Chapter 253: Yukari's Change

"Husband, do you want alone time with each of them? We still have around an hour before the school closes."

Since I am now done with talking to them and hearing their answers about what will be our set up now that I'm taking them all back, Akane walked behind me and asked.

This is only supposed to be a meeting with them to confirm if they really still want me but with everyone gathered here, I don't know but I want to spend time with everyone.

This will be a rare occasion where they would be gathering like this.

Each of them has their own club to attend to and their own dreams to pursue for their future. Also, I don't know how Akane got permission to use this club room of theirs for this meeting.

"Do you want to?"

Instead of answering her about what I want, I asked the girls surrounding me first. I also promised some time with Otoha so I have to manage the following hour well.

"Do you even have to ask? We don't know when we will be able to see you again after this day. I'm sure everyone has something they wanted to tell you alone."

Mizuki answered while the others nodded continuously. Even Yua who already got some time earlier had renewed excitement in her eyes.

"There's the answer, wife. Will it be possible? Did you prepare another room?"

"Yes there's another one but it's not as big as this. Yaeko will bring you there. So who's first?"

Akane scanned her gaze towards the eight girls. And based on the girls' reactions, there's a little fear from how they look at Akane.

Most likely it's because she's the one who made all of these possible. They all know that among everyone here, she's the only one I didn't steal from someone. She devotedly waited for the day I opened my eyes again and looked at her the same way I did before my desire manifested.

"Yukari. Do you want to go?"

I turned to my side and asked the girl still clinging to my arm. Because of what she did earlier, I had her stay at my side while I'm talking with the three.

She's already clinging to me so… I will start with her.

"Yes!"

Yukari excitedly answered as her previous gloom from sidelining her was cast off instantly.

"Then let's go. Yae, please."

"Right away, sweetie. Follow me."

"I'll look forward to what you will say. Whatever it will be, be it a complaint or you just want to vent your frustrations towards me, I'd like to hear them all. Starting today, you're all mine again and likewise, you will have my undivided attention when we're alone. That being the case, I will be completely honest to you and I hope you can do the same for me."

Before following Yae with Yukari in tow, I addressed them all. This is not just directed to the eight but also to everyone in the room.

"Don't worry, Ruki. I have a lot in store for you."

Aika beamed a smile to me as she nodded as acknowledgement to what I said,

And after that, almost similar words came out from everyone's mouth.

Upon hearing all that, I smiled at them and followed Yae outside.

The room wasn't that far as it is a former storage room located on this floor. It was already cleaned out with only a single locker and a single table placed side by side.

"I will be going back, sweetie. Just tell Yukari who will be next after you're done talking to her."

Yae said before closing the door for us.

She had that same smile she had when she's helping me with my conquest back then. I guess this satisfied her desire to be of help to me…

"Ruki…"

A minute after the door closed, Yukari called out to me.

"What is it? Are you still upset with me?"

"How can I still be upset? I took in all the words you uttered since you arrived with Yua. I'm sorry for acting like that. I really want to show you how much I've changed since that day."

"I see. Then, can you show me how much you've changed? After that, I will also show you that I'm not the same guy who tricked you to dump your boyfriend."

"… Is this enough?"

Yukari pulled me by the arm and went to the table. She sat herself there before hugging my head to her chest as she slowly brushed my hair with her fingers.

Her heartbeat noticeably quickened and she's starting to release an unusual heat which could only mean how embarrassed she was feeling at the moment.

This girl. Back then, no matter what I did, she would just submit to what I wanted to do with her. In contrast to that, no matter how much I told her to tell me what she wanted, she kept her mouth shut and kept it all to herself. Even when I cut her off, apart from the tears which naturally ran down her captivating mature face, she never uttered any grievance.

Also, I never heard what she actually felt for me. Whether she hated everything or I made her comfortable. I'm probably just coercing her to do those things with me as she often closes her eyes when we're in an intimate situation.

When I received her message in Messenger along with the others who wanted me to take them back, only then did I get a glimpse at what she really felt towards me.

