I am that male friend in the harem story

"...." 

Ishigami was in a daze for a while when he saw Kaguya's mischievous smile. He knew well that he had said that she wasn't his type, yet even so, he knew well that she was beautiful. 

Still, watching him, who suddenly appeared when he wasn't prepared, wasn't good for his heart, but even so, he was a good actor, so nothing could be seen from his face except for a gentle smile, like how a junior, who was happy with the care of his senior. 

"Senpai." 

Putting down all of the tools, Ishigami quickly welcomed her. "Please come in. You might come at the time when the store is about to close, but as you are a special guest, of course, we can give you special service." 

"You're sure good at talking." Kaguya sighed helplessly. "Now, I understand why you can succeed so well." 

"It's all thanks to you. If you weren't there, then I might not be here now." 

If it wasn't for Kaguya, Ishigami knew well that it would be hard for him to enjoy everything so easily. Whether it was the ability that he gained or the help that she had given him and her support for him, he owed a lot of things to her. 

Still, even so, he had made up her mind not to do anything, and despite how weird it was for her to appear before him, he suppressed his uneasiness by masking it with a smile as he asked, "So, are you here to buy a flower?" 

"I guess." Kaguya nodded softly as she looked at the shop curiously. It was her first time in Ishigami's mother's shop. 

Regardless, when Ishigami's Mama saw another beautiful girl appear for her son, her lips twitched and held her urge to cut his crime tool, and she sighed, thinking that she should support him rather than cause him trouble. More importantly, considering it was Kaguya's first time here, she might have been nervous about meeting her, so she quickly left, giving space for the two alone.

"So, what kind of a flower do you need, Senpai?" 

"Hmm, I am not that familiar with flowers, but what do you think is suitable, Ishigami?" 

There were many flowers inside the shop, so Kaguya wondered which she should choose. 

"If I have to give you a recommendation, then it will be this tone." 

"This one?" 

Following his recommendation, Kaguya looked at the beautiful red flowers in the shape of trumpets, blooming proudly as their color was so vivid, causing the others to be pale in comparison. 

"What is this flower?"

As she asked this, she couldn't look away. 

"It's Amaryllis. Usually, it blooms around February, which is why it is rare for one to appear this month." 

"Is that the only reason why you recommend it to me?" 

Kaguya couldn't help but glance at him, then fell into a daze for a moment before she kept looking at him. 

Despite knowing her gaze, Ishigami pretended to be okay, calming himself as he didn't try to let his feelings leak out since, in his mind, Kaguya's partner was Shirogane, the one who had saved him. 

"Do you know the flower language of the Amaryllis? 

"No, what is it?" 

"The Amaryllis symbolizes strength, beauty, pride, and love, but it also often presents resilience and determination." 

"Resilience?" 

"It is said that it can bloom despite being in winter. Like you, who is beautiful and strong, this flower suits you well." 

As he said so, he turned his head to face her as if trying to engrave this image of her within his mind. Despite having so many women, he knew well that Kaguya had a special place within his heart, and he knew well that he should forget about her. 

Yet, he wasn't the only one who thought so. 

As their eyes met, it was as if their feelings were connected, but Ishigami was dumbfounded when he saw tears spilling out from her eyes. 

"Senpai?" 

"Sorry, I will take these flowers. Is that okay, Ishigami?" 

Kaguya quickly looked away and wiped away the tears from her eyes so Ishigami couldn't see her emotion. 

"Yes, you can take it for free, but what's wrong? Why did you cry? Please let me know if you need my help. Unlike before, I can help you." 

"Is it okay for you to show much affection toward me? Aren't you afraid that Kaichou will notice your feelings?" 

"Senpai..." 

Was this a time for her to tease him? 

More importantly, did she notice his feelings? 

"I was just joking." Kaguya showed a smile this time toward him as she held the flower pot of Amaryllis, which Ishigami recommended for her. "You can't fall in love with me, right? And I won't fall in love with a scumbag like you. If I have a man, I want him only for myself." 

"....." Ishigami. 

Then, why did you come?

"So... this is a goodbye." 

"Goodbye?" 

"Um, I plan to move." 

"Move? Where?" 

"Kyoto." 

"...." 

Ishigami fell into a daze, feeling like he was dreaming of the absurdity of this situation. 

"Why... is it so sudden?" 

"It isn't." Shaking her head, Kaguya said, "I have thought of this so many times, and I think that this is the best for us." 

"...why?" 

"Because if I don't do so, I can't forget about you." 

"....." 

