I received a love letter from Rushia that night.
After dinner, I was washing the empty dishes in the cabin’s kitchen. “……”
My mind was consumed by Rushia’s love letter.
In elegant handwriting, she poured out her feelings for me.
‘Tonight at 9 PM. I’ll be waiting at the lake near here.’
Rushia expected a reply from me. A reply… a reply, huh.
Rushia said she liked me.
If this had been in the past, I would have brushed it off as childish nonsense, listening to only half of it. But… “Come on, then.”
Someone gave my back a pat. Thump.
Turning around, I saw Akari standing there with a smile. “Need a hand?”
I started to say I was fine, but stopped myself. “Yeah, thanks.” “Mm. Okay.”
We stood side by side in the kitchen, washing dishes in silence.
“I was really happy just now.” “Just now?”
“Yeah. Usually, you’d tell the kids to go play with their friends and keep me at arm’s length, right?” “Ah… I guess so…”
The look of seriousness on Akari’s face from last night flashed through my mind.
She had displayed a seductiveness that sent shivers down my spine back then; she was no longer just a girl, but a woman.
It wasn’t just Akari—Nanako and Rushia too. They were grown-ups now.
“Since you were kind enough to offer, I figured refusing would actually be the rude thing to do.”
“Heh. That’s a nice attitude—so that’ll be our policy from now on~ Fufu♡”
Akari rinsed the detergent-covered plate with water, looking pleased. “Hey, Obachan~” “What?” “Did Rushia make her feelings known to you?” …There was a moment of silence.
The sound of water rushing from the tap dominated the space.
Caught off guard by the sudden question, I didn’t know how to react in time.
It seemed to be taken as a silent confirmation. “I knew it—” “How’d you know?”
“Well, I just felt it. Girls are more sensitive to these things than boys think they are. My sister’s the exception, though.”
At dinner today, Lushia remained completely silent from start to finish, refusing to even look in my direction.
Given her attitude, she probably suspected something.
“You’re as quick on the uptake as ever.”
“Nhuuh ♡ So… what are you going to do?”
Akari’s tone was remarkably flat.
It sounded like she was asking about today’s weather.
”…I’m agonizing over how I should handle it.”
The image of Akari’s naked body from two days ago flashed through my mind.
They are full-fledged women now.
And those women are sincerely desiring a relationship with me.
To brush it off as childish nonsense would be… cruel.
So I have to think this through carefully. As an adult, honestly give my answer.
「Are you torn between seeing me as a writer or as a woman, Okarin?」
If I chose my answer wrong here, it would create complications for how we’d work together in the future.
Did he see Lusheia as a woman, or as an author?
At least if he looked at me as a woman, it might make it difficult for both of us… no, more importantly, for her to work together.
And that would get in the way of [our] dream too. I had promised that girl.
That I would make her the greatest light novel writer there is.
「Aren’t you happy? To be confessed to like that?」
「I am. At least, you’re all individually charming, and on top of that, you’re beautiful. It’s a real pickle. Choosing just one from among you?」「…………」「Akari?」
Akari suddenly fell silent.
Looking at her face, I saw she had her head bowed down, her neck flushed bright red.
「…Ah, …um, …uhhhh」
She flapped her mouth open and closed, like a goldfish gasping.
Shortly after, he cleared his throat with a honk and flashed a smile.
“Thanks a lot ♡ …Gwaaaaah!”
Akari crouched down on the spot, clutching her head in both hands.
“Ikarin! Ambushed me! That’s unfair!”
“Huh? Ah… did I embarrass you?”
“Yes! Stop it… just saying sweet things like that out of the blue makes me… stupid.”
Akari, despite being an adult, had clearly been taken aback by the sudden compliment and was now blushing.
“A-Anyway… well. The rescue plan… I’m happy about it too. Because Ikarin is thinking seriously about you, her man of interest.”
Having finished washing the plates, Akari wiped her hands dry.
“Plus, I don’t think you’re looking for a conclusion right now. It happened too fast.” “Is that how you feel too?”
“Of course. Ah, Ichika-chan is probably feeling the same way too.”
I hadn’t told Akari anything about Ichika’s confession to me. ”…Do you have telepathy or something?”
“That’s exactly right. Esper Akarin sees right through everything.”
Seizing the opportunity that there was no one else around, Akarin pressed in on me.
With the wall behind us, I found myself pinned tightly against her.
Through her thin clothing, I could feel the softness and heft of her breasts.
Their firmness pressed flat against my chest, distorting their shape in a lewd way… My gaze became glued to them.
Amidst the suffocatingly sweet scent, Akarin whispered.
”…It’s okay if you cheat with other girls. I’ll… allow it. Kisses with other women, dates, sex… whatever Okarin desires… I’ll forgive all of it.”
“But,” Akarin said, her breath brushing against my ear so closely.
”…I will be the last one to steal your heart.”
