The sky was a clear blue, and even though it was still morning, the sunlight filtering through the pine needles scattered dazzling golden patches on the shaded ground.
With fifteen minutes left before class, the sounds of students greeting each other echoed from the nearby building.
After buying drinks for the girls, Sasaki sat with them on a bench behind the school, continuing their earlier conversation.
"Don't approach Iga yet. At school... the only other one like you two is Nanao."
"Oh~ Her full name's Nanao Akane, from Class E."
Nanao Akane... Neither girl could match the name to a face.
Clearly, it was someone they didn't know.
But the name did appear frequently in the top twenty of the academic rankings, so Natsuha at least recognized it.
Plus, Sasaki had mentioned earlier that Nanao had "saved" her on the street before.
'Saved me...'
Sipping the black tea Sasaki bought her, Natsuha frowned, trying to recall that day.
Since she had been drugged that day, so her memories were hazy, but she remembered a big chested girl pulling her out of an alley and calling Sasaki.
But that was it..
Beyond that, what the girl looked like, what she'd said to Sasaki, it was all fuzzy.
But it doesn't matter.
She could just ask this bad guy for her contact info.
Since she couldn't remember the girl's face, Natsuha leaned against Sasaki and held out her hand.
"Give me your phone~"
If it were any other guy juggling multiple relationships, he might have hesitated or asked why she wanted his phone... That's what Natsuha had expected. She didn't think he'd refuse, but she figured he'd at least question her first.
Yet the reality was—
"It's in my pants pocket. No passcode."
Without a hint of hesitation or doubt, Sasaki paused for only a second before casually tilting his knee toward her.
Though it was such a small thing, Natsuha loved how completely unreserved he was with her.
Heart fluttering sweetly, she pulled his arm into her embrace, letting him enjoy her warmth as she fished out his phone and leaned against his shoulder to scroll through his contacts.
Given his good behavior, she didn't snoop through his chats with other girls.
She simply searched for the contact labeled "Akane."
After confirming she had the right person, she sent herself the contact info.
Now that she thought about it... if Akane hadn't called Sasaki that day, she never would've ended up with this bad guy.
So in a way... she owed her thanks.
...Wait.
That didn't make sense.
'Akane shouldn't have known me, so why would she call Sasaki after rescuing me?'
Noticing the inconsistency in the logic, Natsuha straightened slightly.
If they'd been dating at the time, and Sasaki happened to be nearby, that might explain it...
But in that case, why would Akane hand her over to him to... detoxify her?
Wouldn't taking her to the hospital have been the better choice?
...She was in trouble, Akane called Sasaki, and then trustingly handed her over to him...
What kind of situation was that?
Had Akane mistaken her for Sasaki's girlfriend at that time?
Had she seen them together before?
Unable to piece it together, Natsuha kissed her boyfriend and voiced her confusion.
Facing her question, Sasaki nodded.
"Yeah, she did think we were dating at the time."
"I don't think I ever mentioned this, but Akane used to be the baseball team's manager."
"You know that time we walked home together and I said I got hit by a baseball? She was the girl who came to retrieve the ball."
"She must've seen us walking home together, so she assumed we were dating. That's why she called me when you were in trouble..."
After speaking, Sasaki leaned down to press a kiss against Natsuha's sweet lips. "Doesn't it feel like fate?"
"Mhm~"
Feeling her heart swell with the sweetness of their serendipitous connection, Natsuha wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her flushed face up to meet his lips as they whispered affectionate words to each other.
Being showered with his affection all morning had left the girl burning up inside, but there simply wasn't enough time...
Her slender, plump, white and soft thighs, pressed tightly together under her skirt, rubbed unconsciously.
With her eyes half-lidded and glazed with desire, Natsuha pouted.
"Can we... meet early at noon?"
It wasn't just Sasaki, even Momo, sitting on his other side, could tell Natsuha was already...
But Momo didn't tease her.
Because she wasn't much better off herself...
Interlacing her fingers with Sasaki's, Momo blushed, tilted her head back and lightly kissed his neck.
"Mhm~ Can we meet early?"
Watching the two girls rub against him like cats in heat, mewling softly...
Wasn't this exactly what Sasaki had dreamed of?
Sure, it was just a small step toward his harem harmony, but it was still progress compared to the one-on-one "tutoring" sessions before.
The future looked bright!
Holding both girls in his arms, Sasaki nodded.
"Mhm~"
With these two getting along so well, he started thinking, maybe it was time to let them meet some of the others.
Considering Yukiha, who was still in that ambiguous "unofficial" state... he figured Momo might be the best one to approach her first.
His relationship with Yukiha was already intimate enough.
