Chapter 140: What Shio Wanted to Do

After explaining our complex relationship, Itou's view of me made a 180 turn. From how she was thankful of me for bringing her here, she's now glaring at me while she kept Himeko behind her.

"I don't know and I don't want to know what's the real deal but I'll take Nee-sama out of here."

Itou turned around and pulled on Himeko's hand.

"Wait, Ya-chan. I know it's hard for you to take it but Haru and Ruki, they're the reason why I'm starting to change."

Instead of being pulled by her, Himeko stopped Itou.

"Nee-sama, I'm thankful to Haruko-senpai for what she did for you but look at what that guy did, he also wanted you even if he already has Akane and Haruko-senpai. What is he?"

Like I thought, she will bring up Akane.

"I know it's hard to understand, Itou. Normally, we wouldn't reveal this to anyone since we're truly not normal, but you're Himeko's sister. She wanted to help you and I'll be helping her do that."

I already have an initial hold on Himeko so, even if she managed to pull her out today, I can just go back here tomorrow to see her.

"You can help Nee-sama without doing that, right?"

I see. She's against the idea of Himeko being taken by me. I couldn't really blame her when she was suddenly exposed to our not-so-normal relationship.

"But I like your sister, I already expressed it to her."

Unlike Mina, after all the time I spent with Himeko, I already decided to take her as mine soon. That's why I really want to help them in any way I can

"Ya-chan, I love Haru. Ruki, I'm still not sure what I think about him but being with him…"

Himeko trailed her last sentence and didn't finish it, instead, her gaze turned to me.

"Nee-sama, he's saying Haruko-senpai is his while just yesterday I saw him checking out of our hotel with another girl. He's not loyal."

Well if it's about loyalty, I'm loyal to my feelings for them. But the loyalty she's trying to say was about those who were already satisfied being with the girl they like the most that they wouldn't entertain any other girl apart from their current partner.

That's great and all but I already strayed far from it.

"Haru is aware of that, me too. That's just how he is."

"Why does it sound like what he's doing is a normal behaviour for you?"

I wonder why she's only reacting like this to me but let the fact that Himeko loves Haruko. Did she interpret that differently?

"Because that's what is normal for us, Maaya-chan. Hime, tell her what you want to do."

Haruko seeing the growing tension from Itou finally butt in to calm things down.

"Ya-chan, I know it's hard for you to understand but I have a place here. I will change so that I can lighten your load and that change will happen here."

"Nee-sama…"

Itou couldn't refute anymore when Himeko hugged her again.

Himeko became an introvert because of the pressure of shouldering their family name and only when she encountered Haruko did she start to open up but that's still not enough, she might've opened up to Haruko but she's still the same in their home.

But with my appearance as well as knowing how Haruko turned like that, Himeko also decided to be taken by me. Well, her reason was that if Haruko changed because of me, there's also a chance for her to change.

However that's just her blind belief, I might've influenced my girls but the decision to change still lies within them.

With Itou's appearance here and the things we talked about earlier, the determination within Himeko's eyes told me that she finally decided to change by herself.

It only got complicated because of our complex relationship behind it.

"Itou, if it will make you feel at ease, I'm going to leave first. What I told you about our relationship, I'm not asking you to understand it completely but Himeko and I, as you can see, we already have something between us."

"Ruki, you don't have to leave."

"No, Himeko, I think this will be for the best for now. I'll see you again tomorrow then we can talk about that plan of yours and about how we can help you."

"Then, before you go. Hold me again."

"Are you sure?"

"I also want Ya-chan to understand what you are to me."

"Alright."

I opened my arms and Himeko put herself in my embrace. Maybe what I did for them today finally made Himeko take the next step for us. I expressed to her how I really want her to be mine and she also understood that this is also Haruko's desire to keep her within arm's reach. If I'm only taking advantage of her before, this time, she's already willing to be held by me.

I didn't kiss her again to put Itou's mind at ease but from what she just witnessed, she will understand that it's her sister's decision.

Saying goodbye to Haruko, I also refrained from kissing her this time which she understood. Mina still couldn't look at me straight but she also bid me take care.

After that, I went to the busy Aya reading on the corner. I couldn't just forget about her being here as well.

When everything's done, I left the Book Club. They're all girls there now and since I've already known the reason why the sisters acted like that, I could work it out next time. I will ask Haruko what happened after I left later.

Itou's reaction was normal and it's not that surprising that she's against me having multiple relationships. Maybe after leaving the club she will also message Akane about it. And Akane being Akane, she'll probably defend me. Ah. I should tell her to be patient with her, those two hit it off pretty well yesterday.

