Chapter 73: Future Plans

Before Ayase left, she whispered 'I love you' again. That girl. If I'm not acting like I'm asleep I would've taken her lips again.

Today, she became one of my girls. Even without my desire, I took her in. This is new. Ah. We interpreted it as another side of that desire but was that really the case? Maybe.

Akane's case was special. She awakened my hidden possessiveness for her. But Ayase, she fell for me on her own. Seeing her earnest eyes earlier and Haruko's urging, I decided to take her in.

And then there are those things they said I should realize.

What could it be? Do I love them already? I can't just decide if it is really like that. I have to fully understand it. For now, I just know that I want them all. My desire to steal someone is still here but I guess it's flexible now.

Haruko keeps on brushing my hair with her fingers even after Ayase left, like a mother making her child comfortable. And yeah, I want to feel this more. This comfortable feeling. But I can't stay like this for long. It's about to get dark.

After a while, I acted like I'm moving my head, rubbing my cheeks on her neck.

"Hey silly. Are you awake now?"

"Yes. Where's Ayase?"

"She left already."

"Did she say anything?"

I looked up at her and Haruko also stared at me. She pulled me up for a kiss again before answering.

"She said she wants it when it's only the two of you.

"I see. I'll prepare for that."

"You suddenly fell asleep, were you sleeping well?"

"Yes. I just suddenly felt comfortable being like this. Now I feel sorry for Ayase."

Haruko continued brushing my hair. This girl. She's purposely doing this because I said I felt comfortable.

"Don't be, even if you're awake, she will still leave anyway. You poured your desire on me that it overwhelmed her."

"Is that so? I just missed my Haruko, you keep on teasing me since earlier and well, I wanted to reward you."

"You're still saying those cheesy lines. Why do you want to reward me?

"To thank you for everything you've done. You did this all for me."

Haruko smiled when she heard that. She looks satisfied to hear my praise. Like all her hard work was being recognized. And yes, I really appreciate what she's doing for me.

"Idiot. That's natural. I want to be special to you as well."

"You already are."

"Not as special as her."

"You know she's different."

They really can't help but compare themselves to Akane. No matter how many times I told them she's different from them.

"I know… Can we do it one more time?"

"What about your girls? Are they not waiting for you?"

"Now that you remind me. You're right, they're still waiting. When will you steal them?"

"They thought I'm stealing you away from them."

This is another hurdle. I only got Himeko for now. About Mina, she probably hated me more and will be more averse now that she saw Himeko turned like that just after leaving us alone for a few minutes.

"Yes. That's why you should work hard. Himeko already softened up to you, right?"

"Yes, only Himeko for now. That girl and Mina. They told me I'm weak and stupid. They realized something but they won't tell me what is it."

"Well, you are. And silly as well."

"I know."

Yes. They realize something just from asking me some questions. They want me to realize it by myself.

"Hey, Ruki. This feels like that time when you will just hug me and let me sleep in your arms. This time our roles were reversed."

"You're right. I realized I wanted to be spoiled too."

Haruko also remembered that. She looked so weak and tired back then so I just held her to rest her tired mind. And she liked that. After that sleep, she will be energized again for her job as the Student Council President.

"This silly guy, of all things you will realize, it's this. But this is good too, I'll spoil you more like you wanted. I want to do it again but I guess, once is enough for now."

"Yes. When will you come to my house? We can do more there."

"I'll have to talk to Akane first. She's your wife."

"But you're mine. She will understand."

Hearing that, Haruko softly hit my head. Then she pinched my cheeks until it turned red.

"Idiot. Even if she doesn't say anything, if you continue bringing one without telling her, she will be hurt. You don't want that, right?"

"Ah. You're right. I'm being stupid again."

Why didn't I think of that before? 

Ah. Because I took it for granted that Akane will be okay with it. She won't say anything doesn't mean she will not be hurt. Didn't I tell myself to keep making her smile?

True, she knew my desire and I got her permission, but Haruko's right. I have to tell her first before making a decision.

"Don't worry, we're here to remind you. All you have to do is to start realizing things."

"That again, what thing should I realize?"

"I want to tell you but I'll concede the first chance to Akane."

"You girls, now you're ganging up on me."

