Chapter 99: New semester ①

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Translator: Soafp

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Somehow, we managed to reach an understanding with Nodoka’s parents.

The amount of money needed for her father’s startup turned out to be less than I’d expected.

…Though when Nodoka tried to get permission for us to live together, even her father couldn’t hold back his tears.

After that, I headed home with Airi and Yui.

“Everything worked out nicely in the end, Ren-kun.”

“Yeah, I guess it did…”

To be honest, I felt that if Nodoka’s father had punched me, I wouldn’t have had the right to complain.

The only reason he was willing to overlook things to some extent was probably because I’d saved his daughter’s life.

More than anything, it was because of Nodoka’s own determination.

“But honestly… it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It feels like I bought Nodoka with money.”

Even if it had been part of a strategy, the deciding factor that made her father agree had still been my offer to become an angel investor.

Of course, he hadn’t actually sold his daughter for money.

He had simply realized he could no longer oppose us, and I’d offered him a way to back down gracefully through the investment.

That was why he had lowered his spear.

“Ren-kun, you’re overthinking it. It’s not like you lured an unsuspecting Nodoka with money. You just used the tools available to you to bring home a girl who’s completely in love with you.”

“You think so…?”

“Of course. If this were a web novel, it’d be the same as the protagonist winning a duel and rescuing the kidnapped heroine.”

“No, that makes Nodoka’s father sound like a complete villain…”

“If an isekai protagonist uses strength to save someone, then you simply used the weapon of modern society—money.”

“When you put it that way… maybe you’re right.”

“Honestly, Ren-kun. When we get home, I’ll heal you with my body again.”

At Airi’s words, Yui’s shoulders jumped.

“W-Wha!? A-After how intense it was, y-you’re doing it again!?”

“Oh? Yui-san, who was secretly taking care of herself beside us, still hasn’t realized just how strong Ren-kun’s sex drive is?”

“Y-You knew!?”

Did she seriously think nobody noticed?

To be fair, both Nodoka and Airi had been more than seductive enough.

But Yui secretly tempting me from the side with that sense of forbidden excitement had made me lose control even more.

Honestly, I was quite the pervert myself.

“But Airi, I’m already at my limit. So much happened today that I’m exhausted.”

Starting with the incident involving Nagasawa-senpai and Kokoa-san at the summer festival, and ending with the conversation with Nodoka’s parents.

I never expected such a nonstop series of events to hit me all in a single day.

If I tried writing it all down in a diary, I’d probably still be writing by sunrise.

“Okay. Then will you do it again tomorrow instead? Of course, we’ll do the work this time. You worked hard today, Ren-kun.”

“…You’re planning to do it two days in a row?”

“What are you talking about, Ren-kun?”

Airi raised the corner of her lips in a mischievous grin.

“Every day.”

“…”

Apparently, I’d ended up making succubi my girlfriends.

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The summer vacation that felt longer than usual finally came to an end.

The classroom was lively at the start of the second semester.

Some people were exactly the same as always, while others had completely changed over the summer.

Not long after the semester began, we had a seating rearrangement.

As a result, my seat ended up by the window, just as in the “nightmare” Airi had seen.

And sitting directly in front of me was Takagi.

“Yo. Doing okay?”

“Yeah. More importantly, why are you so tanned?”

He hadn’t exactly been pale to begin with, but now he was so dark it looked like he’d been living in a tanning salon.

“My relatives run a beach house. I helped out there as a part-time job, and this is the result.”

“Huh. Really?”

So he’d enjoyed his youth in his own way too.

“What else?”

“…Nothing.”

“Really?”

“I said really! I wanted to enjoy the view of beautiful women in swimsuits and maybe try a little flirting, but I was way too busy! I didn’t have even a single second of free time!”

Takagi began venting his frustrations.

Apparently, the only thing he’d gained was a brutal amount of ultraviolet radiation.

“What about you?”

“Me? Well… a lot happened.”

I went on dates with Nodoka and Airi, went on a four-day beach trip, saved Kokoa-san from both a lightning strike accident and a train accident, and gradually reconciled with Yui…

Without question, it had been the most eventful summer vacation of my life.

Takagi leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“By the way, who’d you end up choosing?”

“Choosing what?”

“Don’t play dumb! Between Komori-san and Sugawara-senpai, obviously.”

“Ah…”

He’d helped me out plenty of times, and I didn’t want to lie to him.

