After Linze’s confession.
Still not fully understanding what had happened, we’d taken Cesca back to the mansion. My head in a panic, I dropped Cesca on Lime-san, retreated to my room, and collapsed face-down onto the bed clutching my skull. What is going on.
Linze likes me? Like as in “fond of,” or like that?
Mnnn… …This shouldn’t be a thing to agonize over, should it?
Linze is undeniably cute. Gentle, quiet, considerate. A touch shy, but hardworking. No complaint as girlfriend material.
But — ostensibly, I’m Yumina’s betrothed.
Yumina is cute in her own right, and unusually composed for her age — reliable. And recently, age-appropriate gestures and expressions Yumina lets slip have started to make my heart skip. The fabled gap-moe? Hm? Age-appropriate, but “gap”?
Ahh — what to do.
I sighed into the pillow when there was a knock at the door.
“Touya-san — it’s Yumina.”
“Eh!?”
I opened the door. Yumina stood there, changed into her usual clothes. Awkward. Not that I did anything wrong, but… Is this what it feels like for a husband to be caught cheating? Wait — before husband, we’re not even married — and it wasn’t cheating!
Yumina came in and sat down on the central sofa. I sat across from her by reflex, but my eyes wouldn’t settle. Maybe the guilt is mine, after all.
Stare…
Stare…
Stare…
Stare…
Ugh. The heterochromatic gaze attack, after a long absence. Mentally rough, this…
“Touya-san.”
“Y-yes.”
“I’m angry, you know?”
Yeah, you’d be, wouldn’t you… As nominal betrothed, no way she’d be amused that I got confessed to by another girl.
The faint scowl, the puffed cheeks — in their way they were cute, but the circumstances made it impossible to enjoy.
“I haven’t even gotten one yet, and both of them took it first!”
“That’s the issue!?”
Well — that’s one way to be right, I suppose. But I didn’t do it, it was done to me — for the record! Sounds like an excuse, but please understand.
“You’re not angry about Linze’s confession?”
“Why would I be? You can tell Linze-san likes Touya-san just by looking.”
Apologies — couldn’t tell, looking. That stings a little.
“While we’re at it, let me say this — I don’t care if Touya-san takes ten or twenty mistresses, as long as you don’t make any of them unhappy. I consider that a man’s worth too.”
…Is that so? I’d been told polygamy isn’t unusual in this world, but the permission goes that wide? Frankly a little scary, the other way.
“But! But! The Lawful Wife — me — hasn’t gotten her kiss yet, and then this happens? Your guard was terribly down! Wide-open openings! Defend that part! Defend perfectly!”
“Wait, no——”
“No excuses!”
“Yes ma’am…”
The point she’s angry about feels wrong, but in her view it’s apparently very important.
“So if you’d done it with me first, all of today would have been fine?”
“Well — I’d have been a bit jealous. But not a no. As long as you treat me properly too.”
Is this kid really twelve. Way too philosophical. Or maybe she just doesn’t like me that much…
”…You just thought something rude, didn’t you.”
“Uh.”
Why is every woman around me sharp like this. Yumina rounded the table briskly and sat right next to me on the sofa.
“Touya-san. I’m ready to take you as my husband for life and live as your wife. Because I love you. As much as Linze-san or more. That, please don’t doubt.”
”…Sorry.”
The apology came out honestly. Doubting that part is insulting her feelings. I’m the one in the wrong here — I haven’t been able to decide anything.
”…Really, sorry.”
”…Forgive you if you hold me and kiss me.”
Whoa! That’s a high difficulty level, Yumina-san!
But the atmosphere wouldn’t allow retreat. I reached awkwardly toward her shoulders and drew the small frame in. Her head fit beneath my chin, and I held her firmly. The soft warmth and the scent of her hair sent my heart thudding.
Ahh — gonna have to admit my own feelings, aren’t I.
Yumina lifted herself slightly from my arms, tilted her face up, and quietly closed her eyes. Eyes are closed! No escape now!? Right, no escape!! I knew it!!
I steeled myself and kissed her small lips. A light, just-touching, modest kiss.
When our lips parted, she opened her eyes, smiled softly, and hugged me again, harder.
“Heh-heh. You did it! I’m the first you kissed yourself, right!?”
“Eh? Ah… right — that adds up…”
True — I was kissed twice, but the first one I initiated was Yumina. …Wait — was that her plan!? Feels like everything was calculated, but examining that any closer is scary, so — moving on.
