Chapter 1: No Need to Hold Back
As I spent my days here at the Anzai household, I had never once felt lonely.
Since becoming a working adult, being alone was simply the norm for me. I was certain that I'd never feel lonely just because there was no one around... or so I thought.
"...I feel so incredibly lonely, and even a bit helpless."
I honestly never expected those words to leave my own mouth.
Today wasn't just a day where Mina went off to work; Reina-san was also going to be away from the house until the evening.
They had told me not to hold back and to just spend the day doing whatever I pleased, but as I just said, being all alone until the evening felt lonely and helpless... Still, I tilted my head, finding it strange.
"This isn't the first time Mina and Reina-san have been gone for the day... Why am I feeling so incredibly lonely?" I wondered aloud.
Why was it, really? ...Surprisingly enough, the answer came to me right away.
It was probably because, through spending time with Mina and the others, my feelings for them had grown that much stronger.
They had accepted me for who I was, and on top of that, they even confessed their feelings to me... I still had a lot to think about and hadn't completely processed it all, but my desire to not leave their side had definitely grown, and that must be what was tying into my current loneliness.
"...Guess I'll head outside for a bit."
For the time being, I figured I'd move my body to distract myself from the loneliness.
I quickly got myself ready and left the house, and it wasn't long before I spotted the person I was looking for.
"Good morning, Shiraishi-san," I called out.
"Oh my, if it isn't Takuya-kun. Good morning to you," she replied.
It was our neighbor, Shiraishi-san, who was hard at work tending to her field.
Every time we met, she always told me that working in the fields was her reason for living, so I could reliably find her whenever I went outside like this.
"What brings you out on such a hot day?" she asked.
"I should be asking you that. You're sweating buckets, Shiraishi-san. You aren't pushing yourself too hard, are you?"
"Of course not. It's definitely hot, but nothing beats working in the fields for me, you see... Well, I don't plan on overdoing it, so you can rest easy."
Despite what she said, Shiraishi-san was sweating an incredible amount.
Given the heat, it was completely natural to sweat, but considering she was an elderly woman, I couldn't help but worry about her health.
Perhaps sensing my concern, Shiraishi-san pulled a plastic bottle out from a bag she had placed nearby.
"I'm making sure to stay hydrated too, so I'm perfectly fine," she assured me.
"Well... as long as you're okay."
"You really are a kind boy, Takuya-kun."
I thought this was just common courtesy... but being able to afford this kind of consideration for others must have been a big step for me.
"So, what's the matter? Did you get lonely because Mina-chan and Reina-chan aren't around?"
"Ugh..." I groaned.
"Ahahaha! I hit the nail on the head, didn't I!"
D-did she really have to laugh that hard about it...?
Her boisterous laughter made me turn my face away in embarrassment, which only seemed to make things more amusing for Shiraishi-san.
"Do you really have to laugh that much?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you're just so adorable, you see."
"............"
Reina-san had said something similar, but was I really that adorable...?
Leaving aside whether I was actually adorable or not, since she had already found out I was feeling lonely, I figured I might as well just own up to it.
"You're right, I got lonely, which is why I came outside. Plus, coming out here meant I could see you, Shiraishi-san," I said.
"Oh my goodness... Are you trying to hit on me?"
"I wonder about that. Come on, I'll help you with the fieldwork."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Well then, I suppose I'll take you up on your offer."
And so, I decided to help her out with the fieldwork.
That being said, since I didn't actually know all that much about farming, my main tasks involved carrying heavy bags of fertilizer and pulling weeds around the area.
"Make sure you stay hydrated too, Takuya-kun!" she reminded me.
"Sure will do!"
For a while after that, I completely lost myself in the work, forgetting about the passage of time entirely.
"...Phew, it's so hot," I sighed.
About twenty minutes into the work, my body was completely drenched in sweat.
No matter how much I wiped myself off with a towel, the sweat just kept pouring out. It was so bad that my shirt was clinging to my back in a way that felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
"Shiraishi-san... is amazing."