But was it really okay to tell him about the relationship between the three of us?

I was still hesitating when—

“Komori-san! Komori-san! Is this photo for real?”

“Are you dating Fukagawa-kun?”

“And Sugawara-senpai is there too! What’s the relationship between you three? Are all three of you dating each other?”

“U-Um…”

…Apparently someone had even taken photos at the summer festival.

A group of girls had surrounded Nodoka and were bombarding her with questions.

Naturally, Nodoka had frozen up completely and couldn’t answer properly.

Takagi must have overheard them too.

In a low voice, he asked:

“Fukagawa… don’t tell me it’s both of them?”

“Who knows what you’re talking about?”

“Are you serious!? You’re actually dating both of them!?”

“Who knows what you’re talking about?”

“You seriously piss me off!! I wanted you to be happy, but not this happy!!”

Takagi roared like a monster.

The other boys who had been eavesdropping on our conversation also started murmuring.

“Wait, seriously?”

“No way…”

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the rumors spread through the entire school.

Worried about Nodoka, I glanced in her direction.

When she noticed me looking at her, she flinched, shrank her shoulders, and started fidgeting with her ears turning bright red.

The girls immediately pounced on that reaction.

“Ehh!? Komori-san is so adorable!”

“So it’s true! And dating as a trio? It’s like something out of a manga!”

“What is that, some kind of harem? But why Fukagawa-kun of all people? I mean, he’s not bad-looking, but he’s pretty ordinary.”

Yeah, there were bound to be people who didn’t like me.

Thinking about it, that reaction was only natural.

From the perspective of our classmates, I was the terrible guy who had dumped his childhood friend Yuzuki and immediately started dating two other girls at the same time.

However, Nodoka frowned and replied in a cold voice.

“At the very least, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t badmouth Ren in front of me.”

“Ah, s-sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. I was just surprised…”

“Well, that’s because… he’s kind, and he’s my type… a-and also… he’s amazing.”

“Huh? Amazing how?”

“I-I can’t really explain specifically, but… in lots of ways!”

“Kyaaa~!”

Nodoka had probably been referring to my wealth or my ability to see the future.

Unable to say it openly, she’d chosen her words carefully.

…Unfortunately, all the other girls clearly interpreted it in a completely different way.

“So Fukagawa-kun is really that amazing?”

“They do say nobody can beat that.”

“That? What do you mean by that?”

The girls burst out laughing together.

Only Nodoka seemed completely unaware of what they meant and tilted her head in confusion.

Then another conversation reached my ears.

This time, it was a group of girls surrounding Yui.

“At first I seriously didn’t recognize you! Kitayama, did you have some kind of summer makeover?”

“N-Not really…”

“Oh, I get it! You cut your hair after the breakup! One of those things!”

“N-No…”

Looking over, I saw that Yui was also surrounded by girls.

Even the way she wore her uniform had changed.

She no longer buttoned it all the way to the top, and her skirt was slightly shorter than before.

“U-Um, everyone. I actually have a favor to ask.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“From now on, I’d like everyone to call me Yui instead of Yuzuki.”

“Huh? Suddenly? Why?”

“W-Well, that’s because…”

Yui stumbled over her words.

Honestly, she didn’t have to go that far.

Lowering her voice, she continued:

“The truth is… our breakup was entirely my fault. Ren didn’t do anything wrong. That’s why I wanted to leave my old self behind. I changed my appearance, and I want people to call me something different too.”

“I-Is that so? Okay, got it. We’ll call you Yui from now on.”

“Thank you. And just so we’re clear, don’t blame Ren. This was my decision.”

“Of course.”

Apparently Takagi had overheard that conversation too.

His eyes widened as he turned toward me.

“Kitayama-san has really changed.”

“You think?”

“Yeah. How should I put it… It feels like she genuinely loves you now. Like she’s finally serious.”

“What kind of comment is that?”

“How should I know?”

Takagi laughed.

This guy really was frighteningly perceptive.

For the time being, it looked like our class would make it through the start of the new semester without any major incidents.

I wondered how things were going in Airi’s class.

I was just thinking about asking her after school when Takagi suddenly spoke up.

“Oh, right. I’ve got some good news for you.”

“Good news?”

“It’s about the photography club.”

Takagi grinned.

“Looks like they’re about to be forcibly disbanded.”