I am that male friend in the harem story

Still, even if Satoshi wished to see his girlfriend wear a shrine maiden outfit, he had to say Kaho's current appearance wasn't bad. 

Similar to him, Kaho didn't change her uniform and just put on an apron so it wouldn't be dirtied as she cooked. At the same time, unlike before, she put a hairclip on her long bangs so she could see better, considering it was dangerous as she would handle a knife. 

Yet, as her eyes were shown clearly, once again, he had to admit that his girlfriend was beautiful. 

Despite not having an exaggerated beauty that would make people stare intensely in a daze and couldn't look away, she had this gentle beauty, which was probably something that no one expected, considering how flat and plain she appeared in the school. 

Even if she appeared quite plain as she didn't wear makeup, nor did she try to dress in a way that enhanced her beauty, he felt like she had this type of charm that couldn't be mimicked by others. 

If Satoshi had said Kaho was like a north star, its light might not have been able to make the sky turn into a day, and it only appeared as a single dot glimmering within the darkness, yet despite all of that, he could tell that she was the one. 

Frankly, he wasn't sure how to describe this, but he had to say that every girl was special in their own way. 

"Let me help Kaho." 

"It's fine. Let me do this." 

"No, I feel uncomfortable if I do nothing. I will just wash the ingredients or cut." 

"...okay, then." 

Facing her boyfriend's initiative, Kaho could only relent and let him help her. 

The two stood side by side as she gave him the instructions and he did everything that she asked perfectly. 

"You can cook?" 

"I can." 

"...why didn't you tell me?" 

"You didn't ask." Satoshi looked at Kaho's speechless expression and asked, "Is it weird?" 

"It is." Kaho nodded. "In my home, it is the female that usually cooks." 

"Is it?" 

"Yes." 

"Then, is it bad for me to be here?" 

Kaho didn't answer his question immediately, but just looked at him silently as he stood by her side, accompanying and supporting each other. This was something that she had never felt before, but—

"No, thank you." 

Smiling, Satoshi said, "You are cute." 

"....." 

Blushing, Kaho was stunned, feeling his smile was so nice that she almost wanted to kiss him, which made her quickly look away, feeling embarrassed of her dirty thoughts. 

"...you say that so easily." 

"Is it hard?" 

"...I don't think that anyone can say those types of words so easily." 

"Then, I am a shameless guy?" 

"You are right. You are shameless." 

Yes, compared to others, this guy was so shameless as the words of affection came out so easily from his lips, which made her heart flustered and beat so fast from time to time. 

Only Satoshi smiled again and said, "If being shameless can get you, then why not?" 

"How cheeky!" 

Kaho pouted as she lightly moved her body to the side, hitting his body lightly. 

"H-Hey, that's dangerous. I am cooking!" 

"Haha..." 

As she laughed, Satoshi was speechless, yet the time they spent in the kitchen was a wonderful time for Kaho. 

She thought that it would be lonely when her parents left her alone in the house, but as Satoshi was here, she felt that despite how massive her house was, it felt complete. 

She didn't need anything else; she thought as long as she was with him, she was happy. 

Cooking, preparing, and eating dinner together. 

Every act that they did together made her feel like everything was complete, and she anticipated this to continue forever, especially after she tasted his spinach ohitashi, a spinach salad with sesame dressing. 

"It's good!" 

"Right?' 

"...can I eat it all?" 

"Go ahead." 

"Sorry." 

"It's fine. I am happy that you like it." 

Once again, she felt an impulse that almost made her do something that she might regret. 

'This smile is too unfair,' she thought. 

Still, if his spinach ohitashi was this good, what about the other dishes? 

Somehow, Kaho was curious. 

Regardless, they enjoyed their dinner well, but when Satoshi thought about helping Kaho, she said, "Let me wash the dishes. It's my thanks for letting me eat all the spinach ohitashi." 

"Okay, then." 

The act of washing wasn't his favorite, and frankly, Satoshi had to admit that he just wanted to show off his cooking skill, which was kind of petty, he thought. 

No, probably, he was just a bit lonely. 

"Kaho, can I open the door in the living room?" 

"Sure." 

The sliding door in the living room was connected to the yard, so as he opened it, the beautiful night of Takayama City was presented before his eyes. 

Unlike Tokyo, which was bustling and filled with colorful neon lights, the night on Takayama was... frankly frightening as lights hardly existed, especially when Kaho's shrine was located on the small hill, surrounded by greenery and tall old trees. 

Yet, despite the darkness, the stars were clear and shone brightly and beautifully. 

When one loses something, they will gain something. 

Despite being lacking behind as this city wasn't economically as strong as Tokyo, nor as bustling, he could feel something that he had never felt in Tokyo. 

This calmness... no, frankly, he just tried to distract himself as once again, going alone to another world, entering a new identity once again, wasn't something pleasant, he thought. 

More importantly, as he left behind all the important people and was told to make a connection again, it was as if even if he could gain everything in this world, he wasn't in control of everything. 

Fortunately, the noise of the insects distracted him, or else he was afraid he would be pulled into his uncomfortable thoughts, which were as dark as the distant forest which could be seen from his location. 

"What's wrong? Are you sad that you can't see me in a shrine maiden outfit? Be patient, okay? You will see me in that in the future." 

"...had you been watching me?" 

"Yup." Kaho subconsciously reached his hand and held it tight. "Are you okay?" 

When she saw him, she felt that his gaze was so lonely and melancholy, which made her have the urge to hug him, but she held it as she was afraid that she might ask something that she shouldn't have. 

After all, even if they had dated, they hadn't dated for so long, and she was afraid of making him angry. 

However, as his hand grasped into hers, she felt all the doubt in her heart disappear, then once again, her heart was beating so fast as his eyes stared deep into hers. 

His gaze was loving, gentle, and warm, which made her long for him even more. 

Subconsciously, Satoshi moved closer, wishing to take her lips. 

Blushing, Kaho was shy, yet she closed her eyes, ready for her first kiss. 

Soft and warm. 

As their lips touched each other, those were the feelings they felt as a new sensation emerged within their bodies, making them all comfortable, cozy, and pleasurable. 

Was this a kiss?

Kaho never thought that it was so pleasant that when Satoshi pulled away, she was so reluctant. 

"Let's stay together." 

His face stared at him unwaveringly with a deep gaze. 

"Yes." 

Kaho answered unhesitatingly as she felt his strong feelings, which were expressed clearly by the words that came out from his lips. 

Smiling, Satoshi then looked at the starry night once again, as Kaho looked at him for a moment, before leaning on his shoulder naturally, staring at his lips occasionally until—

"Can I kiss you once again?" 

"Okay."

The more they kissed, the more they became proficient with their acts, and soon, they were addicted. 

Still, Satoshi was fine since no matter how addicted Kaho was and it was her first time, it was impossible for her to match those women in his life as Ishigami. 

Regardless, in this life, Satoshi thought that he would spend his peaceful life with Kaho, and this is what he believed until he realized how hard this wish would be.