You're (Supposedly) Just My Friend — Voiced by Shohei Komatsu

Now that R-rated-free situation CDs have become an endangered species, to think I'd meet a pair like this—so frustratingly slow, so pure, neither close nor distant…… Thank you, and thank you again (hands clasped in prayer) It's wonderful in the sense that you get to bask in that incredibly beautiful voice for 60 minutes, and I think the scenario itself gently stirs up everyone's emotions too!! (What even is that, lol) Starting from a trigger like "an unprecedented tie"—like, are we in elementary school?—they quickly grow close, ending up with Midori-kun in a relationship that's close but ambiguous, like a best friend, like a lover. His words and actions are suggestive... or maybe not... it's an exquisite balance and it's just unfair. It's not blatantly "actually I'm conscious of you," but rather a line that makes you think, in a normal human way, that you're liked. In most romance works you'd think "there's no way you don't like them from any angle, just get together already!!" but this is more like teetering on the edge of "no, this is just Midori's version of best-friend treatment... no ulterior motive, yeah, ...right?" It's not just his words and actions, but also his voice and the subtle nuances, I guess? The way he talks mixed with laughter sometimes sounds like he himself is probing the boundary in his own way, and it's exquisitely unclear whether he's testing how far he can go or testing where the line is. Indeed, if he said something like "how about being my sleeping friend?" it would sound like a declaration of romantic awareness, but combined with the flow of the conversation, you can't say for sure that it is. The way it doesn't easily fall into "just friends" or "more than that," swaying back and forth along the boundary—I really thought that was admirable…… Since the day they started sleeping together, Midori-kun's voice has gotten even softer, and the sense of "ah, maybe he took a step forward" is amazing too. His standing position, or rather, the position of his heart. But still!! Even after they start sleeping together, various things happen, but he remains indecisive all the way to the very end. But that's what makes it good. It made my heart waver and race with that blue, straightforward feeling of someone who just became an adult—I thought it was a great work with a rare vector in this genre! I really want people to give it a listen.

First of all, I loved the setting!! When I listened to the sample, I loved the atmosphere too!! Honestly, I think I might have been looking forward to this release more than anyone else—I'd been looking forward to it constantly ever since before it came out!!! Before listening, I'd assumed he'd casually call her "omae," so I thought it was somehow nice that he calls her "kimi" instead. He draws a line as "best friends," but the distance between them is actually quite close, and you can really tell he always prioritizes and cherishes the heroine. Midori-kun, how should I put it—I get the feeling he's acting while knowing exactly what he's doing, and that's kind of sly of him. In the end, once you learn Midori-kun's true feelings, including through the side stories, am I right to think that even while drawing a line, they were both being suggestive toward each other the whole time...? So then, was Midori-kun's behavior something he was doing on purpose after all?! Was it?? How sly of him???? Um... I kind of assumed that once their feelings were mutual, there'd at least be a kiss, but there's no such scene in the main story or the extras!! There is a standalone "kiss" cheer voice track though, so please mentally attach it wherever you like!!!! It's amazing!!!! And honestly, the cheer voice tracks are ridiculously fun!!!!! There are way more variations than I expected. What even is this?!??!! Infinite possibilities, infinite enjoyment await you. I feel like it's been a while since I listened to such a high-quality all-ages work. Thank you so much!!!

Ever since the trailer came out, I was so, so looking forward to this. To cut to the conclusion, it was amazing. Thank you. Even though their relationship is obviously more than friends—so much so that even other people point it out—she insists on calling it "best friends." As the story progresses, you find out that this is actually a preventive line the heroine herself drew, and honestly, I totally get why, because seeing how Midori-kun treats other people is genuinely scary. If messing something up leads to him acting like that, then being treated as a "best friend" is definitely the better option. That's how firm Midori-kun's boundaries seem to be. And precisely because of that, he probably only ever gets confessed to by girls hoping for a one-in-a-million chance. I think the key to this sense of distance is the fact that Midori-kun is a year older because he's a ronin (retaking exams). Even the protagonist says so within the story—there's a real "big brother" vibe to him. That's probably exactly why the protagonist, who's only a single year younger, has been telling herself things like "this closeness is just him doting on me like a little sister"... no wait, he really does act like a big brother way too much. Though in reality, he was acting like a boyfriend the whole time. Also, it was just genuinely great as something to help you fall asleep. Komatsu-san's vocal tone is relaxed and soft, perfect for right before bed.