Chapter 316: Slap to the Face

"Stole… How did you do that?" With confusion in his eyes, Tadano repeated a word that's too familiar to me.

Of all the things I said, that's what he picked up, huh?

"That's something you, as a coward who couldn't confess to her if not for my urgings, will not understand." I shook my head.

Upon hearing it, his clasped fist tightened and he started trembling visibly from anger. However, he reined it in.

"You know, you and Ogawa have this similarity. You're both too scared to confess to her. For you, you're scared that she will stop being your friend. On the other hand, that guy just didn't have the guts to do it. If not for Nami meeting me, nothing would change." I continued.

He was about to reply but I slammed him again with another one, causing him to shut his mouth. "Ah. Right. You two still confessed to her in the end. However, it's all too late. Compared to the two of you two, as soon as I realized I like her, I confessed my interest in her. True, that act, I used that as a springboard to actually make her mine but hey, each to their own. Before you two have noticed, I've already crawled my way up to her heart. All those times you're all thinking about the consequences, she's already aware of what I felt for her. Now, did you see the difference?"

Slapping him with the truth of how I did it, it's on him now whether he understood it or not. At the end of the day, Nami still looked at them as her friends… If she wanted to keep it like that, I would help her do that.

This slap should wake them up.

"…"

Observing this guy's reaction, I could see that he's trying to process everything. Eventually, his trembling anger stopped and his expression turned stiff.

At least he still had his reason. If this was Ogawa, I wonder how he will act?

"If you're still not convinced, just wait until she's ready to reveal everything. And don't you dare interrogate her like that again… If you do, make sure you're ready to face the consequences for doing that." After adding a threat to it, I turned around.

That was enough. His cheeks were already red from those words that I slapped to his face. If he still couldn't wake up from that then I'll add more in the future.

If he could pass my words to Ogawa, then that's a lot better. Let him feel the secondhand slap.

"Well then, go back to your house, it's late. I don't really care if Ogawa will hear about it, in fact, I want him to accept this reality and wait for that day. You best advise that guy that if he wanted to, he could directly confront me, not the way he did earlier."

What he did earlier was trying to ease his accumulated frustration. He's waiting for me to fold and tell him words that will make him feel good about himself. That's nasty. I'm starting to really feel bad about Izumi-senpai for chasing after that hopeless idiot.

At least Izumi-senpai was doing everything she could to chase after and make him look her way, unlike him who's trying to delude himself in a fantasy he, himself, wrote.

Without waiting for Tadano's reply, I resumed my steps and never looked back again. Taking my phone out, I messaged Nami like I promised to tell her that everything's taken care of and I'm on my way home.

A few seconds later, Nami's reply arrived. Upon seeing that, I released a sigh of relief. She's back to normal.

After Nami, I also messaged Shizu to thank her for being there.

If she's not at their doorstep, it would be even harder for Nami if it's her mother who went out to see what was happening.

Shizu also replied asking if I dealt with Tadano.

I didn't see it immediately since I already pocketed my phone, only when I sat inside the train did I manage to send a reply.

Following that, Shizu bid me take care on my way home for the first time. Upon reading that, even if it's a simple message, it managed to put a smile on my lips.

A lot has happened in school. Ending it in this way with Shizu's message, I felt that everything I did was worth it.

-

-

"Welcome home, Ruki."

Surprisingly, the one waiting for me at the door when I arrived home wasn't Akane.

"Un. How come it's you, Miwa-nee?" Although I'm not complaining that it's her, I just really got too used to Akane welcoming me home.

"Akane's at your room, asleep. She kept calling your name earlier. That girl, I don't think her period would affect her to that extent... Right, her friend stayed with her until she calmed down and fell asleep." Miwa-nee shook her head but a smile could clearly be seen on her lips as she recalled Akane's antics.

"I see. Sorry for the trouble, Miwa-nee. What about her friend?"

Well, it's not like I'm expecting to see Fuyu here. I just wanted to express my gratitude. She helped me with Akane after all.

"She already left. She left this behind for you to read." Miwa-nee handed me a folded piece of paper.

Upon opening it, a neatly handwritten message was in it saying 'It was tough but she'll be fine. Please take care of Akane, Onoda-kun."

It was a simple message but it spoke a lot of how much Fuyu cared for Akane. Seeing them having great friends like Fuyu for Akane and Momoiro-senpai for Kana, I'm starting to feel somewhat envious.

The one closest to a friend towards me was that guy who I stole Satsuki from.

Will I ever have someone I could call like that?

Probably none. Either way, I'm already content being with my girls alone. They'll not just be my partners but closest friends as well.

After reading it, I folded it back and pocketed it.

On the side, Miwa-nee took my bag and entered alongside me, like a wife assisting her husband.

Upon noticing that, my arm naturally moved to pull her in my embrace, tiptoeing to plant my lips on hers. As if already used to it, Miwa-nee soon responded to my kiss with more passion.

From her lips and tongue, I could taste the somewhat stinging sensation of the alcohol from the wine she was drinking.

"You boy, you're always this bold nowadays," Miwa-nee said after our lips separated.

She's already a bit red because of the effect of the wine but after our kiss, Miwa-nee flushed further that she seemed more drunk now than when she greeted me.

"Seeing my Miwa-nee acting like a housewife for me, I couldn't help it."

"Although I liked it, as the adult closest to you, I need to remind you to always mind the time and place."

"Un. I understand Miwa-nee. I'll keep that reminder in mind." I nodded and dropped another kiss on her luscious lips.

Once we're done with that round of kisses, we moved to the living room.

The first thing I noticed was Minoru already sleeping soundly on the sofa with a blanket draped over him.

I looked at Miwa-nee and inquired with my eyes and the answer I got was her eyes pointing to the kitchen or more precisely, the dining table.

On it, there was a bottle of wine, half-empty. And sitting on one of the chairs was Shio silently sipping her wine as she observed me.

I almost forgot that she's still here. So that's why Miwa-nee hadn't brought Minoru upstairs yet. They're not finished drinking that wine.

I walked behind Shio's chair before leaning over to hug her, circling my arms on her shoulders. "Are you trying to get drunk before that meeting?"

"Un. It's better this way, Ruru. I will be more courageous when I confront him. That man will not scare me anymore." Shio nodded and put the glass on the table. With her hands freed, she stretched her arms to the back of my neck, initiating a bout of kisses with me.

Like with Miwa-nee, the taste of what she's drinking was passed onto me. Nonetheless, I welcomed it and turned it into a deep one, letting her forget the troubles that she will soon face.

She's here to steel herself for what's coming after all. Although I already changed her mind, having spent years with that guy, Shio was afraid that he might still have a tiny hold over her. That's why by drinking and spending time with me, she's gathering more courage on top of the encouragement I gave her earlier.

"If you want, I can come with you."

"No, I told you. I can do this."

"Alright. I'm just trying if you will change your mind."

Even if I want to follow her there, the right thing to do Is to restrain myself.

She already showed me her determination, it would be disrespectful and undermining to her if I still insisted on going after her. She already changed it so that it would only be around 10 minutes away from here, I just have to be ready to go out at any moment.

"Ruru, I'll check in on you every 10 minutes. Moreover, I doubt the meeting will last for more than that. Also, don't sleep yet Ruru, I'll go here instead of the apartment." Shio cupped my face. Although her breath was filled with the smell of what she's drinking, her words were serious and sober enough.

There's no point in me being stubborn anymore so instead of answering, I nodded my head and this time, I initiated another kiss.

I decided. Before she goes out to meet that guy, I would encourage her further… in my own way.