598 I might just cry (1/2)

Question: What to do if members of your harem start a yuri relationship with each other?

Answer: Eat pasta. [TL note: This is a wordplay joke that's untranslatable and doesn't work so well in English.]

Seiji already had a certain amount of mental preparation for this topic since he knew beforehand that she was bisexual. However, it happening for real still made him feel rather strange.

”Mika, what exactly happened?” He wanted to hear the truth from the more serious girl.

”Chiaki and I had some passionate kissing,” Mika replied calmly.

”You… are you alright with that?”

”It felt surprisingly nice.”

Was this like ordering a strange flavor of ramen noodles but finding out to one's surprise that it tasted pretty good? Seiji couldn't help but wonder in his mind.

”It's fine as long as you can accept it. As for Chiaki… just know how to restrain yourself.”

”See, Mika? I told you that Seiji wouldn't mind.” Chiaki smiled.

”It's not that I don't mind at all, but if that's what both of you want, I can only accept.” Seiji sighed.

Mika looked directly at him.

”If we were being serious just now and really did want to break up with you, what would you do, Seiji?” She repeated Chiaki's earlier question.

Seiji fell silent for a moment.

”If you were really being serious, I'd feel quite complex about it… I might just cry.”

”Cry?”

”Yeah. If both of you broke up with me at the same time, I think I might just cry.” Seiji smiled faintly.

He had wanted to smile relaxedly, but showed off a wan smile instead.

Mika received an impact from seeing his expression. Chiaki's expression froze as well.

”Seiji!!” Chiaki suddenly spoke up very loudly.

Seiji was startled by this. ”What is it?”

”Don't say any more…” Chiaki went up to and hugged him from the front. ”I'm sorry.”

”Eh?” Seiji was rather confused by this.

Why was she suddenly apologizing?

Just as he was confused, Mika approached him as well and hugged him from behind. ”I'm sorry…”

”You… what exactly is going on with both of you?” It was a wonderful thing to be simultaneously hugged by two beautiful girls, but Seiji wasn't in the mood to enjoy it right now. He was still in utter confusion.

”I won't casually talk about breaking up anymore,” Chiaki told him softly. ”Please forgive me, Seiji.”

”The same for me… I won't mention it again. Please forgive me,” Mika told him as well.

”I wasn't blaming either of you.” Seiji blinked in surprise. ”With my own actions, I couldn't possibly blame either of you if you wanted to break up with me. Wanting to break up or not is your freedom. After all, a harem is unfair to you to begin with. I'll accept it if either of you wanted to leave me at any time.”

As he said this, something got stuck in his throat.

His chest started feeling heavy, as sad emotions rose up within him.

His sight became unclear as warm tears slowly started dripping out of his eyes.

What was going on with him?

”Seiji… I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!” Seeing him cry, Chiaki apologized once again. ”I shouldn't have joked around like that. I'll truly self-reflect on my actions, I swear…”

Seeing the tomboy have such a regretful expression, Seiji really wanted to say that it wasn't necessary, that she wasn't in the wrong at all. But, a mysterious sense of deep sorrow filled his heart.

Being in pain like this and crying made him feel like he was a little kid! He did his best to restrain his own emotions and to show off his typical smile.

”Don't need to be like that, Chiaki… I'm the one in the wrong here…”

He wanted to smile brightly, but he couldn't control his own emotions. In the end, he only revealed a sad smile. Nor was he able to stop his tears.