"What are you doing? Tell me in detail. Back then, you're only vocal when Elizabeth's with us. When we're alone like this, you're always silent and succumbing to anything I asked you to do."

"Uhm… I… I wanted you to hear my heartbeat. How excited and happy I am."

Yukari stuttered and found it difficult to complete her sentence. In direct contrast to what she's saying.

"Is this supposed to be happy? Why are you sweating a lot?"

"… I-I'm nervous. I don't know how you will react now that I'm not the same Yukari who couldn't voice out her real thoughts."

"Don't be nervous. You're still my Yukari. Isn't this what I wanted? I might not remember much about our time due to my one-track mind back then but I know I always wanted to hear what you think. Not just you nodding and bending to what I wanted to do."

Every time I was with her, I would try to make her talk to me more than just what she experienced for the day.

After hearing my words, Yukari inhaled and exhaled long breaths to calm herself down. Once her heartbeat returned to its normal state, she started speaking her mind and heart out.

"What I think… When you left me, your words kept on repeating in my mind so I tried asking Risa what to do. However, like me, she's crying about her Dark Prince leaving her alone in her castle."

"Because of that, I started asking myself… and I found the answer… I want you to look at me again. I want you to take me into your arms. I want to hear your encouragement. I want to do something for you just like how you solved most of my problems back then. I want to be with you… Not just someone who you will pass the time with but someone you will spend the rest of your life with. I love you, Ruki… Don't leave me again…"

Halfway through her words, her voice cracked and I felt her warm tears dropping to the back of my neck. Her heartbeat that was skipping too fast earlier calmed down wherein the beats started to have one clear rhythm.

At this moment, she's pouring everything she bottled up and through this, it's all being conveyed to me.

Her hug somehow loosened up so I lifted my head and looked up to her. There's a huge smile on her face amidst the tears that were running down from her face.

I reached my hand to it and wiped it with my fingers. After that, I leveled my face to hers. Before taking her lips, I stared into her eyes, waiting for something I wanted her to do.

Yukari didn't let me wait as her head gave me a small nod. She finally understood that I am waiting for her permission.

And with that, I drew my face closer and softly placed my lips on hers. It stayed like that for about 10 seconds, before our lips moved and turned that simple kiss into a passionate one. From kissing to biting and lastly using our tongues to express the longing we have for each other.

"These tears… I will make sure this is the last time I will see these tears filled with the sadness you bottled up."

I said between bated breaths as soon as we finished that long and passionate kiss.

"Un… Don't forget about me. You have a lot of girls and I know I'm not someone special like Akane for you. Just knowing that you remember me is enough."

Yukari put my head back to rest on her chest and continued to caress the back of my head.

"What are you saying? Don't compare yourself to Akane, there's a reason why her existence is too special for me. This might not sound so grand anymore but I'll still say it… You and everyone else are all special to me. This is how I am, Yukari. I'm too greedy that even if one of you leaves me after this, I will surely feel the pain."

I added more of them. Even if I don't try to think about it, my mind was already working on how I can keep them all satisfied. Satisfied enough to not leave me.

Haa… I know this is also the reason why I kept on moving but I can't stop these thoughts. No. More like, I don't want to stop it.

"Is this what you mean about the change in you?"

"Yes. I can now feel all kinds of emotion. Not just that indifferent guy who didn't hesitate to make a move to the best friend of the girl I am with. I know this is late and this will not change anything but I'm sorry for everything I did to you."

"Ruki… Enough with that. Hold me too… I'm really glad we both changed. If I continued being the same girl you met, I will not be here. And if you continue being the same Ruki, none of this will happen."

Yukari shook her head and tightened her arms, burying me further in her embrace.

This isn't the first time I'm hearing the same sentences but it still calmed me down at this moment.

Heeding her words, I completely indulged myself in her embrace and I did the same for her. Just feeling each other's warmth like this, we spent the last few minutes before she stood up to call the next girl.