Having said only that, Akarin waved her hand and left.
”…So that makes three people. I guess I need to come up with a plan of my own too.” ★
When it hit 9:00 PM, I headed toward the designated location.
It was a lake nestled within the forest, surrounded by trees.
There were white benches placed there, presumably for enjoying the night view, and Lusia was sitting and waiting. “You came, Okaya.” “Yeah.” I sat down next to Lusia.
Her cheeks flushed as she tried to shift one seat over…
But instead, she moved one step closer to me.
She wore a composed expression.
One could almost say it was a face with its mind made up.
“Okaya. Thank you for coming instead of running away… I was afraid I’d just be dismissed as speaking in childish nonsense.”
In the eyes of society, the age gap between 29 and 18 is too wide.
She likely had that awareness too.
That she might be seen as a child… “I wouldn’t run away.” “I see…” Lusia’s lips curved into a smile.
”…I’m happy. That you’re willing to face this properly.” A momentary silence followed.
The night wind blew through with a whoosh. ”…”
Lusia hugs her shoulders, rubbing them for warmth. Karuizawa is a city up in the mountains. Even in summer, the nights are chilly.
I take off my jacket and drape it over Lusia’s shoulders. “Ookayama…” “You’ll catch a cold.”
She smiles happily and clutches the jacket tight to her chest. “So… about your answer” I search for the right words to reply.
In the past, I would have tried to maintain composure befitting an adult. But she isn’t looking for that.
So I don’t speak as an adult, nor as an editor. I tell it like it is—my own words. “I’m… honestly torn” “Torn…”
“Yeah. I do like you” “Wh-What? Is that really true…”
Lusia’s fair skin flushes red.
Running her hand repeatedly through her smooth hair, her lips part in a dazed, soft smile.
“Your straightforwardness. Your perseverance. I’ve known these things after working with you for the past two years. I’ve seen so many of your good points.”
From the time she first handed me her manuscript to today, it’s been two years. We shared our joys and hardships together. But…
“Those were just the past two years spent with Akita Lusia, in my capacity as Editor Okaya Kōhiko. I know nothing about what makes you Akita Nagisa.”
”…Yeah, that’s right. Wataashi has plenty of things hidden from you, too.”
Before we could get together, we needed to know each other better.
I was about to tell her that, when… “U… uuuu~…” “Lu, Lucia!?”
She suddenly burst into tears. “W-What’s wrong?” “It’s just… it’s just~…”
Lucia wiped away the overflowing tears with her hand.
I hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and dried her cheeks.
“It’s just… it’s just… okay… You’re going to break up with me, aren’t you~…?”
“Huh? Why would you think that…” “Eh…?”
Lucia blinked, her eyes widening in surprise.
It seems I had caused a misunderstanding.
“Lucia. I will face your feelings honestly. But… up until now, I’ve only seen you as a writer. From that standpoint, I can’t give you an answer.” “Then… then what…?”
“Give me some time to think. Gradually… I’ll try to see you properly as a girl.”
I decided to stop using excuses like age, or being a child versus an adult.
I will face not only Roshia, but everything else as well, squarely and honestly with them. “Oh-ka…”
Roshia’s eyes glistened with tears as she clung to my waist.
…And yet, even though she is so small and fleeting, she is still an eighteen-year-old adult woman.
“Roshia. Actually, there are other girls who have told me they like me.”
”…I somewhat understand it. It’s Ika and Akari, isn’t it?”
Just like Akari, this girl had also sensed it.
“Normally, I’d want to focus solely on you, but I am…”
”…I get it. You mustn’t dislike the other girls either, do you?”
Ika is my friend of ten years. She’s someone I feel safe with.
Akari always gives me energy.
“I cannot disregard the affection they direct toward me… Of course, I also want to respect your feelings.”
”…You are greedy, you know.” “It’s just that I’m indecisive, after all.”
Rushia looks up and smiles.
“Thank you for telling me. You’re… kind. You’re willing to face me honestly.”
“Do you hate that? That I think about other women?” “No, not at all.”
Rushia shakes her head vigorously, her expression relieved.
“It’s only natural for several women to harbor affection for a charming man. Especially Okaya; he excels in both character and ability. It’s inevitable that other women would fall for him, too.” “I-Is that… true?”
“Ah. But… no matter who likes you, my feelings will not change.”
Rushia taps lightly on my chest. Toki.
“I belong to you. This body, this heart… everything.”
Rushia closes her eyes and leans into me. “You’re welcome to hold me,” she says. Just then— “D-Don’t do it!”
I turn around, and there stood a beautiful girl with black hair. “Nanako…”
The high schooler big sister, Ina Nanako, shouted.
“Did you see us?”
Nanako rushed over and wrapped her arms around me from behind as I sat on the bench.
“I-I like… I like you too! Teacher, I really do!”
She held on to me tight, squeezing firmly so she wouldn’t let go.
