(Chastity Reversed) The Legitimate Wife War: How I, a Harem-Hater, Ended Up Creating an Ultra-Eccentric Harem with a Villainess, a Sadistic Beauty Teacher, a Scheming Classmate... etc. - Chapter 157.2: Hometown

If she’s been able to repair her relationship with her father and mother, that’s better than anything.

“Yes. I’m learning various things. However, Mother told me this, but apparently, Father is quite a spoiled child when it’s just the two of them. It seems he even has her clean his ears—it makes you want to laugh, doesn’t it?”

“So it’s a side he only shows to your mother.”

Well, she just exposed him. To think Father’s dignity was being lowered without him knowing.

“But thinking about that, I considered that perhaps Father and I have some similar traits.”

“Ah, the single-minded personality where you do what you decide to do?”

That certainly makes sense.

“That might be true too, but that’s not what I wanted to say.”

Not thaaat. Then what is it? Hmm.

“The correct answer is… being able to bare one’s heart only to those one believes in.”

“Didn’t your father show his true self to you too, Rio-san?”

“I wonder. I think he speaks his true feelings, but he still maintains the face of a ‘father,’ doesn’t he? Just as I have the face of a ‘teacher.'”

Ah, so that’s what she means.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that, though.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“In Father’s case, it was Mother. But in my case…”

“Ah, Ayaka-san?”

I tried asking immediately. She gave me a deadpan glare. It’s rare for the usually masochistic Rio-san to look at me with deadpan eyes.

“Master, you have that side to you sometimes, don’t you? Ah, I understand. Is this the kind of play where you want to make me say it? Is it teasing play?”

“No, it’s not!”

I have no such intention.

“If it’s not play, then that means Master truly thinks that.”

I don’t have a hobby of saying things like that as a joke.

“In that case, I wonder where that lack of confidence of yours comes from, Master. Do we need to convey our affection more?”

Lack of confidence, huh.

“We—no, at least I—am coming to like Master more and more, you know?”

“Rio-san…”

“How about you, Master?”

Me? I also…

“I’m much more attracted to you than at the start; I was just feeling the charm of a mature woman from you earlier, too.”

“I’m grateful, but I’ve been a mature woman from the very beginning, you know?”

In age, right? I don’t think a mature woman would start talking about slave contracts.

“I will set aside Master’s image of me for a moment. I will also save the discussion about how Master perceives affection directed at himself for a later date.”

Both are for a later date? I think I’m normal, though. I just can’t imagine being liked by so many people.

“In my case, it is precisely in front of Master and the other fiancées that I can be without adornment. I can be my true self.”

Her true self, huh.

“Can you be your true self, Master?”

True self… I wonder. I don’t intend to be putting on airs.

“To me, it looks like you are still pushing yourself a little. If you have any worries, please consult me. I am supposed to be your senior in life, after all.”

Only at this moment—only with these words—she didn’t look like the Rio at home, but like Rio-sensei, the teacher. Like a strict but kind Rio-sensei.

“If stress builds up, please tell me. I think I can alleviate it… please vent it on me.”

Stress? …Hmm? Wait?

“Bondage, whipping, anything. If it is to heal your stress.”

Rio-san’s eyes were moist. She was exuding an atmosphere of reluctance, but she couldn’t hide the joy within. But when I thought about it carefully, Rio-san’s words just now…

“Does ‘true self’ mean exposing one’s fetishes?!”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Playing dumb, huh. However, this might be Rio-san’s own way of being considerate so things don’t get too heavy. Though her choice of words is the worst. But here, I think I’ll gratefully accept the sentiment.

“But I do cherish the other fiancées, and I think of it as my second home. So, shall we create a space that is just as comfortable, or even more so, than this house for Master?”

“Create it together… huh.”

“Of course, not just me, but with everyone else too.”

Everyone, huh.

A brief silence continued between the two of us, but strangely, it wasn’t awkward. After a little time had passed and the tea had cooled.

“…Now then, how about we visit the grave soon? If it gets too late, we won’t be able to go back. You have stories to catch up on with your grandfather, don’t you?”

Stories to catch up on. That’s right. I need to properly report to Grandpa soon. …I’m sure he’ll get mad, but I still have to do it properly.

Rio-san and I left the house together.

“…Because it’s dangerous.”

I gently held out my free hand. Rio-san made a slightly surprised face, and then.

“It looks like a walk, doesn’t it?”

She said something unprincipled while holding my hand. It might be her way of hiding her embarrassment.

“No, it’s a date.”

“To me, they are the same.”

They are definitely not.