There's that option to also take Itou to become mine but that's not viable for now, maybe in the future. I also came to like that girl who has that great sense of responsibility. Err. She might just be someone with a sister complex but for her to shoulder what's supposed to be her sister's responsibility without having any complaints or grievances against her sister, she's kind of amazing that way.

However, it will be hard for her to accept me if I ever showed interest in her. And if she rejects me, I'll accept my loss.

Now that I'm done with the clubs, it's time for me to go to Shio, is she still waiting there?

Making my way from the Club Building to the Administration Building, I passed by a lot of students who were about to go home, the athletic clubs were still ongoing with their practices though and Satsuki was there, preparing for their upcoming match.

I spotted Shio's car at the parking lot not far from the Administration Building so it means she's still there.

Entering it, there are fewer teachers left now and most of them were probably at their room, resting or grading papers.

About the clubroom that I was supposed to clean, it was for tomorrow.

I made my way to Shio's room and after checking left and right that there's no one around me, I knocked on her door.

She immediately opened it with my first knock. Seeing her at this time, it will be suspicious if someone saw us but yeah, that doesn't matter now. I missed this beautiful teacher of mine and after that thing from earlier where she cried her heart out, I really want to comfort her more.

"Were you waiting for long?"

I asked her when I entered the room and closed the door behind me.

"Not really, the meeting has just finished so I also just got back."

Shio took off the blazer she was wearing on top of her long sleeves polo. Unlike her earlier expression, she still has her composure right now as if the Shio who cried on my shoulder earlier was an illusion.

"You know, I'm honestly amazed that you could still keep a clear head to teach even with the problem you're carrying right now."

"Ruru, this is my way of coping from it. Being depressed won't solve my problem."

She answered as she went to the table to prepare coffee for us.

"Right. My Shio is this strong of a woman."

Since I'm already a regular here in her room, I sat on her sofa as I watched her busying herself on that coffee maker.

"Who are you calling your Shio?"

She looked back and scowled at me.

"Who else?"

Seeing that scowl on her face, I couldn't help but go to her and hugged her from behind. I wanted to cheer her up, so saying things that might rile her up is good.

"I thought you're the type who wouldn't take advantage of someone feeling down."

Though hugging her like this surprised her a bit, she didn't reject it as she continued preparing that coffee maker.

"That's right. This is my way of cheering you up, Shio. If you need a shoulder, though mine's probably smaller than your husband's, you can lean on it."

"Say, Ruru. Did something change from you again? After that night when I visited your house..."

She finished preparing and already turned the coffee maker on. She then turned around and faced me.

Ah. Right. I haven't talked to her properly after that night since there's no chance. That night was when Miwa-nee confessed about the reason for my desire as well as me finally remembering that emotion.

"There is. I realized something, Shio. I like you. This is not just my want to steal you from your husband."

"Back then you won't even admit how you love that special silly girl of yours, now you're telling me you like me?"

Since I kept on pointing out that I only wanted her before, she was skeptical even when I had just confessed what I actually felt for her.

"Uhm. You're right about what you said that day. That's what changed Shio, I became aware of these things now so… I couldn't just hold on to the word 'want', I really like you."

"Am I supposed to be happy hearing that, Ruru?"

"No, I just want you to know about it. But you can ignore my words, your current problem takes priority today."

"This student. After confessing, you wanted me to ignore it? Haa. Just hold me like this for now. If it's you, putting on a strong front doesn't have any effect now."

Sighing to herself, Shio rested her head on my shoulder again as she whispered on my ears. She's really too weak right now that if I'm not here with her, she might've start crying again.

"I also like seeing the strong Shio, you know?"

The confident Ms. Miyazaki. That's one of her strong suits too.

"I'm not that strong and you saw it earlier. What should I do, Ruru?"

"I think it's not the question of what you should do. It should be, what do you want to do?"

Right, she shouldn't ask me about what to do, I'm also clueless about that. For now, it's a matter of what she really wanted to do. Her cheating husband brought the girl in their house and instead of listening to her, he left with the girl. That's a brave guy, I tell you. It's a wonder why he hasn't been caught yet.

"… I just want to forget about my problems, will you help me, Ruru?"

Shio raised her head and stared at me.

After mumbling the changed question for at least 10 times, Shio found her answer.

"Isn't that why I'm here?"

"Then kiss me, Ruru."

Nodding my head, I didn't hold back and immediately took her lips into a kiss.

For now, this is what she really needed. To forget. And I'm here to help her with that.