“There. It looks good on you, husband.”
Akane said after fixing the collar of my clothes. Since we’ll be meeting her parents, even if they’re just next door, she wanted us to be well-presented. It’s not some fancy clothes anyway but yeah, I should really care about what I will wear if I meet my other girls’ parents.
When the time comes, I will ask for their hands. To let them stay with me as well, just like with Akane.
When Shio woke me up from my sleep in her car, we’re already back at our house with Akane waiting for me. I already saw the car of her father next door. She’s here waiting for me so we could go there together.
“It really looks good on you, Ruru. Akane really had a firm grasp when it comes to you.”
Shio also commented when she went back from upstairs to change.
Miwa-nee in the living room also smiled at me when our gazes met.
After another round of inspection, we excuse ourselves to Miwa-nee and Shio. They already made their dinner and we’ll be back later anyway.
Err… why am I getting nervous at meeting Akane’s parents? I always see Aunt Akemi and Uncle Satoru was someone easy to talk to. Well, apart from his tendency to drive the conversation off-topic. That is if it’s not a serious talk.
“This is like that day, husband.”
Akane giggled while holding onto my arm as we walked through the short distance from my house to theirs.
That day of my realization that she’s important to me. The day when everything around me started to change.
“Right. Everything started that day.”
I was a bastard back then who kept pushing her away from me but one realization led me to hold onto her and never let her go.
Ah. That day, when I asked for their permission to have Akane live with me, I still couldn’t say that I love her. Then this time. I’ll properly tell them what I am feeling towards her.
When we reached their door, Akane didn’t knock and just entered through it.
It’s their house after all. It will be weird if she knocks.
“Mom, we’re here!”
Akane called out in a cheerful voice, this girl was really excited about this.
After all of what happened today, I’m glad I managed to avoid that conflict with Shio’s husband. If not, I won’t be able to see this silly girl’s smile again.
Even after everything else, she’s still the most important for me.
“Great. Come in.”
Aunt Akemi showed up in her apron from their kitchen. Looks like she’s still cooking or she just prepared more for this dinner.
Akane held my hand and pulled me with her to go to their living room. I’ve already been here countless times before but this time I’m Akane’s lover in all sense of the word.
I immediately noticed Akane’s father who was quietly waiting there. He used to be a Straight-A student who, like a miracle, managed to tame the delinquent Aunt Akemi back then. He’s probably a legend among their peers.
Though he’s kind of scared of me because of my desire, he still allowed for Akane to be taken by me. In normal circumstances, a parent should take their daughter as far away as possible from me, especially if they know my desire to steal someone else’s woman.
But yeah, in consideration of Akane’s feelings for me, even if I didn’t tell them that I also love her, they agreed because of my honesty on why I want Akane to stay with me.
“Good evening, Uncle. It’s been a while”
I greeted him. Like my parents, he’s also mostly away but now that Aunt Akemi was left alone in this house, he decided to come back to accompany her and maybe observe us as well.
“Dad! I missed you!”
Akane, like a little child, jumped into his arms.
Err… even if she’s already here before me, she really waited for me before going in to see him.
“You missed me? I have been waiting for you here ever since I saw you arriving earlier, but you still waited for Ruki to come home before coming to see me.”
Her father grumbled his grievances to his daughter. Like I thought, Akane prioritizes me over her father.
“Eh? Of course, I want to come here with my husband.”
“Husband? You’re not married yet.”
“But we will soon.”
“Haa. Since when did you become this unruly? Is this your influence, Ruki?”
“Ah. Not really, Uncle, she’s also a bit unruly when it comes to me.”
“Husband! Don’t join Dad at bullying me. Come here.”
Akane reached for my hand and pulled me to her side which led us to sit in front of her father. As soon as we did, Akane hugged my arm and stuck closer to me while rubbing her cheek there.
Akane is just being Akane even in front of him, showing her affection like this. If he’s not watching I might’ve pushed her down this sofa already.
“You’ve grown even closer. Have you been taking care of her like I told you?”
Ah. He’s starting his interrogation. Well, I expected it already.
“Honestly, I don’t know, Uncle. I’m the one being taken care of by her.”
There were times I felt guilty to Akane for focusing on the other girls but she’s the one who’s always understanding, so in a sense, I’m really the one being taken care of by her. Even if I say that I’m pampering her in exchange, that wouldn’t be enough.
“What are you saying, husband? You’re taking care of me the most!”
Akane refuted my claim of her taking care of me, but yeah. Maybe for her, that’s how it looked. However, what she’s doing for me was really more than I do for her.
“I see. Nothing’s changed? How about that desire of yours? You’re not neglecting my daughter because of it, are you?”
With his inquisitive gaze, Uncle was trying to gauge what happened after that day I took Akane with me.
“Never will I neglect Akane, Uncle. I specifically came here to ask Aunt Akemi back then to allow her to live with. I’ll be an idiot if after doing that, I’ll just leave her alone. That’s just sad.”
I circled my arm to Akane’s waist and pulled her closer to me, to show her father how serious I am to her.
Akane, after feeling my arms around her, made herself comfortable with my chest while letting herself be pulled closer to me with a huge satisfied smile on her lips.
She’s always like this, even just a normal show of affection, she’ll happily savor it. That’s how lovely Akane.
“Looking at her like that, I guess you’re telling me the truth.”
After seeing that, her father sighed and gave up with his interrogation. Maybe for him, as long as Akane was that happy, he could turn a blind eye to what I am doing.
