Ch.393Retreating NPC. (6)
by fnovelpia
The time I was kicked out was when the sun was starting to reach its zenith. In other words, it was almost lunchtime.
Ah, I was planning to ask her to have lunch together, but I got too fired up and ended up being completely kicked out. Can’t be helped.
“There’s still some time before our appointment, but should I go?”
A story created by Ragni and passed on by Luxuria. And now it’s time for me to get scolded while trying to appease the sisters who think I’ve started neglecting them.
*
Maybe it’s because of that Easter egg. Somehow, I seem to be dating in Neti quite often these days. Well, not that “that” is my goal today.
After finishing my conversation at the Academy and stepping out onto the street, Neti is bustling with energy regardless of the war outside. Well, I guess people believe the Spirit King’s barrier will protect this place. Seeing students in uniforms dating here and there makes me feel somewhat envious. I don’t remember dating at that age in my previous life. No, come to think of it, I was just a nobody in my previous life. Damn.
Suddenly, I feel like telling them, “It’s not safe here~ Your headmaster has allowed demons to enter~”
As I gaze at this peaceful scenery that might make me involuntarily scream “couple hell,” I slowly make my way to Neti’s central fountain, where food stalls are abundant. Of course, the prices are quite reasonable compared to my previous life. Originally, I was planning to have lunch with Ragni, but somehow I ended up walking alone, deciding what to eat.
Sigh, they’re selling skewers here too. If Ira were here, I’d buy her some skewers, but she went straight outside with Gor after returning to Neti, so I couldn’t catch her. Somehow, I was definitely surrounded by women earlier, but why am I now alone, pathetically thinking about my little sister while looking for lunch?
“Mmph!!”
“Chirp!!”
“Huh?”
While I was choosing food in front of a stall selling baked bread and snacks, wondering if I should get something light, I heard a somewhat nasal voice beside me. Turning to look, Chikuyo and Miho were waving at me with their mouths full of food they had bought from the stalls. Wow, are you two eating all that? The amount seems strange. Wait, there’s almost an hour left until our appointment time, so why are you here?
“We came out early because we were bored.”
“What are you saying? I can’t understand. Either eat or talk, not both.”
*munch munch munch munch*
“…Right. Go ahead and eat.”
Chikuyo, who had raised her eyebrows and said something to me, immediately started chewing the food in her mouth vigorously. Miho, who was eating more moderately than Chikuyo, swallowed her food and spoke. Wait, don’t you chew? Won’t you get sick eating like that?
“Huh? Oh, I’m fine not chewing much. I’m a tiger beastkin, after all.”
“I-I see. So? Why are you out so early?”
“Well, my sister and I had nothing to do at home. It felt awkward to cook something in a house that smells of other females, so we came out before our appointment time to have lunch.”
*munch munch* *nod nod* *munch munch munch*
“…Did Chikuyo skip breakfast today?”
“Brother, our points are dropping. Please get your act together.”
Chikuyo, with what appears to be ketchup or mustard or both smeared around her mouth, is eating enthusiastically with none of her previous dignified demeanor. Haha, I picked her up and her character has completely fallen apart.
*munch munch munch!* *gulp!*
“Hmph! Points or whatever, we’re just afterthoughts anyway. You’ve already decided on your first and second wives, so what’s the point of our efforts? We might as well just wag our tails like losers and ask you to embrace us someday.”
“Sister, please…”
“……”
Hmm, it seems Chikuyo is stress-eating because she feels she’s lost to Ragni and Rei. But even though she’s upset, she still takes it for granted that she’ll become my woman. Should I find this cute, or should I feel sorry? Or maybe both? Anyway.
“I haven’t eaten yet either, shall we eat together? Chikuyo, can I have one of those…”
*swoosh*
“Ah, sister!”
“Hmph! Jack should buy his own food with Jack’s money! This is what Miho and I bought!!”
When I reached out to grab the bread Chikuyo was holding, she twisted her body away like a sulking child to avoid my hand. Haha, this is really driving me crazy.
*grab!!*
“Ah?!!”
“How will you avoid this?”
“Ugh!! Let, let go!! I’ll give you the bread, so let go!!”
Finding Chikuyo’s pouting somehow cute, I hugged her from behind and started tickling her, and she began wagging her fluffy tail and squirming, seemingly not entirely displeased despite verbally protesting…
“Hey!! You there!! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
“Let me g… Kong?”
While I was briefly playing around with the pouting Chikuyo, I heard a voice from somewhere and turned around to see the cold stares of passersby and… security guards? Running toward me with weapons ready. Wait a minute.
“You!! What do you think you’re doing, restraining a woman who doesn’t want it? Come with us. If you resist…!”
“Ah, um? W-wait, that’s a misunderstanding…?!!”
“E-eh?!”
“…Kong?”
Apparently, someone reported me as a thug assaulting a woman, and I desperately tried to explain to the security guards who had rushed over. Thanks to Chikuyo and Miho’s defense, I managed to avoid being arrested before our date. However.
