Chapter 816 - Present

While on the train, I once again checked on the messages of my girls. There were some that missed when I found out who the ridiculously disguised girl was. Such as Satsuki's and Nami's messages.

After going through those, I then checked Sena's message.

She updated me about Coach Ayu’s state. Like yesterday, she brought her home again and let her rest and eat dinner with them. According to Sena, Coach Ayu’s memory was a little blurry concerning what we talked about before her fever flared up once again.

Well, after what we did and what she saw while she’s on that sickbed, Coach Ayu might be lying about her memory being blurry. It’s a way to escape our currently complicated situation.

And that’s also what Sena guessed. That’s why she didn’t push Coach Ayu to sit down and talk to her seriously about our relationship.

There’s a week or five days before we meet again. I guess within that time, Coach Ayu would at least be able to think about what’s best for her. And if that’s not enough, we’d patiently wait for her.

When I arrived home, I didn’t let Akane pry on the things I bought. After greeting and kissing her, I went up to my previous room and put down my bag and the things I bought there.

Of course, she’s still going to know what they were for but I wanted to surprise her and Miwa-nee first.

“What was that husband? You’re making me curious.”

The girl asked when I returned to the living room. She’s in the kitchen, heating my dinner for tonight.

Akane arrived home around the time I had just started my shopping for presents. And through their message, the sisters treated her to a meal before sending her home. The two even rode the car with her. Himeko wanted to see our house. Among all my girls, she’s the only one who hadn’t been here.

Itou accompanied them and just wanted to thank Akane for helping them. The date was a success, I guess.

From what I heard from Himeko, she enjoyed it a lot and with Akane helping her, they somehow managed to lessen Itou’s hatred on me.

Well, whether she really hated me or not, it only boiled down to her jealousy over her older sister.

Perhaps, if we sat down and talked without being enraged at me, I could make use of my glib tongue to convince her to put down that jealousy. Himeko also loves her sister a lot, after all. Only familial love though. Itou was just exaggerating too much because of her sister complex.

“I see. You’re more curious about those than my coincidental reunion with Yue.”

“That is that. This is this. Knowing you, husband, you’re bound to tell me everything about your reunion with her later.” Akane confidently declared. She even smugly raised her chin.

“Uhm… Anyhow husband, can you see this?” Akane’s eyes shine brilliantly. She blinked a few times and pointed at it. “This is how curious I am about why you went there after your part-time job. I’m holding myself back to ask you through a simple message. It’s definitely not because Yue is there. You didn’t even get her number from me and you decided not to approach her no matter how worried you were. The chance encounter you had with her was purely coincidental. So, out with it, husband. Satisfy my curiosity.”

At the same time as she finished saying that, the oven rang, indicating it finished heating up what she put there. She placed it on the table before picking me up and dragging me to it.

She then went around the table to sit in front of me, placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin there while staring intently at me.

Yep. The girl’s curiosity was about to overflow. Although it’s not as much as Otsuka-senpai’s curiosity, it’s still a considerable amount that… there’s no escaping her curious eyes.

“Alright, stay seated there,” I said as I stood up and put a hand on my pocket. Inside it, there’s the box containing the necklace I bought for her.

Following my words, she remained seated on the table while I began moving towards her. Her eyes followed me until she couldn’t anymore. Well, I stopped behind her.

I then pulled the box out of my pocket and placed it in front of her.

It’s not wrapped beautifully. It’s just the box that came with it.

Still, upon seeing it, Akane excitedly grabbed and started opening it. “… W-wha—What’s the occasion, husband?”

If earlier, she appeared to be an all-knowing seer, now, she’s almost like a kid getting a birthday present for the first time. Stuttering and shaking in nervousness and excitement.

“A simple present. It’s close to two months since we started living together and I haven’t given you anything yet. I hope you’ll like it.”

Seeing her that excited, my lips naturally stretched into a smile. And I know, this one’s a warm one.

Moments later, Akane successfully opened it and pulled a silver necklace with a locket pendant.

The girl raised it in front of her and stared at it as if it was a very expensive accessory.

Truth be told, it’s one of the cheaper ones… I aimed to change that to a better one once I got a more stable income in the future.

Nonetheless, whether it’s cheap or not, Akane’s happiness gradually heightened, she looked up at me and handed me the necklace.

Understanding what she wanted to happen, I took the necklace and carefully hung it on her neck. After I was done, Akane giggled lovingly as she held the locket in her palm… “I can put your photo here, right?”

“Of course. You told me how you love to get one again because what you have before was already tight around your neck.”

“Un. A cute Ruki was in it. I kept it in my room. One of my treasures.” Akane nodded, her eyes still fixated on the necklace. That just showed how much she loved the present.

“Treasures. How many do you have?”

“Oh. Too many to count.”

“Now I’m the one curious.”

“You’ll see it soon, don’t be hasty, husband.” After saying that, Akane tugged at my arm and pulled me in front of her, my knees bent slightly, squatting down to level my face with hers.

Without wasting any more time, our lips and a passionate kiss ensued.

After that, I returned to my seat and began eating my dinner. Akane, on the other hand, became lost at staring at the locket necklace.

For the first time after my desire manifested, I gave a genuine present to the girl I love.

Well, I wouldn’t count those plushies I gave to Otoha as presents since they’re close to being tools to steal her completely… Nonetheless, the girl treasured them a lot.

Anyway, after dinner and before taking a bath with Akane, I visited Miwa-nee’s room to give her my present. It’s another simple accessory, a wristwatch.

Before leaving our house back then, I remember that she was almost keen on wearing watches. She had a collection of them. But when she returned, her wrists weren’t adorned with anything. During the five years that she’s there, she stopped indulging for her own satisfaction, and only focused her whole attention on taking care of Minoru. I guess at that point, making sure that the boy grew up properly was her greatest satisfaction.

That’s why it’s now up to me to do the things her soon-to-be ex-husband should’ve done for her.. Naturally, I’m still as incapable as before. Nonetheless, gotta start somewhere, right?