Even though she was just as drenched in sweat as I was, her movements showed absolutely no signs of fatigue, which I genuinely found impressive.
Not wanting to lose to Shiraishi-san, I fired myself up and threw myself back into the work with even more vigor.
"My, having you around is a real lifesaver, Takuya-kun," she said.
"Am I really being that much of a help?"
"Of course you are. If I had been doing this on my own, I wouldn't have gotten nearly this far."
"...Ahaha, I'm glad I could be of use, then."
Seeing Shiraishi-san smile like that made me realize once again just how wonderful it felt to be helpful to someone.
"Besides... It's also fun because it feels like I have my grandson right here beside me," she added.
"Oh... is it okay if I ask about your grandson?"
"I don't mind at all. My grandson moved away to Osaka, you see... I'm lucky if I get to see his face twice a year."
"That must be lonely..." I murmured.
Twice a year, huh... Though in a way, I suppose that was pretty normal.
For me, though, if my grandmother were still alive, I probably would have visited her quite a bit... But then again, I suppose that sort of thing varies from person to person.
"It's not that I don't care about my grandson, but as long as I get to spend time with you like this, Takuya-kun, I don't feel lonely at all."
"............"
Shiraishi-san said that as she wiped the sweat from her brow.
The reason my chest grew warm at her radiant smile definitely wasn't because she told me I was a replacement for her grandson... It was because she had given me words of absolute trust, aimed squarely at me as an individual.
"Well then, at least for now, I'll do my very best right here beside you for your sake, Grandma Shiraishi," I declared.
"...Fufu, thank you kindly," she chuckled.
For a while after that, I immersed myself in the work alongside Shiraishi-san.
Throughout it all, our conversation never stopped for even a moment. I learned more about Shiraishi-san than ever before, and in return, I was able to hear a lot of detailed stories about this village from her.
"Phew... My back is killing me," I groaned.
But well, I couldn't exactly ignore the fatigue accumulating in my body.
I wasn't quite at my limit yet, but staying hunched over in practically the same posture for so long had put a significant strain on my lower back.
Right as I was thinking about taking a short break...
"Yoohoo~ Takkun♪"
"...Huh?"
It happened suddenly.
The moment a familiar voice vibrated against my eardrums, someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder, prompting me to turn around.
"...Yua?"
"Yep♪ It's been a bit, hasn't it?"
Standing right behind me was Yua.
She was sporting her usual revealing gyaru fashion, but on a hot day like today, it actually made her look refreshingly cool.
"............"
Just as she said, the last time I had seen Yua was the day I told everyone I was going to stay here.
We had talked on the phone for a few dozen minutes at night, but it had actually been a few days since we had spoken face-to-face like this.
"...Fufu♪"
"Ghk..."
She gave me a sweet smile, and my already heated body temperature seemed to spike even further.
Yua was another girl who had confessed her feelings to me, and she was the one who had helped me cut ties with my shitty bosses once and for all.
Fitting her gyaru-like appearance, she was an incredibly cheerful and strong-willed girl.
However, and maybe it was prejudiced to say this went against her appearance, but she was also a deeply considerate and incredibly kind woman.
If I had met her back in my school days, she probably would have monopolized the title of 'the gyaru who's kind to otaku.'
"If it isn't Yua-chan. What brings you out here?" Shiraishi-san asked.
"Hello, Shiraishi-san. I have the day off from work today, and I wanted to see Takkun, so I decided to take a walk over here," Yua explained.
"Oho, is that right?"
"I'm happy I got to see you too, Shiraishi-san, but just being able to see my handsome Takkun working hard and sweating it out is enough to satisfy me♪"
Handsome, huh... Well, I didn't exactly feel bad being called that.
Rather, it made me happy, but it also embarrassed the hell out of me, causing me to subtly avert my gaze.
"Hahaha! I see, I see! It's the same for Mina-chan and Reina-chan, but you've certainly got a good eye for men, Yua-chan. I've been stealing glances at Takuya-kun myself, and he really has been looking quite handsome," Shiraishi-san teased.
