I am that male friend in the harem story

Sipping her warm chamomile tea, the gentle scent of the tea calmed Kaguya down.

"Do you want me to help you to erase your stigma?" 

"Yes." 

Nevertheless, Kaguya was so glad that Ishigami didn't plan to pursue her blunder or tease her for her mistake of thinking that he was about to confess to her. At the same time, she also felt quite guilty, especially after she had rejected him, even if it was a mistake. Nevertheless, as she was truthful and told him why she couldn't accept his love, he should understand, right? 

'Ugh! I can't stay calm!' 

Kaguya felt embarrassed, wondering why she was so narcissistic, but then again, she would be lying if she didn't feel surprised by Ishigami's request. Frankly, it was easy for her to clear up his stigma, especially when she had done deep research on Ishigami and the accident that happened to him. She also knew that if there was a reason why he bore everything and just accepted it, it was all because he didn't want the girl he wanted to protect to be sad and hurt. 

Yet, he suddenly asked her to clarify everything that he hadn't done, which meant that the girl he wanted to protect would be sad and hurt. 

Was it okay? 

While Kaguya didn't mind helping him, she wanted to ask the reason. "Can I ask you the reason?" 

"Is it so weird of me wishing my stigma to be erased?" Ishigami asked strangely; after all, it was normal for one wishing to live without being persecuted for something they didn't do. 

"No, it isn't weird, but then again, why now?" Kaguya asked curiously. 

Still, with all the questions she had asked him, Ishigami knew that she didn't mind helping him. "It's all because of Kaichou." 

"Kaichou? Why?" Kaguya was in doubt. 

"If it's me who is hurt by this stigma, then I don't mind, but when I heard that Kaichou is also affected by me, I... just can't let this happen. Out of all the students in this school, he chose me, helped me, and believed me. When everyone thinks that I am a troublemaker, stalker, or even a misfit, he is the only one who believes me, so I don't want him to be affected by my status. 

"So, while it might be a little late, I want to clear up everything and tell everyone that Kaichou didn't choose the wrong person." 

Those who were familiar with him would think that his words were a lie, but Ishigami didn't lie since he knew that he owed a lot of things to Shirogane, and everyone also talked badly about Shirogane's choice of him as the treasurer of the student council member. 

"It's not too late." Kaguya looked straight at Ishigami straightly and said firmly, "I will help you. I will clear everything up." 

Hearing his confession, it was impossible for her not to feel anything, and as usual, her junior was as gentle and kind as ever. Unlike her, who was evil and thought of everything based on loss and profit, he was different, and from his eyes, she could tell that he didn't lie. 

It was why she didn't mind, especially when she also knew how Shirogane was also affected by his choice of Ishigami as the treasurer. 

Ishigami was the most suitable treasurer, yet the others didn't think so, especially with his stigma. 

"Thank you, Senpai." 

Ishigami thanked Kaguya sincerely. 

[Acting Level 4: 44/100.]

"..."

Ishigami fell in silence, wondering when he had learned acting skills. 

Also, wasn't the level a bit too high?

"But... can I ask you something?" 

"Yes?" 

Only once again did it seem Kaguya had some misunderstandings about him. "You don't like Kaichou, right? I-I mean in a romantic way..." 

"..." 

Ishigami stared at Kaguya in silence for a while, clearly worried, wondering whether he was in love with Shirogane. It was hurt when he thought that she would misunderstand him this way. "I am normal. If I have to choose between you and Kaichou, I will confess to you, Senpai." 

Kaguya blushed, being reminded of her previous misunderstanding, then looked at him with a gentle smile. "It seems you have learned to tease your senior, Ishigami-kun." 

"...if I don't tease you, I am afraid you will make another misunderstanding." 

"I apologize." 

"It's fine. I am glad that the misunderstanding was easily solved." 

Still, Kaguya looked at Ishigami for a while, then asked, "Is that all?" 

"...what do you mean?" 

"I mean... is that all the reason why you want to erase your stigma?" Kaguya asked, but her voice was quite playful. 

"...." 

Once again, Ishigami knew that Kaguya was under misunderstanding. He felt helpless, but he knew that he had to humor this girl even if he was too lazy to do so. "Do you think that I have someone that I like?" 

"Well, aren't you?" Kaguya smiled happily and asked, "So, who is it? Who have you fallen with?" 

Ishigami stared at Kaguya blankly, then thought to tease her. "It's you." 

"Huh?!" Kaguya was dumbfounded. 

"I have fallen in love with you, Senpai, but you have someone you like after all, so I can only give up and sincerely hope for your happiness." 

His smile was peaceful, as if truly happy by her rejection. 

"...I am sorry." Kaguya apologized sincerely as she bowed her head. 

"It's fine. You have helped me after all, so I don't mind even if you reject me." Ishigami sounded so helpless as if he had accepted his fate. Yet, this was the fate of a poor guy who was only the second son of the toy company owner. In front of Kaguya, who was the heiress of one of the largest groups in this country, he gritted his teeth and let himself be toyed with this cruel, wealthy lady. 

"...I am sorry, Ishigami-kun. Can you not tease me anymore?!" 

Fortunately, Ishigami was an understanding junior, so he wouldn't tease his senior. 

Still, Kaguya felt her face burning hot, and she wanted to hide inside the blanket because of her misunderstanding. 

Nevertheless, watching Kaguya, who seemed to be ravaged by him, Ishigami thought for a while and said, "By the way, Senpai, while it might not be much, how about I repay you with something?" 

"Huh? You don't need to." Kaguya quickly shook her head and said, "There is no need for you to be troubled by this, Ishigami-kun. It is easy for me to erase your stigma." Yes, for her, it was so easy to erase Ishigami's stigma and bring hell to the man who had slandered Ishigami. 

To be honest, the man who had slandered Ishigami had transferred after being pushed away by those who stood at the top of this school as they knew the truth behind Ishigami's incident. 

All the evidence, clarification, and everything was ready in her hands. 

If Kaguya wished to, she could clear up Ishigami's stigma with just a single phone call! 

More importantly, with her family's wealth, there was nothing that she wished for. 

However—

"It might not be much, but I can set you up a date with Kaichou if you don't mind." 

"....." 

Kaguya wanted to refuse Ishigami, but her mouth stopped when she heard his words. 

"...huh?" 

Ishigami thought that Kaguya hadn't heard his words, so he repeated. "If you don't mind, I can set you up a date with Kaichou." 

"H-Huh?! Why should I go on a date with Kaichou?!" Her face was so red, and she had clearly lost her composure. 

"Then, you don't want to?" Ishigami asked curiously. 

"...Ishigami-kun, you should know there is something that you should and shouldn't do, and teasing me repeatedly isn't something that you should do, okay?" Kaguya smiled sweetly at Ishigami, yet this smile was so cold for some reason. 

"....." 

What could Ishigami do? 

"I am sorry." 

In front of the power of the Shinomiya Group, Ishigami could only bow down to protect his future. 

---

In front of Kaguya, Ishigami is nothing but an ant.