Chapter 563 - Reactions: Hiyori
"Ah!"
"Oops?"
In the entrance hall of the Yotsuya dormitory. I was on my way back from the built-in convenience store... which was less a store and more a 'please take freely warehouse,' having procured some cup noodles my body suddenly craved.
I bumped into a rare face, and we both let out a small cry of surprise.
"Hello, it's been a while."
She was the first to greet me, not unlike a certain other time. As always, she was wrapped in an aura different from that of an ordinary person—a wave of soothing energy.
"—Hello, Mitsueda-san. Here to inspect your best friend?"
"Yes, of course. A surprise inspection to see if she's cleaning properly."
With that same friendly air, she smiled mischievously.
"Oh, right, right. I saw the video."
"Ah, you saw it, huh..."
"Ehehe, I did indeed—along with a certain embarrassing person who was getting all fired up, saying something like, 'I've finally caught up to you by one step!!!' We watched it together, you see."
"Ah... Hayagake-san?"
"He's a decade too early to be competing with a ranker. As his relative, I'm quite ashamed."
"No, no, no, clearing the tower is definitely a huge achievement—wait, that sounds condescending. No, I fundamentally think that rabbit hellhole is insane, so as a fellow clearer, I have a lot of respect for him. It's just... simply amazing."
"Oh my, oh my... if Hayato-kun heard that, he'd weep with joy. That man is already a complete fan of yours."
"Haya... okay, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
"Yes, let's. My worthless cousin doesn't matter. More importantly, I find it much more interesting that my best friend's crush turned into a stunningly beautiful girl."
"You almost said 'interesting,' in fact, you pretty much did. You're fully intending to treat me like a toy, aren't you?"
"You must be imagining things. Oh, that one is delicious, isn't it?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I haven't tried it yet... The beautiful illustrator-voice-actress-idol-painter-sensei... eats cup noodles, huh..."
"Of course I do, I'm only human. Girls like junk food too, you know. If I could, I'd wish for a spirit strong enough to walk into a ramen shop by myself."
"I'd think you'd be the type to walk in without batting an eye, Mitsueda-san."
"Oh my, what kind of image have I acquired in your mind, Haru-san?"
"A rational Nia."
"Could you not talk about my best friend as if she has no rationality? Even she is just barely capable of living a normal life as a member of society."
"So it is 'just barely'..."
"Well, her looks. She's just too, too cute."
"Ah, so that's part of it... You two really do love each other."
"Of course we do. It's mutual. Are you jealous?"
"In the sense of having a same-sex best friend you trust that much, yeah, I'm honestly incredibly jealous—... By the way, Mitsueda Hiyori-san."
As we chatted, we walked down the hall and arrived in front of my room. I unlocked the door, turned the knob, and stepped halfway inside before turning back... to face her, smiling a relaxed smile that would make any normal guy fall for her instantly.
"What, exactly, are you trying to casually accomplish by inviting yourself in?"
I asked.
"Oh, you noticed?"
She beamed.
"Of course I did???"
I blocked the doorway.
Okay, you're not taking another step. Trying to follow me in as if it's the most natural thing in the world. What's your objective? Speak!
"Well, as for my objective... I simply wanted to conduct a live interview about the video."
"Stop reading my mind and carrying on the conversation as if it's normal???"
As always, she's a dangerously cunning strategist.
"Um, you know... you can't just casually try to enter a guy's room. We already have a delicate relationship as it is, so we both need to be more careful about—"
"That is precisely a matter of trust, you see? Oh, and I don't just mean me, I mean including Nia-chan."
"Th-That... what do you mean?"
When I tilted my head at her confusing statement, she replied with a particularly amused grin—...Ah, this is one of those things where I lose the moment I react.
"That girl, she was bragging soooooo much. I was one hundred percent joking when I said, 'Don't get jealous if Haru-san and I start exchanging information and stuff,' and... what do you think she said?"
"I'd rather not know. Now, hurry along to your best friend—"
"'He's so crazy about us lately, there's no way he'd fall for a newcomer like Hiyo-chan now,' is what she said. Tee-hee-hee."
"Ngh, guh... .................."
That girl... That girl...!!!!!
"'Us,' she said. Well, I mean, watching the video and all, I could tell you're quite friendly with the 'Princess' too... but still, I'm relieved you all seem to be getting along for now. A lively romance is a good thing, isn't it?"
—As long as you're watching from the sidelines, Mitsueda-san added with a cheerful laugh. Her words, her tone, her expression—everything conveyed that what she said was from the heart.
"Is it... really okay to be relieved? From the perspective of supporting your best friend, shouldn't you be worried about a situation where everyone is getting along? ...Sorry, I know I'm not one to talk."
"Ehh? It's definitely better than things being tense. Nia-chan talks about the 'Princess' and 'your partner' all the time, not just you, Haru-san."
"O-Oh..."
"It really makes me want to ask her, 'Are you sure you're okay with that?' She goes on about how the Princess is so cute it hurts, or how Sora-chan is so cute it's dangerous, and even something about making her a body pillow."
"A body pillow?????"
Did I just hear a word that suggests a potential incident?
"It honestly makes me wonder who she's even in love with—I'm just so glad she seems to be having a wonderful romance. My best friend is a very lucky girl."
And so, having been completely thrown for a loop from start to finish, I was left behind.
Mitsueda-san, with a gentle smile on her face the whole time... looked at me with eyes that seemed to express complete relief, or perhaps, complete trust.
In many ways, I think she's getting way ahead of herself.
"..............................You two really are close."
"Yes, of course—aren't you incredibly jealous?"
I often think this.
I'm surrounded by far too many people I could never hope to match.
—Incidentally, after that.
"Well then, that's that."
"Aww."
I of course politely showed my best friend's friend, who was still trying to invade a man's room, the door.
A Hiyoko that would cause a riot, not be a capture target.
By the way, she didn't come for an inspection, but to pick out clothes for her date.