Reincarnated as the Sidekick in a Harem Game ～Chaos Unfolded When I Helped the Losing Heroines After the Protagonist Found His Happy Ending～ - Chapter 18: The Heavy Love of a Stepmother

Chapter 18: The Heavy Love of a Stepmother

Several minutes after my stepsister’s rampage, I carried her into the infirmary. According to the school nurse, she had just experienced a brief panic attack and would likely wake up soon. (When I expressed my gratitude to the teacher, they seemed incredibly surprised.)

“Chaa-chan!!!”

The infirmary door burst open, and there stood my stepmother, Mamako-shi, rushing in.

“Mom… hmpf!”

Mamako-shi embraced me tightly, with all her might. I was enveloped in her sweet, mature scent, and the warm, soft sensation of her bosom.

“I’m glad… you’re safe…”

“Mom…”

Mamako-shi bowed her head in front of me.

“I’m sorry, Cha-chan… Mai has caused you trouble again…”

The “again” probably referred to the time when she was dating Minato. All the heroines, including Mai, had fallen for Minato due to ‘compulsion.’ Meanwhile, they had begun to treat me coldly.

“Don’t worry about it. We’re family. I don’t think you’ve caused me any trouble… hmpf!”

“Oh! What a good child you are, Cha-chan! Thank you! I’m glad to be your mother…! I’m so lucky to have such a good stepson!”

Mamako-shi treats me like her real son, despite the fact that I’m originally an outsider. While it makes me happy, it also fills me with a sense of guilt.

Her actual son is Charao, not me, the reincarnate. She loves the Charao who existed before I entered this body. That’s why… it gives me complicated feelings.

A little later,

“So… Mai found out that you were dating, huh?”

I explained the situation to Mamako-shi. She sighed in disbelief and gently stroked the head of her sleeping daughter.

“I’m sorry, Cha-chan. I apologize on behalf of this girl.”

Mamako-shi apologized deeply. I somehow find myself being apologized to by heroines quite often.

“Don’t worry about it. She’s still young. Making mistakes is inevitable.”

“Oh, Cha-chan, you have such a big heart. How wonderful… ♡ …Ah, I wish I could have your—”

“Hm? … What did you say?”

“Cough. Never mind ♡.”

Mamako-shi smiled warmly. She’s a beautiful mature lady. But what did she mean by ‘have your’…?

“Mai… was anxious. About you getting a girlfriend. She also loves you a lot.”

Mamako-shi lovingly strokes her daughter’s head.

“… Even so, attempting to kill someone else and take their place is absolutely wrong. She’s in for a lecture when she wakes up.”

Mamako-shi took a deep breath. Mai likes me. How should I respond to her feelings? Needless to say, in this Japan, there’s only one person I can reciprocate feelings with…

“Why are you making such a scary face, Cha-chan?”

“No… I’m just wondering what to do. I can only date one person. So…”

At this, Mamako-shi looked puzzled and said,

“Why is that?”

“Huh?”

I was genuinely surprised. What does she mean?

“Well, if everyone agrees, there’s no problem with dating multiple people, right?”

“W-why would that be…?”

“Hm? Because polygamy is allowed, isn’t it?”

…Excuse me? Polygamy is allowed? What’s that about? I haven’t heard of it. The world of OreNaji was supposed to be similar to the real world.

Polygamy is okay? That’s ridiculous. It should be a monogamous society…

…Could it be?

“Has the world’s rules been overwritten again…?”

My consciousness gradually shifted toward the thought that [it might have been so]. Yes, it was like that time. The time when Minato stabbed me in the stomach.

Back then, I didn’t actually have a magazine stuffed in my abdomen. But somehow, the magazine was there, and I survived. Just like that time, a change in the rules, interference with events…

The world’s original rule of monogamy was overwritten, and it had turned into a polygamous society…

…It was frightening, I couldn’t help but think. While I remained unaware, the world’s common sense was being rewritten. Against my will, unknown norms were being implanted into me. It was nothing but terrifying. What if a rule got applied saying it was okay to kill people…

“I don’t think you need to be so hard on yourself.”

“Mom…”

Mamako-shi smiled and gently hugged my head.

“You should act as you feel. You should date the woman your heart desires. If you like Mai, then that pi(g)…”

“Pi…?”

“Ahem. You have the option of dating Mai while still being in a relationship with Najimi-chan. Legally, that’s allowed. So, you shouldn’t overthink it.”

It appeared that Mamako-shi had misunderstood. She thought I was troubled over choosing between Mai and Najimi in terms of love.

That’s indeed important, but my current concern is the world changing without my awareness.

Those “higher-ups” that Calico Cat Supporter-shi mentioned, the game-like skill system; this world was never real to begin with. But it was a world that operated under certain real-world rules, notwithstanding some irregularities like “Compulsion.”

But now… to be honest, I’m scared. Forces that were never present before are now at play. I’ve witnessed powers that go beyond human understanding—quite literally, the powers of a god.

…Even though this is the world I know, it’s an entirely different world now. I can’t predict what will happen next. At any moment, different rules could apply, and I could be permanently ousted from this world.

But no, thinking about that now is pointless.

“Cha-chan, come to the classroom once she wakes up.”

Mamako-shi is not only our mother but also our homeroom teacher. Since I’m a student too, I should’ve returned to the classroom immediately.

But it seemed that Mamako-shi wanted to ensure that her daughter wouldn’t feel lonely when she woke up, so she thoughtfully considered her feelings.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“It’s alright ♡. See you later, Cha-chan.”

She was a very kind person. She treated me, a child who was not her own, with the same familial love that she showed Mai and the others. She acted as a parent toward me.

Someday, I thought, I’d like to repay her kindness.

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

★ Mamako’s side

“Ah… Cha-chan… how wonderful…♡”

After parting with Charao, Mamako didn’t head to the classroom but went into the staff bathroom.

As she manipulated her privates with a squelching sound, she fantasized about being embraced by her son and reached her climax.

“Cha-chan, putting your body on the line for your sister… how wonderful…♡ so cute…♡”

She let out a deep, long, and warm breath.

“I wonder if he’d also put his body on the line for his mother… What a foolish question. Of course, he would. That boy is so kind… the best… man… ahn ♡!”

After a moment,

Mamako leaned against the bathroom wall and took a breath.

“…But really, that girl. Hurting Cha-chan like that. I absolutely cannot forgive her.”

Mai had hurt her beloved son with a stun gun. The moment she heard it, her mind went blank with rage.

Certainly, she loved her daughter. But when it came to the arena of women, she considered her an enemy.

“…Certainly, my daughter is important. I love her. But the moment she meddles with my man, she becomes my enemy as well.”

Indeed, this world allows for harems. But even within that harem, there is a hierarchy.

Moreover, while relationships with multiple women may be legally allowed, the desire to be loved the most still exists.

Even if the law allows relationships with multiple women… they still want to be the most important one, and even more than that, they want to be the only one loved.

If Mai were dating men other than Charao, she intended to continue treating her as a mother should. But Mai is clearly interested in Charao as a man. Therefore, she is an enemy.

In Mamako’s heart, love for her daughter (Mai) coexists with a sense of rivalry against her enemy (Mai).

“I won’t let you have him… Mai. I will never let Cha-chan go to you.”

If she shares the same blood as her, then eventually Mai will also possess abundant and attractive breasts like Mamako.

That would be troublesome. Therefore, she must pay close attention to her daughter’s actions.

“I’ll let it go for today… Mai? But if you hurt Cha-chan again, I won’t show any mercy.”