“Look, I won’t comment on your lovers’ quarrel, but it’s broad daylight and this is a public place! Be careful!”
“Yes. I’m sorry!”
“S-sorry.”
“I apologize for my sister’s playfulness!”
We got thoroughly scolded by the security guards.
*
“Sigh, if it’s a date, you should have said so from the beginning. You told us you had something to talk about, so we had no idea it was going to be like this.”
“Yeah. Since you called both my sister and me, we never thought it would be a date.”
“Ah, um. Sorry.”
With Miho on my left and Chikuyo on my right, I walk properly holding their hands as we talk, and both of them look at me as if they can’t believe it.
Well, how should I put this… I tend to think of you two as a set without realizing it. I shouldn’t do that, but when I think of Miho, Chikuyo comes to mind, and when I think of Chikuyo, Miho comes to mind, so I unconsciously… Um, I promise to properly invite each of you on individual dates next time?
“Hmm~ Who will be first next time~?”
“Sister…”
“A-ahem! So, you both already had lunch earlier? Then, shall we have some tea at that café over there?”
Ignoring Chikuyo’s attempts to tease me, I led them into a nearby café. Wait, isn’t it class time right now? Why are there so many students here too? Should I tell Ragni about this? Should I really tell her?!
Feeling like we’ve entered a café with too many couples, I sat down at a window seat facing the two of them, ordered three cakes and tea, and organized my thoughts.
I think it’s best to have a proper conversation and get clear permission from both of them before proceeding, right? Yes, instead of trying to score points in advance, I should be straightforward, ask for forgiveness, and then try to cheer them up!
“We already ate lunch, so we’re full?”
“Sister. There’s a human saying that there’s a separate stomach for meals and desserts. I’m sure you’ll find room once you try it.”
“Hmm? Well, human food is quite delicious. I wonder what the desserts are like.”
“Didn’t you try the inn food in Ponia? Wasn’t it just okay?”
“It wasn’t bad, but how should I put it…”
“It felt like food just to fill your stomach, right? I felt the same way when I first ate at an inn. To be honest, the snacks sold at food stalls are more stimulating and feel much more interesting and exotic to our taste.”
“Yes, yes! That’s exactly how it felt. The breakfast prepared by the golem was delicious too, but compared to the food sold outside, it felt closer to what we ate in Siltra, so it wasn’t particularly fresh-tasting.”
So they’re saying that the meals prepared by Gor, whom they’ve only known for a few days, felt like home cooking, and the snacks from the food stalls were more stimulating and therefore tastier? Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve properly taken them out to eat since leaving Siltra. Hmm, I should have been more attentive to this. Perhaps Chikuyo was right that I’ve been neglecting them too much.
As we continued our conversation about food, sharing experiences of Chikuyo’s first time in the outside world with Miho and maintaining a pleasant atmosphere, our cakes arrived. Despite claiming to be full, Chikuyo ordered two more plates after finishing the first one and ate them all. Haha, it’s quite amusing to see Miho looking at her with exasperated eyes.
“Phew~ I really can’t eat anymore~”
“Yeah. Please stop eating or your belly will start showing even though you’re not pregnant.”
“Hehe. Miho, you don’t need to worry about that. My sister’s body tends to direct everything she eats to her chest!”
“…Sister has a weird physique.”
“What are you talking about? You have the same physique as me.”
“Eh? No, I don’t? I consistently train and exercise.”
“Oh, really?!”
“But how is your chest so big then? Exercise usually makes the chest smaller?” Chikuyo poked Miho’s chest with her tail, and I discreetly looked away.
Hey, you guys, stop staring. Your girlfriends are shooting daggers with their eyes. Why are you looking this way when you already have girlfriends? Back off.
“Ah, sister, stop! People are watching!!”
“Kong?! Alright, don’t get angry. Ahem, so? Didn’t you say you had something to talk about?”
“Ah? Oh. Right.”
As our pleasant tea time came to an end, Chikuyo brought up the main topic, and I cleared my throat, apologized first, and began speaking. After all, this is something that will definitely upset both of them.
“I thought I couldn’t just decide on my own and proceed without saying anything when I know you two are concerned, so I arranged this separate meeting.”
“…Why is the introduction so serious for whatever you’re about to say?”
“……”
The warm and pleasant atmosphere from just moments ago vanished as if it had been a lie. Chikuyo’s crimson eyes flashed, and Miho’s eyes disappeared behind her bangs. It’s truly a difficult atmosphere to speak in, but…
“I’ve decided that Gor will be the next one I take care of. So, I’m planning to postpone things with you two.”
Ragni was concerned, Luxuria conveyed it, and I kept quiet and acted on my own. This isn’t right, is it?
I don’t want to irresponsibly leave everything to the women who follow me and act as I please. So I dropped the bomb first with my own words.
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