I am that male friend in the harem story

"By the way, do you know a place to buy stationery or books?" 

"....." 

As Satoshi ignored her complaints, Irisu sighed helplessly, watching him, who had no sign of remorse for making her wait for so long. 

What did he think of her? 

In front of others, she was the heiress of this huge hospital in this city, but in his eyes, she might be like any other girl who had a bad attitude. 

'It won't hurt if you treat me better, right?' 

When Irisu thought about how gentle and patient Satoshi was toward Kaho, she couldn't help but feel her heart turn ugly as if termites were eating the wood, turning it into hollow, damaging it, and then slowly destroying it. 

Still, despite being treated that way, strangely enough, she felt comfortable, which made her wonder whether she was sick. 

"...what do you want to do in the bookstore?" 

"....don't look at me like I am an idiot." 

Satoshi knew that he wasn't someone who appeared to love to read a book or go to the bookstore, but for money, he had to do it. Still, he didn't care about the other's opinion, though. "Do you know or not?" 

"...I know a good place, but what are you going to do there?" 

While Irisu was helpless, she truthfully answered him. 

"I plan to make a manga." 

"...sorry, what?" 

"I plan to make a manga." 

"MANGA?!" 

Irisu was so dumbfounded that she let out a shrieking voice. 

"...do you have to be that surprised? It hurts me, you know?" 

Irisu giggled when she heard his words. "But it was unexpected. I never thought that you wanted to become a mangaka." 

In this country, the mangaka profession was a profession that everyone worshipped. At the same time, if one was successful, one could get a lot of money, and one's name would be entered into history. 

"Then, do you know a good bookstore where I can get all manga tools for cheap?"

"There is no need to look for the cheap one." 

"Huh?" 

"Let's get the expensive one." 

"...I don't have any money, Girl." 

If possible, Satoshi also wanted to get the expensive one, but he had no money, and unlike his life as Ishigami, his parents in this life were just normal. 

"I will buy them for you." 

Bang! 

As if a special effect appeared behind Irisu, she proclaimed proudly. 

"..." 

Satoshi was in a daze then asked unsurely, "...are you sure, Senpai?" 

"I am." Watching how respectful Satoshi had become, Irisu thought it felt good somehow. "When your manga is finished, can you let me read it?" 

"Sure." Satoshi nodded, then asked, "Is that all? Do you have any other requests? If you want, I can even kiss you again, you know?" 

"...." 

Irisu was speechless, never expecting that the reaction from treating him with manga tools would be this huge, but—

"Hmph! I think it is you who wants to be kissed by me after all." 

"Well, that's true. Irisu-senpai is so cute, after all." 

"..." 

Shameless! 

Previously, this guy was so rude, but then when Irisu decided to treat him, his mouth became so sweet that it made her feel addicted somehow. 

Would she get his love just by spending money? 

No! 

This was dangerous, she thought. 

At this moment, she was afraid that she would become a woman who spent all of her money on a good-for-nothing man, which wasn't good. 

However, was Satoshi a good-for-nothing man? 

"....." 

'Oh, he is.' 

When Irisu thought about how Satoshi went to fool around with her, kissed her, then went with his girlfriend without a single feeling of guilt, she sighed helplessly, wondering why she felt this way toward this scum. 

Regardless—

"Come on. Let's go." 

"Okay." 

As Satoshi walked by her side, he casually held Irisu's hand, which made her glance at him lightly but didn't break away. In her mind, they had kissed so many times, doing many lewd things, and just holding hands was nothing, but she had to admit, it felt nice. 

Walking together, the two talked casually about the city or the manga that he would make. 

"It's just a simple daily story." 

"So, a slice of life." 

"Yes. I want to make a peaceful manga." 

"..." 

"Unexpected?" 

"Yes, I think that it will suit you well if you make a sadistic guy." 

"Oh, a love romance between a sadistic guy and a masochistic girl, right?" 

"...who is this masochistic girl in your mouth?" 

"Hmm? I wonder~?" 

"..." 

Watching his smile, Irisu could only grumble annoyedly, wondering why she, who had always manipulated others, would be toyed by this bastard. 

Was this karma? 

Helpless, Irisu noticed the store that she had planned for him to visit. "This is the shop." 

"Thanks." 

"Just pick whatever you want; I will pay for it all." 

"...you are really generous." 

"Accompany me for a bit later." 

"I am all yours today." 

Snorting, Irisu looked at him in disdain, but when she saw him starting to collect all the necessary tools for the manga, she couldn't help but smile, wondering why, despite their weird beginning, her monochrome days became colorful. Still, looking at him, who carefully selected the items, she couldn't help but say, "You are really serious about becoming a mangaka?" 

"...do you think I am joking?" 

"Well, yeah." 

Rolling his eyes, Satoshi continued to pick up all the necessary tools, to which Irisu smiled and said, "Don't get angry." 

"I am not."

"You are sulking, though." 

"Then, kiss me to comfort me." 

"...you really shameless." 

Still, Irisu looked around, and after confirming that no one was looking, she pecked his cheek. 

"..." Satoshi. 

"Are you good now?" 

"Yup." 

"...at least, be embarrassed, okay? Blushing or something else." 

"That's true, but I am happy that it was your first time taking the initiative to kiss me." 

"..." 

Unlike all their previous kisses, this time, Irisu took the initiative, which wasn't something that she was forced to do. Instead, she just wanted to kiss him, which made her wonder whether he had corrupted her. 

"It was all your fault." 

Anyway, for her to become like this, it was all his fault! 

Yet, somehow, she couldn't hate him. 

"Is that all?" 

"Yes." 

Nevertheless, Irisu held her promise to pay him everything. "You should get more." The expense she had used was less than she had imagined to be, which made her wonder whether Satoshi tried to be polite.

"No, they are enough." Taking all the plastic bags, Satoshi said, "Thanks. If I win the competition, I will treat you." 

"What will you treat me with? Hida beef?" 

Hida beef is some of the best beef sold, especially in this region, and it costs so much that 100 g of it could even cost 10,000 yen or more. 

"It might be a little expensive, but if you want, then it's fine." 

"Really?" 

"Yes." Satoshi nodded, then asked, "But are you okay with that?" 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean... don't you want something else? 

"Such as?

"Take a trip outside of Takayama? If you want, I can bring you somewhere, though." 

"..." 

Irisu blinked her eyes, staring at Satoshi for a moment, and asked, "...is that okay?" She never thought that Satoshi planned to take her on a long trip, but strangely enough, she was also excited. 

"Yes, but wait for a while till I win the competition." 

"Let's talk again if you really win." 

"Yes, yes." Watching how much expectation Irisu had, Satoshi felt that this girl was really cute since, despite how she tried to appear cold, her inside was unexpectedly pure. 

"How about you? Do you have a place that you want to visit?" 

"Kanazawa seems nice." 

"Kanazawa, huh? I have never been there, but it sounds nice." 

"Right?" 

"But you have to win the competition first." 

"I know." 

"Oh, let me read the story first." 

"Okay, okay." 

As they had their usual banter and finished their shopping, Satoshi accompanied Irisu to see many places that she wanted to visit, enjoying their time together, and probably was under his spell, thinking how wonderful it would be if she could spend time like this with him forever. 

Yet, when they were together, someone saw them, and her gaze couldn't help but widen by how close they were despite the fact that the one who stood by his side wasn't his girlfriend. 

"Fuku-chan..."