Chapter 3 This Dilemma That Came Upon Me

“…?”

The sound of curtains being drawn jolted me awake, the morning light stinging my eyes.

“What’s…?” I mumbled, sitting up.

A woman stood by the window, her silhouette framed against the sunlight.

“Mom…?” I asked instinctively.

She turned, her hair swaying softly, and a warm smile spread across Sakuna-san’s face as she approached me, practically glowing with delight.

“Good morning! That’s right, I’m your mom♪” she said cheerfully.

“…Good morning,” I replied, still groggy.

“Hehe… fufufu~♪” Sakuna-san giggled, clearly thrilled at being called “mom.” I couldn’t help but look away, a bit embarrassed by her enthusiasm.

“There’s something special about this,” she said, her voice soft but excited. “Not only do I get to see you first thing in the morning, all sleepy and cute, but it really feels like I’ve gained a son.”

“…I think it’s nice too,” I admitted. “Waking up on my own is normal, sure, but having someone wake me up like this? It’s kind of great.”

“I’m so glad you think so!” she said, her smile widening.

Then, her expression shifted as if she’d just remembered something, and she leaned closer. “Hayato-kun, how about a morning hug?”

“Uh, sure,” I said, nodding.

Truth be told, my head was still a bit foggy from sleep, but her words snapped me awake, chasing away the last traces of drowsiness.

(I just agreed without thinking…)

Sakuna-san sat beside me and pulled me into a warm embrace. Her… generous chest, even more impressive than Arisa-san and Aina-san’s, enveloped me with a perfect mix of firmness and softness.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” she asked.

“…Uh,” I stammered.

“My chest—does it feel good?” she pressed, her tone teasing yet gentle.

Ugh… Of course it felt good! When Arisa-san or Aina-san said stuff like this, I could handle it, but coming from Sakuna-san? It always made me wonder if this was okay.

“It… feels good,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Wonderful! You can stay like this as long as you want♪” she said, her voice practically singing.

“F-Fine,” I mumbled.

God, it was so comforting. But as she said “as long as you want,” I had school to get to, so this moment couldn’t last forever.

“My daughters feel the same, but I’m quite excited myself,” Sakuna-san said. “This may be temporary, but right now, you’re part of our family, Hayato-kun.”

“…Thank you, really,” I said sincerely.

“Don’t mention it. If anything, I’d love for you to stay like this forever!” she teased.

“Haha…” I gave a wry smile, though I couldn’t deny the idea was appealing.

(Never thought things would turn out like this…)

I rubbed my slightly aching thigh, my mind drifting back to a few days ago.

That day—the sports festival. I’d been playing soccer when a sharp pain shot through my thigh, forcing me to collapse on the spot. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t walk or bend my leg, but it was a kind of pain I’d never felt before. Tears even welled up, which was embarrassing.

(A pulled muscle… huh.)

I’d thought I could tough it out, but I was taken to the hospital that same day. Diagnosis: a pulled thigh muscle. I’d always assumed injuries like that were for athletes, not someone like me. To think I’d get one… Thankfully, it was mild. Severe cases could leave you unable to walk, but I’d gotten off easy.

Oh, and about the sports festival results? My team swapped in a replacement for me but lost the next match. Aina-san’s team, after their epic clash with Arisa-san, also lost their next game. Kai, though, made it to the finals but fell just short of victory.

“Come to our house until you’re fully healed, Hayato-kun!” Arisa-san had insisted.

“Yeah! If you push yourself and make it worse, that’d be awful!” Aina-san added.

“Indeed… As your stand-in mother, I’ll make sure you don’t overdo it,” Sakuna-san had said, her quiet mutter from behind the girls downright intimidating.

I couldn’t argue with their overwhelming pressure and agreed to stay at their place for a while.

“How’s your thigh feeling?” Sakuna-san asked, snapping me back to the present.

“A little sore, but that’s it,” I replied.

I’d been using medicated patches daily, and it was definitely improving. Still, I was banned from exercise and even told to avoid running. Sakuna-san’s been driving me to and from school, which has been a lifesaver.

(Though it’s got people talking…)

Not that I cared about the gossip right now.

“If it gets worse, you’ll tell me, right?” Sakuna-san asked, her tone firm.

“Of course. I don’t want to worry you any more than I already have,” I said.

“You don’t need to worry about that! You’re like a son to me right now,” she replied warmly.

After that, we headed to the living room together.

“Morning, Hayato-kun,” Arisa-san greeted.

“Heyy!” Aina-san chirped.

