon as they walked away from the Fujiwara sisters, Kaguya said solemnly.

"It's fine. They are as silly as Chika, but they aren't bad." 

Still, Ishigami didn't pay attention to Kaguya's words since those words were from Kaguya instead of Kozue.

If it was Kozue, then he would remember those words clearly within his heart. 

"...." 

However, Ishigami stopped his steps for a moment and wondered, 'Nothing will happen, right?' 

Still shaking his head, he asked with a smile as if teasing Kaguya, "But you are going to be alone with Kaichou later. Use this chance well, Senpai." 

Shirogane might not tell him anything, but Ishigami felt that he should help Shirogane and Kaguya be together despite knowing what had happened between them. 

So what if Shirogane was rejected? 

If Kaguya decided to make the move, then could Shirogane even deny her? 

Yet, as Ishigami said so, Kaguya smiled gently and said softly, "It's great that you can still show such energy when you just took away my maid from me." 

"....."

Ishigami was at a loss for a moment, then he asked unsurely, "...am I in trouble?" 

While maintaining that gentle smile, Kaguya asked again, "What do you think?" 

"..." 

Taking a deep breath, Ishigami apologized. "I am sorry. I didn't think thoroughly at that time, and probably, it would probably have been better if we talked quietly at school later." 

"You are right." Kaguya nodded. "...but I don't hate that part of you who bravely came to visit me that night." 

Ishigami heard that voice even though her voice was so low, but once again, he pretended that he didn't hear anything since he had tried to suppress everything that he had felt. 

Still, fortunately, Kaguya quickly said, "But you don't have to worry. Everything is fine." 

Her expression was of that gentle smile, as usual, showing nothing particular and telling him that everything was okay. 

"...please tell me if it isn't fine." Still, Ishigami wouldn't run away from the mistake that he had made. "To be honest, I have bought several properties in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Oh, a London, too." 

"...." 

Kaguya was speechless when she heard that confession, but she sighed helplessly and asked, "Do you think I am serious when I told you that I could move you out of this country?" 

"I do." Ishigami sighed and asked, "How many times have I had nightmares that you forced me to leave this country?" 

"...I am sorry." 

This time, Kaguya apologized sincerely since she knew she had given Ishigami a deep trauma that he might not forget in his entire life. 

Still—

"But it's really amazing that you can grow so much despite that short moment." 

While Kaguya had told Ishigami that she wouldn't do an investigation on him, she couldn't help but do so, especially after she had heard his family had decided to buy a company. 

Yes, Kaguya knew that Ishigami might hate her if she knew she had collected all of his information, but she knew well how risky it was for a business to expand, or rather, after the Lost Decade, this country was as good as over. 

So she was afraid that his family might go bankrupt, but unexpectedly, she discovered a shocking face, especially when she discovered the truth about the acquisition of the food company. 

Or rather, it wasn't his family's company, but it was Ishigami's own, who bought the company with his own money! 

"It's all thanks to you that I gained this talent." 

"...I am sorry again." 

Was it the crisis of death that brought out his talent?

Yet, this also relieved her somehow, knowing that even if a problem might appear, Ishigami could go everywhere. 

Even if he couldn't stay in this country, he could live somewhere else, especially when he had money, and frankly, while many might say this country was great, it was only great for the wealthy.

For the poor, it was a different matter. 

'Well, it is like this everywhere,' Ishigami thought. 

"There is no need for you to apologize, Senpai, but I really don't want to cause you trouble, right?" 

Ishigami knew that it wasn't so simple to clear out the problem of Hayasaka. 

"It's fine. You don't have to worry, but promise me something." 

"What is it?" 

"Take care of Hayasaka, okay?" 

When Kaguya thought about what Hayasaka had faced for the past years and how much Hayasaka was troubled by it, she knew well how much she owed her. Even if Hayasaka had betrayed her and even slept with Ishigami, somehow... she just couldn't help but wish for Hayasaka's happiness. 

Fortunately, Hayasaka met the right man, but unfortunately, this man was a scumbag. 

'At least he is a better scumbag,' Kaguya thought inwardly, especially if she compared Ishigami to her second older brother, who was worse than shit. 

'Well...' 

Kaguya sighed since all of her family was shitty, and... 

'I'm not much better.' 

Watching Ishigami, who stood before her, Kaguya couldn't help but think of their first meeting. No, it should be the first time he took the initiative to talk with her, and her face was so hot when she thought about how she had misunderstood him, thinking that he wanted to confess to her. 

By then, many episodes between them had happened; it was full of laughter and fun, yet while she knew that she had to forget about everything—

"I will take care of Ai." 

"Um..." 

The two remained in silence for a while, and then Ishigami thought that it was time for them to part. "Then, see you later, Senpai." 

Watching his gentle smile as he said those words, Kaguya opened her lips before she closed them again.

Naturally, Ishigami noticed something, especially when Kaguya's eyes showed him an emotion that was different from how a normal senior and a junior relationship was. 

'I hope to graduate as soon as possible...' 

If they continued to meet each other, he was afraid that he couldn't hold himself, and he didn't want to lie to himself, yet he was afraid of the consequences of what would happen if he was really honest with his feelings. 

'Dammit!' 

Kaguya probably noticed the desperation in his eyes, so she took a deep breath and followed his wish. 

"Yes, see you later." 

Good. 

Hearing those words from Kaguya's lips made him sigh in relief. 

This is how it should be; the two of them shouldn't be truthful, and they should lie to each other so that way, they wouldn't hurt the one they cared about the most. 

Yet, somehow, as he thought to leave, he felt slightly reluctant and tried to talk some more so they wouldn't part so early. 

"Thanks for the suit, Senpai." 

"No problem." Kaguya smiled, then reminded him straightly, "Don't show an embarrassing performance later." 

"Just wait for my performance." 

"I can't wait to see it." 

"Then, I will go back." 

"Train hard. Don't play around." 

"I will." 

"Tell Chika-san I will watch her." 

"It's fine. She is obedient to me." 

"..." Kaguya. 

"Then, I will go back." 

"Um, do your best with your training and be careful with those two sisters."

"...I will."

Ishigami then returned to Chika's house, but Kaguya didn't leave and quietly stayed until she couldn't see him anymore before she left. 

---

The end is near! 

Be prepared! 

By then, it will be the world of Hyouka. 

Still, I might make Kaguya's extra chapters in the future; please look forward to them!