"Are you sure about this, Hina?"
The heavy wooden door of "Naratte" clicked shut, cutting off the jazz music and the warm smell of roasted coffee. The silence left behind was ringing in your ears.
They step out of the golden sanctuary and into the night, which feels instantly hostile. The air was no longer just cool; it was biting, damp, and smelled of wet concrete and exhaust fumes.
Nifuji stared at the back of Hina, whose figure appeared smaller, and even trembling after what had happened, which made him even more speechless.
Between him and the family?
Wasn't it clear who she should choose?
Why the fuck did she choose him?
Go back and apologize!
Nifuji wanted to say those words, but he knew that all of her decisions were made because she held a feeling toward him, making him unable to say the words that he needed to say, since he knew well that he couldn't give her the proper happiness where there was only one partner in a life.
One man and one woman.
It was his fate, yet he had so many women, and he knew that the numbers would continue to increase!
Now, he might care about her, but what about the future?
If his feelings somehow changed and he didn't hold her so important in his heart anymore, what would she do then, after she just cut off all of the familial relationship she had?!
When he thought of this, instead of happiness, he felt exasperated and also helpless, wondering how Hina could be so impulsive!
The smooth concrete walls of the closed neighborhood, which earlier looked sleek, now looked like fortress walls. They trapped the sound of your footsteps, making them echo too loudly in the narrow lane.
The neon signs cast a hazy, radioactive-purple dome over the district. It felt overwhelming—too bright, too fast, and too happy. It was a carnival that you were no longer invited to.
The taxis streaming by on the main road below weren't just cars anymore; they were streaks of red light, blurring together like a time-lapse photo. They hissed as they cut through the water on the road, a sharp, wet sound that grated on your nerves.
The humidity makes his clothes feel heavy and sticky. The cold seeped through the fabric of his coat, settling into his bones as he thought of how Hina's future would be.
To entrust their future to a single bastard like him.
If he were in Hina's place, he would leave someone like him, a man who couldn't even give her a proper response.
Tokyo felt massive and indifferent. Millions of people were moving, eating, and laughing just a few blocks away, but on this quiet backstreet, under the wires of the telephone poles, they felt like the only people on earth.
Only him and her.
Yet, while she decided to be with him, he couldn't do that, as he had many responsibilities.
So, was it worth it to throw away everything just for him?
"I am sorry that I have troubled you, but..." Hina showed a gentle smile on her face, yet this smile also contained an awkwardness, as if she had troubled him, but even so, her words were as sincere as ever. "It's too late. I love you so much that I can throw away everything for you."
"..."
Nifuji took a deep breath and quickly embraced her in his arms. "You are going to regret this, you silly woman."
"I am not~! I know that I have made the right choice~!"
The cold dampness of the air was forgotten, replaced by a feverish warmth where skin touched skin. His hand pressed against the small of your back, grounding you, as if to say, I am here. I am real. We are doing this.
Despite knowing everything about him, what kind of scumbag he was, Hina never regretted her choice, as she knew that she didn't make the wrong choice.
All humans were imperfect, yet if it were him, she could accept his imperfection and stay with him.
"You should go back first and explain everything. It might be strange for me to say this, but you should have a good relationship with your family, at least with your blood-related ones."
Nifuji wasn't like those men in the NTR manga, who cut off all of their relationships with women, so that way, she had no way to return, and could only stay with him no matter what the odds.
He wished for her happiness, and because of that, instead of having her fight, it was better for her to make amends with her family.
"Okay, but I realize what you said is right." Hina sighed helplessly, feeling exhausted all of a sudden. "Natsuo has feelings for me, and it is so troublesome."
"...." Nifuji.
What should he say in this situation?
"You should talk about this with your family first, since letting it stay too long will cause more trouble, and he is young, so he might do something impulsive, which might trouble all of your family."
What troubled him the most was how young Natsuo was.
If Natsuo were an adult, Nifuji wouldn't care, but Natsuo was still a high school student.
"No, he is an adult already. He has graduated from high school, and he is at the university. You know, I think he should live alone by himself."
"..." Nifuji.
"...talk that with your family first, it might be uncomfortable, but you have to settle everything if you want everything to be smooth, especially when you wish for your mother's happiness, right?"
"..." Hina.
"...you are right."
Why did she decide to close her eyes despite all the facts of trouble?
It was because of her mother, who had been betrayed by her real father, that she wished for her mother's happiness.
After a long time, finally, her mother discovered her happiness, and she decided to endure all the uncomfortable feelings from Natsuo. Because of that, she knew that it was necessary to talk over this with her family, and as she looked at Nifuji's concern and care, she had made up her mind.
So, she tiptoed and kissed his lips before she said, "Please wait. Tomorrow, I will clear up everything."
"Okay, I am waiting."
If one could get everything, why should they have to sacrifice something?
Nifuji couldn't give Hina a proper relationship, so at least, he wished for her happiness to be complete.
So, Hina quickly returned to the cafe, which made all eyes turn to her, and made Natsuo, who was on the ground, filled with happiness, yet he realized that he would have to discard his feelings forever.
Meanwhile, Nifuji had nothing to do, so he decided to visit Chizuru, as he hadn't asked her how she was, yet when he was about to go to her apartment, all of a sudden, he was pulled inside into one of the apartments by a hand before he was quickly pushed into the ground by a petite, soft figure that dressed like a naughty cop.
"Hirotaka-nii~!"
Mini Yaemori licked her lips lustfully as she was in a complete horny state, watching his dishivled figure on the ground. "Please fuck me silly tonight, okay~?"
"....." Nifuji.
---
What do you think of my update time?
It is okay, right?
I am too lazy to update at night, frankly.
Also, it might be sudden, but let's start the new year with some changes!
But first, thank you for supporting me till now. Because of all of you, I can continue to write, especially since everything started with my coping with stress at my job, where I didn't do well.
It has been seven years since I started writing, and frankly, I am surprised I have managed to keep going this long.
It made me cry somehow, and at the same time, Happy New Year!
Also, I want to announce some changes, and the first change is:
1. I will limit the number of "Playboy (Old Boys)" subscribers to 100, so for all of you who have been supporting me so far, don't worry. I will present the same, or more content for you.
2. But after 100 people, it will close, and if you want to join the "Playboy (Old Boys) " tier, you'll need to wait until someone else wants to quit.
3. Still, I have prepared a new tier, which is "New Playboy," which has the same price as the "Playboy (Old Boys)," but naturally, the content will be less, as you can only enjoy 20 advanced chapters instead of 40 advanced chapters.
Is it unfair?
No, because it is my way to respect those who have supported me till now, so for you all, who have supported me till now, you can enjoy everything like before, and that's why, if your friends, or someone, wants to enjoy the "Playboy (Old Boys)" tier, then you have to be in a hurry, or else, you can't join since there is a limit now.
Lastly, for the "Netori Man" tier, which I have ignored till now, don't worry, I will give you a surprise later, but please be patient.
That's all.
Thank you for supporting me till now!
From your lovely author, Akikan40!
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I PRAY FOR EVERYONE TO BE ALWAYS HEALTHY AND HAPPY!
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!