They'd done everything except the final step, so even if she found out about his other girls now, she wouldn't just walk away decisively.
So... tightening his grip on Momo's hand, he kissed her forehead.
"Momo, didn't you say you were free after school?"
"Yeah~ Why? Did Fuyumi change his mind? Does he wanna be with Momo after school now?"
"Mhm~ Something like that..."
Not denying it, Sasaki smiled before continuing, "I was thinking... maybe you could visit the library on our side more often. Try to befriend Yukiha... You know I haven't found the right time to explain my situation to her yet."
Realizing this wasn't about intimacy, Momo wasn't disappointed.
The reason she wanted to cling to him wasn't just because it felt good, it was because he talked to her, stayed with her, never let her feel alone.
So even if they couldn't be intimate, that was fine... What mattered was being with him.
The physical stuff was just how she showed her love—not the end goal.
So, facing her lover's request, Momo nodded without hesitation.
"Sure~ I'll drop by the library more often!"
"But~ Fuyumi has to spend time with me too~ It gets lonely by myself..."
Hearing this Sasaki felt a bit emotional for such a simple girl.
However, with his right arm trapped in Natsuha's warm embrace, he couldn't hug Momo, so, in the end, he settled for kissing the corner of her lips apologetically.
"Once everyone knows each other, we'll always be together."
"Then... can we have sex anytime I want?"
"...Yeah."
"I'll do my best!"
It was such a relief that Momo wasn't resistant to befriending the others.
Just as Sasaki was marveling at this, Natsuha, who was still clinging to his arm, spoke up.
"I'll try to get to know them too."
"???"
Natsuha hated his womanizing and that hadn't changed.
So, in Sasaki's mind, her not despising the other girls would've been a win.
For her to actively help him? The only way he could imagine that happening was if he ravished her into a dazed, obedient mess...
But now...
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Being stared at made Natsuha a little self-conscious as she fiddled with his fingers back and forth, asking in a soft voice.
"I do hate your womanizing... but what choice do I have?"
"If I made you break up with them, you would not want to... And to be honest, I wouldn't want that either."
"After all, if you'd leave them for me, you might leave me for someone else someday..."
"Playing the villain would just make you resent me and keep me on edge all the time. What's the point?"
"I think it's better for us to stick together with them and stop you from having affairs with other women."
"Otherwise, why would I ask for Nanao's contact?"
"Natsuha~~~"
"Too mushy~ But... I'm happy~"
Biting her lip, Natsuha leaned over and pressed her entire upper body against his chest, bringing her lips to his ear as she whispered. "If you perform well at noon... I'll be even happier~"
The warmth of her breath sent a shiver down his spine and Sasaki straightened instinctively.
"Absolutely!"
"Oh, and those things I bought you..."
Remembering the risqué designs, and what she was wearing right now, Natsuha's cheeks burned as she mumbled. "Pervert~"
Seeing her like this, Sasaki knew she'd come prepared.
If not for Momo's suggestion, she would have been eagerly awaiting their post-club activities...
Unlike Natsuha's shy reluctance, Momo went straight for action, tugging her collar just enough to give Sasaki a peek at the lacy white beneath.
"Fuyumi picked the perfect size~~"
"Hehe~"
"What are you laughing at, pervert~"
"Eh? Natsuha is the pervert here, right. You used to get mad at even a joke."
"...And whose fault is it that I'm like this now? Really~"
After some affectionate teasing, it was almost time for class. Since Momo's classroom was farther away, she had to leave first.
With Momo's reluctant gaze on them, Natsuha couldn't exactly steal Sasaki's attention, after all, even if this was their first meeting, they'd be sisters by noon.
So, she had to be considerate.
Walking upstairs together, they parted ways with Momo before returning to class.
---
. ...
Meanwhile, in another classroom, Yuka Tachibana, who was feeling dejected in the classroom and unwilling to accept the fact that the woman she respected the most stole her crush, suddenly received a message.
[Yuka-nee, got a minute?] 08:20
'Reina's message.'
Glancing at the name, she wondered why her mom's best friend's daughter was texting her out of the blue.
But since they got along well, even though she felt a bit confused, she replied without overthinking it.
[The class hasn't started yet,
Does Reina wants to skip class and go out with me today?] 08:20 「Read」
The message was marked read instantly, followed by a quick reply.
[No, I have something very important to tell Sister Yuka.] 08:20
Seeing her serious words, the listless Yuka perked up a little, tapped the screen with both hands, and asked:
[Oh? Let me hear what important things Miss Reina wants to tell me?] 08:21 「Read」
[Sister Yuka, did you know? The adults in the family already picked fiancés for us.] 08:21
The moment the message arrived, Yuka's brows furrowed deeply and her previously lazy, slumped posture straightened abruptly.