"Right?! Takkun is super handsome, and he's such a good person too!"
"............"
This was no good... Just listening to them was going to make me die of embarrassment!?
Unable to bear it any longer, I went right back to pulling weeds, but because Yua and Shiraishi-san were speaking so loudly, it was difficult to pretend I couldn't hear them.
I haven't heard a thing... I haven't heard a thing, I chanted to myself as I lost myself in pulling weeds, only for Yua to crouch down right beside me.
"I'll help out too," she offered.
"Huh?" I blinked.
"Oh my, are you sure?" Shiraishi-san asked.
"Please, let me help... Though, my main reason is just that I want to do the same thing as Takkun♪"
"Hahaha! You're quite the popular one, aren't you, Takuya-kun?"
"............"
Yua was beaming, and Shiraishi-san looked like she was having the time of her life.
Honestly, part of me wanted them to stop teasing me already, but I also really didn't want to throw a wet blanket over their warm, lively atmosphere.
...No, that wasn't it.
It was just that, no matter what they said to me, their words filled me with a sense of joy... The simple fact that I, as an individual, had become a natural part of the everyday conversations of these kind people I'd met in this village made me incredibly happy.
"Takkun... Fufu♪" Yua giggled.
"...What is it?" I asked.
"Nothing~ Well then, let's do our best with the fieldwork!"
"Right... wait, are you going to do it in that outfit?" I pointed out.
"Yep! It'd be a pain to go all the way back just to change now," she replied.
"I guess..."
And so, Yua joined in, and we immersed ourselves in the work for another thirty minutes or so.
Now, I've said this plenty of times already, but it was incredibly hot today... No matter how careful we were to stay hydrated, by the time we finished working, we were in a terrible state.
The fact that our clothes were a little dirty with mud was the least of our concerns compared to the sheer amount of sweat soaking us through.
"Whoa... Hey, look, Takkun," Yua called out.
"...That's amazing," I muttered.
"Right~?"
Just like me, Yua was completely drenched in sweat.
The fabric of her shirt was clinging to her skin so tightly that the color of her underwear was perfectly visible, yet she didn't seem the slightest bit embarrassed by it. If anything, she stepped closer to me, practically demanding that I look.
Her breasts were larger than Mina's, though not quite a match for Reina-san's... I knew it was rude to stare, but thanks to all my erotic exchanges with Mina and the others lately, I couldn't help but let my eyes wander to Yua's chest.
"You're staring awfully hard, you know... You pervert," she teased.
"Ghk... Sorry," I mumbled.
"You don't have to apologize. I'm actually happy if it's you looking at me, Takkun."
With that, Yua thrust her chest out even further to make her point.
My gaze was drawn even more strongly to the alluring fruits bouncing right in front of me, but Yua and I weren't the only ones here.
"Oh my... I sort of had a feeling, but you two have certainly gotten quite close as well, haven't you?" Shiraishi-san noted.
"A-Ahaha..."
"We sure have! I mean, I love Takkun, after all!" Yua declared proudly.
"Oho, oho!"
Shiraishi-san nodded with a smile at Yua's words, before turning to look at me and dropping this bombshell.
"Why don't you just go ahead and take Mina-chan, Reina-chan, and Yua-chan all as your wives?"
"You're... joking, right?" I asked.
"I think it'd be a perfectly fine arrangement. Hahaha!"
"............"
I wanted to write it off as a joke, but she sounded entirely serious...
However, now that I knew the feelings of not just Yua standing in front of me, but Mina and Reina-san as well, I honestly hadn't come to a conclusion on what sort of choice I should make.
But... there was one thing I could say for certain: I wanted to stay here.
I wanted to stay by the sides of the women who had not only accepted me, but had asked me to stay with them... I was sure of that feeling, and even the bewilderment I had initially felt had been fading away recently thanks to our intimate acts together.
"Well then, thank you both for today. You were a real lifesaver," Shiraishi-san said.
She packed up her things and headed home.
