In a World of Reversed Chastity, I’m Surrounded by a Clingy Older Woman, a Walking Red Flag, and an Exhausted Office Lady - 25-26

Chapter 25: So That Means the Three of Them Are Going to Meet?

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“I’m sorry, Aoi-kun. I’m really not that good at cooking, so I can’t make it as well as you can.”

“That’s okay. They look delicious enough.”

It was Sunday afternoon the next day. I had come to Kaoruko-san’s house again. Kaoruko-san had messaged me: 『Do you want to make cookies together?』

Since I didn’t have any plans, I agreed to her invitation.

“Look, this shape is really nice, isn’t it? And cute too. Here, let’s eat them together?”

“Y-yeah. Thank you, Aoi-kun.”

Kaoruko-san had been a little down comparing my cookies with the ones she made herself, but she managed to pull herself together.

“I was surprised when you called me all of a sudden.”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier, right? I’ve been a bit busy these past few days and haven’t been able to go to the convenience store where you work, so I couldn’t see your face.”

Her ears were bright red, her whole face almost ready to burst into flames from embarrassment. Hearing her say that honestly made me happy, but my own face was probably red too.

Good grief. Kaoruko-san really shouldn’t say things that could be misunderstood like that.

“It’s almost the end of the year, so I understand why work gets busy.”

“Yes… that’s why I’ve been busy lately.”

I looked at her slightly troubled expression and thought to myself, “Working adults really have it tough.” A small cloud of gloom crept over me thinking about the near future.

“Aoi-kun, have you had any troubles or felt busy lately? Your finals are coming up, so you probably have reports and other things to handle, right?”

The reports and tests were approaching, but I could manage those during the New Year break. The real problem was something else.

“Well… the reports are fine.”

“Really? Then why do you look so troubled?”

I hesitated whether to tell Kaoruko-san. If I explained that I was busy because so many people wanted to celebrate my birthday, it might sound like I was pressuring her to celebrate it too.

But… Well, it should be fine. Kaoruko-san wasn’t the kind of person to be spiteful.

“You see… It’s my birthday soon, and this year, a lot of people want to celebrate. My family will celebrate it on the day itself, and my friends and people close to me will celebrate on other days, so it’s going to be a bit busy.”

When I explained that, Kaoruko-san froze mid-motion, dropping the cookie she was holding.

“Oh, I’m not telling you to celebrate it because I want you to, Kaoruko-san.”

I quickly added that, but her face was still frozen, not hearing a word I said. Gradually, Kaoruko-san’s expression softened, but tears began to stream down her face.

Did she think I was being greedy after all!?

“I-I’m sorry, um…”

Not knowing what else to say, I grabbed a nearby tissue and wiped her tears. She began to speak in small, hesitant bursts.

“I… I can’t even remember Aoi-kun’s birthday. I feel so pathetic. I’m sorry.”

“Huh!? That’s why you’re crying?”

“There’s no other reason to cry! It’s not like it’s something trivial!! It’s the most important thing.”

Her eyes wide, Kaoruko-san poured out her thoughts without stopping.

“How could I have been so foolish not to know the birthday of a man who cares about me so much? No wonder I’ve never had a boyfriend before. And now, Aoi-kun’s birthday… I should celebrate it grandly, but is there even enough time to prepare? I can’t book a luxury hotel at this point. What should I do? And my work…”

Her muttering, like a prayer, spilled out everything she had been worrying about. Luxury hotels, overseas trips… It was all too much just to celebrate a birthday. I had to step in.

“Kaoruko-san, it’s okay. I’m happy that you want to celebrate, but there’s no need for overseas trips or luxury hotels. You’re busy with work, and just saying ‘Happy Birthday’ is more than enough.”

Even without a present, just being wished a happy birthday was more than enough for me. I had seen my mother plan extravagant celebrations or joke about buying me a house. Every time, I managed to redirect her efforts into normal celebrations at home with Hina and my mom. Only in my third year of high school did Shizuku throw a big party for me, but that was entirely her doing. I had never asked for such a grand celebration.

So I reassured Kaoruko-san again. But when I looked at her face, she was teary-eyed again.

“Aoi-kun… you’re just too good, it hurts.”

“Eh—?”

“How can someone be this good? There’s no one like you in the world. You worry about me, and I feel so lucky, yet I didn’t even know your birthday… How foolish of me!”

Her face was now full of despair, tears streaming down again.

“Sorry, Aoi-kun. I’ve calmed down now.”

“That’s good.”

