I am that male friend in the harem story-Chapter 304: Favoritism

Still, while Tobe felt that it was unexpected for Shiori to offer him to go home, he wondered how she would send him home until—

"Excuse me, I will go home first."

"Ah, see you on your next shift, Asamura-kun."

Asamura Yuuta, the protagonist of My Days with the Stepsister, whom Tobe had only recently met.

His impression of him?

Dry and dead.

Tobe knew that this was rude, but this was how Asamura Yuuta was in his eyes. He wasn't sure how Yuuta's life was, but for one thing, as Yuuta was the protagonist of a romance story, he was sure that Yuuta would be a loner more or less, since this was how a writer catered to the main demography of the buyers.

A popular guy as a main character wasn't needed, and if possible, one had to have a tragic past, which made his personality understandable and somehow was accepted by many despite how weird it was. Then, during that moment, the heroine would be there to bring light to the protagonist's life.

Frankly, Tobe wasn't sure who Yuuta's heroine would be, but this guy wasn't a bad guy.

"See you, Asamura-kun."

"Yes, Tobe-kun."

Bowing his head slightly, Yuuta walked away, ready to go home with his bicycle, before he glanced in the direction of Tobe and Shiori, thinking that their relationship had become so close in just a moment, which made him feel a little conflicted since it somehow reminded him of his past where his mother decided to cheat on his father, then asked for a divorce.

So, as long as a better guy appeared in the life of the woman, would the woman be swayed?

Was there really no eternal loyalty as they made their vow during their marriage?

With a complicated mood, Yuuta left with Tobe watching Yuuta's back, wondering whether Yuuta had fallen for Shiori.

"Aren't you going back? Why did you keep staring at him?" Suddenly, Shiori's expression was that of surprise as she asked in shock, "Tobe-kun, are you a bi?!"

"..." freeweɓnovel.cøm

Tobe stared at Shiori blankly, which caused her to laugh awkwardly, and she apologized. "Sorry, sorry." Sticking out her cute, pink tongue, she said, "I was just joking, okay? Don't look at me with that gaze!"

Yet, even with such an expression, this guy was so infuriatingly handsome, which made her even more helpless.

It might not need to be explained, but Tobe's basis was good, as he was handsome, and when that was multiplied by all the abilities that he had received, his appearance would be even better!

If Adonis somehow existed in the real world, then Tobe might be one.

Like how a boy would think that they had a chance to get close to the most beautiful girl or woman in the class or at work when they happened to work side by side, when Tobe appeared, somehow, Shiori inwardly thought that she might have a chance to grow closer.

Good looking.

This was the lethal point that one couldn't do anything since, like how a beautiful woman would attract the gaze of men whenever they walked, like an ant that was attracted by a sugar, when a handsome guy appeared, it also worked similarly.

If there was a reason why a woman couldn't approach or gaze into the man boldly, it was because society didn't allow them to do so, as being reserved, modest, and pure were qualities that a woman was expected to have in society instead of being bold, unreserved, like a man.

Regardless, as they were from the same work, it should be okay for her to send him home, Shiori thought.

However, Tobe had to say that this woman was so bold.

Was this the difference between a high school student and a university student?

Just a few years of difference could make a woman different, yet he also understood that compared to a man, a woman became older faster as they had a fertile age and this was why they were in a hurry to mate if not it would be hard for them to have children, which was different from men, who could get erect no matter what their age was as long as they were healthy.

"No, it's just I wonder why you didn't invite Asamura-kun to go home with us. You should be close with him, right?"

Tobe remembered that Shiori had introduced Yuuta to him before, and this showed that their relationship was quite close, so why didn't she invite Yuuta, too?

"..."

Shiori fell into silence, realizing she had messed up, and it was fortunate that Tobe only asked about Yuuta, but as she had offered him, shouldn't she also extend her help to the rest of the staff of the bookstore?

As she invited Tobe alone... wouldn't it be that she had a special emotion toward him?

While she wondered how to explain this to Tobe, he decided not to pursue this problem. "By the way, how are you going to send me home?"

"By car."

"You drive a car?"

Watching his surprise, Shiori somehow felt smug. "Of course! Do you want to see it?"

Like a boy who wanted to show a girl their luxury cars or awesome motorcycle, this is how Shiori presented herself.

"Okay, let's go home together."

If Tobe were a woman, he would hesitate to accept Shiori's invitation, but as he was a boy, why should he be afraid of her invitation to be sent back to his home?

Unless Shiori was a stalker, psychopath, or yandere, then Tobe felt that he would be okay.

Yet, as they had communicated, he knew well that she wasn't such a person.

Probably.

Right?

At least, she was beautiful, so if she forced herself on him, he could reluctantly accept.

Jokes aside, as Tobe accepted her offer, Shiori also didn't hesitate. "Come on! My car is over there. Let's walk together."

"Thank you, Senpai."

"No problem." Shiori smiled, then asked, "So, why do you think that I only invite you to send you home, Tobe-kun?"

Was this her way of teasing him by indirectly saying that she liked him?

If so, then she understated him since he wasn't a virgin, who would blush when he was teased.

"I guess... Is it favoritism?"

"Favoritism?!"

Under Shiori's dumbfounded expression, Tobe said, "You don't have to worry. This is normal."

"Huh? Really? Is it okay to have a favorite?"

When she was confused, Tobe explained, "While it would be better if we were fair, a human can't work that way, after all. Whether we want to or not, somehow, we will tend to have a good impression of those whom we like or a better impression. It's like parents love their children more than other children, even though all of them are the same children."

"...that's an example that's a bit too far-fetched, right? After all, those children have a blood relationship with the parents, while the other children do not."

"Not really, some people will be fair, since instead of blaming the other children, sometimes, they will punish their children if they make a mistake, but many parents will save their children despite knowing their children are wrong. Or one child is somehow liked more than others, despite it being unfair; there are many such cases, right?"

"Hmm...."

"You could say that's a bias, too. Something that we tend to think or like when we see, hear, or feel anything that our senses feel." Tobe looked at Shiori and said, "Like how you will take care of Asamura-kun more than the other coworkers before, that's favoritism."

"So, as I tend to take care of you more, then besides favoritism, can you think of another reason?"

As her expression became gentle, staring at him softly, Tobe pursed his lips, thinking that a woman was unfair, he thought. It was on the man's genes that a man would treat a woman and protect them, so even though a direct answer might be better, as that answer would hurt the self-esteem and heart of the woman, they would try to search for another method.

So—

"That's an unfair question, right?"

Laughing, Shiori smiled and said, "As expected, you are fun~! Okay, before we go back, I will treat you to dinner! Come on!"

"..."

This woman... would she even let him go home?

---

There are many who are into MILF than I had thought to be, but let's just see how it goes later.