Socially, a 16-year-old guy kissing a 12-year-old girl… I don’t know how this world treats that, but in my old world, a first-year high school boy and a sixth-grade girl… that’s borderline criminal. In years, only a four-year gap, but.
“Touya-san — how do you feel about Linze-san?”
“How… she’s cute, and honestly I was glad she confessed. But I can’t even decide about you yet, and adding Linze just makes me lose track of what to do. Pathetic of me.”
“Like, or dislike?”
“Like. No question. She’s precious to me.”
In my arms Yumina smiled a knowing smile. What — that “going to plan” smile, what is it?
“That’s what he said, Linze-san.”
“Eh!?”
Yumina called toward a corner of the room. Slowly the figure of Linze, head down, face brilliant red, materialized. W-wait — what!?
“I had Leen cast invisibility on her. Otherwise, Linze-san wouldn’t have been convinced.”
[Invisible]! Was she in the room the whole time!? If she heard the entire conversation… Yeah — embarrassing!
“It’s your fault, Touya-san. You shut yourself in your room without giving an answer. Linze-san was crying the whole time, thinking he hates me. Elze-san was nearly here to punch your lights out.”
“Ah… please spare me that…”
Right — I was so wrapped up in myself I didn’t think that far. Not great of me.
“U-um — I’m sorry about earlier. When I saw Cesca’s kiss, I… I couldn’t lose. And before I knew it I’d… I’m so sorry — I didn’t think about your feelings…”
She gripped her skirt with both hands and tears welled up. I went over and softly took her hand.
“Ah…”
“You heard, just now — but I don’t dislike Linze. I think you’re cute, and I think I like you. I don’t know what to do, but I want to cherish you.”
“Touya-san…”
Linze gave me a small smile. Yes — she suits smiles much better. Making her cry — Elze hitting me would be deserved.
“With both your feelings on the table — how about it. Take Linze-san as a wife too?”
“Eh!?”
Yumina dropped a casual bombshell. Wife — Linze!? I looked at Linze, who was again red-faced and fidgeting, head down.
“For royalty, nobles, big merchants — second and third wives are normal. Just a matter of what Touya-san can support. If you can take care of all of us properly, no one will object. Linze-san — no objection, right?”
“I-I’d… like to be Touya-san’s wife, t-too…”
Seriously? I’m glad — am glad — but multiple anxieties are crowding in fast.
”…No?”
Linze’s face was about to break into tears again. No — I want this girl to keep the smile from earlier. Can’t bring myself to make her cry. Damn it — what will be, will be!
“Second wife — Linze, you’re really fine with that?”
”…I’ll get along with Yumina, I think. To both love the same person, and to be happy together — nothing could be more joyful for me.”
”…Got it. If Yumina and Linze are both fine with it. We’ll do as you both wish.”
A smile blossomed on Linze’s face and she hugged me hard. Normally so quiet — to have her do this is unfamiliar. Yumina stood up and joined the hug. Wait, this is — embarrassing!
“So with that, Linze-san is officially betrothed alongside me.”
Yumina, smiling, was delighted. Linze’s face was still red, but she nodded happily.
It was already late. I told them both to head back to their rooms — only to be ambushed by demands for goodnight kisses. I wasn’t ready for that level yet, so after pleading (which itself felt absurd) I bargained them down to a kiss on the forehead. Yumina looked delighted; Linze, embarrassed.
Alone in the room afterward, I let out a long sigh. Way too much happened today. I want to sort my feelings. I dropped back onto the bed.
Now — what now… I do have enough money to support them, and a house. …No problem, then? Ah — I’ll have to go pay respects to Linze’s family too…
All that’s left is my own resolve. The resolve to spend my whole life with these two. Better think of it positively. Want both of them to be happy…
Thinking that, I slipped into sleep.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
BAM! — the sound of a door being kicked open had me bolt upright. What!? What!?
The room was already bright. Morning. Bleary-eyed, I looked around, and silhouetted against the dawn light, beside the bed with arms folded, a figure was glaring down at me.
“Got a word for you.”
It was the one who’d said she’d be my bride yesterday — the older spitting-image-faced sister of that one.
The gauntlets at her hip caught the morning light brightly.
Mm, something feels off here. Already a crisis in the morning?