I am that male friend in the harem story

"I am sorry for troubling you, Editor Ishigami." 

"Just call me Ishigami, Karen-senpai. It feels weird if you call me editor, but have you finished your new manga?" 

Ishigami was surprised since he hadn't expected Karen to finish her new manga so soon. After all, he knew well how hard it was to draw a manga, and an author needed a long time to draw one chapter. It could be said one chapter of manga was created by the sweat, tears, and blood of a mangaka, so while he was speechless by her sudden chat, he decided to help her to show respect for her dedication. 

While he might be a scumbag, he loved someone who was working hard, never took a detour, and continued to struggle as he knew such people were definitely worthy of being close with, even if the interest was a little weird. 

"I do! Please take a look, Ishigami-kun." 

Karen quickly took out the manga that she had drawn after she met him that day. 

Yes, as she had said before, while the two of them never really met after that meeting, the two often talked to each other and discussed her new work via video call. Sometimes, she would even send him a draft of her work by email, but this time, she wanted a face-to-face meeting, especially when she had finished her work, hoping for him to hear his opinion regarding her new work. 

At the same time, if possible, she thought of discussing something else. 

"Thank you." 

"No, it should be who should thank you for troubling you." 

"It's fine. I have agreed to your request in the past, after all, and I won't break my promise." 

"Ishigami-kun..."

Karen was moved by Ishigami's sincere words, which made her heart strangely thump, and she felt a new feeling within her heart, especially when he was in front of her. 

"...." 

However, Ishigami couldn't smile, especially when he noticed the strangeness on her face. Still, as he took a deep breath to calm himself, hoping that everything was just a misunderstanding, he asked, "But is it really okay for us to discuss your manga here?" 

He knew that he might appear paranoid, but considering the content of Karen's manga, he felt that they needed to be careful about this problem. 

At the same time, if someone came to this place, he could imagine that a certain misunderstanding might be born, which would cause many troubles. 

Ishigami had solved the problem of Kaguya, and he knew that he was as good as safe, but then again, Moeha, Chika's little sister, knew about his relationship with Chika, which might cause a lot of trouble, especially if Moeha found out that Chika wasn't only his girlfriend. 

'There is also Kei...' 

Still, Kei wasn't a big problem for him since even if she knew everything, at best, she would just condemn him, but as long as Ishigami was sincere, he believed that Kei would believe him, but the problem was Moeha...

'This girl is weird...' 

At the same time, while Chika's family might not be as powerful as Kaguya's family, it should still be possible for them to cause a problem for his family too, especially if they knew that Ishigami had dated Chika and taken her virginity, dating other women, too. 

'Sigh...' 

When Ishigami thought about this problem, he realized how much easier it was to date just one girl instead of so many. 

"It's fine."

Hearing Ishigami's concern, Karen tried to tell him that everything was okay. "Everyone has gone back, and there is no important day today. If you are worried, I can lock the door, though." 

Or rather, Karen locked the door directly, telling him that everything was going to be alright. 

"Even if you scream, no one will hear us." 

"..." 

Ishigami knew Karen tried to reassure him, but weren't better words that could be used as an example instead of the previous words? 

Yet, he didn't bother to fix her since he felt the more he talked, the more trouble would come, and it was better to finish this editing session as soon as possible. 

"Okay, then, I believe you, so can I read your story now?" 

"Yes, please!" 

When Karen nodded, Ishigami started to read her story, which somehow made her strangely giddy, not because of how calm he was at reading her story, but at the fact that she realized that it was her first time staying in the same room as a guy alone. 

Was this okay? 

If someone saw them at this moment, Karen was sure that they would misunderstand them and probably mistake Ishigami for cheating on her, and if that really happened... 

She wasn't sure how to apologize to him! 

More importantly, if Ishigami somehow broke up with his girlfriend due to her... 

"...." 

As Karen gazed at him, she watched his calm profile, reading her manga earnestly, which made her feel dirty for thinking many naughty things. Ishigami came to meet her to help her sincerely. 

Yet, this also gave her an answer to her problem. 

'If he has a problem, then I will help him!' 

Similar to him, she was ready to help him with many things, too! 

"Ah, by the way, Ishigami-kun, do you want tea?" 

"Is that okay?" 

"Sure, I will make one for you."

"Thank you, Senpai." 

Yet, there was no doubt that it was relaxing when they were together. 

If Ishigami was with his women, then he knew that they would end up in a lewd situation, but as it was Karen, he didn't have to worry that their situation would become that. 

"Here you go." 

"Thank you." 

"No, it's fine." 

Sipping the warm tea that was prepared by Karen, Ishigami, who had finished reading her manga, looked at her and asked, "Senpai, have you thought about becoming a mangaka?" 

"Ah!" Karen was startled, but she shook her head and said, "No, it's just a hobby, after all, but I will enter the media industry in the future." Her father was the CEO of a publishing house, so she thought of going to that area, which was also the reason why she joined the Mass Media Club. 

Yet, even so, she knew well that this was the highest praise that one could give her, which showed how good her work was, and it made her happy to know that someone loved her story. 

"Oh, that's a shame. This story is wonderful." 

"Really?!" 

"Yes, the art has become much better, and I can't wait to see what will happen to the two in the story." 

Yes, Ishigami thought the story of Shirogane and Kaguya in this manga was great. 

'As expected, the two of them are suitable.' 

This was why Ishigami hoped that the two of them could become an official couple after their date this weekend. 

Yet, as the two smoothly talked about the development of the manga, Karen said, "But... I am afraid that I can't work on a good story..." 

"Why?" Ishigami wondered why Karen lacked confidence all of a sudden. "Do you lack an idea?" 

"No, my head is full of an idea! I can't help but imagine many love-dovey scenes between Kaguya-sama and Shirogane-kaichou in my mind! It's almost overloaded my head!" 

"...isn't that good, then?" 

"But... but... I don't know which I should choose!" 

"Then, you should choose the best one." 

"But it isn't realistic!" 

"...does it have to be realistic?" 

"Of course!" Karen's eyes were those of an obsessive artist who wanted everything to be perfect. 

"....." 

Ishigami fell silent, took his lukewarm tea, and sipped it slowly. "Then, choose the realistic one." 

"Yes, but... I lack that idea. No, I lack experience!" 

Holding her head as if someone who was confused, Ishigami sighed when he saw her state, so he said, "Then, you should experience love." 

"B-But... I haven't fallen in love with someone..." 

"Then, you should just ask your opposite-gender acquaintance to help you experience a realistic dating experience, like going on a date or something similar to help with your manga." 

It was just when Ishigami finished his words that he realized that he had hit the bomb, especially instead of falling into deep thought, wondering who would she ask for help; Karen was staring at him intently. 

"..."

Ah, he did it again, he thought.