TL: Before we get into the chapter, I fixed a mistake in the last chapter. The mistake was that I accidentally wrote “I’m coming with Mikoto and Eda at around 11:30AM” instead of “I’m coming with Mikoto at Eda’s house at around 11:30AM”
The bus on the way to Eda’s house.
There, Rino-chan told Shirota about our relationship.
She told her about what happened in the park, not including the kiss.
“Hee, so that’s why she confessed.”
Shirota nodded as if she was impressed.
She then turned her attention to me, as I was sitting behind her.
“Way to go, Okutani.”
“Well…I’m glad you came.”
I simply replied.
“But, one wouldn’t usually come.”
Shirota asked, looking back at Rino-chan.
“Why did you come?”
“That’s…”
After a few moments of hesitation, Rino-chan glanced at me.
“I’m going to work as hard as you guys, and in the end, I’m going to be Okutani-san’s only girlfriend.”
“Eh?”
Shirota’s eyes widened in a half smile.
“That’s…Eh?”
“That’s right. I’m your rival! I’m going to be more attractive than anyone else…and…I’m going to make you choose me in the end.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I kept quiet.
Rino-chan didn’t seem to accept me having a lot of girlfriends.
But she wants to be my girlfriend.
So, in order to become my only girlfriend, she first tried to get the same position as the other girlfriends. I’m glad that she has such pure feelings, but I’m afraid that might crack the balance of the relationship that had been maintained until now.
“That’s why Shirota-san is my rival.”
When I looked at Shirota with anxiety, she was looking at Rino-chan with a half smile.
“Sh,Shirota…”
At the same time I called out, she hugged Rino-chan.
“You’re so cuteeeeee!”
“Eh? Eeeh!?”
The sports girl hugged the tiny Rino-chan.
“Rino-chan, you’re so cute!”
“Shirota-san, did you hear what I said? You’re my rival.”
“It’s fine. Anything’s fine. I’ve always wanted a sister like Rino-chan.”
Even though she was confused, Rino-chan couldn’t escape from Shirota.
It seems that she was not expecting this kind of response.
“Ahh……you’re really a nice girl. She has a cute face and she’s….so pure….Why Okutani….?”
“What do you mean!?”
I really got into Shirota’s joke.
When she looked at me teasingly, Shirota stuck out her tongue.
“You can’t make Rino-chan sad, okay?”
“Yes, yes.”
The bus pulled up in front of the Eda residence.
As soon as the three of us got off the bus, we headed for the entrance.
Rino-chan and I followed Shirota as she walked into the house with an air of familiarity.
“What’s with that person?”
“My girlfriend.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Rino-chan sighs in exasperation.
“I intended to come to declare war…..”
Rino-chan looks somewhat discouraged.
When Rino-chan met Eda at the door, she seemed to have gotten even more discouraged.
“Good day.”
“Good morning, Fukiko.”
To my surprise, Eda was wearing a kimono.
She was wearing a dark blue kimono and her long black hair was tied up in a bun on top of her head.
She had taken off her glasses, which made her beautiful face look many times more beautiful than usual.
Shirota wasn’t particularly surprised, but Rino-chan and I could not keep our mouths shut.
“What’s wrong? Okutani-kun. Have you forgotten how to greet people?”
“Ah, no…..Good morning.”
“And you?”
Eda shifts her eyes from me to Rino-chan.
Rino-chan’s body tensed up like a frog that was being stared at by a snake
“N, nice to meet you….I’m Rino Ooki.”
“I’m Fukiko Eda. Please, come in.”
Shirota and Eda quickly made their way down the hallway.
As I walked through the door, Rino-chan pulled me by my clothes.
“W, who is she? Is she your girlfriend as well?”
“It’s different….She might become my girlfriend today.”
“Who are you?”
“Um….I’m the student council president of Hashizume High School.”
Rino-chan looks a little pale.
Then she opened the sliding door and we followed her into the back room.
We’re going to use another room, not Eda’s private one.
When we entered, we found a table lined with dishes.
“This is….”
“I made it. You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
I forced myself to take on the top seat.
Shirota sat next to me on my right, and Rino-chan sat on my left.
Eda sat at the end of the table and brewed tea with graceful movements.
“Oh, there you are.”
Perhaps sensing a presence, Eda stood up.
As I was drinking my tea in silence, the sliding door opened.
It was Mia and Mikoto who came in.
Mia was wearing a dark green dress.
She looked like the embodiment of beauty, as always.
When she sees me, she raises her cheeks slightly.
“Good morning, Koumei…..And long time no see, Rino-chan.”
“Ah, yes…”
Rino-chan is already unable to speak.
Although she had met her once, when she saw Mia, she seemed to be frightened by her beauty.
Next to Mia stood my childhood friend.
As expected, she was not wearing a jersey, but white shirt and black shorts. Her hair was combed reflecting the morning sun coming through the window.
“I, it’s you! A new girl!”
She stumbled into the room, and Mikoto sat down next to Rino-chan.
“Ah….um…..”
“Younger…..Really, Koumei….”
“Just get away from her! You’re scaring her!”
Mikoto occupied the space next to Rino-chan, although she stopped putting her face close to her.
Naturally, Mia sat down next to Shirota.
“Hey, I think I might be hungry.”
Shirota said with a wry smile.
“But first…”
Eda, sitting at the end of the table, looked at everyone.
She looks at me, Mia, Mikoto, Shirota, and Rino-chan, altogether.
“How can I be accepted as Okutani-kun’s girlfriend?”
After a moment of silence, Mikoto raised her hand.
“I think it’s fine….”
She responded as if she were a victim of fear.
Really, what the hell happened?
“Me too.”
Shirota also raised her hand. She was her best friend, so it was only natural.
Nodding in satisfaction, Eda said.
“Is the majority vote enough? Rino-chan isn’t being counted in yet…. Okutani-kun has given his permission, so I already have the support of the majority.”
She was checking Mia.
However, Mia looked at Eda without worrying about her check.
Then she looked at Rino-chan, who was shrinking.
“Eda-san, Rino-chan, let’s get along from now on.”
With Mia’s words, I now had two more girlfriends.