I figured she must be tired and offered to carry her bags for her, but she firmly declined, insisting that I didn't need to go that far.
"We worked up a good sweat, huh?" Yua commented.
"Yeah... It feels like we just did a decent workout," I agreed.
It had been a long time since I sweat this much... It definitely came with the same sense of satisfaction you get after a workout, but more than anything, I just wanted to hurry up and take a shower so I could freshen up.
"Is Reina-san at home?" Yua asked.
"No, she said she wouldn't be back until the evening," I replied.
"Hmm...?"
"What are you gonna do now, Yua?" I asked.
"I wanna change clothes, so I was planning on heading home, but... Oh, I know! Takkun," she began.
"Yeah?"
As if an idea had just struck her, Yua clapped her hands together.
"Wanna come over to my place? Mina and Reina-san aren't home anyway, so you should just eat lunch at my house," she suggested.
"Umm..."
"You can take a shower at my place while you're at it! Actually, let's take one together!"
"What!?" I exclaimed.
"Do you have any plans after this?" she asked.
"No... I don't, but—"
"Then it's settled. Let's get going!"
Without waiting for my answer, Yua just started dragging me along.
The reason I hadn't asked her to wait a second along the way was probably because, deep down, I was happy she invited me.
It wasn't long before we arrived at Yua's house, the Yame residence.
According to Yua, Yame-san... her grandmother, was out running errands until the early afternoon, so we could do whatever we wanted, she told me with a meaningful smile.
"Alright, here's the bathroom," she announced.
"...Are we really doing this together?" I asked.
"Are you still doubting me after we've come all this way? Of course we are... I mean, I want to get to know you bare, skin-to-skin, Takkun♪"
Yua grabbed her clothes and began stripping them off all at once.
In no time at all, she was down to just her underwear, and she easily cast aside even that final line of defense.
Completely naked in front of me, Yua didn't make a single effort to hide her most important parts, though her cheeks were flushed red, suggesting she did feel at least a little embarrassed.
"Hey... Take your clothes off too, Takkun," she urged.
"Ghk..."
A fully naked woman, looking up at me and demanding that I strip... What kind of situation was this?
"Are you seriously not going to strip when I'm the only one naked? That feels pretty unfair, don't you think?"
"S-Sorry..." I stammered.
Wait... Was this really something I needed to apologize for!?
As if giving in to Yua's intense, unwavering stare, I quickly stripped down until I was completely bare, just like her.
"...This is a little embarrassing, huh," Yua muttered.
"I mean, obviously!" I shot back.
Yua just laughed and scratched her cheek at my retort.
"............"
Still, my eyes wandered over the body of the embarrassed Yua before me.
Normally, doing something like this would guarantee a look of sheer disgust, and yet here she was, fully allowing it... Or rather, from the moment she invited me to shower with her, I could hardly complain about the situation.
"Well, we aren't gonna get anywhere just standing around like this. Let's hurry up and take a shower so we can get all clean!" she said.
"O-Okay!"
Just like when we first arrived at the Yame residence, she took me by the hand and led me into the bathing area.
It felt a bit older and more worn-in compared to the Anzai family's bathroom, but it was still incredibly clean, showing that it had been meticulously maintained down to the very corners.
I let her guide me over to a small stool and sat down, and then she poured warm water over me from the showerhead... wait, what!?
"It's freezing!?" I yelled.
"Ahahaha! You're so cute when you're surprised, Takkun♪"
Hearing Yua's joyous laughter echoing through the bathroom definitely didn't make my cheeks relax into a smile... but at the same time, I didn't feel like complaining either.
What had been poured over my back wasn't warm water; it was freezing cold.
Even if it was summer, cold water was still cold water, so I definitely had a few things I wanted to say about it. However, when I turned around, I was met with a pair of voluptuous mounds practically pressed against my face... I felt like I'd face divine punishment if I complained while getting a close-up view like that.
"Alright, I'll turn on the warm water for real this time~" she promised.
"...Please do," I sighed.
"Yep♪"
And with that, warm water finally began to run down my back.