So in the end, it will still be Akane who will help me realize those things they kept talking about. Haruko is even conceding that chance for her. These girls, they might want to compete with Akane but they respect her as the girl who devotedly loved me and gathered them into that group.

"Because you're too silly. Don't worry, we still love you."

"Spoil me then."

"I'm spoiling you now, silly. Ah. Right, Sena and Otoha, they're asking when will be their turn. And the other girls too."

"You can bring them with you when you stay over."

Ah, those two. They're present when Akane showed me that group. In the end, Akane picked Aoi and Ria to go that day. I'll deal with them first since only Haruko will get to stay the night.

"All of them?"

"No. You. Do you want to exhaust me?"

"Just teasing you, silly. Alright, I'll bring Sena and Otoha. The other girls could continue waiting. Maybe Yae will do something with some of them, you should watch out."

"Err. It's still only the 2nd week of school. I'll talk to them in Messenger. Tell them to settle with that first."

My body won't be able to keep up if they keep coming. But this is my fault. I ignored all their mails. I'll let them be satisfied on Messenger for now.

"You won't ignore them?"

"Err. I won't. I'll reply whenever I open it."

"And when do you open it?"

"If I feel like it?"

At how often I am at opening my phone. I could only send them two messages a day. I don't have a lot of time to spend using it.

"This silly guy. They'll get jealous, you know. They will start thinking you won't take them back in like how you did to us."

"How can I assure them then?"

"That's your homework, silly. You decided to take us back in. You have to think of ways to assure them that you'll do the same to them. They're waiting. If not for us holding them back, they would've rushed to see you here already."

"Right. I'll think about that."

This is my responsibility. I couldn't always rely on my girls. Akane probably would offer her help but I won't ask her. That silly girl has done so much for me already.

"Then we're done here for now. I have to go to those girls."

"I'll go home too. Do you want to go home together?"

Even back in middle school, I couldn't openly go home with her. There were only a few special times.

"You silly, I would love to but those girls will be more jealous if you took that privilege away from them."

"Ah. What about Himeko?"

"She always has someone to pick her up after school. You knew about her family, right?"

"I see. Someday I would've to deal with her family too."

Itou Family eh? I don't hear about them too much but it seems they're somewhat influential. Not just from Business but also the Political world. For their daughters to be studying here, I wonder if there's a reason.

Himeko talked about the pressure of being the daughter of that family. She couldn't take it and that turned her into an introvert. Now that pressure rested on her little sister's shoulder.

"Right. Good luck on that, silly."

"Then see you, Haruko."

"See you. You can use that door and leave from the Book Club."

"Alright. Take care."

Haruko reached in for another kiss. This girl, she spoiled me today.

After putting on the clothes we took off in the heat of the moment. We once again said goodbye to each other.

It's already starting to get dark when I leave the school gate. Those athletic clubs were still hard at their practices but those from cultural clubs were already sparse. Walking home at this time, I'm already alone on the road.

I was nearing the station when a car honked from behind me.

I instinctively looked back and saw Shio's car, with her at the driver's seat. She's staring at me from inside and when she saw me looking at her, she reached out to unlock the door for the passenger's seat.

Does she want to give me a ride?

I looked around first to see if there's someone from school. When I saw that it's clear, I went and got inside her car.

After locking and fixing the seat belt, Shio started the car again. She stopped looking at me, focusing her eyes on the road.

"You're not from any clubs, what made you stay at the school this late?"

This girl. She noticed that. Well, she's our Class Advisor.

"Some club I'm trying out."

"I see. The deadline for picking your club ends this week. Decide on that this Friday."

Ah. She's right. I still don't know which club I will settle in. 

"Yes. What about you? How are you feeling now?"

"You don't have to concern yourself over me. I'm an adult and adults don't run out of problems."

"I'm just concerned over my Shio."

"That won't work today, okay? So, where shall I drop you off?"

I guess, her problem still hasn't been resolved yet. That husband of hers, I wonder which school he transferred to? If I know, I'll steal that girl he's trying to put his hands on.

"At the 4th station from here."

"Okay. Sit tight and shut up."

"Alright. Thank you, Shio."

It's a bit dangerous to tease her while she's driving, I'll behave for now and just enjoy this ride with her. Ah. I'll message Akane. I'll be inviting Shio inside.