Chapter 555: Moving forward
Shishio had always wondered why he often received such a curve ball.
When everything was alright, something suddenly came into him from an unexpected direction, trying to create chaos in his peaceful life.
Yet this problem was something he had expected since, no matter how good he was at hiding, everything would be known sooner or later.
However, he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stared into Tsukiko's expression calmly as if he was trying to find something there. "Why do you think so?"
"...."
This answer was quite unexpected for Tsukiko. After all, she thought he would admit it directly, considering how young people were quite weak against pressure. Yet he seemed unfazed and didn't even seem troubled by her question.
Still, when she was asked this question, she thought for a moment and said, "No, it's just my intuition, but if you're not dating my two daughters, then it is okay." She didn't have any evidence, and everything was only based on her feelings, but if it didn't happen, then there was no need to press this matter further. After all, she didn't want to be seen as an annoying and troublesome woman.
Tsukiko also thought about how Shishio had been caring for Rui so much, so he shouldn't do something sorry for Rui, right?
"No, you're right. I also date Hina," Shishio said calmly.
"..." Tsukiko was in a daze since it was her first time hearing someone calmly acknowledge that he had dated two of her daughters. "Are you serious?" Even if she had a doubt, she was also speechless, wondering whether this boy was joking.
"No, I'm serious. The one she mentioned before, the boyfriend who worked in Shanghai, was a lie. Hina and Rui dated me at the same time, and they knew about this matter."
"...You mean they have decided to date you at the same time?" Tsukiko was even more in a daze, and her head became quite dizzy. She almost fell, but she was caught by Shishio.
"Are you alright, auntie?"
"...No."
"......"
Would you feel okay knowing your two daughters dated the same man at the same time?
Of course not!
Tsukiko looked at Shishio resentfully, but what could she say?
Still, Shishio wondered how long Tsukiko wanted to stay in his arms.
"How long?"
"Hmm... it been a month or so? I'm not sure about the detailed days." While he knew the details of their relationship since his "Enhanced Memory" made it impossible for him to forget anything, it was better to pretend to forget in front of Tsukiko.
Frankly, Shishio didn't intend to tell this matter like this. The place also wasn't suitable since they were in the bathroom. However, he also knew it would be hard for her to ask him this question on the outside, considering Rui and Akihito were there.
Shishio used his sense of smell, and somehow he sighed in relief since Akihito and Rui were talking to each other while looking at the apartment curiously.
After all, what could he say when they saw him being so close with Tsukiko like this?
"Auntie." Shishio couldn't help but remind Tsukiko since their position wasn't appropriate. They were a mother-in-law and a son-in-law, after all. While he had gotten two of her daughters, he didn't intend to add her.
Tsukiko realized how close they were and also quickly maintained their distance. Her face was slightly reddened, but as an adult who had faced many situations, she quickly calmed herself. That should be the case, but somehow she felt her heart was beating so fast. Yet nothing was shown on her face. "It's a happy occasion when Hina is moving to another apartment, so I don't plan to say anything, but next time we have to talk deeper about this matter."
"Thank you." Shishio sighed in relief.
Neither Tsukiko nor Shishio planned to talk about this matter anymore.
Shishio walked out first while Tsukiko entered the toilet for a while before she walked out. As for why they didn't come out together, they were afraid of being misunderstood. Even if they didn't do anything, the mind of man had always been a work of wonder.
Rui even questioned him about what he was doing with Tsukiko before.
However, Rui somehow also didn't feel that much suspicion since even if her mother was beautiful, she was still quite old. She didn't think that Shishio was interested in such an older woman, right?
Still, when Shishio looked at Tsukiko, he wondered whether he should develop a cream that was able to make her skin younger. Many of his girlfriends were older than him, and while he had confidence that he wouldn't have many changes even if he reached 50, his women were different.
They would get old, and their appearance would change.
If he had something that made them able to regain their youthfulness, they would be happy without a doubt.
Still, Shishio must admit that even a mature woman also had their own charm, but this wasn't a time to think about this matter since when Hina returned, he could see that her state was quite strange.
"Huh? Where's Natsuo?" Akihito asked.
"He has said that he wants to go to the convenience store first," Hina said after a moment of hesitation and quickly changed the topic. "Do you want to eat udon now? Let's eat it while it is hot."
They didn't think too much and agreed.
"Let me help you," Shishio said and stood up to help Hina.
"Thank you." Hina smiled and didn't reject his offer.
