Chapter 91: Changes

Miwa-nee indulged herself in me because she thought this would just become a one-night thing.

For her, when morning comes for us, she will go back to being married to someone.

She doesn't want to talk about it tonight. But the reality is, we already crossed that line. Saying it's just a one-night thing is just absurd.

We won't be going back to our previous relationship, slowly she'll show me more of her love. I'll try not to push her but I'll take all the chances for now.

"I like you Miwa-nee. I won't give up."

Miwa-nee did not answer and just continued walking to their room.

I watched her back until she disappeared from my sight.

I opened the door to our room and saw Akane, she's still at the same position as I left her. But yeah, this girl probably noticed that I left her side, she helped me to have this chance with Miwa-nee because she knew I will still go back to her side in the end.

I touched her face and caressed it. Her hand moved and put it over my hand.

"You don't have to say anything. Hug me again, husband."

She spoke first before I could even think of what to say.

I nodded and lay down beside her. She gave me the pillow she's hugging which I used as a replacement earlier. After that, she hugged me tight and I did the same assuring her that I will always end up on her side.

I don't regret what I did.

I can't stop it. This desire.

I want to see this girl's smile all the time but I know my actions will surely make her sad even if she supports it and doesn't show it.

"I love you, husband."

She whispered to me, her voice carrying a hint of the sadness she felt.

"Un. I love you too, wife."

An apology is meaningless at this point. I'll just do what I always do. Make her feel special.

I kissed her lips, pouring in my love for her. She happily accepted it and soon, we both drifted off to sleep.

Another day will come to us. We'll be separated again for almost a whole day but I will always go back to her side.

When I woke up, she's still hugging me tightly. I brushed her hair with my fingers and watched her sleeping face.

This time, I'll wait for her to wake up and just watch her like this.

It doesn't need to always evolve to an erotic situation, not only with Akane but to every girl that I can call mine. But yeah, because I can't always be with them, they wanted to feel me. To reassure themselves that I still want them.

She woke up minutes later and she gave me her best smile when she saw me watching over her.

We greeted each other good mornings and went down together.

Miwa-nee and Minoru are still in their room. She's probably waiting for the boy to wake up.

We did our exercise before we started preparing breakfast, only then did the mother and child come down. They both looked like they just woke up.

Like I thought, Miwa-nee tried to act like nothing happened between us. But her face was turning red whenever her gaze landed on me, she couldn't hide it.

Akane sensed that but she chose not to say anything. It's a bit complicated but I guess only I can fix this sense of awkwardness that is currently building up.

It will be suffocating for us if this continues.

Over breakfast, I tried to break the situation but Miwa-nee acted oblivious to what happened to us. In consideration of Minoru, I didn't do anything in front of him and just acted like his Ru-nii.

Nothing changed until we prepared for school. I used the time when Akane was changing to talk to Miwa-nee again.

Minoru was busy watching TV while she's at the kitchen washing the dishes we used.

"Miwa-nee, can I ask for a kiss?

I whispered to her.

"No. Minoru is there and I already told you, I can't act on my feelings for you"

She answered without looking at me.

She kept herself busy washing the dishes.

"Then I'll settle for a hug."

Miwa-nee sighed after deliberating for a minute. She turned to me and gave me a hug like I asked. Then, the hug was proven not enough, she also gave me the kiss that I first asked her.

"Satisfied?"

"Un. You don't have to think that this is you taking responsibility, Miwa-nee. Let's be honest with each other."

I could tell her to take responsibility like she first promised but that would just be forcing her to be guilty again from what she did. I already felt her love for me so I only need to dig it up and not let her bury it again.

"As long as we don't show it to Minoru…"

"Alright. I love you Miwa-nee."

She was startled when I said a different word. Like or love, I guess it's already leaning to love since the start. My desire to have her is this strong. She's the woman who took care of me since I was a child, apart from Akane, she's the next one closest to me.

"I told you. We don't need to say that kind of thing between us. Now go. I'll see you later."

She's happy. Just looking at that smile that bloomed from her lips, telling her I love you made her that happy.

She went back to what she's doing but that smile stayed hanging on her lips. My aunt who always bullied me back then is smiling like this because of me right now. The contrast from that made me hug her again.

Miwa-nee is mine. I won't give her back to her husband

I left her side after that. Akane finished changing soon after. She looked at me, she knew I used that chance to talk to Miwa-nee.

On our way to the station, she asked me.

"Has a good thing happened with Miwa-nee?"

I nodded my head as an answer.

"And it's thanks to you, Akane."

"If it's the previous you, you wouldn't think twice about pressuring her about taking responsibility. But now, you only used the fact that she loved you before."

This silly girl really knows me more than I know myself.

"I want her to stop feeling guilty. Maybe I've changed and it's because of you, Akane."

"Not just me. Everyone influenced it, even you yourself. You might've not noticed, you now have the desire to change for us."

Desire to change, eh?

But that certain desire doesn't change, it only grew stronger.

We separated again when we reached the station, she's not wearing her scarf like she said yesterday. The faint marks were still visible on her neck, she wanted to show it off instead of hiding it

Well, that will also shave away more guys who are trying to pursue her. Akane is mine. They won't have any chances.

