“Mom was suddenly in a bad mood.”
Akane told me when she saw me coming back. Like always, she immediately clings to me. Like securing her position beside me. This silly girl.
“It’s because Miwa-nee chose to stay here.”
I looked at Miwa-nee who’s currently busy doing the dishes. Minoru was on the sofa, already asleep.
“I see. Mom’s just trying to make it better for me.”
She looked down, maybe feeling guilty at how her Mom acted earlier.
“I know. That’s why I don’t see it as bad. She’s doing it for my special silly girl after all.”
I comforted her and patted her head. She stayed like that for a few minutes. After that she stood up and stopped clinging to me, the guilt on her face, gone.
Honestly, I could understand where Auntie is coming from but what she wanted was really impossible. There’s not only Akane in my life.
“I’ll prepare our bath, husband.”
“Alright. Call me when it’s ready.”
Akane nodded and immediately went to the bathroom. She’s giving me space to talk to Miwa-nee. This girl. She knew I also wanted Miwa-nee so she’s doing what she can to let me have a chance at it. ．
“Miwa-nee, you should just let us do that.”
“What are you saying? Let me do this or I’ll feel bad.”
“But Minoru.”
“I’ll take him upstairs after this.”
I stood next to her and leaned my back so I could see Miwa-nee as she worked.
“Alright. Miwa-nee, I heard from Auntie.”
“What? Do you think I refused because of you?”
“Isn’t that the case?”
“You’ve really grown bold. It’s not that. Minoru seems to like it here with you two. And I looked at the stars and they told me to stay here.”
Here she is again with her stars that, stars this. Now that I think about it, it must be her way to lie. The reason about Minoru was real but that thing about talking to the stars, she’s clearly using that to lie about the real reason.
“I see. But Miwa-nee, be honest, it’s also because of me, right?”
“Alright. If that will make you happy.”
Now I’m learning new things about Miwa-nee. She couldn’t admit it so she used the stars to mask it.
“I really am happy. What happened last night…”
“I told you to forget about it.”
How can I forget? That’s a great memory. And it’s still fresh. I want more chances like that, and if possible without the influence of alcohol on her.
“No. It’s because you looked sad. I want to be there to comfort you again.”
“Was that what you call comforting? You’re making a move on your aunt. Taking advantage when I feel down.”
“I thought you said to forget about it.”
“This boy… Right. Forget it. If you will stay here then help me with this.”
She handed me a clean plate and like she asked, I helped her put it in order to the dish cabinet.
“Miwa-nee, I’m really serious about it.”
“I heard you. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you do what you want. I’m already married and there’s Minoru. You keep your focus on making Akane happy.”
She’s really adamant about it. I don’t know where to start. Last night was because of alcohol. Now that she’s thinking clearly, there’s no hole in her defense.
I guess I could try by being close to her again, just like before she married that guy. I was often her hug pillow back then, right? Since I saw her as that mean aunt and my desire hasn’t manifested yet, I never thought indecently about Miwa-nee.
Most of the time, Akane was with us too, I was often sandwiched by them back then. That silly girl.
I moved behind Miwa-nee, my arms hugged her from the back. She tensed up and her elbow moved to push me back.
“Hey, you can’t do this anymore. You’re not that innocent Ruki from before.”
“I just want to be close to you again, Miwa-nee.”
“But your meaning of being close already changed.”
“I know. I just can’t stop it. I really want Miwa-nee. Can I at least stay like this?”
She already finished doing the dishes but because I’m hugging her, she can’t move.
“As I told you, you’re already like my child. I watched you grow up. You, suddenly saying that you want me, sounded like a teen who’s currently at puberty. And you really are a teen at that stage. I can let you get close to me again but more than that, I can’t.”
“At least look me in the eye and say that again Miwa-nee.”
“Do you know why I accepted the marriage arranged by my parents?”
“I don’t. Will you tell me?”
Miwa-nee turned around and cupped my cheeks. She’s still taller than me and even taller than Satsuki, so even if I tiptoe, I will not be able to reach her lips.
“It’s because of you.”
“Huh? Why me?”
“I won’t tell you why. Now release me, I’ll bring Minoru upstairs.”
“Miwa-nee, you’re unfair.”
A failure again eh?
Like she asked, I released my arms from hugging her. She patted my head and smiled.
She’s really beautiful. Now my memory about her is resurfacing. All that time she was taking care of me. I feel my desire for her grow stronger from that.
But yeah, Akane was also in most of it, she’s always at my side. That silly girl, I probably really loved her before the desire manifested, then I started neglecting her and distanced myself from her.
“Yes, it’s unfair. But what can you do? You’re talking big about making me yours but don’t you think about what will happen afterwards?”
“I… you’re right. I haven’t thought of that.”
Miwa-nee then pinched my nose before she went to Minoru’s side.
“I don’t know what happened to you, Ruki. I’m happy you look at me like that now but from the eye of an adult like me, you’re still nothing but a brat. What do you plan in the future?”
“I still haven’t thought about that.”
“See. That teacher of yours, Shiori, she’s the same as me, right? You also want her to be yours.”
“Yes.”
“Think it through, when you finally reach adulthood, what can you give Akane and Shiori? Ah. It’s possible that you not only have Akane and Shiori. There are more, right?”
“Yes.”
“As I thought. Did your parents know about this?”
“Yes.”
“Haa. What are your parents doing? Letting you do this. Ruki, come here. Let me talk some sense into you in place of your parents. Akane, you too, come out of there already.”
From the bathroom, Akane’s head peeked out. She’s done preparing the bath and was listening in on us.
Looking at her stern gaze, we don’t have a choice but to sit in front of Miwa-nee.
To think that we will be lectured like this. But everything she said makes a lot of sense.
I was being naive again. And here I am, adding more and more girls. What can I do for them in the future?
“So, what are your plans for the future? At this rate, you’re in for a world of suffering. And it will not be only you, everyone connected to you as well.”
Miwa-nee stared at me. She’s being serious at her lecture and yeah, I couldn’t deny that.
“And you Akane. Why are you tolerating his behaviour?”
She then turned to Akane.
We looked at each other and nodded. We understood what we had to say. This may sound like an excuse for now but all the responsibility I’m shouldering, I won’t neglect any of them.
“Miwa-nee, you’re absolutely right. Your words opened my eyes just now. All the girls I have, I have to think about their futures if they decided to stay with me until the end. ”
“I’m not tolerating him, Miwa-nee. I wouldn’t be here if husband stayed to being how he was before. You already left before that happened so you have no idea.”
Miwa-nee alternatively looks at both of us, weighing the answers that came out of our mouths.
In the end, her gaze settled on Akane.
“What happened after I left?”
Akane didn’t immediately answer her. She first looked at me, her eyes asking permission.
I nodded as an answer. She will tell Miwa-nee about my desire. She will only be convinced if she knows about that.
So, from Akane’s mouth, what happened since 5th grade was relayed to her. Sometimes I will add details when Miwa-nee asks for it. In the end, Akane and I told her most of it, until the change that happened which made Akane the only special one. This silly girl really knows everything. Even if I distanced myself she knew what I was doing.
With a hand on her forehead, Miwa-nee acted like she’s having a headache, or maybe she really got a headache from all that.
“Ruki, the reason why that desire manifested. Do you know what it is?”
“I don’t know. It suddenly appeared one day.”
Right. Until now, I don’t know the reason why I suddenly had that urge to steal that girl from that guy. That’s what started me on this path. That confession I witnessed.
“I don’t know how to say this. Honestly, I might be the reason for your desire, Ruki.”
With a sigh, Miwa-nee confessed.