The sensation of the sweat clinging to my skin being washed away by the hot water felt so incredibly good that a contented sigh slipped past my lips without me even realizing it.
"Feels good, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I'll wash your body while we're at it."
"Uh... are you sure?"
"Of course♪ Besides, it'd be way too much of a waste to hop into the bath with you just to take a shower, Takkun."
"...Then I'll leave it to you."
"Leave it to me."
Nodding, Yua grabbed some body wash and began to lather it up in her hands.
"...? You're not going to use a towel or anything?"
"Huh? Why would I need one?"
"??"
To wash my body...?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, a soft, squishy sensation pressed firmly against my back.
"Wha—!?"
"Fufu, I'm going to use my entire body to wash you♡"
I couldn't see what was happening behind me, but I instantly understood what she was doing.
In other words, Yua had lathered the soap not onto a towel, but onto her body—specifically, her breasts—and pressed herself tightly against me.
It was exactly the kind of play you'd often see in erotic manga.
"How is it...? Does it feel good?"
"...Yeah."
I nodded honestly.
The sensation of those full, bouncy curves pressing into my back felt incredible, naturally, but the slick, smooth glide of the body wash elevated it even further.
On top of that, Yua moved her body up and down against me, letting out a sensual sigh with each motion... To be completely frank, my body was getting insanely turned on.
"I've always wanted to try this at least once. Doing it for a guy I truly trust from the bottom of my heart... I wanted to see just how fulfilling it would feel."
"............"
"Honestly, it's better than I expected... Because right now, I'm just so incredibly happy. Getting to do something this heart-pounding with you, Takkun..."
Yua wrapped her arms around my stomach.
Holding me tightly, she continued moving her body against mine, forcefully sending waves of absolute bliss straight through my back.
"What about you, Takkun? Do you hate this sort of thing?"
"...There's no way I could hate it."
"I figured♡"
Anyone who'd say they hated it right now would be completely tone-deaf.
"I told you the other day, didn't I? That I'd use everything I have to satisfy you... That I'd never let you regret your decision to stay in this village."
"Yeah... you did."
"I don't need to tell you why I'm going this far, do I? I love you, Takkun... and my feelings for you are every bit as strong as Mina and Reina-san's."
I love you... Hearing those words made my heart thump wildly in my chest.
The exact same joy I felt when Mina confessed her feelings flooded my heart, washing over me along with the sheer bliss of being so deeply desired.
"Don't worry... all you need to do is drown in us. You said you plan on leaving eventually, but human resolve is fragile, you know. So you can keep telling yourself that all you want. I'm just going to shatter that resolve into tiny little pieces anyway♡"
"...Usually, having a fragile resolve is a bad thing, you know."
"True, but right here and now, it's a good thing, isn't it? After all, you're super happy about this situation, right?"
She said it with such absolute certainty, as if she were reading my very mind.
By the way, Yua had been constantly rubbing her body against mine throughout this entire conversation, meaning my arousal didn't get a single second to cool down.
"Still, this is... surprising. It feels incredibly good for me, too... Just doing this... Just feeling you makes me feel like I'm going to cum."
Whispering that into my ear, Yua gracefully slipped around to the front.
Crouching before me as I sat on the bath stool, her cheeks flushed bright red the moment she looked at my lower half, yet she resolutely refused to avert her gaze.
I was feeling completely embarrassed as well, naturally, but thanks to Yua getting me so worked up, hiding it with my hands was no longer an option.
"It aches, doesn't it? I'll make you feel all better."
As she gently stroked me, I couldn't help but say...
"I know I'm not really in a position to say this... but do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I do. I'm doing this because I want to do it with you... Because I want to make you feel good."
Then, Yua added something else.
"By the way, I know you've been doing this sort of thing with Mina and Reina-san, okay? Mina told me."
"Seriously...?"
"Seriously."
As she nodded, a bright fire seemed to ignite in her eyes.
Looking somewhat defiant, her gaze was fixed squarely on my crotch... and she wasn't just staring either, but constantly stroking me, meaning I was being subjected to non-stop stimulation.