“Morning, you two,” I replied.

“…Mother? You took a while to wake him up,” Arisa-san said, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh? Whatever do you mean?” Sakuna-san replied innocently.

“We want to get close to Hayato-kun too, you know!” Aina-san pouted.

“Fufu~♪” Sakuna-san giggled, clearly enjoying herself.

Another lively morning, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Come now, Hayato-kun, let’s ignore these noisy girls and have breakfast,” Sakuna-san said with a playful edge.

“Haha…” I laughed awkwardly.

Sakuna-san’s words are sharp today…

Breakfast was served soon after, and I chatted happily with the three of them while enjoying a delicious meal.

“Hey, Hayato-kun, how’s your thigh?” Aina-san asked.

“Feeling a lot better. As long as I don’t push it, I should be fine,” I said.

“Good!” she exclaimed.

“That’s a relief,” Arisa-san added. “Staying home with you is fun, but it’s a shame to miss out on summer break outings because of your injury.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. It was my fault for getting hurt, and not being able to fully enjoy summer with them left a bit of regret.

“But… ehehe,” Aina-san giggled, setting down her chopsticks with a mischievous grin. “You got hurt, sure, but you’ve been staying with us these past few days, right? Even when you’re not right beside us, knowing you’re under the same roof makes me so happy.”

“Aina…” Arisa-san said softly.

“That’s why I love this situation,” Aina-san added.

Arisa-san and Sakuna-san nodded, clearly sharing her sentiment.

“I feel the same,” I said. “I’ve been to your place tons of times, and you’ve come to mine. We’ve even had sleepovers before. But staying here this long? It’s a whole new level of comfort.”

Not that it was all smooth sailing. Their overwhelming care—trying to help me with baths, changing, even using the bathroom—made me feel like a kid sometimes.

“I’ll feed you!”

“I’ll scrub your back♪”

“Need the bathroom? Let’s go together!”

I can eat on my own, bathe on my own, and definitely use the bathroom alone. Good thing their place has Western-style toilets; an old-school Japanese one would’ve been a nightmare. Still, fending off their relentless affection was my first real challenge staying here.

(…Though I couldn’t say no to sleeping together.)

I dodged most of their over-the-top care, but sleeping together? I caved. Their insistence was unshakable, and honestly, I wanted to feel their warmth too. So, we’ve been taking turns sleeping together each night. Last night was Sakuna-san’s turn.

“…Huh?” I blinked, noticing the room had gone quiet.

Looking up, I found three pairs of eyes locked on me—Arisa-san, Aina-san, and Sakuna-san, staring without so much as a blink.

“Uh, what…?” I stammered.

Did I just flip a switch?

My gut was right. After breakfast, I was enveloped in their warm, intense hugs.

Later, we got ready and headed out, with Sakuna-san driving us to school.

“Getting driven to school like this still feels so new,” Arisa-san said.

“Yeah… but we can’t get too used to this luxury!” Aina-san added.

“No kidding,” I agreed.

The ride was comfortable, and as Arisa-san said, it felt fresh. Sakuna-san’s careful driving got us to school, and as we stepped out, I felt the usual stares from nearby students. I didn’t care anymore. Really, I didn’t.

“I’ll pick you up after school, Hayato-kun,” Sakuna-san said.

“Thank you, really,” I replied.

“No trouble at all. Off you go, Arisa, Aina,” she said.

“See you later,” Arisa-san said.

“Yup! Good luck at work, Mom♪” Aina-san called.

We waved as Sakuna-san drove off, then headed into the school building.

(…No wonder we’re drawing attention.)

Getting injured mid-sports festival made me a bit infamous, but stepping out of a car with the “beautiful Shinjo sisters”? That turned heads, whether I liked it or not.

Arisa-san and Aina-san had explained to classmates that we were just close friends who lived nearby, but seniors, juniors, guys with obvious crushes, and gossip-loving girls still stared. A lot.

“Don’t let it bother you, man. You’re injured, so just accept their kindness,” Sota had said.

“Some people might talk, but everyone knows you’re hurt. No need to sweat it,” Kai added.

They were right. If I stayed confident, the stares would fade eventually.

“Hayato-kun,” Arisa-san said.

“Yeah?” I replied.

“Let’s walk slowly, okay?” she said gently.

“Don’t even think about running, or I’ll get mad,” Aina-san added, her tone half-teasing, half-serious.

“I know, I know,” I said, chuckling.

