BL Short Story | "So that's what 'like' means"

A short story about two people who aren't lovers yet, on the day they realized it.

"Koike-san, you really like Saito-san, don't you?"

I reflexively stopped moving when she said that out of the blue at the cafe where Saejima-san and I were having lunch.

She didn't seem to think she had said anything strange.
Sitting across from me, she looked perfectly nonchalant as she speared her main course of meat with her fork and brought it to her mouth.

It wasn't that unusual for me to have lunch with Saejima-san, who would flip through magazines and invite me out happily, saying things like, "I want to go here," or "Let's go there next time." Despite being younger, she didn't hold back in a strange way and didn't try too hard to be considerate, which made her easy to be around.

So, I thought I was quite used to her sudden, out-of-the-blue remarks.

I put down my fork and drank about half my water.

"Saejima-san, what do you mean by that?"
"Eh? Exactly what I said?"
"...I feel like there's a big misunderstanding if you take it literally."
"I don't think it's a misunderstanding, though."

I couldn't help but sigh at her laid-back tone.
Saejima-san tilted her head curiously while stuffing her cheeks with the side of potatoes.

"Because Koike-san, you're soft on Saito-san, aren't you?"
"Isn't that true for you too?"
"It's different for me. I'm only doing it because we work together, but Koike-san, you care about Saito-san even outside of work, don't you?"

It was the kind of phrasing that would lead to strange misunderstandings if anyone around us heard it.

Even saying "outside of work," it was only to the extent of going out for drinks when called, or taking on the confirmation of documents I was asked to check. At least that was my perception of it, and I didn't understand why she would say it like that.

However, it probably wouldn't get through even if I argued any further.
I gave up on saying anything more and focused on silently clearing my plate.

In the meantime, as Saejima-san talked about a business contact she had recently become friends with or complained about work, the lunch hour ended in the blink of an eye.

We always pay separately.
I had offered to pay before, but we ended up arguing slightly at the register, and that's how it settled. She says it makes it easier to invite me without feeling obligated.

Lunch with Saejima-san was one of my small pleasures.

While she was paying, my phone in my chest pocket rang.
Saito's name was on the screen.

"Yes, Koike here."
"Where are you?"
"Where, you ask... I'm out."
"I want to have a meeting now."
"Huh? The schedule was for 3:00 PM, wasn't it?"
"I'm in the mood to do it now, so I want to do it now."
"Are you a child?"
"If you're going to say things like that, I'll leave all the document compilation to you, Koike."
"Is that a threat?"
"Well, see you."

He said only what he wanted to say, and the call was cut off unilaterally.

After glaring at the phone screen for a while, I sighed.
Honestly, what a selfish guy.

And yet, there wasn't much annoyance mixed into that sigh.

"Did something happen?"

When I told Saejima-san, who had finished paying, about the situation, we ended up heading back to the office at a brisk pace while contacting the relevant parties.

There were few people in today's meeting, and the documents were mostly ready. If we hurried, we would definitely make it in time. As I was walking while thinking that, Saejima-san's words from earlier suddenly crossed my mind.

——Koike-san, you really like Saito-san, don't you?

Like, huh.

I thought, that's true.

No matter how much I'm pushed around, no matter how annoyed I get, the reason I don't give up on him and stay by his side is because I don't dislike the time I spend working with Saito.
No, not just not dislike, I probably think it's always comfortable.

He's selfish, gets people involved on a whim, and calmly disrupts my plans.
And yet, when Saito asks me, I can't refuse.
Even while thinking it's a hassle, I end up taking it on, and if he's in trouble, I can't leave him alone.

I thought we were just doing the same work on equal footing.
That because Saito is like a partner, I just end up lending a hand.

But, it's probably not just that.

It's because it's Saito.

Once I thought that, something finally clicked into place within me.

Ah, so that's what 'like' means.

Once I admitted it, it was surprisingly simple, enough to be anticlimactic.
I had thought it would be more troublesome, more complicated.

"Did something happen?" Saejima-san, walking next to me, looked at me curiously.
"No, nothing."
"Really? You look a bit gentle, though."
"It's just your imagination."
"I'll leave it at that."

Listening to her giggle, I increased my walking speed just a little.

When I open the meeting room door, Saito will surely look at me with a face like nothing happened.
Even though he called me in on a whim, he won't even look apologetic.

Even so, I'll probably feel a little relieved just by seeing that face.

Really, it's hopeless.


*I have used the power of AI to check for typos and refine the expressions.

On this account, I write about things I've found in my daily life that made me laugh a little,
things I've thought about a little, and things that have suddenly remained in my heart.
I would be happy if you read from whatever catches your interest.

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