Ch.93Umi, Becoming a Flounder

“A harem… you’ve made the worst possible move.”

Asuna closed her eyes tightly.

“Is… is that really so bad? Rather than continuing this psychological warfare… sharing him…”

Umi tried desperately to rationalize her actions.

“Yes, it’s bad. Take a look at your life, Umi. Perhaps…”

Asuna looked straight at Umi.

“Haven’t you honestly grown attached to the harem members? Gotten closer to them?”

Asuna asked.

“W-well, that’s…”

Umi recalled her recent daily life.

———-

About three days ago. Umi went shopping with Eri to buy ingredients for dinner.

“Shota has quite the childish palate, you know.”

Eri smiled as she picked up some pork.

“Ah, should we make hamburger steak then?”

Umi suggested.

“But… hamburger steak is a lot of work. That’s annoying.”

Eri said with a troubled expression.

“Hmm… instead of working hard on cooking, why not ask Shota for plenty of rewards?”

Umi said with a chuckle.

“Right. Let’s properly squeeze him dry tonight.”

Eri grinned as she selected an onion.

After they finished buying dinner ingredients, Eri subtly pointed to a store.

“While we’re at it… want to check out the lingerie shop?”

Eri asked.

“Aren’t those underwear… a bit too daring?”

Umi swallowed hard as she looked at the provocative lingerie displayed in the window.

“It’s about adding some variety to the bedroom. Shota will love it to death.”

Eri playfully smacked Umi’s bottom.

“Oh, I agree. He’ll be like ‘Eeeek!’ and charge straight to the bed.”

Umi said with a giggle.

“Yeah, I can totally see that. Ahahahaha!”

Afterward, Umi and Eri returned home in high spirits after their shopping trip.

——–

She had also gotten quite close with Taiga.

During the lazy evening bath time right after Shota had left for kendo practice, Umi and Taiga entered the bathroom together.

“Hey… you shouldn’t just barge in suddenly.”

Taiga shyly covered her private parts.

“We’ve already rolled around naked in the same bed, what’s there to be embarrassed about?”

Umi chuckled as she squeezed into the bathtub.

“Hey, you should wash yourself with soap before getting in. Seriously, where are your manners?”

Taiga clicked her tongue.

“It’s high school girl broth. Something you can’t buy even with money.”

Umi said, pressing her body against Taiga’s.

“Broth… seriously, where did you learn to talk like that?”

Taiga clicked her tongue again.

“Shota taught me.”

Umi replied nonchalantly.

“Really… he uses such strange words.”

Taiga clicked her tongue once more.

Soon, they were amicably soaking in the tub together, which naturally led to washing each other’s hair.

“Wow… Taiga, your hair is really beautiful.”

Umi said as she carefully washed Taiga’s hair.

“D-don’t touch it too much. It’s creepy.”

Taiga mumbled awkwardly.

“Aha! So this is your weak spot!”

Umi stimulated behind Taiga’s ears and around her neck while washing her hair.

“Stop messing around!!!”

Taiga squealed with laughter as she tried to push Umi away.

———

Umi recalled those peaceful daily moments.

“Mom!! We have a big problem!! Everyone gets along too well!!”

Umi clung to Asuna desperately.

“That’s the trap of a harem…”

Asuna said in a dejected tone.

“When you all live together, you grow attached and become like one family… Then you start thinking, ‘Isn’t this fine as it is? If everyone’s happy, it’s okay.’ You end up having such soft thoughts.”

Asuna explained.

“What should I do!! I really think I’m heading that way!!”

Umi cried out with a tearful expression. Honestly, every day was incredibly fun. That was Umi’s true feeling.

“Umi… are you satisfied with that?”

Asuna looked straight at Umi.

“Absolutely not!!! I… I want to be Shota’s number one!”

Umi shook her head.

“That’s the spirit. If that’s the case… even if it hurts, you have no choice but to ruthlessly capture Shota’s heart. That’s the resolve you need.”

Asuna embraced Umi and stroked her back.

“Umi… you’re in a relationship where you mix bodies with Shota every day, right? In the end, physical intimacy is king? Isn’t that your advantage over the other girls?”

Asuna said directly to Umi.

After all, Asuna had ensnared Gonzaemon with her body and fended off other women. Moreover, Gonzaemon was quite old-fashioned. She had also played on his Confucian boy mentality that he needed to take responsibility once they had been intimate. In any case, Asuna had survived against formidable competitors.

She was a master who had played a game-changing move just before the harem ending was about to occur—that was Asuna.

This is how I should consult Umi too. That’s roughly what Asuna was thinking.

“Um…”

But Umi couldn’t properly respond to those words.

“…Umi?”

Asuna tilted her head.

“Well… you know my first experience with Shota? I did it with Eri… it was a threesome.”

Umi revealed the shocking truth.

“…With Eri? How did that happen?”

