In a World of Reversed Chastity, I’m Surrounded by a Clingy Older Woman, a Walking Red Flag, and an Exhausted Office Lady - 31-32

Chapter 31: After Aoi Went Home

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

After sending Aoi home first with the convenient excuse that it was his birthday and therefore he didn’t need to help clean up, Kaoruko sat facing Renka and Yua.

Renka and Yua had both vaguely expected that things would end up like this, so they weren’t particularly surprised. Still, imagining the kind of conversation that was about to happen made them a little nervous. Several minutes passed in silence with no one saying anything. Finally, Kaoruko opened her mouth.

“Renka-chan. Yua-san.”

“…What is it?”

“…What?”

“First, would you listen to how Aoi-kun and I first met?”

““…Huh?””

Kaoruko suddenly said something like that, causing the two of them to instinctively look at her as if to say, 『What is this woman talking about?』

“Aoi-kun told me what kind of people you two are, but he never told me things like how you met him. So I thought I might as well hear everything while we have the chance. After all, I think we’re going to have a long relationship from now on.”

Kaoruko smiled meaningfully. The two of them understood the meaning behind that smile. This was that. It was certainly about getting to know each other but at the same time, it was also a contest of one-upmanship.

“The first time Aoi-kun and I met was at the convenience store where he works part-time.”

Kaoruko spoke smoothly, as if she were talking about something that had happened just yesterday. The two of them listened carefully. As they listened, they felt frustrated seeing how gentle Aoi had been toward another woman. At the same time, they felt happy as they once again realized how cool and kind he was.

With those complicated but warm feelings, they finished listening to Kaoruko’s story, and then Renka and Yua took turns telling their own stories. Each time, just like with Kaoruko’s story, jealousy surfaced, then happiness followed. Amid those constantly shifting emotions, by the time Yua finished speaking last, the tense atmosphere from earlier had softened.

“I see. I knew Yua-san lived next door to Aoi-kun’s apartment, but I never imagined Aoi even saved someone’s life. As expected of Aoi.”

“Aoi-kun doesn’t know he saved my life. And it would become a heavy story, so I thought it was something he didn’t need to know.”

“That’s true. I don’t want Aoi-kun to be hurt. I want him to keep living in a gentle world, like warm sunlight.”

With a gentle smile, Kaoruko thought about Aoi’s warm expression when he saved Yua’s life. Before she knew it, her gaze drifted toward the chair where Aoi had been sitting earlier. He was probably relaxing at home by now.

“…Now that I’ve heard about how you met Aoi-kun, and about how I met him as well, I understand your feelings much better.”

““—!””

Kaoruko had been smiling just moments ago, but now her expression turned serious. Seeing her face and hearing her tone, the two girls straightened their backs.

“You two like Aoi-kun, right?”

“…Of course. I love Aoi. He acknowledges my ‘cuteness’ and looks at me sincerely. That’s why I love him.”

“I love Aoi-kun too. It’s true that he saved my life, but even more than that, just seeing his warm smile makes me want to stay by his side.”

“Of course I love him too. Aoi-kun is the meaning of my life, and the reason I work so hard is all for him. Aoi-kun is the driving force behind my life.”

The three of them looked at each other. At that moment, they were surely all thinking the same thing.

“Do you think it absolutely has to be Aoi-kun? What I’m about to say might be painful for the two of you.”

“I can’t be with anyone but Aoi. If I had to date another man, I’d rather bite off my tongue and die. Honestly, I think I’d live a happier life never dating anyone else at all.”

“I also realized just recently that it has to be Aoi-kun. I’m living for Aoi-kun too.”

Hearing their words, Kaoruko nodded and spoke.

“Why don’t we all date Aoi-kun together?”

When Kaoruko had said earlier that what she was about to say might be painful for them, the two of them had already anticipated this. As for Yua, she did want to keep Aoi all to herself. But if the alternative was being separated from him, she would rather die.

Renka strongly wanted Aoi to look only at her. But if the alternative was her confession failing or Aoi going to someone else, then she thought it would be better, albeit reluctantly, to love Aoi together.

Kaoruko, the one who proposed it, of course loved Aoi deeply as well. Just like the other two, she thought that if Aoi was going to be taken away anyway, it would be better for all of them to love him together.

“I’m in favor.”

“Me too.”

“I understand your feelings well. But you probably haven’t sorted out your thoughts yet, and your feelings might change, so I’ll ask you again another day. Oh, and let’s exchange contact information too.”

And so, without Aoi ever knowing, an alliance between the three girls was formed.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Chapter 32: A Story from When Aoi Was in High School

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“Is Shizuku’s mother coming today too?”

“Yes. Since Aoi-sama is here, I’m sure she’ll come.”

“Wouldn’t she normally come to see Shizuku, not me? It’s open class day after all.”

