Ch.291Temple! (2)

“Shota, let me help you too.”

Aiko stood beside me with a smile.

“It’ll be faster if we do it together.”

Aiko chuckled softly and started washing vegetables next to me.

“Ah… y-yes.”

I unconsciously made a slightly dazed expression. Perhaps because she was an older woman, there was something strangely sensual about her voice.

‘Besides… she really is a heroine, isn’t she…’

The women designated as heroines in the game definitely had different levels of beauty.

Even though she was wearing a nun’s habit, which was the epitome of modesty, it couldn’t hide Aiko’s curvaceous, beautiful figure. Though she was older, Aiko’s entire being seemed to proclaim that she was still an attractive woman.

I accepted the vegetables Aiko had washed and began preparing them.

I wondered what my other girlfriends were doing… surprisingly, they were just playing normally.

“Yes!! I bought Singapore!!! I’ve taken all of Asia!!”

Kana shouted loudly.

“I can see the future… I’m buying Tokyo!!”

Umi paid the money with a determined expression.

“Argh!! Why do we have to legally buy land! Can’t we just take it?”

Kirtan seemed displeased with that aspect. Her mindset was truly that of a pirate.

“Yes! I dodged it!!”

Aki was also calmly engaged in the Monopoly board.

I see. They’re playing Monopoly. That’s fun. But… at this point, it had nothing to do with a temple stay. Isn’t this just a retreat? I almost complained about that.

With the sounds of my girlfriends playing as background music, I continued preparing the vegetables.

“We have this too!!”

Aki immediately brought out another board game.

“Ah! It’s Bang!!! This is fun!!”

“I’m really good at this. It was the only board game available at the orphanage.”

I heard Taiga’s voice.

“Taiga… that’s kind of hard to respond to.”

Tina said with an awkward expression.

“Taiga, we’re all family now. Let’s put the past behind us.”

Eri spoke in a gentle tone.

“I’ll show you my skills from playing Bang whenever I was bored at the temple!!”

Aki had already completely blended in with my girlfriends’ group. As expected of a gyaru… she’s good at socializing.

Todododok-!

Anyway, I diligently prepared the vegetables. Soon, I started to stir-fry them lightly.

“Shota-kun’s girlfriends all get along well.”

Aiko said with a smile.

“Ah, yes. It’s fortunate they don’t fight.”

That’s what I said.

“I suppose it takes a certain caliber of man to maintain a harem. I can sense that in you, Shota-kun.”

Aiko looked at me with a playful smile.

“That’s unexpected.”

I made a comment while looking at Aiko.

“Hmm? What is?”

Aiko turned her head and asked. The way she turned her head… was too cute. Really… it’s unfair for a woman in her thirties to be this cute.

“No… I thought a monk would scold me for having such loose relationships with women.”

That’s what I said.

“Hmm… human desires are natural, aren’t you think? I believe that unilaterally condemning them actually takes one further from enlightenment.”

Aiko said.

“I thought Aki had fallen for a bad man… but I think Shota-kun will be fine.”

Then Aiko looked straight at me.

“So… when are you going to take Aki?”

Aiko asked me directly.

“W-what?”

I was flustered by how quickly she got to the point. What are you saying… monk!!

“Ah… I need to get permission from my other girlfriends first. If they give permission… I’d be happy to.”

Yes. Honestly, the gyaru is an automatic pass.

“Ufufu. Being a harem master must be tough.”

Saying that, Aiko checked the seasoning of the curry that was simmering. The way she pushed out her alluring lips to taste from the ladle was strangely seductive.

“Hmm. It’s a bit bland. We need salt or soy sauce…”

Aiko reached toward the upper cabinet.

But… her hand couldn’t reach it. Yes, Japanese people tend to be quite petite.

“Let me get it.”

I immediately went behind Aiko and reached for the upper cabinet.

As a result, I ended up in a position that looked like I was back-hugging Aiko.

Molcang-!

