While Tobe felt Ai's eyes couldn't look away from his, he decided to ignore it as he tried to take care of Yui, since he knew well that it was definitely immoral of him to think of this ugly imagination.
Yet, this is how a man was, he thought.
Usually, men weren't even given a chance to be with women, so when they saw an opportunity, they couldn't help but feel excited, like how women were being approached by a handsome, domineering CEO despite being ordinary.
Regardless, with many things having happened, his days didn't change much from before, since, like before, all he did was just work and spend his time with his women.
This time, he spent his time with Hina at his house.
Frankly, if there wasn't Hina, he felt like he would rarely spend his time at his own home and spent most of his time at Yukinoshita's place, Shiori's place, or his new place that had a cafe, which was inhabited by Akiko and Saki, a pair of a mother and a daughter.
Or, Hiratsuka's place, too, was fine, considering how this woman would spend most of her time in a daze when she had nothing to do.
While being seen as a reliable teacher, Hiratsuka was more or less similar to an old man who had nothing to do when they were free from their work. Work was her life, probably; this was also the reason why she didn't have a boyfriend till she met him.
After all, with how much time she spent on work, how could she even have time to get a boyfriend?
As for the introduction from her parents, Hiratsuka had no interest at all, as most of those men didn't attract her attention.
Or were they too snobbish for her taste?
Yet, for a woman of her age, could she even be choosy?
When one was about to hit 30, whether one wanted to or not, they would be urged by their parents to marry, bring their partner, and give their parents grandchildren that they could cuddle.
Still, it was normal for them to urge since, in their time, it was normal for them to marry early.
Yet, in the current time, it might be uncommon to see someone marry early, considering the situation of the world and all.
It was the so-called generation gap, he thought.
Nevertheless, the economic and other problems aside, it shouldn't be a reason for one not to try to have love.
Anyway, just try.
Whether in the end, it would lead to success or heartbreak, at least, everything would lead to a better self.
If one succeeds, they would get their loved one, and if they fail, they would be able to learn something, so they could have a better relationship.
So, as he had said many things, had he ever failed?
Hmm...
Tobe had never thought that the process he had done was a failure; instead, he thought that no matter what his experience was, all of them were paths toward success.
Even the Tower of Babel, the legendary tower that was once said would reach the heavens, was once started with a single pebble, right?
Then again, sometimes, the direction of the path didn't lead to something that everyone wished for, like how the Tower of Babel would fall apart and be broken due to the wrath of god.
And, this was why, if he, who was blessed with the system, couldn't even get what he wished, then what about those who didn't have the system?
Wouldn't they live in despair and anguish?
"What are you thinking?"
"...I am thinking about how you are so at ease now."
"Isn't it good? It means that we're close."
"...we're too close, Hina."
On the rare holiday, Tobe decided to spend his time at a home with Hina as they watched an anime together. He wasn't sure what kind of movie it was, but he had told her that he didn't want to watch a BL anime, which she agreed to.
"..isn't fine, isn't it?"
Hina laughed as she used his thighs as a pillow, moving around lightly as if trying to make a certain part of him show a reaction.
"Stop it. Let's watch the anime."
"Okay, okay. Don't grab my face like that. It is going to make me excited."
"...." Tobe.
He wanted to ask whether this girl had become smarter to avoid being bullied by him, but when he saw her flushed cheeks and haggard breath as her eyes stared at him with distorted, lewd eyes, he knew well that she was serious.
Holding her face with his palm, he moved her head and let her focus on the anime that they would watch.
Still—
"Samurai anime?"
As he knew Hina's personality well, he knew that this girl must be naughty, and definitely wouldn't let him watch an ordinary anime, but unexpectedly, she showed him a samurai anime.
"It's a good anime! Believe me!"
"...okay?"
Yet, as she saw her smug smile, Tobe became even more cautious and doubtful. Then, as expected, in most scenes, it was just a normal samurai anime where a group of samurai banded up together for their justice, loyalty, and to protect their Lord; the dialogue between them was quite weird.
"I won't let you go!"
"This hand of yours! I will hold it tightly!"
"Sorry... my feelings for you have changed."
"...." Tobe.
Yes, this group of samurai had a deep comradeship, and might even go "beyond," yet, it was also due to this "beyonity," it also gave off an ambiguous atmosphere, especially when many of them, despite being men, hugged each other, as they met each other's gazes.
"Kuh!"
Tobe wanted to complain, but when he saw Hina, who cried by the moving scenes when one samurai died in the arms of another samurai, hugging each other tightly as if their hearts were crushed, this experience was something... something... that he couldn't describe.
Frankly, while he wasn't proud of it, he often saw this type of anime as they usually showed rivalries and friendship. Usually, the works would have a lot of men, or rather, most of them were men, with a small number of female characters, who worked as side characters. At the same time, the theme of this type of work was probably either sports, where the men would be all sweaty as they were so close together. The best example would be Kuroko no Basuke, Free, and many similar works.
"...."
Rubbing his temple, he decided not to think too much, but he knew well that this type of work would make a lot of money, especially when the main fans of this type of work (women) lacked rationality and would spend all of their money on all types of derivatives and special events, then became fandoms.
"What do you think?"
When episode one was over, Hina looked at him excitedly.
"...okay?"
"Right!"
"I don't swing that way."
"I know that, of course, you don't swing that way."
Hina knew well that this guy loved women more than anything. Then again, if he wished to, she could imagine that—
"Ouch! Why did you hit my head?!"
"Because I knew that you were thinking something perverted."
Hina laughed, then raised her body as she straddled her thighs, facing him, clinging to him closely as she asked, rubbing her body against him, "Then... should we do something pervy?"
Tobe felt his breathing become harder, and he was ready, but—
Ping! Pong!
The ringing of the bell stopped them, but when Tobe frowned, Hina suddenly remembered something. "Ah, Yumiko is coming!"
"...." Tobe.