The Woman Whose Life I Saved Turned out to Be the Mother of the Popular Twin Sisters in My Class

Chapter 24 – Ao’s Choice and Hikari’s Feelings

Kotobuki Yuzuki and Kotobuki Hikari.

I think they’re both good girls. Not only are they good-looking, but they’re also very considerate.

They can be a little forceful and out of sync at times, but even so, I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent with them.

Do I want to go out with them or not?

“I don’t know yet. There’s a certain comfort I feel with Yuzuki and Hikari that I don’t feel with other girls. They’re definitely special.”

“However,” I continued.

“I still don’t have the confidence to say for sure that I want to go out with them. And besides…”

I was about to speak, but then I closed my mouth.

Even if it was just hypothetically, I felt like it wasn’t something I should say in front of my father.

“And besides…?”

“Well…”

I was at a loss for words.

Seeing me like that, Genma-san tried his best to smile gently.

For some reason, that smile made the words I had shut away slowly come out.

“Your daughters are very attractive. If I continue spending time with them, I’ll likely want a deeper relationship with one of them. But when that time comes, I’ll have to choose between the two. If I’m asked if I can do that…”

I trailed off at that point. But I had said enough for Genma-san to understand what I was trying to convey.

Yuzuki and Hikari are too good for me. Normally, it would be impossible for them to be fond of me.

But in reality, I’m grateful that they’re fond of me.

When one day I decide to take a step forward, would I be able to choose one of them?

“…People often say I’m a doting parent, but that’s not actually the case.”

Genma-san laughed softly, and slowly began to talk. I held back the words, “I think what those people said are true, though.”

“That’s why I absolutely don’t want to see those girls cry. If they were to be rejected by the boy they liked, they would surely shed tears.”

In an instant. Genma-san glared at me.

No, perhaps it was just my imagination, but it was definitely an intense glare.

“That’s the one thing I can’t forgive.”

“But even if I do consider becoming their boyfriend, I can only be with one of them.”

In other words, I’d have no choice but to reject one of them. And they’re twins. It’s worrying to think about what might happen in the future.

No, maybe it’s a bit too arrogant to think that far.

“When I think about choosing one of them, I…”

I think that’s just being selfish.

In the end, I’m just looking for an excuse not to choose. Even if I know that, I’m not yet ready to go down that path, so there’s nothing I can do.

“If you feel sorry for the one who isn’t chosen, does that mean you won’t choose either?”

“……”

I shut my mouth and looked away.

I wondered if he would get angry, but Genma-san’s response was still calm.

“You’re thinking too hard about it. Young people these days seem to be too serious.”

I was stunned, not understanding what Genma-san meant when he said this with the corners of his mouth turning up.

“If you can’t choose one, then don’t choose either.”

Genma-san said the same things I had said. But his expression was completely different.

Unlike me, who spoke as if turning a blind eye to reality, Genma-san spoke with pride.

“That’s why I——”

“Two delicious dishes are lined up side by side, why should you eat only one? If you can’t choose one, then you should eat both.” (T/N: G-Genma-san?!! It’s about your daughters, you know!!)

His voice was loud enough to drown out my thoughts. It was an idea I had never considered before, one that should never be possible.

“Instead of trying not to choose, you should try to choose both. There’s no need to come up with a self-centered answer. Is there really no way for everyone to be happy? You should look for it a bit more. We’re more childish when still young, isn’t that right?”

Genma-san laughed childishly.

“So, you mean, I should date both Yuzuki-san and Hikari-san?”

“If that’s what they want, then yes.”

“Are you okay that your daughters’ boyfriend is such a scumbag?”

Any man who cheats on his partner is generally a scumbag.

“Whether someone is a scumbag or not is not up to you to decide. It’s up to Yuzuki, Hikari, and me to decide. By the way, I don’t think a man willing to take on dirt for the sake of a woman’s smile is a scumbag.”

Genma laughed testingly.

Polygamy is not recognized in Japan.

Even if I were to date both of them, I would never reach such an ending in the end.

But…

That’s precisely the point.

As long as both parties are satisfied, aside from the issue of marriage, there’s no problem at all. No, perhaps the problem of public perception would always cling to us.

In the first place, it’s not like I can’t be with them unless we get married. Rather, if not being married allows us to stay together, then that’s simply the choice I should make.

To go further, just because we’re dating doesn’t mean we’ll necessarily reach marriage.

I wonder how many couples in this world have developed from high school sweethearts to marriage.

As I continued to speak with Genma-san, the essence of his message was probably not to overthink things.

The choice not to choose is the same, but the implications are as different as heaven and earth.

Still, regardless of how things would turn out, thinking that way made me feel a bit lighter.

“Well, if you’ve thought seriously about my daughter, I will respect your answer. Whether you choose one or don’t choose either.”

◇

Ao wants a girlfriend.

Somehow, I felt he hadn’t been very proactive about such things, but did he talk about it with Yuzuki?

I wonder why he didn’t tell me.

In my room, I, Kotobuki Hikari, found myself spiraling through these thoughts.

“……Hah~”

I let out a big sigh.

It was so big that I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.

I’ve never fallen in love.

When I got to middle school, my friends around me started talking about guys, like boyfriends and hot guys.

As for whether I was interested or not, I was interested too, so I participated in the conversation, but somehow it all felt like someone else’s business.

I’m not sure if my feelings for Ao are actually love or not.

There’s a fluttering feeling that I don’t feel with other guys.

It’s nice to be around him. Maybe it’s enough to express that I like him, but that feeling is still unclear to me.

That’s exactly why I want to become closer to Ao.

I have a feeling that this fluttering feeling will blossom soon.

And besides…

I don’t want to lose to Yuzuki.

“……”

Before I knew it, I had clenched my fists. My feelings must have manifested physically.

With a small smile, I exhaled and relaxed.