We spent the next several minutes with me wiping her tears and gently rubbing her back to calm her down. Lately, it seemed I often made older women cry.

Like Yua-san, like Kaoruko-san… Is there something wrong with me?

“So, Aoi-kun,” she began again.

“Yes?”

“Who will be celebrating your birthday? How many people?”

“Well… my mom and Hina. Then Yua-san and Renka… so, four people, I think.”

Counting on my fingers, I answered, and Kaoruko-san’s expression twitched as she asked:

“Your mother and Hina-chan are family, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then… who is this Yua-san?”

Ah, this again…

“Yua-san lives next door, and we recently became close. Renka is a university friend. We take classes together.”

“I see… okay.”

Kaoruko-san seemed to ponder deeply after hearing that.

“Your family will celebrate your birthday on the day, right?”

“Yes. That’s already decided.”

“Then it hasn’t been decided when Yua-san and Renka-san will celebrate with you, right?”

“Not yet.”

“I see…”

She trailed off in thought again, so I quietly continued eating my cookie and waited. Just as the cookies were almost gone, she finally spoke.

“Aoi-kun… how about the three of us—Yua-san, Renka-san, and me—celebrate your birthday together?”

“Huh?”

So… That means the three of them would meet?

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Chapter 26: Yua’s Feelings

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Yua Shino­nome hesitated over how to reply to the message Aoi had sent her. Normally, she would have responded immediately, but this time she left it unread. In short, the message suggested having a birthday party, but there was a problem with the guest list.

The ones troubling Yua Shino­nome were Renka Koibuchi and Kaoruko Shiki. She had heard those two names from Aoi about a week ago, so she knew of their existence and had assumed she would meet them eventually. In fact, she had originally planned to celebrate Aoi’s birthday more grandly than those two ever could.

However, she had never expected to meet them so soon. On top of that, this was clearly a declaration of war. Aoi had told her that it was Kaoruko Shiki who first suggested holding this birthday party together.

“Well then, what should I do? If I just message back that I don’t like the idea, I could probably spend the day alone with him and celebrate Aoi-kun’s birthday by myself. But…”

Would that really be okay? It wasn’t certain, but she had a strong feeling that both of those women liked Aoi. She had used the word “declaration of war,” something typically said about romantic rivals, but Yua didn’t actually see them as enemies. She did love Aoi and wanted to prioritize him over anyone else. If he were to abandon her and go far away—or if he were to hate her—she would rather choose death. But if Aoi were to take another woman, she believed she could accept that.

Of course she would feel jealous. Of course she would hate it. She wanted to be his number one. But she didn’t want to trouble Aoi by saying that. And what she feared even more was imagining a future where she wasn’t chosen. If that happened, she could easily picture herself making a madwoman’s move again—waiting endlessly in front of Aoi’s door, not even knowing if he would return. In fact, she knew she probably would. Yua was capable of observing herself with a certain level of objectivity.

“I just don’t want him to be disappointed in my present.”

That was the core of it. Ever since hearing the names Kaoruko Shiki and Renka Koibuchi from Aoi, she had been afraid that he might compare her to them and discard her. That was why, from that day on, she had desperately thought about what she alone could give him and had begun putting it into action.

“Will Aoi-kun be happy with this present?”

At first, Yua had considered giving him something expensive. But anyone could give something costly. It wouldn’t be something only she could give Aoi. On top of that, there were Shizuku and Kaoruko, both considerably wealthy. There was no point in trying to compete with extravagant gifts, so she erased that idea from her mind.

After that, sacrificing sleep, she thought and thought until she finally began working on what she was making now.

“If I send him a song I made just for him… will he think it’s too heavy? Will he think it’s creepy? It’ll be okay, right?”

She imagined his face over and over when receiving the song. In her imagination, Aoi never once made an unpleasant expression. Still, was it really okay for someone who wasn’t his girlfriend—someone who had only gotten to know him recently—to compose a song and give it as a birthday present?

An ordinary man probably wouldn’t even think of making a song. He would likely light up with joy over something expensive instead. But over this past month, she had come to understand and been made to understand that Aoi wasn’t that kind of person. That was precisely why she had written this song.

“I’m nervous… Will he be happy? He won’t be disappointed compared to the other two, right?”

…It’ll be fine.

Aoi wouldn’t compare her to the other two. He would be happy with the song she made and show that smile of his. Believing that, she opened her phone and sent her reply.

『I’m fine with it. We’ll all celebrate Aoi-kun together, so look forward to it.』

And she prayed—above all—that he would be happiest with her present.

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