"It was actually pretty frustrating for me, knowing those two were satisfying you and I couldn't, you know?"
"Wait, is that... why you dragged me into the bath today?"
"Bingo~♪ I wanted to get on the starting line too, you see... Well, calling this the starting line is a bit weird, but we're adults, so I figured this was fine too."
"It feels a bit too depraved for a start, though."
"True... But hey, what does it matter?"
Yua was so casual about it that it made me feel incredibly stupid.
Looking up at me with a beaming smile while pumping her hand back and forth, her eyes silently asked me what I wanted her to do next.
"Yua... can I ask you to?"
"Okay. I told you, just leave it to me♪"
Taking her eyes off my face, she focused her attention downwards.
Showing little to no hesitation, she flicked her tongue over the tip playfully before opening her mouth wide and taking me in.
Yua's mouth was burning hot.
Not hot enough to burn, of course, but having such a sensitive spot licked made it feel intensely hot regardless—but Mina and Reina-san had thoroughly beaten into my body just how addictive this sensation was.
"Ah~...♡ Rero... juzozozo!"
It was an obscene sound... but I'd come to love hearing that, too.
Whenever Mina did this, she'd happily narrow her eyes if I stroked her head... Wondering how Yua would react, I gently placed my hand on her hair.
"......♪♪"
"...You're so cute."
Yua showed the exact same reaction as Mina.
This seemed to have flipped her motivation switch even further, as she began to suck with enough force to drain me dry... and it wasn't long before I reached my limit.
"Ugh... it's bitter."
"Ahaha... Thought so."
It's weird to talk about stuff like this, but I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be bitter.
Which just meant Mina and Reina-san were strange for calling it delicious with a smile on their faces... No, calling them strange is probably rude.
"How was it...? Did it feel good?"
"Yeah... It was absolutely amazing."
When I told her that, Yua happily threw her arms around me.
To be honest, I was falling into that familiar feeling again—wondering if this time I'd just spent with a beautiful woman like Yua was actually real.
Following Mina and Reina-san, I had now formed a similar kind of relationship with Yua, in a way.
Ever since arriving in Minorisato, everything had passed in a dizzying blur, bringing nothing but unbelievably convenient developments and blissful moments... It was as if all the experiences I'd missed out on were suddenly being spoon-fed to me, like slices of pie brought right to my lips.
"...Hey, Yua."
"What is it? You look like you're wondering if it's really okay for you to just sit back and let things happen."
"...Are you an esper or something?"
How did she know exactly what I was worried about!?
"I knew it. True, doing naughty things like this isn't exactly normal, so I guess it makes sense you'd feel that way?"
"...Right?"
"We're doing everything we can to make sure you never escape, while you haven't completely made up your mind yet... So it's only natural for you to wonder if this is really the right thing to do."
"............"
"But there's no point worrying about it! We're going to keep throwing ourselves at you no matter what, anyway! So... just give up♡"
"Guh..."
The soft squish of her chest pressing against me, paired with such sweet temptation in a situation like this.
And to top it all off, that beautiful smile looking up at me... It dealt massive damage in more ways than one.
Afterward, we completely cleaned ourselves off in the shower and got out of the bath.
"I feel like a brand new person."
"Yeah, no kidding... Seriously, it feels great."
"Glad to hear it. By the way, did my mouth feel good too?"
"...Yeah."
"Fufu♪"
"Also, I never expected you to have clothes ready for me."
"Well, I figured there'd be times when you'd need a change of clothes, like right now. So I went ahead and bought some for you."
"I see."
It was certainly incredibly helpful to have a change of clothes for situations like today.
But the fact she had a shirt, pants, and even underwear ready for me... made me think she might have been a bit too eager.
For the record, Yua was dressed similarly to how she'd been outside, but since she didn't seem to plan on leaving the house again today, she was wearing nothing but a single, highly revealing t-shirt, much like Reina-san.
"Wear those at home today. I'll wash your sweaty clothes here and give them back to you later."
