Chapter 604: Stay here

Since passing by the Book Club had already become a habit, a little game had started playing in my mind.

It was to guess who would be sitting with Haruko.

Back when I just reconnected to her, it was either Mina or Himeko. However, after crawling my way to Himeko and Mina’s heart, it changed to either of the three girls.

These past few days, it was mostly Serizawa-senpai. As for the other two, they’re trying their best to avoid meeting me but sooner or later, I would surely have to deal with them as well... And for the pretext, it’s surely for Haruko.

Some would think that I was clearly favoring Haruko for helping her girls be cured of what’s going on with them. And I couldn’t deny that.

The five of them were originally dependent on her and if I didn’t show up in this school, like the first two that graduated last year, she would be cutting them off when the time comes.

And I sensed bitterness from Haruko’s voice whenever she would talk to me about those two. They’re introverts and both had some other issues with their life as well. Although she made them feel safe with her last year, she admitted that in the end, she failed to truly liberate them.

That’s why this time. When she looked at how Himeko, Mina and lately, Serizawa-senpai changed, she admitted that she’s relieved that my involvement was working.

However, at the same time as that, she’s also reprimanding herself for being powerless to truly help those girls. Perhaps, when all five of them finally found the resolution, even if she declared that she would finally be only for me, the girl would feel a sense of loss.

Little did she know... those girls had already etched her in their hearts. It’s not something that would be instantly erased just because they fell in love with a guy.

And if I was just a random stranger, I doubt I would be able to get close to those three.

That’s how tight their relationship is.

Anyway, even though their relationship that probably only started as Haruko being a person they could depend on bloomed into romance, Haruko already admitted to me that, if need be, she could abandon all of them just to be with me.

In any case, even if I stayed as the despicable desire-driven guy, I would surely still be involved with all of them.

So, interacting with them as a way to help Haruko was not that much different.

-

-

“Onoda-kun, won’t you stay here?” With a slightly muffled voice because her face was once again buried in my chest, Serizawa-senpai asked me.

Like I thought, I would see her again this time. However, apart from her, the other two were also here and they’re both looking at Serizawa-senpai with dumbfounded expressions.

Well, perhaps I was also slightly dumbfounded.

When I entered the Book Club, Serizawa-senpai was the same as any other day, too afraid to meet my gaze. However, after I greeted Aya and returned to Haruko’s table, the silver-haired senpai pulled me in her chair even without waiting for me to walk over and greet her, clinging to me as if she’s a lost chick who had just found her nest.

And now, she blurted out this question.

“Hubby, as you can see, Edel is now like that... In just two days, she’s now seeking the comfort of your embrace.”

Haruko shook her head as she watched Serizawa-senpai who had already given up her seat to me and used my lap as she sat sideways while clinging tightly to me.

In any case, my hand was already on this silver-haired senpai’s head, patting it while occasionally brushing her hair.

Unbeknownst to me, I also somehow developed a habit to do this for her.

“... H-haru! It’s not like that... I...”

Serizawa-senpai tried to rebut but Haruko just pushed a finger on her lips, shutting her up.

“Edel, let’s not tell a lie here, alright? You already told me what you’re feeling and I don’t see any wrong with it.” Haruko said to her before switching her gaze to me. “Hubby, can you still spare a little more time? Bring her to that room and talk to her. Make her tell you what she told me.”

She then pointed at the hidden room.

Although Haruko already removed her finger on her lips, Serizawa-senpai didn’t raise an objection with what she said and instead, she buried her face on my neck again, not wanting to show me her current expression.

But if I had to guess, she’s probably redder than red because I could clearly feel her rising temperature and her quickened heartbeats through her almost flattened chest from hugging me tightly.

“Ehhh? Wait... Haru, how did this happen? Why is Edel-senpai clinging to him?”

Before I could answer, the orange-haired Yuika-senpai exclaimed that in utter disbelief. And next to her, the somewhat silent green-haired Minori-senpai nodded in support to her question.

Well, it’s understandable. They probably thought that like them, Serizawa-senpai still had her guard up against me. They’re unaware of the events of last Sunday.

I heard from Haruko that they also invited them but the two refused after hearing that she will go to our house. As for Serizawa-senpai, her courage and determination to change sealed her agreement.

That’s why to answer their question, Haruko asked them to come closer so that she could tell them what exactly happened.

And using that chance when the two attention was on her, Haruko waved her hand as a sign for me to bring Serizawa-senpai away.

It’s just a few minutes, I can still spare that time. Besides, I already asked Otsuka-senpai to tell them that I would be a bit late.

I’ll surely make it up to them in the following days.

Because of our position and the current state of Serizawa-senpai, I had no choice but to princess-carry Serizawa-senpai to the hidden room, leaving behind the Book Club as Haruko started telling them the events that led to this current situation.

I planned to have her sit down on the bed but like a strong magnet, Serizawa-senpai never let go of her hold on me, resulting in us falling down to it, with me on top of her.

“Uhh, senpai? I will not go away so... can we at least sit properly to talk?”

If someone entered this room at this moment, they would surely get the wrong idea. Serizawa-senpai’s arms were tightly crossed around me. Our bodies were tightly pressed together that there’s no more sense of distance from her.

And being a professional pervert, even if I was still not sold to the idea of making her one of my girls instead of just helping her cure her fear of men, my body reacted for me.

“I-it’s fine like this Onoda-kun. I... The more I interact with you and stay this close, the less fear I can feel.” Serizawa-senpai answered.

She’s stuttering but still, I could feel her powerful courage and unyielding determination to face her fear.

Basically, she’s treating me as a potent medicine for a disease called ‘fear of men’.

“But senpai, I’m still a man. That part of me will no doubt react to you. I want to help you but if that will make you uncomfortable then...”

“I d-don’t mind. It’s a physiological reaction. I... I b-believe you will not do anything to me.”

After answering like that, Serizawa-senpai gradually opened her legs as, the same as her arms, they crossed behind me, putting us in a more daring position.

This girl... In what way did I show her my trustworthiness to even think that I wouldn’t do anything to her?