Ishigami opened his lips, shocked at Kaguya, who opened her thin lips, leaking out the feelings that she had always suppressed. 

Then, what about Shirogane? 

This the question that Ishigami wanted to ask, but he knew he couldn't since even if he tried to pretend not to notice anything, their feelings were no longer like in the original story; their feelings had waned and were no longer the same as before. 

Why had all of this happened? 

Naturally, it was all due to him. 

Yet—

"But there is no need for you to move to Kyoto, right? You can still study here. Are you okay to leave all of us like that?" 

Yes, it was just a problem of a feeling, and as long as Shirogane was given time and they were in the same school, their feelings would return! 

Ishigami was desperate at this moment, but Kaguya broke all of his hopes. 

"I am going to get engaged." 

"....." 

"It has been determined that I will marry the son of the head of the Shijou family." 

"Shijo? Maki family?" Ishigami was dumbfounded. 

"Yes. It is also a good chance for our Shinomiya family to amend our relationship with the Shijou family. This marriage will benefit this country, and it can even save the economy of our country, which has been going downhill since the Lost Decade."

Kaguya nodded and said, "As I am engaged, it is improper for me to have feelings for another man, right?" 

"...are you okay with this?" 

Ishigami didn't care about the marriage benefits, and all he cared about was whether Kaguya was okay with this marriage or not. 

"This isn't about my wishes. My feelings are nothing compared to all of the benefits—

"I am asking whether you are okay with it." Ishigami cut her words and asked, "If you are not okay, then I will do something about it. Unlike before, I am no longer weak. I can protect you!"

Unlike before, he was no longer weak, and Kaguya was no longer able to abruptly move him to dangerous places, whether it was Southeast Asia, South America, the Asian Pacific, Central Asia, or many others; she had no control over him any longer! 

Yet, what he didn't realize, his voice raised slightly as he asked her, causing her to stare at him and ask, "Have you fallen for me?" 

"....." 

"Senpai, I..." 

Ishigami wanted to express his feelings, but when he thought about how Shirogane helped him, he stopped. 

Yet, watching his response, Kaguya only smiled slightly, then asked, "Move closer, Ishigami." 

"...what's wrong?" 

"Just come closer; this is my last request." 

"...." 

While Ishigami felt uncomfortable, he moved closer, but then he widened his eyes since he was kissed, and Kaguya even used her tongue! 

The sudden gentle and comfortable feeling overtook him, and he was about to put his tongue inside her as he hugged her tightly in his arms, but—

"What are you doing?!" 

He quickly pulled away and looked at her flusteredly. 

Snickering, Kaguya felt comfortable as she watched his expression. Licking her pink lips with her long tongue, she said, "Sorry, and thanks. I will leave now." Taking a deep breath, she said softly, "I loved you..." 

As she said so, she no longer stayed and left the shop, leaving him alone in a daze. 

"...what should I do?" 

She was so close before him, yet she was also far away, but while he wanted to reach her, cling to her, have her for himself, he knew well that he couldn't, but even so, it didn't mean that he couldn't stop her engagement, so after a moment of daze, he quickly took his smartphone and called Shirogane, but unfortunately, Shirogane couldn't be reached. 

"Shit!" 

Ishigami wanted to smash his smartphone, but he quickly endured it. Then, he changed to call Kei, and as expected, she accepted his call right away. 

"Senpai? What's wrong?" 

"Kei, where is your brother?" 

"Aniki? Well, he should be..." 

After hearing the answer, Ishigami thanked Kei right away, then ran as fast as possible, ignoring the confused expressions of many toward him. 

"I am sorry! I am in a hurry! Please give it away!" 

His time was limited, and he couldn't waste his time since if he waited any longer, Kaguya would leave for Kyoto, which made it troublesome since he didn't have power there and as a local powerhouse, it could be said that her family controlled that entire city, which made it troublesome if he wanted to meet her. 

Or rather, he knew well that if he couldn't stop her at that moment, they wouldn't meet each other again in this life, so he had to go as fast as possible!

'Kaichou...' 

Ishigami just hoped for the two to be happy, yet why had it become like this?

As long as the two were happy, he was fine with supporting them and watching their happiness, as in the original story, but why? 

Why had it become like this? 

'Hurry up!' 

As he ran, his running skills increased even further, and his high level of physical ability supported him well, but as he finally arrived at his destination and found Shirogane—

"Kaichou—" 

Ishigami was at a loss for words since Shirogane wasn't alone and by his side. The girl that he met at the party was on Shirogane's side. 

"...." 

---

The end is close. 

Or rather, the end of Kaguya is tomorrow!