Chapter 37 – Three Choices

“See you later, Yui.”

“Y-yeah. See you, Yuuto-kun.”

School let out for the day, and the after-school period began.

After exchanging those words with Yui, I left the school building.

I didn’t hug her today or anything, so I shouldn’t have Yui’s scent on me, right? Mana won’t say anything this time, I thought as I walked home.

Last time, she mentioned something about Yui’s scent because I’d hugged her, but nothing like that happened today.

【Heading home now. Are you awake, Mana?】

【I’m awake】

I sent Mana that message, and as usual, she replied immediately.

So she’s awake. …Well, of course she is. There’s no way she’d be sleeping from this morning until now.

Besides, she was definitely awake at least by noon.

【Did you need something?】

【No, I just wanted to know what you were up to. Is that annoying?】

【Not annoying at all, so don’t worry!】

【Really? That’s good then】

I’d been worried about the scent thing, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be seeing Mana today anyway.

I don’t have any business with her.

…Not that I don’t want to see her when I don’t have a reason to.

She’s someone I did that with yesterday, and she’s the girl I like, so of course I want to see her.

Lost in those thoughts, I arrived in front of my house and went inside as usual.

“Oh, Yuuto, welcome back.”

“…I’m home.”

For some reason, Mana was there to greet me.

Wait, why?

I even said “I’m home” without thinking, but seriously, why?

“I forgot to return the key yesterday, so I came to give it back.”

Oh right, I used a different key than usual when I left the house this morning.

That makes sense.

…Still, she could’ve mentioned it in a message since it surprised me, but whatever.

Having such a beautiful girl welcome me home is such a pleasant surprise.

“Right. I’d given you the key. I forgot about that. Thanks for going out of your way.”

As I said that and took off my shoes in the entryway, I casually made contact with Mana.

“Y-yeah. It’s fine. …U-um, Yuuto.”

“Hmm? What?”

“C-can I hug you? I-I want you to hold me tight… like yesterday…”

Mana said that with a flushed face.

“Yeah. Of course.”

So to answer Mana’s feelings, I gently replied and embraced her.

At the same moment, the phone in my pocket vibrated.

“…Yuuto, what was that notification?”

“Huh? Oh, probably a message from a friend.”

Based on my contacts, there are only three people it could be from.

Yui, Yuna, and Mom.

…If it’s Mom, no problem, but what about Yui and Yuna? I plan to tell Mana eventually, but it’s definitely too early, right? …It’ll be fine, right?

Chapter 38 – Isn’t a Harem Difficult?

“…Yuuto, what was that notification?”

“Huh? Oh, probably a message from a friend.”

As I said that, I pulled away from Mana momentarily and checked my phone, making sure she couldn’t see.

It was a message from Yui.

“Who is it?”

“…Just as I thought, a friend.”

We’re still just friends right now, so it’s not a lie.

“…Then show me.”

“N-no, it’s embarrassing, so I’d rather not.”

I think the content is probably fine, but I said that just in case.

Like I keep saying, I do plan to tell Mana eventually, but now isn’t the time.

“It’s fine, so show me?”

“No, I mean…”

“Show me?”

Mana said that while placing her hand over mine that was holding the phone.

She’s cute. …She’s cute, but at the same time, I’m terrified.

That time when I just said I wanted that kind of relationship with Yui too, she reacted like that.

There’s no way I can show her this.

“You can’t show me?”

“I-it’s just embarrassing.”

“I said it’s fine, didn’t I?”

“I’m not fine with it.”

She looks so cute but has this forceful side—it’s a gap that makes me like her even more, but I can’t show her, so I said that.

…I’m really starting to feel like a cheating scumbag, but I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for this kind of world.

…Maybe that’s just an excuse though.

“I’m special to you, right? So it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“…Then Mana, will you show me your phone too? Your history and everything?”

“Sure. That’s fine.”

After hearing my words, Mana immediately nodded as if it were the most natural thing and handed me her phone.

…What? Are you serious?

Can you really hand it over that quickly?

“So, can I have yours?”

The moment I reflexively accepted Mana’s phone, she said that.

Now that I’ve taken hers, it’s hard to refuse.

But I can’t not refuse.

“Ah—”

I was planning to properly refuse, but before I knew it, my phone was already in Mana’s hands.

“W-wait, Mana…”

“What is this?”

I don’t need to see it to know.

Mana saw the message from Yui.

【Can I call you again today?】

That message.

“Hey, Yuuto, this is a girl’s name, isn’t it?”

“W-well, yeah, I guess…”

“It’s the person you said you wanted to introduce me to before, right?”

“…Y-yeah. That’s right.”

“You’ve been talking on the phone with her? And ‘again today’—what’s that mean? You were talking before too?”

This is bad.

Mana is clearly angry.

“M-Mana, just calm down for a second.”

“I am calm. So hurry up and tell me. What’s this about phone calls?”

There’s zero credibility when you say it with that attitude.

“…We just talked on the phone a little.”

Unable to dodge anymore under the pressure, I said that, thinking I couldn’t hide it anymore.

And that’s actually the truth anyway.

“You’re going to turn her down, right?”

“Huh…”

“I’ll let the past go. But I’m your girlfriend now, so you’re going to turn her down, right?”

Mana asked that with unmistakable pressure.

…But I can’t refuse this.

Because I’ve definitely already won over Yui, and there’s no way I can turn her down now.

If I refused this, Yui would definitely be hurt.

…But if I just tell Mana straight-up that I can’t, that might hurt Mana instead.

Wait, isn’t a harem actually difficult? I’m starting to lose confidence here.