Asuna’s expression froze terribly.

“Originally… Shota and Eri were in a semi-cohabitation state… and as I wedged myself in, it ended up that way.”

Umi explained.

“So you’re not even his first cohabitation partner…!!”

Asuna clutched her aching forehead.

“Th-then what about the other girl! Taiga, was it?”

Asuna asked.

“She also… has sex with Shota every day. All together.”

Umi said.

“………..”

Asuna fell silent. A harem that was already physically intimate was unexpected.

‘Shota… you’re quite the player.’

Honestly, she had thought Shota was a straight-laced young man who just had some quirks, but he turned out to be quite the playboy. That was a variable.

“B-but who does he like the most? There must be preferences or compatibility, right?!”

Asuna was desperately trying to find Umi’s advantages.

“Shota… carefully pleases everyone… it feels like he treats everyone equally?”

Umi said, her face slightly flushed.

“…W-well, tell me about the other girls. Let’s profile them first. We need to properly understand and find out what advantages our Umi has over the others, right?”

Asuna cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Um… okay. First, about Eri…”

Umi tried to tell Asuna what she knew.

———

First, Eri. Her older brother is apparently a high-ranking person at a publishing company and web novel platform. So he provided connections for Shota.

Then Taiga. She was a delinquent, but since meeting Shota, she’s been becoming more and more girlish with each passing day. Recently, she even experienced a romantic situation where she was rescued like a princess.

That’s about all Umi knew. She intentionally didn’t mention anything about monster hunting or such things.

“Umi…..”

After hearing all this, Asuna closed her eyes tightly.

“Umi, you’re a worm.”

Asuna delivered a harsh statement to her daughter.

“A w-worm?!! That’s too much!!”

Umi immediately shouted loudly.

“Right. That was harsh. You’re… just a flounder, Umi.”

Asuna said.

“You’re just the daughter of the dojo Shota attends… You haven’t done anything that actually benefits Shota like Eri, nor have you been involved in dramatic incidents like Taiga. You’re too ordinary!!!”

Asuna delivered a critical blow.

“Kuheuuk…!!”

Umi clutched her voluptuous chest and collapsed. It was painfully factual.

“Th-then what should I do…”

Umi asked.

“You need to properly support him during this Tushin Cup. Sincerity is important. Sincerity, that’s what matters.”

Asuna said.

“Hmm… but the other girls are coming to the Tushin Cup too.”

Umi said.

“Tch.”

Asuna clicked her tongue.

Something… a catalyst was needed. Umi might slip away from her grasp. She needed to create that sense of crisis.

At that moment, Asuna devised a strategy.

“Umi. Remember your childhood friend? You used to play together often. Nendo.”

Asuna said.

“Ah… Nendo.”

Umi made an uncomfortable expression. Thanks to their parents being close, Umi often hung out with Nendo.

But as Umi’s beauty began to bloom from middle school, Nendo, who was a boy in his prime, started giving Umi creepy looks.

Then Nendo confessed to Umi, and Umi simply rejected him. They lost contact after that.

“We can use Nendo.”

Asuna whispered to Umi.

*whisper whisper*

Asuna roughly explained her plan to Umi.

“Ooh… this sounds good, Mom?”

Umi said with a smile.

“Hehehe. Then let’s go with this approach.”

Asuna patted Umi’s shoulder.

Just then.

“Asuna!! Umi!! What are you two talking about without me!! Let’s spend some quality time together, the three of us!”

Feeling left out, Gonzaemon barged into the second floor.

“Dad. We’re having a girl talk. Get out.”

Umi said coldly.

“Oh… okay…”

With that, Gonzaemon immediately became dejected. He was hurt by his cold daughter.

“And honey… you misspoke. Not three… but four of us, right?”

Asuna knew how to cheer up her husband. She suggestively caressed her belly.

“Ah… right. Four of us.”

That immediately lifted Gonzaemon’s spirits.

Afterward, Gonzaemon and Asuna began confirming their love by nibbling and kissing each other. Feeling awkward, Umi returned to her room.

———

That night. Asuna made a phone call somewhere.

“A-Asuna ma’am!”

Someone hurriedly answered the phone.

“Oh my. Nendo. It’s been a while. How have you been lately?”

Asuna calmly spoke to Nendo.

“I’ve been training hard in kendo these days! I’m planning to enter the Tushin Cup!”

Nendo said.

“I see… Then could you put your parents on the phone for a moment?”

“My parents… you say?”

“Yes. I have something to discuss about an arranged marriage.”

Asuna immediately played her trump card.

“……..!”

Through the phone, Nendo’s heavy breathing could be heard. Asuna knew that Nendo still had feelings for Umi.

‘I mean you no harm… but I’ll have to use you a bit, Nendo.’

With that thought, Asuna began to proceed with her conversation.

It was the image of a mother determined to do anything for her daughter.