Chapter 346 - Family

The next day Mercury woke up with a slight headache, of course, the course of that headache was innocent in the matter

'I shouldn't blame Asma… Well, I could blame her for being so cute…'

Mercury shook his head

'This is my problem… Ah, the life of a douchebag sure is hard…'

Mercury rolled around in the bed (In the limited space he had in between Julia and Marie that is) as he agonized about it for a bit then he realized the crux of the problem

'The problem isn't so much Asma it's this good damn vessel of mine that wants to possess every single cute woman I find… I wonder if the girls will forgive me…'

Mercury spent a few moments more before he suddenly sat himself up as he got an idea

'I should consult someone that is outside the whole situation… Let's go talk to Ben and Jey'

Mercury quickly got out of bed and got dressed before he sneaked out of the master bedroom before he headed to the mess hall where he quickly found Ben and Jey and lined his problem

"---So basically I am a douchebag, in fact, the biggest douchebag around"

Ben sighed while Jey 'started' blankly at him for a bit before she 'looked' over at ben before the two of them nodded and spoke in unison

""We already knew that though?""

"Which part, that I liked Asma or that I am a douchebag for collecting women like they are p*kemon cards?"

"P*ke-what-now?"

"P*kemon cards, it's a collectable card game with the catchphrase 'g*tta catch 'em all!'"

Jey 'started' blankly at Mercury for a bit before she asked

"Is it alright if I hit you now?"

"Why?"

"For all of the womenkind"

Mercury sighed before he complained to Ben

"See? That's what I mean…"

Ben sighed before he looked directly at Mercury and spoke

"You are not a douchebag, do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because douchebags are confident and not self-aware at all"

"Then could I study under you great teacher of douchebaggery?"

"I suddenly want to hit you as well…"

Mercury smiled and asked

"Does that means that I am getting better at being a douchebag?"

Ben sighed, so did Jey before she asked

"Why are you even asking us about this, you should speak with Julia, Marie, and Lady Party about this…"

"...Yeah I really should, shouldn't I..? Well then it's been nice joking around with you two, enjoy your breakfast I am off to face my demise"

Mercury stood up and walked out of the mess hall leaving behind Ben and Jey, Jey sighed before she spoke

"Why do I feel like he was just joking around with us…"

Ben sighed again

"I suddenly feel very tired…"

"Me too…"

Mercury walked into the master bedroom with great energy and saw that Julia and Marie was awake, then he declared

"I am a douchebag"

""What?""

"The two of you have fallen in love with a douchebag that even though he has you he still wants more women"

Julia sighed before she reached over and took her wallet and handed Marie a copper coin, this confused Mercury before he figured it out a few moments later

"Wait… You two had a bet about whether I would realize that I am a douchebag?"

Marie sighed, so did Julia before Julia asked

"This is about Asma right?"

"Well… Yes"

Marie showed a wry smile and explained

"The bet was about if you would develop feelings for her, not the fact that you are a douchebag"

Mercury sighed in relief before he realized that Marie still had sent a not so subtle jab his way, though she quickly followed up

"Though we still love you anyway"

Julia also showed a smile and nodded before she spoke

"That's right, I am sure that Party feels the same"

Mercury nodded before he spoke

"Then sorry but then I need to have a talk with Asma right away"

Marie and Julia nodded, then Mercury walked out of the bedroom and quickly made his way towards Asma's room where he eventually arrived and after hesitating for a moment he knocked on the door… then after a few moments of silence a groggy voice spoke from inside the room

"Who..?"

"It's me, Mercury"

"Mercury!"

The sound of panic and happiness was clear in her voice as Mercury suddenly heard a lot of activity from the before quiet room, then a few minutes later Asma opened the door slightly, her hair was still slightly messy but clearly, she had made a few attempts at fixing it up, she didn't wear her usual Sharman garb but instead she wore a cute hooded pajamas with cut-outs for her big fox-like ears that stood at attention as she started at Mercury

"Do you mind if I come in?"

"No, welcome"

Mercury walked into the cluttered room before he sat down on the floor, Asma sat down right next to him, for some time none of them said anything, then Asma leaned her head on Mercury's shoulder, this spurred Mercury to speak

"You know Asma I am not that good with words so I am just going to say this…"

Asma suddenly stood up before she moved to sit in front of him as she looked at him with a slightly worried look and tilted her head slightly as she asked

"Serious?"

"Yeah, I would guess it's serious… The thing is that I am a douchebag"

Asma however quickly disagreed with a slightly stern look on her face

"No"

"No?"

"Mercury, kind"

"I see… But I am also a douchebag"

"But---"

"No but's"

Asma pouted slightly as she eventually agreed

"...Fine"

"The fact that I am a douchebag is widely known… But that's no the point… The point is that even though I have 3 wonderful girlfriends… I want another"

Asma started blankly at Mercury, clearly, the implied meaning of that sentence was lost on her as she tilted her head slightly as she asked

"Who?"

'Well you, you lovable idiot… That's mean so I won't say it...'

Mercury thought for a few moments before she spoke

"Well, she's a very cute girl and while I haven't known her for so long I think that she's… A little weird, but in a good way"

Asma's head tilt got slightly deeper before she asked again

"Who?"

"Well it's you Asma, I've fallen for you"

Asma's face went blank for a few moments before she leaned forwards and hugged Mercury

"Woah there… Are you okay?"

"Happy, very happy"

"I see I am happy too"

Mercury patted Asma on the head for a bit before she looked up and while looking into his eyes she spoke or rather demanded

"Kiss…"

"Yes ma'am"

After sharing a kiss Asma sat herself down beside Mercury and nestled up against him before she spoke

"Bliss"

"Yeah, that's true"

The two of them spent about half an hour of head pats and kisses before Asma suddenly pushed Mercury out of the room

"Changing, no peeking"

"Okay"

Then after waiting a few minutes Asma opened the door again and walked out wearing her Word Sharman garb then she reached out her hand to Mercury and spoke

"Come"

"Sure, where are we going?"

"See, Julia, Marie"

"Okay"

Mercury and Asma walked through the hallways hand in hand, Mercury observed Asma's expression from the side and noticed that she looked a little smug when they passed a servant or another one of the Sharmans, this made her look exceptionally adorable in Mercury's eyes, his hand unconsciously moved to the top of her head as he patted her a few times, this caused Asma to look even smugger as she smiled widely as her eyes closed in seemingly pure bliss as it so happened the two of them ran into the two they were looking for, Julia and Marie both looked at Asma with a little surprise that soon melted away, Asma let go of Mercury and took a few steps forwards before she bowered once, then she proceeded to hug Julia which caught Julia off guard some, then while Julia was still confused Asma spoke

"Family"

Julia nodded and spoke as she patted Asma on the top of the head like she had seen Mercury do so many times before

"That's right Asma, we're family now"

Asma nodded then she broke the hug and quickly hugged Marie too as she spoke once more

"Family"

Marie visibly melted under the cute gesture before she hugged Asma back as she spoke

"Yeah, we're all family now Asma"

Asma nodded again and broke the hug before she looked at Mercury, then Julia and Marie before she spoke

"Never had family before, happy"

Mercury nodded before he asked Julia and Marie

"Do the two of you have some time now?"

Marie looked at Julia that nodded, then she looked back at Mercury and nodded before she spoke

"Yeah, we're free, what's up?"

Mercury showed a smile and spoke his thoughts

"I was thinking of going to see Party along with Asma, want to come with us?"

Julia and Marie both showed smiles and nodded