"The adults in the family already picked fiancés for us."
When she said "the adults"... did she mean their families had arranged this together?
"Us"?
Us?!
'Does that mean me, Koharu, and Reina?'
Who the hell had the power to get all three of them engaged to someone at once?
Had their parents lost their minds?
Her face flushed with anger, a clear sign of her outrage.
But then, her deep-seated trust in her mother slowly calmed her down.
Sure... sure, her mom had stolen the person she loved, and yeah, it hurt like hell. But when she thought about it carefully.. she could understand.
After all, she had worked tirelessly for years to support them, sacrificing everything, even her own personal time.
The pressure accumulated from working for a long time was huge and she needed an outlet. But with no time to date or build relationships... it wasn't that surprising she'd eventually fixate on him.
It was just... hard for Yuka to accept.
If it had been anyone else, she would've wholeheartedly supported her.
Even though it was very uncomfortable... but putting that aside, she had never ever wronged her or Koharu.
So this time, she wouldn't throw them into a pit of fire either.
Which meant... the "fiancé" Reina was talking about might just be...
The thought in her mind made Yuuka feel a little dry in the mouth, and she couldn't help but complain:
'So what's this? Are you afraid that I'll get cheated, so you wanted to check the goods first?!'
She didn't get it.
But that didn't stop her from hoping this was the most likely scenario.
Clutching that possibility, Yuka cautiously asked for the fiancé's name.
[I didn't know... I've never heard her talk about it. How'd you find out?] 08:24 「Read」
[How else could I know this? My old hag told me. And she was super insistent about it~ Well, I refuse!] 08:25
Good. If Reina didn't like him, that was one less rival.
Suppressing a smirk, Yuka pressed further.
[Do you know anything about him? What if he's your type?] 08:25 「Read」
[...Dunno. That old witch didn't give me details, so I don't know.] 08:25
[But judging by how pushy she was, she probably sold us off as some business bargaining chip. For all we know, this "fiancé" could be some grandpa.] 08:25
Yuka ignored Reina's disrespectful tone, after all, she knew that their relationship had always been rocky.
What caught her attention was Reina's first sentence.
"...Didn't explain in detail... She doesn't know either..."
Yuka clenched her fists excitedly, itching to ask her right away, but something this important was better discussed face-to-face.
Suppressing her excitement, she took a deep breath and typed another message.
[So, Reina... are you suggesting we team up to oppose this arranged marriage?] 08:26 「Read」
[Yuka-nee, you don't want to be forced into marrying some stranger either, right? Only by uniting can we make them change their minds.] 08:26
"We"? Who's "we"?
She understood Reina's reluctance to marry a stranger, but to Yuka, that "stranger" might not be a stranger at all.
So she and Reina were destined to not reach an agreement.
But having said that, she couldn't refuse outright... After all, her theory was still just a guess and she needed to confirm it tonight.
So her reply to Reina was somewhat ambiguous.
[You're right! We absolutely shouldn't marry someone we don't know or love. I'll ask her about it when I get home.] 08:26 「Read」
"..."
On the other end of the phone, Reina was speechless.
"Ask her about it"?
No, that was the weakest response possible.
Since when is Yuka-nee this spineless?
There wasn't even a hint of anger in her words, that wasn't like her at all.
But the other party had already given the answer and there was no point in expressing dissatisfaction at this time, after all, it would only alienate a potential ally, so Reina could only play along.
[Okay!] 08:26
The most important thing had been discussed, and the two continued to exchange pleasantries for a while before ending the conversation.
Unaware of Yuka's hidden excitement, Reina had already sensed her unreliability from the answers she gave.
So she'd need another plan to stop this marriage.
As for doing ideological work on Koharu... if Sister Yuka's reaction was this lukewarm, her sister probably wouldn't be much help either.
'What's wrong with them?!'
'How can they just "wait and ask" about something this important?!'
Slamming her fist on her desk in the middle of Class 2-A, Reina growled under her breath.
"I refuse to let that old hag have her way!"
If she'd only wanted to spite her family before, now that she was completely smitten with Sasaki, she really didn't want to do what her mother want.
But what could she do?
Sister Yuka reaction was not strong enough, and Sister Koharu had no opinion of her own.
Frustrated, she ran her fingers through her silky blonde hair before dropping her head onto the desk with a groan.
On the hand, Sasaki, who had no idea that his lover was trying every possible way to shake off the title of his fiancée, was called out by Hyoudou Tomoe during the break after the second class.
"Sasaki, and you too, Nemoto, come with me to the Student Guidance Office."