"Sorry to make you wait."
"...you really have made up waiting."
"I never expected that you would come so early!"
Tobe and Yukinoshita went on a date.
Yes, this time, he went on a date with his official girlfriend, having a normal relationship, and enjoying their time together. Naturally, his mind was pure, and he wished to become a gentleman who gave Yukinoshita a good time.
However, if she forced him, then even if he was helpless, he would agree as it made her happy.
"...did you think something rude about me?"
"No, no." Tobe, who had just come in a hurry, looked at the cafe where Yukinoshita waited for him. It was a comfortable place, with a literary aesthetic and jazz music that made people enjoy their time as they stayed. It might seem old, but it also meant elegance, and something that wasn't owned by the modern establishment.
Then looked at the book in her hand, as well as the melon soda float that she had ordered.
"...you sure love to read that."
"You are the one who wrote it, after all." Yukinoshita smiled, then sighed when she thought of the content. "Though the story is quite long. A relationship with a housewife? You are scum!
"...."
"I love you, though."
"Thank you." Tobe sighed helplessly, but despite all of that, as she was with him, even knowing that, how could he let her down, right?
"So, where are we going?"
The two planned for a date, but usually, he would tell her where they would go, but this time, he kept it a secret.
"It's a secret."
"I will give you this melon soda if you tell me."
"...isn't your bribe too cheap?"
"Having a beautiful woman feed you a melon soda float that has been mixed with her saliva, isn't it the best reward for you?"
"Don't make me sound like a pervert!"
Only when she fed him did he open his mouth and eat the vanilla ice cream that was mixed with the melon soda.
"How is it?"
"It's okay."
"Well, yours is tastier."
"...you mean the melon soda that I crafted before, right?"
He had made a melon soda float before, so he thought that she was referring to that one.
"Fufufu... what do you think?"
Watching her mischievous smile, he knew that it was his fault that he had made her into such a perverted woman.
He loved her, thought.
"Should we go?"
"Okay?"
After paying, the two left the cafe, walking side by side as they held each other's hands.
"I have heard that you made a project with Nee-san. Is this place related to that project?"
"...can you even tell that?"
"Yup." Yukinoshita nodded and asked, "Do you think I can help you?"
"I don't mind."
"Really?"
"Yes, as I grow older, I think being a household husband and being fed by my women is my dream now."
"You can do that if you want to..." Yukinoshita nodded seriously, thinking that it was possible for Tobe if he wanted to become a household husband.
Rather, she felt that it was better for him to become a household husband, so that way, she could have him stay at the house all the time and never leave.
"...I was just joking. Don't answer me so seriously like that."
"Me too."
"But your eyes are extremely serious!"
"My eyes have always been like this."
"..."
"Anyway, let's go to that place."
"So, where are we going?"
"It's a place that I have made especially for you."
"Really?"
"Yup."
Using the influence of her parents, and also the money that he got, he easily built this place.
While everything could be solved by money, with influence, everything could be cheaper.
He didn't lack money due to his ability, but if he could get something cheaper, why did he hesitate, right?
"...isn't it expensive?"
"Well, it is."
"...." Yukinoshita.
"But, it can be used as a business, so you don't have to worry."
"Oh!" Yukinoshita was surprised and asked, "So, it won't be special for me, then?"
"...you can manage it if you want."
"But, what kind of a place is this?"
Anyway, her family had been working in the construction company, and because of that, she had an interest in the property-related industry, but she knew well that it was all due to him, and if he wasn't around, it was impossible for her to look forward to her future.
With him, she saw a future that she had never imagined, and because of that, even if he was like this, she would be with him forever.
Or rather, she didn't have to give the others a chance, since if she let her guard down, the others would take him away.
Still, as they walked for a while, they finally arrived at their destination.
"...a cat museum?"
"A cat museum."
"...really?"
"Really."
Yes, the place that he had built for Yukinoshita was a cat museum, a place dedicated to worshiping a cat, and the must-visit destination for cat lovers.
If it were others, they wouldn't dare to make something so meaningless, but as it was, he, who had the "Design Talent," this place could increase the value of the land and property.
Capital gains.
This was how those who worked in real estate made their money.