"Got it. Thanks for everything."
"It's nothing. I'd do anything for you, Takkun♪"
Smiling contentedly, Yua clung to my arm.
The soft sensation I'd been savoring until just moments ago was back, and trying as I might to suppress it, my cheeks gradually began to loosen into a grin... Seeing me like that, Yua spoke.
"You smile a lot more now, Takkun."
"Huh?"
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected words.
"When we first met, and the times right after that, you always had this dark, gloomy look on your face... But now, you look so much lighter."
"...Lighter, huh?"
"Yeah. Finally cutting ties with that shitty boss of yours probably helped, but spending time with Mina and the others has done a lot to heal your heart too, hasn't it? If anything, this expressive Takkun I'm seeing now is probably the real you."
Hearing her say that, I nodded in agreement.
When I first arrived in the village, I was constantly depressed, but that heavy feeling had faded significantly by now.
Of course, I still had nightmares about it sometimes, so the trauma was definitely still there, but even so, I found myself smiling much more than before. Being able to give huge reactions to my banter with the girls was proof enough that my spirits were lifting.
"That's all thanks to you girls, I'm sure."
"I'm glad to hear it. But if you keep getting happier and happier, isn't it only a matter of time before you can never leave us?"
"That's..."
"It's fine, it's fine. I'll thoroughly pound it into your body that it's much more worthwhile to let us spoil you than it is to cling to some silly pride."
Her tone grew more intense towards the end, and at the same time, she trailed her index and middle fingers down my cheek in a provocative stroke.
It was like she was a gyaru... Well, I'd never actually been hit on by a gyaru before, but the way she closed the distance was completely different from Mina and Reina-san, which was what gave me that impression.
"I've... never actually loved someone this much before. That's why I'm throwing myself at you full throttle, like a perfectly pitched fastball."
"............"
"I mean, there's absolutely no reason not to love you. You're fun to be around, and I want to do all kinds of dirty things for you... Feeling like we have good chemistry is a perfectly valid reason, right?"
"Yeah..."
Like a teacher explaining something to a small child, Yua held up her index finger and continued slowly.
"You can say stuff like that all day long just based on the vibes you get or the time you spend together. But I—no, not just me, Mina and Reina-san too... we know the other sides of you too, which is why we're like this."
"Because you guys... took the time to learn so much about me?"
"Exactly. Like how you never forget to be considerate of others, even when you're deeply hurt from work. Or the way you talk about your dear old grandma. Or how you were there for Shiraishi-san earlier... Or when you saved me. It's all of it. We learned all about who you are, Takkun, and that's why we want you from the bottom of our hearts."
Yua's words completely affirmed my entire existence.
It was something Mina and Reina-san had always told me, but now Yua was telling me the exact same thing.
It gave a huge boost to my self-esteem... which was probably another reason my spirits had been lifting. My chest grew hot just thinking about how much these women cared for me.
"...Thank you, Yua."
"You're very welcome♪"
As a wave of happiness washed over me, Yua looked incredibly happy as well.
...It might have been arrogant of me to assume she looked happy in a situation like this, but that was honestly how she appeared to me.
She continued to stare at me, her arms still firmly locked around mine.
Unable to look away from Yua's face when it was so close, we stood there staring at each other, as if time had frozen entirely. Until suddenly—an amused voice rang out.
"Oh my, my! I seem to have walked in on quite the scene!"
"Eep!?"
"Gah!?"
Startled by the sudden intrusion of a third party, Yua and I whipped our heads around in unison.
Naturally, I recognized the voice immediately. Standing there was Grandma Yame, who seemed to have just returned home.
Wait, wasn't she supposed to come back after noon...?
Dropping her bags with a heavy thud, Grandma let out an exhausted sigh before looking at Yua and me, nodding to herself in amusement.
"I'm surprised to see you here, Takuya-kun, but I never thought I'd get to witness a moment like this. Not bad, Yua."
"Pardon the intrusion..."
"G-Grandma..."
