I Realized I Was the Cheating Bastard in a Hentai Manga only after I Had Already Stolen the Heroine - 57

Chapter 57: Leveled up by One

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Spring had come. We had moved up one grade. This year was the year of entrance exams.

Well, neither I, Kyouko, nor Kanae had any problems with our grades. Ours was a prestigious preparatory school to begin with, and since there was a top-ranking national university in the city, the three of us were planning to go there.

I hadn’t decided on a department yet, but—well, I could probably get in anywhere without issue. Ah, right. This year Kyouko and Kanae ended up in the same class as me. Kanae had been so ridiculously excited that it left an impression on me.

Among the classmates who joined our class this year, some of them were a little intimidated by us at first. But since nearly half were the same members as last year, it wasn’t like before, when everybody kept their distance and just observed us from afar.

And then, Rui entered the school as a new student. With her looks, she naturally stood out among the freshmen. Apparently, some guys even tried hitting on her. But right after the entrance ceremony, she ran up and hugged me—and that quickly became the topic of conversation in the school

When regular classes started, she kept coming to our class during breaks and lunch, and before long, she started sharing my lap with Kyouko. So, it was found out really quickly that she was my sex friend. Well, the ones who had been with us since last year just accepted it smoothly.

…Though, among a certain group of guys, the way they addressed me had leveled up from “aniki” (bro) to “sensei.” But that didn’t matter. Yes. It didn’t matter at all.

Kanae, who couldn’t openly flirt with me, had been feeling lonely, so I comforted her in private. The way she clung to me was so unbelievably sweet that it made me want to push her down right then and there—but I saved that for weekends.

And then, something surprising happened. Yuuka moved into the apartment next door to mine. We had been in a kind of casual relationship—meeting on a whim, having sex on a whim. But ever since last summer’s trip, her feelings had changed. She told me it made her lonely to be the only one left apart from the others.

Yuuka, who had always seemed so carefree, was changing. She said she had become weaker, but to me, she only became more precious. And so, in that warm, cheerful atmosphere, one day, right before the long holiday, we were all eating dinner at my place when Kanae brought up a proposal.

“I have something I want to ask everyone.”

That day, we were having an okonomiyaki party instead of the usual takoyaki. Kanae, who usually wasn’t so serious, started speaking with a grave expression. So, we all straightened our posture.

“…Did something happen?”

Was it something related to the Ryuugasaki household? Or maybe some problem had come up in our relationship? All kinds of thoughts ran through my mind.

“Mm. Golden Week is coming up soon.”

…Huh? That didn’t sound that serious?

“Yeah, it’s coming. So what about it?”

Kyouko and the others seemed to realize it wasn’t anything too heavy, because they picked up their chopsticks again and kept eating while urging her to continue.

“Mm. You see, this year’s Golden Week is long. So…”

“Ah, Yuuka-nee, can you pass the red pickled ginger?”

“Sure thing.”

“Listen!! Please, just listen to me!?”

…The more comfortable everyone got, the rougher they treated Kanae.

“Well, well. So this is about Golden Week?”

“Y-Yeah. Ahem. What I want to say is… How about we set aside a day during Golden Week where I can have Shuuya-san all to myself?”

“‘All to yourself???’”

Hmm? Me, all to herself?

“Yes! You see, Kyouko and Rui get to flirt with Shuuya-san at school, right? And Yuuka-san gets to see him pretty often after we get home, right?”

Ah… I got it. I understood what she was getting at.

“I’m the only one..! I’m the only one who’s been holding back! I mean, I know it can’t be helped, given my situation, but still…! Nn! Chu♡ Chupa…♡”

I got up from my seat, pulled Kanae tightly into my arms, and kissed her. I had tried my best not to let her feel lonely, but it hadn’t been enough.

“Fwaaah…♡ Shuuya-san’s kissh…♡ I love it♡”

“…But Kanae-nee, don’t you actually enjoy sneaking in some secret flirting too?”

“Mm. I know Shuuya-san would never do anything careless enough to get caught, but each time, I get a thrill of forbidden excitement.”

Oi. So you were enjoying it.

“Then why do you need a whole day to yourself??”

Kyouko asked, clinging onto Kanae.

“W-Well, yeah, I’ve been holding back, but also… I realized we’ve gotten so used to always being in a group. Three, four, five people at a time. But almost never just the two of us.”

That was true. With Kyouko, I did sometimes end up alone together. But with Kanae and the others, those opportunities had been rare.

“Of course, Shuuya-san’s girlfriend is Kyouko. I have absolutely no complaints about her being by his side. I stay with them knowing that.”

Kanae turned to Kyouko and told her that she loved her, too. Kyouko beamed and hugged her tightly.

“I get it. You just want Shuuya to focus only on you once in a while, don’t you?”

“Yes… It may be selfish of me, but sometimes I want his gaze all to myself…”

That emotion was jealousy. Possessiveness. Even so, it made me happy. I looked at Kyouko. She seemed to understand as well.

“Kyouko, I’m sorry. I said I had no complaints, but the truth is—nnmhh! Nnchuu♡ Chupa…♡”

Kyouko leaned in and kissed Kanae.

“Fwaaaah…♡ Kyouko’s kissh…♡ I love it♡”

…They sure got along well.

“Ehehe♡ I’m so happy.”

“H-Happy??”

“Because I think Yuuka-san and Rui have probably been feeling the same way, too.”

“Well…”

“Actually… Hehe.”

Both of them looked bashful and awkward. Damn. I should have noticed sooner.

“That just proves we all love Shuuya even more now. And Shuuya?”

“Yeah. Kyouko’s my girlfriend, but I love Yuuka, Kanae, and Rui just as much.”

Hearing my answer, which was probably what she expected, Kyouko looked satisfied.

“You know, I love everyone, too. So no more holding back. Anyone would want the man they love to look only at them sometimes.”

“So then…?”

“Yeah. Let’s make days where each of us can have Shuuya all to ourselves.”

“Kyoukooo… I’m sorry… I love youuu… Chu♡ Lick…♡ Chupa♡”

Overcome with emotion, Kanae kissed Kyouko again.

“Chu♡ No more apologizing, okay?♡”

And so, while watching Kyouko and Kanae all lovey-dovey with each other, we began making plans for Golden Week.

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