Now that I look at it again, I really indulged myself with her during that night. Remembering my love for her, it lifted both of us up. It's not just my possessiveness now.

During my ride to the train, I checked my phone again and did the usual. Greeting everyone I need to greet.

I told Yae to wait for me after school at the station. I have to meet her now before she comes up with something like Haruko predicted. 

Well, I also want to confess to her, this will surely make her happy. Maybe I can also tell her to get along with Akane, that girl is more competitive than Haruko.

Ria and Aoi will probably want to see me too but I want to do it one at a time. There's also that impending stay of Haruko. She will bring Sena and Otoha with her.

Those two… I wonder what made them fall for me? Will they tell me?

Then there's Nikaido, she also wants to meet me. She's still expressing her desire to be stolen by me. 

Girls are really mysterious. I didn't do anything but she still came to like me.

When I arrived at the classroom, Nami immediately went to me after I put my bag down.

Aya was confused seeing her approaching me.

She knew that Nami was one of my targets so she kept herself busy with the book she bought yesterday.

Nami brought me to that empty and after closing the door, she immediately hugged me.

The hug wasn't the usual hug we were practicing in that empty room. It exudes her current happiness.

Ah. Ogawa finally confessed to her. That scene yesterday flashed on my mind and the bitterness once again surfaced.

"Congratulations."

"It's all thanks to you."

Her smile is too beautiful. And it's Ogawa who made her smile like this.

"No, that's all on you. You made that happen."

"Hey, your voice, that doesn't sound happy at all."

How can I be happy? This girl. She finally succeeded to have the boy she likes confess to her. The work she put on was witnessed by me. She let her be taken advantage of by me all for the sake of that. I might've grown closer to her but that's not enough to sway her

Nami is this good and Ogawa is too lucky to have this girl like him. That harem protagonist, tsk.

I might've found her scary at the start but now that I admit to myself that I like her, seeing her this happy because of another guy, I couldn't help but be envious.

"I like you. Seeing you this happy because of another person, I can't be as happy for you like Tadano."

"This guy. You're ruining this morning."

She released me from her hug and sighed. She stared at me but I couldn't guess what she's thinking about or maybe I wasn't trying to guess.

"Well, if that's all. Let's go back."

"Are you forgetting something?"

I turned my back and walked to the door but her voice stopped me. It carried a hint of frustration for the way I acted.

"What am I forgetting? Ah. The plan. Of course, I'll act on it, that's my only chance to steal you from him."

Right. The only chance. If I let that chance go then I wouldn't have any chances again.

I don't want to use any despicable methods now nor force myself on her like I always do.

If I did any of that, it would just push her more to choose that guy. I could only act within our agreement. No kiss, only hug and holding hands.

"Ruu. You know this would happen, right? Why are you acting like this now?"

"Because I realized that emotion? I don't know but maybe it's like that. Now I feel bitter because the girl I like is now dating another guy."

"This is not like you."

Right. This is not like me.

Like I thought, this is probably the result of remembering that emotion. I'm now putting it in front instead of my desire to steal her. The desire is still here but my feelings for her are now getting in the way.

I have to take a look at myself again and try to balance the two.

Liking Nami and wanting to steal her. I'll try it later.

"I know. I'm acting differently now. But I guess this is fine. Don't worry, the plan will continue. I'll act as your boyfriend in front of your friends."

I tried leaving the room after saying that, but her hand took a hold of my arm.

"Hey, stay here for a bit."

I looked back and there's a complicated expression on her face.

"Okay…"

I let go of the knob and turned back to face her.

She looked up at me and I stared at her. I still couldn't guess what she's thinking.

I don't know why she stopped me.

"I like to see the previous you, Ruu."

"I'm still me. Maybe I'm just getting confused right now."

"Hug?"

"Is it fine?"

"Usually you'll be delighted but now you're asking me."

"I…"

"Come here. This time I'll be the one to make you comfortable."

Hearing her say that, I couldn't hold myself back. I closed the distance between us and hugged her tight.

She didn't reject it and instead she hugged me back. I could feel the heat of her body and the softness of it. 

I see. I understand.

Because I saw how happy she was with him, it made me like this.

I was jealous.

I couldn't make her smile like that after all.

But now I'm getting comforted by her, how ironic.

She knew the reason why I was acting like this. 

"Nami."

"Hmm?"

"I'm going to steal you from him. You better prepare."

"Good, you're back. Good luck on that then, Ruu."

I loosened my arms hugging her and stared at her again. I really wanted to kiss her but I knew that if I did, it would push her away from me.

Nami tapped my face and smiled. The usual smile she shows me. But I guess I'm satisfied with this for now. I just have to work harder to steal her.

We left the room after that. Her smile was still on her but I don't know if it's because of me.

I went back first and she showed up right after me in the classroom. She then gestured to check my phone.

She sent me a message.

"Come to our club later. Wait in the classroom, I'll go with you."

"Alright."

I smiled and turned the phone off after sending my reply.