The two stood next to each other in the kitchen while moving the udon from the packaging to the bowl.
"What's wrong? Did Fujii-senpai confess to you?" Shishio asked jokingly.
"...." However, Hina didn't say anything and opened her mouth wide, staring at Shishio dumbfoundedly.
"...Really?" Shishio was also dumbfounded. While he had prepared for such a thing, he didn't expect that Natsuo would be so brave to confess to Hina.
When someone confesses to others, it would be impossible for them to maintain their previous relationship.
The emotion that had been hidden inside their heart had been known.
Hina knew Natsuo liked her as a woman, then could she treat him like the normal little brother that she thought of him previously?
Of course not.
When he confessed to her, Hina wondered what was on Natsuo's head. Their relationship was there, but she had told everyone that she had someone that she loved. The only thing she was worried about was that their family's relationship would turn awkward because of this.
"It's okay. You don't need to worry. Time will solve everything. When he has a girlfriend, everything will turn normal. You will also move here, so you won't have to meet him," Shishio said, trying to reassure Hina.
"Thank you." Hina sighed in relief since she had moved out. If she stayed in the house, what would happen?
Hina wasn't sure, but she knew that it would be so awkward.
When they returned with a bowl of udon, there was no trace of their previous discussion, and they talked normally. It wasn't until later that Natsuo returned, but they could see that their complexion was so bad.
"What's wrong? Did you meet a delinquent or something? Or were you hurt?" Everyone could see that Natsuo's state wasn't right.
"No..." Natsuo glanced at Hina, who looked away and could only say, "No, I'm just hungry."
"Then, hurry up and eat! You make me so worried," Akihito said.
"Come and eat, Natsuo-kun," Tsukiko said worriedly.
Natsuo took a bowl of udon. He had been out for a while, so the hot udon had turned into lukewarm, yet it didn't stop him from eating all the udon.
"Oh? If you're so hungry, do you want to eat more?"
"...Yeah."
Natsuo just wanted to forget everything now. In his mind, he hoped his confession would be accepted. If not, a hysterical response would be better than her previous flat and calm reaction that told him it was better to confess to someone else.
Natsuo wanted to cry again, but he held back his tears since he had cried enough earlier.
Shishio knew that this was an inevitable result.
Still, when he saw Natsuo, he somehow remembered what had happened to Misaki and Mitaka when he was going out to Izu with everyone. While she didn't say anything, she still maintained her happy smile and playful nature every day.
Mitaka also hadn't approached him, which made him wonder what had happened between the two.
Shishio was clueless.
Still, he didn't bother to ask since somehow he could imagine what kind of ending had been forged between them.
Anyway, Natsuo's matter had ended.
Shishio knew that he only needed to leave Natsuo alone. There was no need to bother Natsuo anymore.
When everyone had eaten, Shishio sent them back before he returned to Hina's apartment again since he had to take care of the aftermath. After all, her mind was a mess since she had just rejected Natsuo's confession.
If Natsuo was just someone she didn't know, she wouldn't care much.
However, Natsuo was her step-brother, which made everything complicated. If possible, she hoped she could rewind the time and ask Shishio instead of Natsuo when she bought the lunch previously, so something like this wouldn't happen.
Fortunately, Hina was glad that she had Shishio with her, and he messed her up, so she could forget everything.
Then, a few hours later, Hina forgot what had happened and acted like she usually did.
By then, Shishio realized that in Hina's heart, there was no place for Natsuo, and it made him sigh, thinking that the fate of one side of love was cruel. The only thing that he hoped at this moment was so Natsuo could move on without causing trouble.
Then the days passed after this incident, and it was time for Yui's birthday.
The service club had decided to throw a surprise party for Yui. However, instead of the usual members of the service club, they added two additional members to this birthday surprise.
Shishio had texted Hina Ebina and told her they should meet in the school's hidden ice cream vending store. He waited there while eating his choco mint ice cream. He sat on the bench, staring at the swaying leaves of the zelkova tree absentmindedly, until someone called him.
"Shishio-kun, yahallo~!"
Shishio looked up and saw Ebina and Miura Yumiko there, looking at him.
While Ebina smiled, Yumiko was slightly nervous and tense.
"Yahallo, Hina-senpai." Shishio greeted Ebina back, then looked at Yumiko and said, "And hello, Miura-senpai."
"He-Hello..." Yumiko must admit this guy was dangerous.