I know no parents could stand my desire. I might experience a lot of rejection especially with the other girls and all I can give for now is my sincerity. That’s not enough for sure.
“Continue that later. Come here to the table.”
After she finished preparing the table, Aunt Akemi called out to us. It’s a good time too to change the mood. Her father probably thought he was defeated by our affection.
I have to tell them. Maybe Aunt Akemi already knew but? Uncle Satoru doesn’t know it yet. That the desire has already changed. I not only want Akane now, but I also love her just like how much she loves me.
Throughout the dinner, the table was silent except with the clinking of the plates on utensils, Aunt Akemi cooked her husband and daughter’s favorite food so the two happily gobbled it up.
Ah. Akane also happily let me try everything she found to her liking. So, in this dining table, instead of the real married couple, we’re the ones who looked like more than a married couple. With the display of affection like that.
“Honey, tell me, did something change in their relationship?”
Uncle Satoru was baffled at our display so he couldn’t help but ask Aunt Akemi.
“You could say that. Ask them what happened. Anyway, Honey, won’t you try this one?”
Affected by the mood we’re exuding out, Aunt Akemi also tried to act like Akane and seeing his wife acting that lovely, Uncle Satoru succumbed to it and in the end, the dinner table turned into somewhat of a fluffy state.
Even with their age and even apart for long, I could see their love for each other. Maybe that’s where Akane gets it, she never gave up on her love for me. Now that I remembered all of it, there’s no way I would too.
“Auntie, Uncle. Thank you for inviting us. And welcome back Uncle.”
After dinner, I thanked them again to show my respect. Akane also did the same, even though we will meet every day, eating together is always some kind of special bonding.
“I honestly wanted to scold you, I heard about the number of girls you were bringing there and now, you have two adult ladies also staying with you. But seeing how Akane is right now, I decided not to anymore.”
Uncle Satoru said. Well, Aunt Akemi is our next-door spy so surely she’s reporting to him.
“I might need your advice in the future, Uncle. You see…”
Telling him what I wanted to do for our future. Living together with all my girls. He displayed different kinds of contrasting emotions but in the end, he never blurted any of it out and waited for me to finish.
“Is Akane fine with it?”
After pondering it for a while, Uncle asked a question.
“I am, Dad. Also, I want to help husband realize that. Maybe not just me but everyone who will stay will all strive to make that possible in the future.”
Akane answered it and also showed her determination to them.
“I see. Most of you are still young, so, for now, while studying, find your strong suits and strengthen them. After you graduate, you can either start working on it or strengthen it further during college. Honestly, what you’re trying to build is impossible in this age and society. However, you both looked serious just now. I don’t really want to discourage you but as long as you still feel the same way, I’ll help you.”
Even if he pointed out that what we wanted is impossible, he still ended up telling us that he’ll help us and while smiling.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Thank you, Uncle and one more thing.”
After thanking him, it’s now the time to ask for her hand again. I really needed to do this, not just over the phone and not just with that vague word ‘want’.
“What is it?” ．𝗻𝐞𝘁
“I’ll ask you once again to give Akane’s hand to me. I love her. It’s not just a ‘want’ anymore. I truly love your daughter, I remembered our childhood and all the feelings we had for each other. Once I reach that age, I will ask you again for your consent for our marriage registration. It may be far off in the future but my mind wouldn’t change about it, I’ll take your daughter as my wife.”
After saying all this, I sincerely bowed my head to them until my forehead hit the table. I repeated it three times that Akane held my hand to stop me from doing it more.
The room turned silent for a while but soon, I heard snickers from both Aunt Akemi and Uncle Satoru.
“Ah. Sorry. I just remembered that idiot father of yours doing the same thing in front of your mother’s parents. You’re really his child, huh?”
I see. So Dad also did this kind when he’s asking for Mom’s hand.
“He did that until his head turned red, if not for your mother stopping him, his forehead would’ve broken the table.”
I wonder how those two are now? Last I’ve seen them was during the New Year, now it’s nearing the end of April. But yeah, a lot of things happened this month, eh?
“Right. We heard your sincerity, as long as you both don’t change the way you look and feel for each other, we’ll support you. You can register once you hit that age then we’ll plan your wedding after that.”
Uncle Satoru said as a reply to my declaration earlier.
“Thank you, Mother, Father.”
Changing my way of calling them Auntie and Uncle, this way I took a step forward to having Akane as my wife.
I wonder if it will be the same for others. Haa… We’ll get there.
“Eh? That’s too early.”
Father complained but yeah, he’s liking it.
“Why not? He also used to call us that when they were little.”
Mother is fine with it. And it seems, she’s not that antagonistic to me anymore. Her husband’s influence?
Right. She’s like a different person when she’s with him.
“Husband. I love you, thank you!”
Akane turned my head to look at her and with a cheerfully bright smile, she kissed me in front of her parents while saying all of those.
“I love you too, wife. It’s also thanks to you for everything.”
And I responded to her in the same way.
Though this looks like a happy ending for us, there’s a lot more to do in the future. Especially realizing that dream to be with all of them. Since Father will be staying, I’ll often talk to him to ask for his advice. But yeah, right now I’m almost out of targets, except those who were just added due to circumstances just like Shizu-senpai and Itou. Chii also needed to be dealt with soon as well as the other members of the Literature Club.
Ah. I’m not really out of targets, am I? We’ll see…