I wasn’t dumb enough to try running, even as a joke. They’d never gotten truly mad at me, but Aina-san’s tone—and Arisa-san’s nod—told me breaking this promise would not end well.

We parted ways with Aina-san on the way to class. I felt more stares but brushed them off.

“…Hehe,” Arisa-san giggled.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Sorry,” she said, still smiling. “But this is kind of nice, isn’t it? Showing everyone how close we are like this—it’ll make it normal for us to hang out at school.”

“…You’re right,” I agreed. “Aina-san might even be aiming for that.”

The moment I said it, I pictured Aina-san flashing a smug peace sign.

“I just imagined Aina-san making a cocky peace sign,” I said.

“She would,” Arisa-san said, stifling a laugh.

Her rare, almost explosive laughter was refined, her hand covering her mouth, making her look like a proper lady. Her elegant beauty, reminiscent of a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko, contrasted with her playful, flirty side—a gap that was just as charming as Aina-san’s.

“Yo, morning, Hayato!” Sota called.

“Early as always,” Kai added.

“Morning, you two,” I said.

“Good morning,” Arisa-san greeted.

“How’s the leg?” Kai asked.

“Getting there,” I replied.

Kai poked my thigh lightly. “Healing up nicely, huh? I told my mom, and she was all excited, thinking you’d be a crutch buddy. She was kinda bummed when I said it wasn’t that bad.”

“No way I’m joining the crutch club,” I said, laughing.

“For real, though, she was worried,” Kai said.

“My mom too,” Sota added. “Said to help you out if you need anything. Even offered to let you stay at our place till you’re healed.”

Seems Sota and Kai’s moms were worried about me too. The Shinjo family was taking care of me, but without that, I might’ve ended up at Sota’s place. I was one lucky guy to have so many people looking out for me.

“It’s way better now, but back then? I felt like the world was ending, that pain in my thigh,” I said.

“Even a mild pull hurts like hell,” Kai said.

“You’re lucky you don’t need crutches,” Sota added.

“Exactly,” Arisa-san said, dead serious. “If it was worse, I’d have helped with your baths, bathroom visits, everything.”

Her bluntness made Sota and Kai blush and let out an “Ooh!” in unison.

“Arisa-san…?” I said, stunned.

“S-Sorry, I got carried away,” she said, flustered.

“…You’re not denying it,” I pointed out.

“Yo, Hayato, you gotta fill us in someday—for science,” Sota said, grinning.

“Fill you in on what…?” I muttered.

What was I supposed to tell them? My situation was so unique it wouldn’t help anyone. Arisa-san and Aina-san’s love was intense, their care overwhelming. Not many people would go that far for someone… Wait, was I just bragging now?

“Morning assembly’s starting,” Kai said.

“Catch ya later,” Sota added.

“Later,” I said, waving as the noisy duo left.

“They’re good guys, worrying about you like that,” Arisa-san said.

“Yeah… Not just them, though. Your and Aina-san’s friends too—they were so worried when I collapsed,” I said.

“This school’s full of good people,” Arisa-san said.

Not everyone, sure, but I’d have to thank her friends later.

And so, another day with a pulled muscle began. The biggest change was sitting out gym class, but otherwise, life was mostly normal. Well, almost.

“Domo-kun, how’s your leg?” Irie-kun asked from the seat next to mine.

“All good,” I replied.

“Still hurting?” one of Arisa-san’s friends asked.

“It’s a pulled muscle, but it’s not too bad. That’s a relief,” another added.

Even classmates I didn’t talk to much checked in on me. Their kindness warmed my heart, though Sota and Kai teased me about getting emotional. It was a string of days filled with people’s care.

“I’m fine, really! Thanks for worrying, everyone,” I said.

The best way to repay their kindness was to show I was okay with a smile. I wasn’t usually this emotional, but their support nearly brought me to tears.

“Everyone’s so kind,” Arisa-san said.

“Yeah… I’m so grateful. For them, for you, for Aina-san. I don’t know how I got this lucky,” I said.

“Really…?” she asked softly.

“Absolutely. You guys are saving me, body and soul,” I said.

Their care, their warmth—it was more than I could ever thank them for.

“Hearing you say that makes me so happy,” Arisa-san said. “Aina’s not here, so I get a bit of a superiority complex!”

“Haha, I’ll make sure to tell her too,” I said.

“Of course,” she replied, smiling.

We laughed together as the final class of the day began.

“That’s it for today. Good work, everyone,” the teacher said.

Classes and homeroom ended, and we left the classroom. At the shoe lockers, we met up with Aina-san.