"She was so happy about how close you two have gotten... Hahaha! Knowing it's you, Takuya-kun, I can rest easy."
Laughing heartily, Grandma disappeared into the kitchen.
Yua and I stared blankly at Grandma's retreating back, then turned to look at each other in a daze... before simultaneously breaking into shy, awkward smiles.
"Uhm... ahaha."
"...That was a little embarrassing."
As Yua hung her head in shame, I nodded, silently agreeing.
I almost blurted out that it wasn't nearly as embarrassing as what we'd just been doing in the bath, but I managed to bite my tongue.
"I mean, wasn't Grandma supposed to come back in the afternoon...?"
"Maybe she finished her errands early?"
"...Sigh, I guess what's done is done. We'll be caught plenty of times from now on anyway, so there's no point worrying about it."
"Caught plenty of times..."
"Well, obviously. Grandma's going to walk in on us every time we get lovey-dovey in this house from now on, right?"
She was talking as if it were already set in stone...
Afterward, when it was time for lunch, they treated me to curry while I explained to Grandma exactly why I was here.
Regardless of what our actual relationship was, Grandma was well aware of our terrible first meeting, so she was incredibly happy to see us getting along so well now.
"Takuya-kun, you're welcome to visit anytime, you hear? Even when Yua isn't around."
"Ah, right."
"Hey! You can't just invite him over when I'm not here!?"
"What are you talking about? I'd like to have a nice chat with Takuya-kun too, you know."
"...Hmph!"
I was happy to hear Grandma say that, but Yua pouted her cheeks, looking distinctly unamused.
"...Haha."
This wasn't a real fight, naturally; just a lighthearted exchange between a close-knit family.
Watching Yua and Grandma bicker brought back memories of my own childhood, bantering with my own grandmother.
A wave of nostalgia washed over me, prompting a soft chuckle to escape my lips. Turning her gaze away from Yua, Grandma noticed my expression.
"You've started smiling much more genuinely, Takuya-kun."
"Huh?"
"It's a much brighter smile than the one you had before. It's so refreshing... like a heavy burden has finally been lifted off your shoulders."
"............"
Ahaha... Yua had literally just told me the exact same thing.
It was probably partly because they were family, of course, but it was also proof that I'd healed enough for the people around me to notice it with just a glance.
"I'm sure that's all thanks to this village... Honestly, it terrifies me to think about it. I was always going to leave in Tokyo, but if I hadn't stopped by here... really, I can't even imagine."
But, that wasn't how things turned out.
I was guided to this village, met Mina and the others... and now, I was living my days in perfect peace... Putting all our dirty escapades aside, I genuinely didn't want to think about what my life would be like if I hadn't come here.
"I'm truly glad I came to Minorisato."
"Takkun!"
"Ahahaha! Is that so!?"
Yua tackled me in a hug, while Grandma gently patted my head.
This feeling... sorry to Yua, but having Grandma pat my head like this filled me with an incredible sense of nostalgia.
I vividly recalled memories from long ago... the days I spent with my own grandmother.
(I...)
On the day I decided to stay in this village, I told them I intended to leave eventually.
Now, I can say it clearly... Those words had come from a natural desire not to take advantage of them, but rather than clinging to some foolish pride, wouldn't it be better to just submit to my own desires?
"............"
And yet, the more I thought about it, the more one specific thought crossed my mind.
If Mina, Reina-san... and Yua were going to push themselves on me this much... then maybe I should do exactly what Yua said. Maybe I should cast off my restraint and start pursuing them in return... I couldn't help but feel it would be fine to give into those urges.
"Takkun? Your face is red."
"Ah... It's nothing."
I shook my head to brush it off, but a suspicious Yua only pressed her body harder against mine.
...When these women, the very people who saved me, were coming at me like this... surely it wouldn't hurt to follow my own instincts and do what I wanted with them in return... I simply couldn't stop myself from thinking that.
Just being with them was enough to satisfy me... but now, I wanted more. I wanted to connect with Mina and the others on a far deeper level—that was the intense desire welling up inside me.
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