Chapter 1298 Two Princesses

“Hmm… Because I’m feeling lucky? Any boy will be envious of me if they find out that I am getting hugged by you and Itou.”

Not the exact answer to her question but I guess it’s already passable. I had no control over my heartbeat after all, especially when Itou and I got that kind of moment.

Anyway, I couldn’t just tell her that my heart raced from that kiss, right? Knowing this innocent yet very forward girl, she’d surely ask for the same treatment.

It’s possible to reject it, yes. However, imagine how she would take that given how much she trusts me.

“Oh! Is that why you’ll be hated if they see you with us?”

Alright. That’s an incredible connection she just made. While it’s technically not wrong, I couldn’t help but wonder if she’s actually so smart despite her innocence.

I patted her head as I answered that follow-up question, “Right. You see, not many boys will have the chance to be with two beautiful girls like you. And since it’s the universally acceptable common sense that a man should only be intimate to his special someone, they’ll scorn me for being too close to the both of you.”

Misaki attempted to digest it right away, however, she eventually looked stumped as if she couldn’t understand that universal common sense that I just uttered.

Coming to her rescue, Itou, who luckily didn’t need to answer the earlier question anymore, provided additional knowledge for Misaki.

“Take it like this, Misa. Your father. You won’t like it if he has some other woman aside from your mother, right?”

“Yes! I won’t… That’s unacceptable! No matter how strict they are to me, they’re an inseparable couple.”

“There you have it. Ruki will not only be the point of everyone’s envy but also will not be accepted by the majority. But you know what? Ask him if he cared about his public image at all.”

This girl… I thought you were trying to help me explain…

Ending her words with a mischievous smirk, Itou, who had just enjoyed the kiss we shared earlier, put me in another spot.

Misaki naturally followed her words and turned her head to me, tilted it, and delivered that question.

Looking at her inquiring eyes that seemed to be very interested in it, I could only answer that.

Well, it’s not something I would hide anyway.

“More than maintaining my public image… you can say that I will be more concerned about what they will think of you by associating with me.”

In essence, that’s still a ‘yes’. Nonetheless, Misaki took her time to process it and gain her own understanding.

A minute later, the forehead girl put on a bright smile as she once again pressed herself close to me, “I am right when I said you’re different from the other boys, Ruki. Most of them are selfishly only thinking about themselves but you…”

Ah. This again, huh? Misinterpreting my selfishness as selflessness. But thinking about it, I also couldn’t find the selfish part of that answer.

Conveying her elation through this embrace, Misaki fully enjoyed the comfort of my chest as well as the caresses delivered by my hand.

I turned my head to Itou and sure enough, she was just as baffled at how positive Misaki is regarding the way she sees me. If I’m not wrong, there’s always a positive filter in Misaki’s mind when it comes to things related to me.

Unless I openly showed her things that she would find hateful, she’d possibly remain like this.

Anyway, our conversation soon came to an end there. For the rest of our time in their clubroom, we simply enjoyed the company of each other while being as close as possible. Fortunately, Misaki never tried to climb up on my lap to be even closer. Either she didn’t know or she was also holding back.

As for Itou, while she’s not as openly forward as Misaki, she continued embracing me while occasionally enjoying our exchange of kisses.

Although she became mindful of Misaki, that didn’t stop her from deepening our bond.

Normally, this kind of moment would be impossible for a normal couple… but being a former witness of my complex relationships with her sister and the other girls, she easily accepted this situation even if Misaki could normally be mistaken as my girlfriend instead given the closeness.

When it was time for us to return to the School Building, I brought up that plan to buy Misaki a phone.

Since she already accepted, we only needed to set a date.

Itou was the one in charge of it but when I looked at her, she showed me a troubled look which instantly gave away that she could find an open schedule for her.

“… If you want to, you can go with her alone. My schedule this week is so tight that my only leisure time is when I’m here at school.” She said, sounding rather pitiful. I even saw her looking a little guilty for uttering that first sentence.

Most likely, she was planning to just keep quiet about it to buy herself the time needed to pass this week.

Understanding that, my first instinct as her boyfriend was naturally to console her and tell her that we could wait until she was free. But then again, it didn’t really matter if she was there with us or not. I could come and visit their hotel or house by asking Himeko to hand Misaki's phone for our plan to let her safekeep it for the girl.

It's not like I’m going on a date with Misaki… Or maybe I am?

I guess this was the hard part when I was still trying to deny my very obvious attraction to the innocent girl.

“Maaya-sama, I understand. We can go next week or this weekend, whenever you’re free. Is that acceptable, Ruki?”

While I was lost in that thought, Misaki sprang up and resolved the reluctance in my mind by voicing her side.

I inwardly shook her head and criticized myself but obviously, I didn’t show it on my face. I readily nodded to the girl and then turned to Itou, “There we go, there’s no need to rush it. Let’s turn that day into not just buying Misaki her phone but also…” As I trailed my voice here, I glanced at the forehead girl whose shining eyes were still filled with optimism. “… to take you both on a date. We can go shopping or watch a movie. What do you think?”

“I love it!” Misaki instantly answered jumping once again inside my embrace. She’s now turned into another hug machine like a certain silver koala.

Anyway, that’s an expected answer from her. I bet no matter how absurd my suggestion was, the girl would only see the positiveness in it.

Receiving her and doting on her by caressing her cheek, I then turned to the other girl.

Surprisingly, an excited expression was visibly written on her face. No matter how much she tried to reel it in, Itou failed to make a straight face.

And seeing that, I definitely felt that jubilant tug in my heart. Not to tease her but to make sure that she’d experience a great time when that date arrived.

Unlike with Misaki, I pulled Itou back to me and this time, let go of Misaki temporarily to give her my sole attention, albeit briefly.

A moment later, the girl embraced me tightly while she sweetly whispered, “Stop making me feel funny. My heart can’t handle this.”

“Really? Then I have to up my game.”

“Idiot. I’ll tell Nee-sama to scold you.”

“That’s fine too. She’ll hear from me how bashful her Ya-chan turned out to be. I’m sure Himeko will be delighted”

“Always the biggest idiot…”

Perhaps she ran out of a rebuttal from that, the girl turned to the insult that didn’t sound like an insult anymore.

Anyway, Misaki watching us from the side affectionately giggled before joining us again.

By the time we left the Theater Club, the two girls had a more radiant expression than earlier.

And as we walked back to the School Building, Misaki put to practice what she learned earlier, she would only cling to me when there was no one around.

As for Itou, she slipped back to earlier, just following us closely while occasionally stealing glances at my side frame. Whenever I would catch her, she would immediately avert her gaze.

Mhm. While they could be said to be both adorable, there’s that certain distinction between the two. Misaki with her forthrightness and Itou with her furtive bashfulness.

Like them, I’m looking forward to that day. Bringing two princesses, one sheltered and one akin to a royal successor, out on a date, I will undoubtedly have to protect them from the outside world.