My lower body almost touched Aiko’s buttocks. My girlfriends’ buttocks were plenty firm, but Aiko’s was different in quality. There was an overwhelming softness unique to a mature woman.

“Huh?!”

Aiko let out a cute gasp.

“Ah…”

I belatedly realized I had done something quite embarrassing.

However, mentioning it would only make things more awkward. I just took out the salt as if I were doing something completely innocent.

While doing so, I tried to create some distance… I thought reducing physical contact would make it less awkward.

But I discovered that Aiko’s buttocks had a larger hitbox than I expected. Moreover… a change had occurred in my lower body.

Molcang-!

My lower body was still touching Aiko’s buttocks.

“I-I’m sorry… Shota-kun… is this middle-aged woman’s bottom too big?”

Aiko said in a fluster.

“I’ve gained weight, and my bottom is just big and nothing else…”

Aiko mumbled awkwardly.

“T-that’s actually what I like about it…”

A statement that bypassed my brain came out of my mouth.

“W-what?!”

Aiko seemed surprised by that comment.

“Ah! I’m sorry…”

I said hurriedly.

“I-it’s okay… you’re still young after all… ahaha.”

Aiko laughed awkwardly.

Anyway, Aiko and I made curry in a slightly awkward silence.

“Oops.”

As we were busy working, our hands touched.

“Ah…!”

Aiko immediately made a startled sound.

What… what’s with this girlish reaction…! Somehow, a strangely sweet atmosphere had been created. I started to worry that I might get caught up in the mood and do something inappropriate.

———

Anyway, the curry was completed.

“Alright!! Everyone, let’s eat!! My masterpiece!! The Pure Land Curry!!”

I immediately brought the curry to the table.

Despite some happenings, I was serious about cooking. That’s why I put my all into making it.

“This will probably be the best curry you’ve ever eaten in your lives.”

I was confident about that.

“Really… that good?”

Eri gave a wry smile.

“Shota always says he’s good at everything.”

Taiga said with a smirk.

“But it’s interesting how he’s actually decent at various things. He’s good at sports, decent at studies… he’s quite talented in his own way.”

Kana said while serving herself some curry.

“He may be eccentric, but he’s actually high-spec. Even my father acknowledged him as quite capable.”

Tina said.

Ah. Tina’s father… honestly, he was scary. He was quite strong. Truthfully, I don’t want to meet him again…

“I’d like to greet the families I haven’t met yet. Eri, shouldn’t I greet your parents too? I’m thinking about marriage after all.”

I said to Eri.

With Umi, I’m already half-accepted as a son-in-law… and I’ve already greeted Kana’s and Tina’s families. Since Kirtan and Taiga are orphans, there’s no need for greetings.

Not having greeted Eri’s parents first, when she’s my main wife, was a serious issue. Additionally, I needed to talk with Mika’s parents too.

“Ah… actually, I mentioned you when I called them last time. They said they’d like to meet you.”

Eri said.

“Phew… that makes me nervous.”

Eri was among the more normal of my girlfriends. I hoped her parents would be normal too.

“What about Mika?”

I asked Mika.

“I… don’t get along well with my parents.”

Mika said in a sulky tone.

“Then I’ll help you reconcile!!”

I immediately hugged Mika and exclaimed.

“Don’t!! I think you’ll just make things more complicated!!”

Mika shouted loudly. That’s disappointing.

“Ah, right. By the way, there was an important matter left.”

I said.

“Ah… my induction into your harem?”

Aki’s eyes immediately lit up.

“You!! Trying to casually join the harem!!”

Umi immediately tried to punish Aki.

“U-Umi, you weren’t the first either!! Eri was the first one to semi-live together with him!”

But in matters of love, women’s fighting power increases. Aki also stood her ground, pushing out her chest to block Umi.

“Hey!! But I’m still second!! The second-in-command!!”

Umi shouted.

“You’re not the main wife anyway!! I’m just a bit late!! I’m just unlucky, and you’re just lucky!!”

