I'm a Kept Man for the Three Most Beautiful Girls in School - Chapter 34: Living Without Regrets

Chapter 34: Living Without Regrets

When I got home, Akari was studying in the living room.

I wanted her to take it easy, but she probably didn’t want to miss her one shot at the high school entrance exams. Her eyes were filled with determination.

(You need to take a break too, Akari.)

I placed a plastic bag stuffed with festival food and a goldfish bag on the table.

“Oh, did you win a goldfish, Onii-chan?”

“Yeah. I also bought a fishbowl and some water plants.”

On the way back from the festival, I stopped by the hardware store to buy everything necessary for keeping goldfish: gravel, dechlorinator, goldfish food, and more. Since this wasn’t my first time keeping goldfish, I knew the basics.

“I’ll help too.”

“Okay. I’ll handle the gravel, so you take care of the dechlorinator.”

“Sure. This brings back memories.”

Akari cheerfully started putting tap water and dechlorinator into a bucket.

“Do you remember when Mom said the goldfish would die without this extra step?”

Akari reminisced. I nodded silently, as I was thinking the same thing.

“There were still so many things I wanted her to teach us.”

“I feel the same way.”

Mom taught me so many things.

That included how to care for goldfish.

But it wasn’t just practical things; she taught us countless ‘important things’ that can’t be fully expressed in words. She showered us with love.

But Mom isn’t here anymore.

The pain of that reality squeezed my heart countless times.

Every night, I cried, climbing through the dark mountain of sadness.

Yet, it felt like Mom’s message to ‘live your best life without regrets’ was pushing me forward…

I started pursuing my ‘goals’ every day.

I wish I could have talked with her more.

I wanted to make her proud.

“Do you think Mom is doing well up there?”

“I’m sure she is. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Akari nodded with a smile.

I don’t know if there’s a heaven.

But I like to believe that Mom is watching over us from there. Maybe it’s just convenient to think that way, but I can’t help feeling it’s true.

“Alright, it’s done.”

“The goldfish looks lively.”

The goldfish swam around in the bowl with water plants, looking right at home. It hadn’t even been a day since we started keeping it, but seeing it swim energetically made me feel attached to it and it was soothing to watch.

As I was being comforted, Akari gave me a knowing smile.

“Hey, I heard from Chikage-san that you have a reunion tomorrow, Onii-chan?”

“It’s not a big deal. It’s just a get-together with people who were in my class in ninth grade. How did you hear about it?”

“Chikage-san just told me. We’re friends on LIME.”

“Since when did you two become that close?”

“Well, I’m kind of like a secret agent, you know?”

A secret agent, really?

I don’t think spies announce themselves…

But my sister’s special talent is that she can make friends with anyone quickly.

Unlike me, Akari has many friends. Honestly, it’s one way we’re very different.

On the other hand, back in middle school, I was the outcast of the class. Just thinking about the reunion fills me with an inexplicable fear.

“Are you okay with it?”

“With what?”

“The reunion. You’re not really excited about it, are you?”

That’s my sister for you. She knows me well.

“Yeah, to be honest, I’m not looking forward to it.”

“But you’re going, right? Why?”

“For closure, I guess.”

“Closure. I see.”

“I’ve been running away for too long. It’s not about wanting to be friends with everyone, it’s more for myself.” 

“For yourself?”

“Yeah, I want to prove that I’m not the same person I was back then. To show that I’ve changed, even just a bit, and to affirm myself. Plus, it feels rude to be the only one not attending.”

When I said that, Akari smiled warmly. She looked strangely pleased, which made me curious.

“Isn’t it more for the people who helped you change, rather than just for yourself?”

“You really are sharp, my sister.”

“Well, we are siblings.”

I was really glad Akari was my sister.

I wanted to save money for university even if it meant giving up my youth because Akari was my sister.

This seemingly ordinary yet extraordinary fact, which could be called a miracle, has led to more miracles, like the tale of the straw millionaire.

If I hadn’t prioritized my family, the three beauties of the school probably wouldn’t have reached out to me. Like connecting dots to form a line, these ‘miracles’ linked together to create a ‘path’.

Despite growing up in a poor family, I was blessed with my family. The desire to do something for them connected me with Chikage, Tsu-chan, and Sakura.

“Sakura once asked me if I was living without regrets. Back then, I couldn’t answer confidently, but now I can. That’s why I’m going.”

“Alright, go and prove it.”

“Prove it… that’s quite a grand way to put it.”

“It’s not an exaggeration. As your sister, I have to say, you endured a lot. Tomorrow, you deserve to show off a bit and enjoy yourself.”

Show off… really?

“I’m getting hungry after all this talking.”

“Oh, right. We better eat before the food gets cold. I went through the trouble of buying it.”

“Did you get grilled squid and apple candies?”

“I bought everything you like.”

Akari rummaged through the plastic bag, laying out the festival food on the table.

“Oh, baby castella.”

“That’s for Mom.”

“Mom loved baby castella. I’ll offer it at the altar later.”

“Yeah, please do.”

Mom, I hope you feel at peace.

There were times when I felt like giving up, and I’m sure there will be many more tough times ahead, but I have no regrets. I’m glad I was born into this family.

Thank you.

Please keep watching over us from heaven. I believe living happily is the best way I can honor you.