Today was the day for the open class or what you’d call a class observation day. Because this school was an integrated middle and high school, open class days were held about twice a year until the second year of high school.

“By the way, is Aoi-sama’s mother coming?”

“Yeah. She was trying to bring out a DSLR camera this morning, so it was pretty hard stopping her.”

“Ufufu. I understand your mother’s feelings painfully well. If I were Aoi-sama’s mother, I would surely use every possible method to preserve the sight of Aoi-sama attending class.”

Shizuku said that as if it were the most natural thing in the world, wearing her usual gentle, composed smile. If Shizuku really were a mother, she probably would do something like that, I thought with a wry smile. While chatting with Shizuku and the other classmates and waiting for the time to pass, parents gradually began arriving. Among them was one particularly strikingly beautiful woman.

“Ah, Akane-san. Long time no see. Sorry about the other day when I dropped by your house. The sweets were delicious.”

“Ufufu. Good afternoon, Aoi-kun. It’s fine, you can eat as much as you like. Oh, and next time, you can even come stay the night at our house.”

“Eh, really!? I’d love to go. I’d also like to talk with you a lot, Akane-san.”

“Oh my, ufufu. I’m looking forward to it as well.”

As expected of Shizuku’s mother, Akane-san. Her manners, movements, and appearance were all beautiful. She truly felt like a proper adult. Ever since that day when she acknowledged me as Shizuku’s friend, Akane-san had been kind to me in many ways.

“Mother.”

“Shizuku. I’m glad to see you’re working hard today as well. Keep it up.”

“Yes.”

Apparently, Akane-san used to be rather strict with her daughter Shizuku. But since that incident, she had become a little gentler or rather, she seemed to have changed the way she thought about her daughter. Shizuku said that now they could talk like this and get along much better.

She said it was thanks to me, but honestly, I thought it was just because Shizuku had been working hard every day. I didn’t think I had done anything. As I watched their heartwarming exchange with a smile, I noticed my mom in the distance, wearing a sad expression.

“Mom… Did something happen? You look sad.”

“Aoi-chan!! You see, since you told me I couldn’t bring the DSLR, I thought maybe I’d record with my phone instead, so I tried to bring a tripod. But then someone at work told me, ‘If you do something like that, your son will end up hating you.’”

Later, I would have to thank that coworker for stopping my mom’s strange behavior.

“Aoi-chan, who are those people?”

“Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t properly told you about Shizuku or Akane-san yet. This is Shizuku Saiin. She is my friend. And this is Akane-san, Shizuku’s mother.”

Before I realized it, Akane-san and Shizuku, who had been chatting together, came over and bowed politely.

“Nice to meet you, Aoi-sama’s mother. I am Aoi-sama’s friend, Shizuku Saiin. I believe we will have a long relationship from here on, so I look forward to getting along with you.”

“My name is Akane Saiin, Shizuku’s mother. I often chat with Aoi-kun, and occasionally we even go out together. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“…Nice to meet you, Shizuku-chan. And Akane-san as well. I hope we’ll have a long relationship.”

My mom replied that way, looking slightly displeased.

“Hey, Mom. Don’t act like that. They’re my friend and her mother, you know?”

“But it feels like Aoi-chan has been stolen from me, and I don’t like it.”

“Geez. If you keep being so selfish, I’m going to start calling Akane-san ‘Mom,’ you know.”

Since she had sulked and hadn’t properly greeted my friend, I said that teasingly. The moment I did, Mom immediately straightened her posture.

“I’m Aoi-chan’s mother. Please keep getting along with Aoi-chan from now on too. …I-Is that okay? Aoi-chan, you won’t abandon me, right?”

“Yes, well done. And there’s no way I’d abandon you, Mom. I was joking.”

As I patted Mom’s head while she looked like she was about to cry, I noticed that Akane-san was looking at us with an even gentler, more mysterious—almost seductive—smile than usual.

“Aoi-kun. Could you call me ‘Mom’ one more time?”

“Hm…? Mom.”

“Ufufu, ufufufufu. Ufufufufufufu. Mom. Ah, what a wonderful sound. It feels like the lower part of my stomach is bubbling with heat… Oh my. I’m sorry, something urgent came up, so I’ll take care of it quickly. I’ll be back before class starts.”

With that, Akane-san briskly left the classroom with graceful—no, slightly unsteady—steps.

“Aoi-sama really is something… No, wait. Think about it a little, Shizuku. If Aoi-sama is Mother’s child, then does that make Aoi-sama my older brother? No, that’s not it. Aoi-sama would be a pseudo-son. In other words, if he becomes Mother’s son by marrying me, then the dream of both Mother and daughter would… mumble mumble…”

Shizuku also started muttering to herself, seemingly lost in thought. In the end, everyone only managed to calm down right before the class began.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー