I am that male friend in the harem story

'This is...' 

Probably because Ishigami had met a similar situation in the past, even if nothing had happened now, he could tell where it would lead, so he quickly said, "If not, then you should observe the relationship of those around you." 

"...." 

Karen didn't say anything for a while, seemingly in deep thought, then said hesitantly, "...their relationship doesn't fit how I picture a pure relationship between Kaguya-sama and Shirogane-kaichou." 

"...just curious, what kind of a relationship do those around you have?" 

"Hmm... a bloody triangle?" 

"...why do you need to add the word "bloody"?"

Karen hesitated, but in the end, she told the truth with guilt on her face, "It's because one of them can only cry in sadness as her loved one is taken by her best friend..." 

"Hmm..." Ishigami rubbed his chin, then said, "From your expression, did you cause the boy that your friend fell in love with to somehow end up with another girl?" 

"...." 

Karen widened her eyes, appeared to be in great shock, and asked, "Ishigami-kun... are you a master of love?" 

"No, did you really cause that?" 

"..." Karen. 

"...let's stop talking about this. It isn't good to talk about someone." 

"Thank you." Karen was grateful to Ishigami from the bottom of her heart, but then her eyes were blazing with the fiery spirit of a craftsman, and she asked, "Ishigami-kun, let's go on a date." 

"....." 

Ishigami was at a loss for words for a moment before he took a deep breath to calm himself. "...did you seriously invite a man with a girlfriend on a date?" 

"But I don't have anyone except you!" 

"Are you sure?" Ishigami was in doubt, especially about how cute Karen was. "You are cute, Senpai. I am sure that there are many guys who have fallen for you." 

Karen blushed shyly due to Ishigami's frankness, which made her a little helpless and shy. "...did you often say something like that to another girl other than your girlfriend, Ishigami-kun?" 

"...I have only said this to you, you know?" 

"...are you seducing me." 

"...did it seem that way?" 

"But... you are right. You have a girlfriend, and I have troubled you with this, so I can't bother you anymore." 

After Karen said so, she took out her smartphone, which made Ishigami curious, and asked, "Are you going to ask a guy to go out with you?" If so, then he would sigh in relief, knowing that Karen wouldn't go after him. 

'Hmm... how narcissistic.'

Ishigami felt that after he was with many women, he had become so narcissistic, thinking that all women would fall for him and attack him. 

"No." 

"Then?" 

When Ishigami took a peek, his eyes widened when he saw Karen open a rental boyfriend website. "What are you doing?!" He quickly took her smartphone and put it on the table as he looked at her helplessly. He knew she was obsessed with her manga, but he didn't expect she would rent a boyfriend. 

Probably, because of the lack of resources, the people in this country tried their everything to make money, including renting a boyfriend, a girlfriend, parents, and sometimes, just a companion. 

Still, the needs of this business were quite huge, especially when many people lived alone and hardly had a chance to meet anyone, so some people needed this type of service. 

Yet, with how cute Karen was, was there even a need to do this? 

Was her manga so important that she would even get a rental boyfriend service? 

"But I really have no one to help me with this, Ishigami-kun..." 

After her smartphone was taken, Karen didn't try to get it back and just lowered her head in resignation. "I-I also haven't fallen in love with anyone..." Yes, she knew about love, heard it, and even understood it in her own ways based on the stories, novels, movies, and music, but the real thing was different, and there weren't any boys who could move her heart except for—

Still, at the same time, when she looked at the number one boyfriend on the rental service, her mood also quickly calmed down, especially when this guy wasn't as handsome as Ishigami. 

The appearance of those guys in this type of service was similar to each other, and they were all like a sissy with long hair to hide the flaw on their faces and even wore make-up like a woman. 

"...it can be helped. I will help you then." 

"Really?!" 

"Yes, but keep it a secret, okay?" 

"Yes." Karen made a zipper-like motion in front of her lips with her finger. "It will be our secret!" 

"....." 

Ishigami decided not to bother about Karen's words that might cause a misunderstanding. 

Sitting down once again, he calmed himself and asked, "So what's your plan for this story that you need a rental boyfriend to develop?" 

"Going on a date." 

Yup, Karen's thought was as simple as that. Thinking of the future development of her story, she thought that she should experience going on a date so her story would be smooth. 

"..." 

Ishigami didn't try to diminish her since if one had a certain experience, their story would be even more realistic, but sometimes being realistic wasn't good, yet he had to say that everything also depended on the author. 

Yet, if he had to say about the realistic development of Kaguya and Shirogane without any supporters, he knew well that it was almost impossible for them to go on a date unless there was an event that made them need to go out together. Moreover, with their pride, neither of them would take the initiative to invite the others, so—

"I don't think that they will go on a date." 

"Eh?" 

"Kaichou needs to study and also work part-time, and Shinomiya-senpai also needs to attend her family's appointment, so if we think about that, it is unrealistic that they will go on a date. Instead, I think that their love will develop in school." 

"Hmm... you are right. It's also hard to imagine how a perfect being like Kaguya-sama would go on a date, too." 

"....." Ishigami. 

"So, what do you think is realistic, Ishigami-kun?" 

Watching her sincere expression, Ishigami thought for a moment and said with some hesitation, "Probably... like us?" 

"...like us?" 

"It's like this: staying together in the same room, without anyone, slowly getting conscious of each other, and then growing closer... don't blush at me, okay?" 

"B-But, you made me conscious of how weird our situation is!" 

"Bear with it for the sake of your manga." 

Ishigami tried to hold on, but if this girl couldn't hold on, then what would happen?

"Everything is for Kaguya-sama... Everything is for Kaguya-sama... Everything is for Kaguya-sama..." 

"..." Ishigami. 

As Karen repeated those words, somehow she was able to calm down, then she clapped her cheeks with her two palms, took a deep breath, and said, "Okay, let's continue, Ishigami-kun!" 

"...sure." 

Instead of going out on a date like how a normal couple would be, in this story, Shirogane and Kaguya grew closer from their activities on the student council and various events at the school, such as sports festivals, exams, and cultural festivals. 

No, instead, they had made the story end with the confession of the cultural festival. 

"This is great!" 

"Not bad." 

"Now, the last part." 

"There is no need to be in a hurry." 

"But I want to have a clear answer now, Ishigami-kun." 

With a reddened expression, Karen said softly as if begging him, "I-I want it now." 

"..." 

After a moment of hesitation, Ishigami decided to relent, "Then... should we discuss it now?" 

"Yes!" Karen was full of excitement. "Let's start to think about how their confession starts!" 

"..." 

Letting out a long sigh, Ishigami wondered whether it was too late for him to run away, yet he knew that he couldn't run away, and he was afraid that the next development would be quite similar to what he had imagined, but unlike before, he was ready, and he was sure that no one would take a find out about what they were about to do after this.