After Reaching the Happy Ending, I Was Locked up by the Extremely Possessive Heroines I Had Conquered

Chapter 25: Summoned to the Gathering of the Three Families

“Got it? You just need to sit there quietly. Make sure you don’t do anything extra, okay?”

“Roger that.”

“Stop with that cheeky tone too. If you show even a hint of rudeness, assume you’ll be kicked out.”

Three days had passed since then. It happened at a time when only a short while remained until summer vacation ended.

I had been glared at by Satori’s uncle since early morning.

Well, that was par for the course, or rather, it had become everyday life, but today a different tension hung in the air.

The reason was that an important event awaited us from here on.

–It was the gathering.

The island’s influential figures gathered there to discuss major topics that would shape the island’s future. And it was the only occasion for the Three Families to come face to face.

The reason why an outsider like me participated in such an important place was simple.

I had to explain about the unauthorized broadcast at the community center the other day.

That commotion had sent ripples across the entire island and caused trouble in many quarters. Especially since Satori of the Three Families was involved, it was the center of attention.

So, at the very least, I had to fulfill my responsibility to explain.

And there was one more issue that I absolutely could not ignore.

It was about the marriage with Satori.

“……………………………………”

…No, I hadn’t said a word about doing it, you know?

Both Satori and I were against it, you know?

We had reached a consensus on it with Satori, you know?

The Three Families were just saying it on their own, you know?

That said, if things continued like this, there was an extremely high possibility that the wedding date would be set on a whim. Or rather, the venue was already reserved.

Deciding on a venue without the person’s permission was insane, but this was exactly the Three Families’ quality. Those guys were really bad.

So, I needed to deny it again in a public forum.

And so, the three of us—I, Satori, and Uncle—headed to the old assembly hall, which was the venue for the gathering.

“Um, Uncle.”

While walking behind Uncle, I voiced what had been bothering me since earlier.

“What?”

“Don’t I feel a bit out of place by myself?”

“Hmph, your very existence is out of place, so it’s too late now.”

Uncle wore a kimono, Satori a shrine maiden outfit—formal attire—while I wore a plain T-shirt.

I had thought at least the uniform, but apparently at the gathering, one’s status and attire needed to match, and if a commoner didn’t dress like a commoner, they’d be kicked out.

Incidentally, using casual speech with the Three Families was no good, nor was making eye contact for more than ten seconds, breaking seiza, or not answering questions—they’d be immediately expelled.

“………………”

At this point, it felt like jumping into a zoo cage.

Honestly, even for someone as sensible as me, I didn’t know where I’d step on a landmine. I could only see a future of being kicked out immediately.

That said, there was a goal I absolutely wanted to achieve in this gathering.

It was to propel Satori to the position of head of the Three Families.

–I will become the head.

Satori, who had declared that in the hut that day, was serious. She intended to become head in earnest and change the island’s rules and customs.

She hadn’t told me specifically what to change, but since she said “for Akira,” probably the day I could leave the island wasn’t far off.

First, before that, she needed to become head…

Even I wasn’t completely without a plan.

Thinking that prior coordination was necessary, I held a strategy meeting with Satori last night.

About Uncle, the Three Families, the gathering. And we thoroughly confirmed each other’s intentions.

On top of that, we devised a strategy.

In the end, it became something simple, but above all, I think sharing our feelings was significant.

And so, after ending the five-hour strategy meeting, as we walked confidently for a while,

“っ……… ”

Finally, the assembly hall, our destination, came into view.

The building next to the community center was weathered wood, as if embodying the island’s history.

As I looked up at the heavy door, Uncle stepped forward one step and turned to stare at us.

“Are you prepared? As I’ve said many times, the gathering isn’t a playground. Approach it with the resolve to stake your life.”

That voice had a sharpness like a blade. It looked nothing but like a threat, but Uncle’s words weren’t entirely wrong, probably.

I glanced for a moment at Satori, who gripped her fist tightly beside me.

Feeling my gaze, she smiled gently and

“I’m fine. I’m more worried about Akira.”

“No, no, no, I’m fine.”

“You seem like you’d say something extra and get kicked out.”

She muttered.

“…Yeah, I might get a yellow card, but a red card is probably too much.”

“You, were you listening? It’s not just yellow cards; at the gathering, you can be sent off without even fouling. …Sigh, my stomach’s starting to hurt from the anxiety.”

Watching Uncle sigh and clutch his stomach, I thought again that the position of head was too heavy a burden.

“Akira, don’t say anything weird, okay?”

“I know.”

Uncle, Satori—what do they think I am?

The troublemakers weren’t me, but the Three Families…

“Also, at the gathering, you can’t retract statements. Just affirm everything, okay?”

“Okay. I’ll just nod to everything for now.”

“Absolutely?”

“I know, I know.”

On that point, no problem.

Because there’s no yes-man like me.