Chapter 2173: Going Home Together

Chapter 2173: Going Home Together



After recovering from the exhaustion brought forth by our intensely intimate activity, I eventually went downstairs with the girls. To my surprise, no one had left yet; they were all still waiting for me, scattered around the clubhouse, chatting amongst themselves or simply relaxing.

I noticed Komoe sitting next to Marika, Shizu, and Misaki, with Kana and Rumi also in their group. They were engaged in a lighthearted conversation, but I couldn't quite catch it since their eyes immediately turned to me as soon as I showed up.

Minori and Yuika-senpai also stopped lingering on the corner. While the former remained quietly observing the others, Yuika-senpai was giggling alongside Chii and Hana.

At the back of the clubhouse, I spotted Arisa and Izumi with Satsuki, Nami, Hina, and Saki, enjoying the night breeze and looking over the gardening plots that still needed weeding. They rushed back over upon hearing us coming downstairs.

Seeing them all here, patiently waiting for me made my heart swell with warmth.

I mean, it was kind of selfish of me to ask them to stay just so I could walk them out and escort them.

And yet, there they were. They hadn't left me behind.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I realized just how much I meant to them and how much they meant to me.

But now, standing in the room with all of them, I felt a twinge of guilt and shame.

Deep down, I knew it wasn't fair for any of them to devote their time to me when I couldn't be with all of them at once. I wanted to tell them they didn't have to stay just for my sake, but at the same time, part of me selfishly wanted to be with them a little longer.

It was a bit contradictory, right? Our complex relationship entailed a situation like this, after all.

Still, telling them to leave if they couldn't wait any longer would have sounded wrong. It would feel like I was pushing them away.

What a headache.

But well, this was how complex our relationship was and I also knew that everyone decided to stay on their own choice. Not entirely because I asked them to.

I racked my brain, trying to find the right words, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out a perfect way to phrase what I was feeling.

One by one was impossible and if we followed the usual groupings, it would take several trips.

After ruling out those options - and leaving out the girls whose chauffeurs were waiting outside the gates, like Marika, Misaki, and the Itou sisters - we decided to split into two groups based on the direction their homes were located.

The first group would be Haruko's group alongside Satsuki, Aya, Rae, Kana, and Rumi.

The second group was obviously the same ones as yesterday but with the addition of Hana and Chii.

And while we were at it, I told them my promise to pay Kazuha-nee a visit today so I'd be going to walk Nami and the girls again.

That gave rise to a small dissent which ended with Chii and Hana suggesting that they join us on the bus and get off at the same station as Nami's group. Nami would take them to her

house where they would wait for my return from my visit to Kazuha-nee.

That way, I could still escort them home, especially Hana who already expressed her desire to have me walk to her house again just like last time.

Naturally, I didn't object. It was a good chance to check on her living situation again. Maybe I could even cook dinner for her, just to make sure she wouldn't be eating convenience store food if her aunt didn't make her one.

With everything planned out, I soon set off with the first group.

Komoe also tagged along since her house was just a short walk from the school. I'd walk her home after we escorted the others to the bus stop.

But before that, I surrounded myself with Himeko, Maaya, Misaki, and Marika.

Since it was getting late, their chauffeurs and bodyguards were probably already looking for them. I'd need to come up with an excuse for why they were only leaving school now.

Marika would be easy, but if those two bodyguards saw me with other girls, they might change their opinion of me.

As for the others... Well, it wouldn't be the first time they saw me escorting them to their cars.

It didn't really matter if they reported back to their bosses. Sooner or later, I'd have to face the girls' families anyway.