“I’m not giving you up to anyone. You’re mine, Teacher!”
“Ah… Big Sis. Ease off a bit. Take it easy.”
“Akari… and Ika too…”
What emerged from the shade of the trees was Akari and the others.
The entire travel group was now assembled. “I-Ika… even you…”
“Y-Young Mistress! I’m so sorry! I was worried about you… and couldn’t help myself…”
”…It’s nothing to apologize for. I understand.”
As Lucia spoke in a gentle voice, Ika let out a sigh of relief.
“Although… you lot were having a serious conversation, so eavesdropping was really unbecoming of you.”
“Whatever, it’s all good. Water under the bridge and all that. But Akarin… so, what are you gonna do about this?”
Four women who’ve told me they like me.
And they all confessed pretty much at the same time.
“Considering how popular Akarin already is, having four women interested in him… isn’t that a real dilemma for you?”
“Well… I’m just normally troubled trying to figure out what to do.”
I’d made up my mind to face each of them one on one, but the thought of dealing with four at once…
“So, here’s a suggestion from you genius Akarin-chan~” ”「「「 A proposal? 」」」”
Ichika, Ruthia, and Nanae tilt their heads in confusion.
“Akarin, date all of us at once♡”
“Date all of you… are you serious?”
W-What the hell is she talking about? This guy? Wait, this girl?
”…Ah, Akarin. That’s, um, cheating!” Nanae says, her face turning red.
“Well, it’s not cheating. We all like O Karin. And O Karin doesn’t hide the fact that she likes us back.” ”…Is… is that really how it is?”
Akari continued to Nako, who looked bewildered.
“Didn’t you say you’d properly face up to us? So how about we try dating as a test run?”
“A test run… with all four of us?”
“Right. If it were just one person, I’d end up favoring that girl, right? So, everyone ♡ That way, even if O Karin only thinks about one specific girl, the rest of us can feel at ease~” Ichika tilted her head in confusion.
“I-Do people who are currently in relationships… act like this?”
“Well, it’s just a proposal toward O Karin. To suggest something this weird.”
“Ah, good to know. You at least realize you’re acting ‘Okaashii’ (weird/strange), don’t you?”
Phew… Ichika let out a sigh of relief toward Akari.
“But wouldn’t it be annoying for you too? When you want to be the one looked at, yet O Karin is daydreaming about other girls, three of them, and on top of that, with guys who are [younger]. Aren’t you anxious?” “I-I mean…”
“So, for now, let’s just date. If we have the title ‘boyfriend’ for now, it’s equal. We can feel at ease, right?” “Y-You’re right…” “Ichika…?”
Next, Akari looked toward Rushia. “Rushia.”
“No, words are unnecessary. I intend to play along with your scheme.”
Lushia stared Akari straight in the eyes. “…My scheme?”
“What do you mean, miss?”
Lushia snorted dismissively through her nose.
“Putting on this façade of righteousness and claiming it’s for everyone’s sake—isn’t that simply a convenient excuse to deepen your relationship with Okaya by one step?”
So that’s what was going on in her head…
“Well, how you choose to interpret it is up to you, Lushia,” Akari deflected lightly.
Lushia looked at her sharply and spoke.
“Hmph… cunning. But very well. This is a measure that won’t be a burden on Okaya.”
“Oh? That’s cold-blooded of you. I thought you’d throw a tantrum like a child.”
“I thought you would have made a scene about me taking Okaya from you, but apparently not.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I have no intention of losing to a spoiled brat like you, and I certainly don’t intend to hand over Okarin’s heart,” the two glared at each other.
Nanako and Ichika were fidgeting nervously.
I was leaning more toward feeling the same way they were.
“Okarin, is it okay? Dating all four of us at once?”
”…You guys… aren’t you bothered by it?”
“I’m totally fine with it ♡ In the end, I’m the one who gets to collect Okarin’s heart later, after all ♡” Rushia said with her eyes closed.
“I have no objection either. It’s actually rather convenient that you’ve leveled the playing field. Now I can show off my superiority openly.” Nanako said, though she still looked a bit confused…
”…I, I’m… well… not really anything. B-but if I get to be… senpai’s… gi-girlfriend… then…”
Puffing out from her face like steam, Ichika collapsed on the spot. “What about Ichika-chan?”
“A-ah, me? I’m… I still think that kind of thing is… a bit much, though…”
Ichika said, twisting in embarrassment.
”…If you want it that way, Okaya-kun… then it’s fine with me.”
“Right, right~ ♡ Once we’re dating, I can feel free to seduce Okarin and be as naughty as I want, no worries ♡” ”…”
Ichika’s face flushed crimson, and she fell into a stunned silence. You… saying something like that…
“S-so, A-karin~ ♡ There’s no place to run now~ ♡”
Akari and the rest of the girls gazed at me.
“Let’s give it a shot with you. Just for a trial period, okay~? ♡”