She waved to her friends—the ones who’d backed her up during the volleyball match—then locked onto my arm, ready to hug me. But she stopped, remembering we were at school.

“Whoops, almost jumped you there,” she said, grinning.

“Save it for home,” Arisa-san teased.

“I know, I know. But it’s not fair—you get to be in the same class as him all day!” Aina-san pouted.

“That’s different,” Arisa-san said coolly.

Their banter was like background music as I changed shoes. Out of habit, I lifted my foot to adjust the heel, but a twinge of pain made me lower it quickly.

“Wait, Hayato-kun,” Aina-san said, rushing over. She knelt and fixed my shoe for me.

“Thanks, Aina-san,” I said.

“No, I should’ve noticed sooner,” she replied.

“Come on, I’m the one who should be thanking you. You don’t need to apologize,” I said.

It was my carelessness, and the pain was minor anyway. Still, since the injury, I’d noticed them watching my every move even more closely.

“Let’s go,” I said.

“Okay,” Arisa-san replied.

“Yup,” Aina-san added.

We headed to the parking lot, where Sakuna-san’s car was waiting. She looked up from a catalog magazine and waved. We waved back and climbed in.

“Welcome back,” she said.

“I’m home,” Arisa-san said.

I took the passenger seat while Arisa-san and Aina-san sat in the back. I’d thought one of them should sit up front, but they insisted I take it since one of them would miss out on sitting next to me otherwise.

“Fufu, then it’s settled—Hayato-kun gets the passenger seat, right next to me♪,” Sakuna-san had conveyed, though I suspected she’d steered things that way on purpose. Still, I liked sitting beside her like this.

“How’s your leg?” she asked.

“It’s fine. No real pain—” I started.

“He lifted his foot to fix his shoe earlier and winced,” Aina-san cut in.

“Aina-san!?” I whipped around.

She grinned triumphantly, and Arisa-san looked at me with amusement.

“What’s the big—” I began.

“Hayato-kun?” Sakuna-san’s voice came from beside me, low and chilling, like it echoed from the depths of hell.

Even Arisa-san and Aina-san, who’d been smirking, froze.

(You guys were just laughing, weren’t you!?)

(Mom’s voice was scarier than I expected!)

(There’s a demon in her!!)

Okay, that was just my imagination running wild.

I glanced at Sakuna-san. She was focused on driving, but her profile radiated an eerie intensity.

“I told you to be careful to avoid any pain, didn’t I?” she said.

“…Yes,” I replied meekly.

I had no intention of arguing. Sakuna-san’s current vibe was terrifying, though it felt oddly nostalgic—like being scolded as a kid.

“It’s mild, but I’ll be careful,” I promised.

“Please do,” she said, her tone softening back to its usual warmth.

We soon arrived at the Shinjo house. Sakuna-san had taken a break from work to pick us up and headed back out right after.

“…I feel bad every day,” I said.

“Don’t worry about it. Mom’s having fun,” Arisa-san said.

“Yeah, she’s loving it,” Aina-san added.

Looking at Sakuna-san driving, I could believe it. I’d have to thank her later, maybe offer to rub her shoulders tonight.

“Come on, Hayato-kun, let’s go inside!” Aina-san urged.

“You need to relax after a long day,” Arisa-san added.

“Huh?” I blinked.

They grabbed my arms and led me to Arisa-san’s room, sitting me on the bed with one on each side. This isn’t much different from chilling in the living room…

“So, now we’re gonna—” Arisa-san started.

“Pamper you lots♪” Aina-san finished.

“W-Wait, what!?” I stammered.

They began unbuttoning their uniforms, revealing their ample cleavage. With sultry smiles, they pressed against me, letting me feel every curve.

“Feels good just like this, right?” Arisa-san purred.

“You’re injured, so this is perfect,” Aina-san added.

Perfect for what? Still, it was undeniably sensual yet soothing.

“But… this is getting me worked up,” Arisa-san admitted.

“Yeah… it’s turning me on. Your scent, your touch—it’s driving us wild,” Aina-san said.

Their suggestive words kept things just shy of crossing the line, but that balance didn’t last. Their hands, resting on my thighs, began to move—slowly, deliberately, toward dangerous territory. It tickled, but I was frozen in the sweet, heavy atmosphere.

(This vibe… it’s dangerous.)

Their hands stopped just short of the line, but the sight of their cleavage, their breath in my ear, their touch—it was too much. My body reacted, obviously.

“…Hayato-kun,” Arisa-san murmured, her gaze steady.

