I Realized I Was the Cheating Bastard in a Hentai Manga only after I Had Already Stolen the Heroine - 53

Chapter 53: Spending New Year’s Eve with the Takanashi Family

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The commotion at the Yamada household with Kouta, Rui, and the others had come to an end, and life had returned to normal. Rui had now joined the daily life I shared with Yuuka and Kanae, making for noisy but fun days. And then school went on winter break, and we did all sorts of things.

It was practically becoming an annual tradition by now, but Rui would come watch when I joined Yuuka’s streams, and we all stayed at the Ryuugasaki Group’s hot spring inn. Even on days when nothing was happening, just being with everyone was enough to make me happy.

After spending my days like that, it was now New Year’s Eve. This year, I was going to celebrate the New Year at the Takanashi household.

“I’m really sorry, Sumire-san, for letting me join your family’s New Year celebration.”

“It’s fine, Shuuya-san. After all, you’re going to marry Kyouko someday, aren’t you? In that case, you’re already like family.”

“That’s right, that’s right~ ♡ Isn’t that so, my dear husband? ♡”

“‘Dear husband,’ huh? Well, I don’t mind it, but I’d like us to always call each other by name.”

“They say calling each other by name is important, after all.”

Nobody calls their partner things like ‘hey you’ or ‘oi’ anymore, but it still feels like there’s no sense of consideration in that. Well, I guess if a woman fell for that kind of guy, that’s their own business and not mine.

“Ufufu, you two are such a lovely couple ♡”

“We’ll keep being a loving couple forever.”

That much, at least, I swore to myself.

Clap.

“Well then, shall we start preparing the osechi?”

Sumire-san clapped her hands, changing the subject.

At the Takanashi household, they usually ordered store-bought osechi every year, but this year, since I was added to the family and Rui and Miyo-san would also be joining us after the New Year for greetings, they had decided to make it themselves. Of course, I was helping too.

Thanks to Kyouko teaching me, not only had my repertoire improved, but my cooking skills had also gone up considerably. I wouldn’t be dead weight.

By the way, Shuuya Hiiragi—meaning me—didn’t have any memories of eating osechi. Maybe I had in my previous life, but since I didn’t remember it, I was really looking forward to having osechi this year. The three of us began making the osechi together, chatting cheerfully.

Just earlier I said I wouldn’t be dead weight. I take that back.

It might be obvious, but both Kyouko and Sumire-san were way too good at cooking.

I couldn’t even interfere. All I ended up doing was taste-testing the seasoning and plating the dishes…

Next year, I’m going to get my revenge. Just you wait!

After finishing the osechi prep, it was time for dinner. Tonight’s meal was the portions that didn’t fit into the osechi and New Year’s soba.

When is it considered standard to eat osechi or New Year’s soba anyway? It feels like it varies a lot depending on the household or region though.

“Mom, are you going to drink?”

“Hmm, I don’t have work until tomorrow evening, so maybe I will.”

Sumire-san worked as a nurse, and her shift schedule was fairly irregular. Working even on New Year’s Day—I really respected her for that.

“Shuuya-san, won’t you join me? ♡”

Hey, hey, hey.

“…I’ll join you once I’m old enough to drink.”

“Ufufu, I’ll look forward to it.”

“Mom, why are you encouraging him…”

“Well, Shuuya-san looks kind of like a delinquent, so I thought he might already be used to drinking.”

“Unfortunately, Shuuya is an honor student disguised as a delinquent.”

“Don’t call me an honor student. I’d feel bad for people like Kanae who actually follow all the school rules.”

“Kanae-chan—is she one of those important people Kyouko mentioned before, Shuuya-san?”

I’d already told Sumire-san about Yuuka, Kanae, and Rui and my relationships with them. It would be dishonest to hide that while planning to marry Kyouko.

When Kyouko and I explained it to her, she’d been surprised, but for some reason, she accepted it easily. If she had opposed it or refused to accept it, I was prepared to grovel if I had to, so I felt a bit let down at how smoothly it went.

“That’s right. Kanae is one of the Shuuya Lovers.”

Shuuya Lovers… As always, my beloved girlfriend’s naming sense was disastrous. Though it was cute in its own way. I reached out and patted her head.

“Ehehe~ ♡”

“…Shuuya-san, you’re making so many women happy…”

Huh?

Her voice carried a slight hint of envy and resignation.

“…Mom?”

Kyouko must have sensed it too, since she had the same expression as me.

“It’s nothing. Now, let’s eat~♪”

Just as she said that, the feeling from before vanished, and it was as if nothing had happened as we began our last meal of the year. And then, several minutes later—

“That’s what I’m saying—back when I was young, of course I was popular, you know?”

Sumire-san was completely drunk… And then—

“That’s right. She’s my mom, after all! She’s beautiful and kind too—”

For some reason, Kyouko was drunk as well… Why…? She hadn’t had a single sip of alcohol, and yet… Was it the atmosphere? Had she gotten drunk off the mood? Damn it, it felt like I was the only one left sober and left behind…

“…Alright! I’ve decided!”

Bam!

Kyouko suddenly threw off her jacket, stripping down to her underwear.

Whoa, whoa, what the hell?

“Mom! Mom, you should have sex with Shuuya too!”

………Huh?

……………………………Huh???

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー