Chapter 218: Don't Overthink

"Ruru... I missed you."

Shio sweetly whispered after our lips separated. Her beautiful face looked so seductive that it made me take her lips once more before answering back.

I'm currently in her room inside the Administration Building. It's lunch break and before I go to that empty room to eat with Nami, Satsuki and Aya, my feet lead me here.

Of course, I have a valid excuse for seeing her. During her class, I was ordered by her to bring the worksheets we did today.

"I know. You made an excuse for us to meet alone after all. I missed you too."

Shio ignored what I said apart from my response to her 'I miss you'. That's enough for her to feel happy that she once again buried her face on my chest as if she wanted to be stuck there all day. Making an excuse for us to meet secretly at school. We have no choice but to do this. Even if I ended up being labeled as her errand boy or a teacher's pet as long as I can spend valuable time like this, whatever the other people think doesn't matter.

As soon as I arrived here, Shio pulled me to sit with her before snuggling herself to my side. Just by that act alone, it's enough to know how much she missed me.

Now that she didn't need to be burdened from the problem brought by her husband, she's becoming more beautiful by the day.

"I already checked last night but I want to ask again, did you sleep well at your new place, Shio?"

"Un. It's peaceful there and grandma was very friendly. However, she asked me where my young husband who's supposed to live with me was... What should I answer, Ruru?"

Err... I also wonder how we can continue to pass up as a newlywed couple. That's why the old lady easily gave the contract after all.

"I'll show up there when I have the chance. What about your things? Have you decided when to get them?"

"I still see his car around sometimes... But he never approached me. Let's get it after I filed the divorce."

Ah. Of course. He couldn't approach you because I made it a rule for him. That guy took a leave at his work and it seems he's now trying to stalk Shio. However, with my words and the evidence I have on him as a deterrence, he couldn't really do anything. As for Nao, I always check on her and he really never showed up near her after that day. 

I can't be too lax though. He's still a threat. I have to completely eliminate his presence not only around Shio and Nao but also around me. Should I tell him to totally move away? I'll have to think of something he will not be able to get out from.

"Tell me if he tried to approach you, alright? If he showed up at the apartment. Call me immediately."

"I will. You don't have to worry too much. I can at least protect myself."

"I'm a worrywart, you know? Just remember to tell me if that happened. Also, you can still eat with us during dinner. I'll escort you home afterwards. That way I will be able to show my face to the old lady."

"Really? Then I'll eat there later. After staying for a few days there, I find it more lively to eat dinner with all of you."

-

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To avoid suspicion, I only spent 10 minutes inside her room but of course, we savored that limited time that we could be alone.

When I arrived at the empty clubroom, only Satsuki and Aya were inside. Nami told me that after monopolizing me yesterday, she wanted to be fair to the two girls so she went to Hina and their other friends at the cafeteria to eat her lunch with them.

Upon seeing me, Aya's eyes brightened as always as she proceeded to ask for a kiss. We couldn't do it in the classroom but now that we're in a private space, there's nothing holding us back.

Satsuki, who was still a bit grumpy because of Shizu-senpai waited until Aya was satisfied before pulling me to her side.

After kissing me, she then proceeded to lightly punch my shoulder as her way to vent her frustration from how I teased her earlier.

Afterwards, we proceeded to eat our lunch and spend the rest of our time together. I told the two about Arisa-senpai and what happened between us yesterday. Upon hearing that, Satsuki and Aya held tightly onto my hands as if they're afraid I would leave them.

Even if they didn't voice it out, what they did was enough for me to guess what they're feeling. All I can do is to reassure them that no matter what, I will never leave them.

The effect was weak but it somehow eases them up. I know that's not enough. Not nearly enough at all. Words don't have that much of a weight after all.

"It's fine, Ruki. I understand. You don't have to think too hard about it."

Aya broke the silence as she turned my head towards her and gave me a reassuring smile.

"You're already doing well at taking care of us. Don't overthink it or it might take a toll on you. We accepted you for who you are. I can't say for the others but for me, what I hate the most is to see you having a troubled face, even more so if the reason for it was us."

Eh? What is she saying? What troubled face?

"Aya... No. I'm not troubled at all."

"Your face says otherwise. Satsuki. Uhm... Won't you say something?"

Aya surely didn't believe my words and she turned to Satsuki on my other side.

She alternated her gaze between us before releasing a sigh.

"… She's right, idiot. Cheer up. With that face, I'm sure you're thinking that you're doing for us wasn't enough. Don't go there. I'm satisfied enough just to stay like this with you."

She's spot on about that. Is it too obvious? Am I really showing a troubled face?

Maybe. I don't know. I'm most likely trying to do everything by myself... Even if I kept mentioning that the girls will also help, I ended up taking it all upon myself. Shizu-senpai probably noticed as well, she told me about how I am afraid for me to realize it 

"Satsuki..."

"Or are you expecting us to be mad at you every time you tell us that there's an addition? You're stupidly honest and we know it. It's on us to accept it and do our part. I, for one, don't want to leave you that's why I held onto your hand this tight."

Ah. Now that I think about it. She's right. I'm really unconsciously expecting that they will at least be mad at me. I keep adding new ones then tell it to them. My being honest was hurting them so I was unconsciously waiting for the day where they would be mad at me...

"I'm the same, Ruki. Holding onto you like this doesn't mean I'm afraid that you will leave me. You misunderstood the meaning, this means no matter what, I will stay at your side. You're too honest that there's almost no secret that you are keeping from us."

'Almost no secret'. Aya knew that I kept something from them. It's surely about that day where I confronted Shio's husband.

I really misunderstood what they did by holding my hand tightly this time. It's not them being afraid, it's for me to remember that they're here by my side.

"I see. I'm overthinking it..."

"That's right, idiot. We're in this kind of relationship, don't take it all upon yourself."

"Un. I couldn't do much but you can also rely on me, Ruki."

The two girls tightened their grip and put a hand on my cheeks. I gazed into their eyes and finally saw the concern that they have for me.

"Thank you, Aya, Satsuki. I'll be relying on you from now on."

"Good boy. Here. Use my lap and take a rest. Stop thinking about anything."

Satsuki tapped her supple thighs, urging me to lay my head on it.

Before I knew it, I was already laying down on Satsuki's while brushing my hair with her fingers. And after a while, I felt delicate fingers taking my hand and started squeezing it in an attempt to massage it.

"Satsuki beat me by giving you a lap pillow. I can only settle for this, tell me if it hurts, Ruki..."

Aya said as she continued her clumsy way of squeezing my hand. Despite that, I feel really comfortable from it.

In the end, the remaining time for our lunch break was spent like this, with me being tag-teamed by Satsuki and Aya.

I don't know when but I fell asleep feeling comfortable like that. The two woke me up when the bell rang. When I saw their faces, they're both flashing a satisfied smile as they looked at me. Instead of them being pampered by me, it became the other way around.

-

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As the class continued, the 5th period ended normally. Like yesterday, 6th and 7th period will be the time for the Mentor Program.

Izumi-senpai arrived earlier, unlike yesterday where she had me wait for almost an hour. She pulled me out of the room even before I could talk to my girls.

As I followed behind her, we ended up in the same room as yesterday. There's no Arisa-senpai or Ogawa in it and I doubt if they will show up.

What Arisa-senpai and I showed to her yesterday was surely still fresh on her mind. Will she confront me about it?

"After I left, did something else happen between you and Arisa?"

Ah. As I thought.