“Who’s lucky?!!”

Poyong-!!

The two large breasts collided as they pushed against each other.

“This is… the chain reaction of large breasts…!”

At this moment, I was as serious as Dr. Oppenheimer.

“One more bowl of rice.”

I immediately said to Eri.

“Sure.”

Eri immediately served me more rice.

And… I ate my rice while watching Umi and Aki’s breast battle.

“Hahaha!! Why is he eating plain rice?!”

Taiga suddenly burst out laughing.

“There’s a supreme side dish right in front of my eyes. I can get full just eating plain rice.”

I stated firmly.

“You crazy bastard…”

Kana just shook her head at me. Your objection is weak, Kana.

“No, forget about the Aki issue.”

I waved my hand. But that wasn’t my concern.

“My curry… isn’t it delicious? Everyone’s eating it well, but the reactions are lacking. It’s almost like authentic Indian taste.”

At this moment, what I cared about was the curry, and only that. I’ve never been to India, but I was confident this must be what authentic Indian curry tastes like.

“My harem induction… has lower priority than curry?!”

Aki shouted with a hurt expression.

“At this moment, it’s about the curry.”

I stated firmly.

“Hmm… a man with clear priorities… how cool…”

Aki immediately blushed at those words. She seems to like whatever I do. I’m becoming more tempted to add her to my harem.

Anyway, I looked at everyone with anticipation. Hurry up and praise my curry!!!

“No, it’s delicious. It is delicious… but it’s just curry. What kind of reaction were you expecting?”

Mika said, tilting her head as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Yes. It’s average curry.”

Eri also said coldly.

“…How could this be.”

With that, my pride was shattered!!

“No… Shota. I’ve always wondered, why do you think you’re a genius at everything?”

Kana looked at me as if I were strange.

“Well… because I am a genius in all fields.”

“You really have high self-esteem!!”

Kana strongly objected.

Anyway. My curry… received harsh criticism.

“No, it’s not harsh criticism, we just said it was average. Why are you making us out to be the bad guys?”

As if reading my thoughts, Mika objected.

——-

“Shota!! Forget about the curry!! Accept me into your harem!! That’s what we were talking about!”

Aki finally shouted loudly.

“The main wife in our harem is Eri, you know? If Eri agrees, I’m okay with it.”

That’s what I said. Household matters should be handled by the mistress of the house.

“Eri!! Object!! Honestly, adding more is too much!! We’re not some Arabian royal family!!”

Umi immediately started persuading.

“Hmm… what should I do…”

Eri seemed to be contemplating.

“Let’s enjoy the temple stay for now. We’ll have more opportunities to get to know Aki better. We can decide then.”

In the end, Eri proposed a compromise. As expected of Eri… she couldn’t coldly turn someone away.

“D-does that mean there’s a possibility?”

Aki seemed quite pleased about that.

Anyway, we were in the middle of enjoying our meal.

“Excuse me… could you be a bit quieter during the meal?”

There was a milf in her thirties whose energy had been drained by the high schoolers’ chatter. Aiko-san’s complexion wasn’t very good. We had been talking quite loudly.

“Ah… we’re sorry.”

We all apologized.

———

Anyway, after finishing our meal, we decided to move on to the next activity.

“Now, after lunch, our daily routine is to recite sutras in the main hall. This is our temple’s principal Buddha.”

Aiko-san took us to the main hall.

In the center of the main hall, there was a giant statue of Avalokitesvara.

But… the Avalokitesvara statue was a bit strange.

“S-Shota, there are talismans stuck all over it…?”

Eri whispered to me.

“Yeah… there are.”

Talismans were stuck on it almost like stickers.

Doruruk-!

Moreover, the eyes of the Avalokitesvara statue were strangely moving. It seemed to be glancing at me.

This Buddha statue… there’s something about it. I sensed that intuitively. Why is there not a single normal place in this Emoshita? I really wondered about that.