Buying land at the cheapest price, then building something there, and selling it for tens of times the original value.
Profitable.
It was, and because of that, many people were crazy about it.
Nevertheless, let's stop thinking about a business as he could see Yukinoshita's excitement when she saw the place.
"Should we enter?"
"...can we?"
"You are the first guest."
Yukinoshita's smile became so vibrant and sweet as she heard those words. "Then, will you guide me?"
"It's my pleasure."
Without letting go of each other's hands, the two entered the museum as they toured around the cat museum that he designed. Besides, the traditional Japanese myths related to cats, as well as other myths from various parts of the world, such as Egypt, the Middle East, and even the Nordic regions.
At the same time, there were also various parodies, such as Nyaws, a cat that opened its mouth like a shark; the legendary robot from the future with a cat, Termicats; or even the pirates of cats, Cats of Carabiiens, and many others.
"Those cats are so funny."
"They are." Still, even if he was the one who made this place, there was one question that he had always wanted to know. "But, I wonder why people are obsessed with cats."
"...you don't even know if you made this place?"
"I don't know."
"It's because they are cats."
"...." Tobe.
What kind of an answer was that?
Was it like a climber's answer when they were asked why they climbed a mountain, and they answered, "Because the mountain was there"?
Or was it a pervert, who was asked by those who loved boobs, because it was there, too?
Still, everyone, more or less, loved cats, and they just couldn't part with them, especially those who had loved them so much.
What about him?
"I love you more, though."
"That's true." Yukinoshita nodded. "I love you more."
"It seems I am your number one now."
"You have been my number one." Yukinoshita looked at him softly and said, "From that time, till now, or even in the future, you have always been my number one, the one that I truly love and want to be with forever, but what about you? Do you love me so much that you have the same feelings as I do?"
The hand that grasped his slightly wavered, as her eyes became slightly cowardly, yet even so, she didn't look away as she waited for his answer.
Still, in his mind, he wondered whether the others also felt the same way as Yukinoshita.
His fickleness had hurt them, he knew that, and even if he was lucky to have them, and they were happy to be with him, sometimes, they were worried that he would discard them like nothing when he found someone better.
Those in another world, whether it was the world of Kaguya or even the world of Hyouka, or even the world that he would enter in the future, those with whom he had a relationship, would probably think the same way, especially with how light and easy he was, treating his relationships with many women, despite how deep their relationship was.
Their feelings and love toward him were real, but what about him?
Were his feelings not so intense, would he be okay for them to leave him or even abandon them when he discovered someone better?
Of course not.
The beginning of everything was all due to the system, but as they were together, they had become an irreplaceable existence for him, and because of that, he held Yukinoshita's hand tighter.
"It might sound arrogant, but even if I can be anything I want to, and get everything I wish for, without you by my side, it's just different, so..."
He looked at her softly and said, "Even if you want to leave, I won't let you."
"How overbearing."
Yet, even so, her expression, which was like a gloomy winter, melted away, becoming like a blooming flower in the spring.
"But, me too, if you leave me, I will lock you up in the basement of my house."
"...I won't."
As they walked again, side by side, spending their time till the end.
(END).
---
Yup, the "I am that male friend in the harem story" has finished!
It's so sudden, but I thought that this was the best ending.
More than this, it will be nothing but a repeated story, again and again. Frankly, I am tired of writing such stories, especially when I forgot all the rewards, too, and hardly even used them.
Or, rather, what's the use of those rewards when you don't even use them?
Still, the inspiration for this story is from a certain work that I have read in the past, and I thought that it would be good to write.
Well, it was interesting at first, but it has become repetitive as always.
As I have thought, a romance story isn't suitable for so long; it has to end at a certain point, or else, it will become nothing but a boring story.
So, after the end, what will happen?
Will I write a new story?
Naturally, but frankly, I haven't been sparked with ideas, so I just tried to write something that I am interested in, trying to regain my vigor to write.
Write, write, and write.
I will probably make something interesting, something that won't be interesting, but nevertheless, I won't stop.
I have updated a new story on Webnovel, and the title is " I am Sugar Papa in Tokyo!"
Thanks!