“…Oh♡,” Aina-san said, noticing.

I forced myself to snap out of it, mumbling about needing the bathroom and fleeing. Their disappointed looks burned into my mind as I escaped.

“I want to… with them,” I muttered.

I’d set boundaries, but being around such gorgeous, flirty girls made those resolve crumble.

“Something spicy… I want it too. I want to feel them deeper,” I admitted.

In that moment, I felt a shift in myself—a clear change.

▼▽

“Hayato-kun’s taking forever…” I grumbled, waiting on the bed.

Dinner was done, and all that was left was to sleep, but Hayato-kun was off talking to Mom. Ugh! It’s my night to sleep with him!

“…Maybe we went too far this afternoon,” I sighed, hugging a pillow.

I thought back to earlier, when Nee-san and I got close to Hayato-kun under the guise of “healing” him. Things got steamy, and he definitely reacted, which made the air all spicy.

“Haa… Arghhh!” I buried my face in the pillow, muffling a scream.

“I’m the worst… He’s injured, and I still…”

I knew he was hurt, but I almost got carried away by the mood. He’s said he’s not ready for anything serious yet, but I got my hopes up.

“I’m awful… just awful…”

Prioritizing my feelings, forgetting his injury even for a second—I’m such an idiot! A moron! A total dunce!

“But… I just love him so much.”

I know it’s an excuse, but it’s true. With Hayato-kun, I’m always ready. I’d be careful, make sure there’s no regrets.

“He… got excited too,” I murmured.

Seeing that proof of his attraction made me so happy. I know he feels the same for Nee-san, and we weren’t not aiming for that reaction.

“Even knowing we can’t go further… when he stopped us, I was a little disappointed.”

Not upset or anything—I know he loves us, and even if we fought, I’d never hate him. But I couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit let down.

“Still… hehe,” I giggled.

Having Hayato-kun here makes me so happy. His leg’s improving, but we can’t let our guard down until he’s fully healed. He gets frustrated when we help too much, and it’s so cute!

“Damn it… I’m just being taken care of!” he’d said, clenching his fists in frustration. So adorable!

It’s tough for him, but for me, having him in our house is pure bliss. Though… when he sleeps in Nee-san or Mom’s room, I get a little naughty♡

“Ugh, thinking about it’s making me hot,” I muttered.

I stopped my hand from wandering too far, but I couldn’t resist touching my chest through my pajamas, letting out a sweet sigh. I’m alone, so why hold back—wait, no, Aina, stop!

“Ugh… Hayato-kun, I’m coming for you!”

What if he’s doing something with Mom!? I bolted out of my room and headed for hers.

“…Nee-san?” I blinked.

“Aina?” she replied.

What… was she doing?

There she was, outside Mom’s room, striking a goofy ninja pose, ear pressed to the door.

“Shh,” she hushed me.

I crept closer. “What’s up?”

“Hayato-kun and Mom are talking inside,” she whispered.

Well, duh. But what about? Knowing it was wrong, we both eavesdropped.

“Fufu, your shoulder rubs are amazing, Hayato-kun,” Mom’s voice came.

“No big deal, the least I can do,” he replied.

He was rubbing her shoulders—jealous! My big chest makes my shoulders stiff too. I’m getting a rub before bed!

“I want one too…” Nee-san muttered.

“Haha, you too, huh?” I whispered.

Neither Hayato-kun nor Mom knew we were listening, and their talk continued.

“Being here with them, you must love my daughters even more now, right?” Mom asked.

“Absolutely. Might sound dramatic, but I can’t imagine life without them. ‘Dependence’ isn’t the right word, but like Aina-san said, I’m stuck in their swamp,” Hayato-kun said.

Nee-san and I grabbed each other in a tight hug.

“Nee-san, did you hear that!?” I whispered.

“Yes…! He’s our master forever!” she replied.

Oops, her bad side’s showing.

“Please keep looking after my girls,” Mom said.

“Of course! I want to do everything I can for them… Um, is it okay if I come to you for advice sometimes, Sakuna-san?” he asked.

“Absolutely, rely on me anytime,” she replied.

Hearing Hayato-kun coming, we scrambled back to our rooms.

“Kufu… kufufu~!” I giggled, diving under my covers, unable to contain my excitement.

Hayato-kun said that! “Everything I can”… does that mean spicier stuff too!?

“I’m back… What’s with you?” Hayato-kun asked, stepping in.

“Nothing~♪” I chirped, in the best mood ever.