A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"And... well, how should I put it? I'm a man after all, and it would be bad if I accidentally saw something I shouldn't..."

"……Really?"

Nagasaki Motoyo tilted her head in feigned confusion, then she put the coffee cup aside and slowly approached Chihaya Tetsuya, whose expression became increasingly stiff.

"Then I'll ask Tetsuya to explain it to me in detail."

Nagasaki Suyo came in front of Chihaya Tetsuya, put her hands behind her back, and put on a defenseless posture.

"What on my body... is there that you shouldn't see?"

58

Chapter 58: Contractual relationships are above all else.

When interacting with all the girls around him, Chihaya Tetsuya always tries hard to keep a certain distance from them.

Among these, the sense of distance between him and Nagasaki Soyo can be said to be what Chihaya Tetsuya pays the most attention to.

In addition to the fact that Su Shi always treats him harshly, the other most important reason lies with Chihaya Tetsuya himself.

Although the other party is indeed a high school student of the same age as Aine, Suye's figure and temperament always make him subconsciously regard her as his peer. In addition, she is also his only communication channel with the economic consulting company. Compared with the "sisters" around him who are taken care of by him, Nagasaki Suye may be the only one who not only did not accept his care, but even assisted him in return, and has an equal relationship with him.

Because of this, Chihaya Tetsuya could never act like a guardian to her like he did to Ai and Aine.

Just like now, facing the completely defenseless Suyo who took the initiative to approach him, Chihaya Tetsu was completely unable to persuade her to calm down with a preaching attitude like he had done to Aine before. At this moment, under Nagasaki Suyo's nonchalant expression, the distance between the two was even close enough for Chihaya Tetsu to smell the other's scent——

"Tu, what happened suddenly, Su Shi..."

The room was still filled with the aroma of the cup of coffee, but when Su Shi got close to him, the fresh floral scent wafting from her body instantly occupied Chihaya Tetsuya's sense of smell.

Is it because she always uses high-end fragrance in her room? Or is it because she secretly uses perfume when changing clothes?

Chihaya Tetsuya's remaining brain capacity was completely unable to make any distinction.

He only knew that the fragrance was still destroying his already limited sanity, and the curvy figure made him unconsciously imagine what it would feel like if Su Shi had done the same thing to him that night.

"You know this too... This skirt isn't something you can show to others."

"Of course. After all, I'm not some random nympho, so this nightgown...I'll only wear it for you to see."

Although her voice was a little lower than usual, Nagasaki Suyo still said these words clearly.

On the other side, Chihaya Tetsuya first looked at the girl in front of him with an incredible look on his face, whose face was gradually flushing, and then he belatedly looked away.

"Sure enough...Su Shi likes me too?"

"Otherwise, I wouldn't do these things for you, would I?"

Nagasaki Suyo blushed and asked back:

"Things like moving upstairs to your house and helping you with housework—these things can't be explained by ordinary gratitude."

"That's right...that's true."

If it was really just out of gratitude, it would not be enough to make her responsible for everything including food, clothing and daily life.

In other words, she had already started to see herself in that light so long ago?

"But... Sushi, you should also know this, right? Besides you, Ai, Aine, and Xiangzi also have the same feelings towards me, and I have never given them any answers."

Facing the only girl whom he treated as an equal, Chihaya Tetsuya expressed his true thoughts.

"Honestly, even I'm not sure when I'll make my choice. Ai is my benefactor, who once depended on me for life. Aine is my family, who will be with me for the rest of my life. Xiangzi has also decided to become my partner in destiny. Under such circumstances, I really can't shamelessly ask more people to wait for my so-called response."

Chihaya Tetsuya replied very seriously.

Among the girls who fell in love with him, Su Shi was undoubtedly the most special one.

There was no lifelong karmic connection between the two of them, as there was between the other three. It was a truly equal relationship. It was precisely for this reason that Chihaya Tetsuya did not wish to give any irresponsible response.

"I'm honored to be liked by Su Shi, but that's why I want to explain this... I may never be able to give you the response you want, nor can I make you any promises, so if you turn back now, it's not too late—Woohoo!"

"I was wondering what you were going to say. Do you think I can't think of the things you can think of?"

Chihaya Tetsuya's dissuasion not only did not make Nagasaki Suyo back down, but instead made her express her feelings again.

"I've known about Hoshino Ai and Shoko for a long time. As for Aine... well, I did have some inklings of it, but I've only now confirmed it. It doesn't really make a difference, though. Regardless of whether she confesses her feelings or not, as long as our sibling relationship remains, I'm destined to be with her for the rest of my life."

Chihaya Tetsuya was stunned when he heard this and asked:

"You... even knowing this, you still decided to confess to me?"

"Well, after all, what I want from you isn't an ending where I can have you all to myself. Rather, it's a destination where I can always rely on you, where I no longer feel lonely, and where you can guide me on the road ahead. So... how should I put it..."

Nagasaki Suyo pondered for a moment before saying:

"Even if you don't choose me to be your lover in the end, I won't feel that lost. After all, even if I can't be your lover, we will still be partners in running StarrySky together. I will always have a place by your side, and you will always need my help."

"Eh……"

Just like when he first heard Xiangzi's feelings, this confession, which was different from Aine and love, made Chihaya Tetsuya fall into confusion for a moment.

"Actually... is there such a thing as this kind of love..."

"After all, my experience is quite unique. Compared to a fragile relationship like marriage, which could fall apart at any moment, I believe our mutual support and companionship is more stable and happy... This is probably what you've always been pursuing, right? A long-lasting, reassuring companionship."

As Nagasaki Suyo spoke, she moved closer to Chihaya Tetsuya again.

"So, what I need isn't some lifelong agreement, nor a promise to marry. What I want is a 'contractual relationship' that's more solid than that. And what you have to pay me isn't those heavy answers or agreements you talk about. As long as you don't 'fire' me and moderately meet some of my 'demands', then I will always stand by your side."

At this point, she suddenly thought of something, and then said to Chihaya Tetsuya with a smile:

"By the way, for example, Xiangzi's current 'harem plan', do you want to know what it is all about?"

"……Eh?"

59

Chapter 59: A reminder from Ruoye Mu.

"Aine-san, would you be willing to share Chihaya-san with someone else?"

"……Eh?"

Chihaya Aine, who was sitting in a window seat in the cafe, looking forward to meeting Meow Meng in person, was startled by the sudden question.

"Mu!? Why are you asking such a question all of a sudden?"

"Just curious."

Compared to the shaken Chihaya Aine, Wakaba Mu's expression remained unchanged.

"On the day the live ended, Aine-san slept in the same room with Hoshino Ai and Chihaya-san, right? You were so hostile to her before that, why did you allow this to happen?"

"Uh……"

Chihaya Aine was speechless for a moment.

If it was Su Shi who asked her this question, she would definitely brush it off with her usual cheerful attitude. However, Wakaba Mu was her guitar teacher, and her brother had once told her to treat this new friend with a unique family background well, so Chihaya Aine really didn't dare to be flippant with her attitude.

And… maybe it was influenced by the atmosphere when she first arrived, but Chihaya Aine always felt that this cute and well-behaved girl, who looked like a doll, was emitting a faint aura of danger that she couldn't resist…

……

Well, it shouldn't be a problem if I tell her, right?

After all, she was only living in the Suyo family temporarily. Once Toyokawa's band got on track, she would probably leave here, so in a sense she was a complete outsider. What's more, she was already an insider since she went to Yokohama with her brother. In addition, there was a kinship between her and Toyokawa, so there was no point in hiding the truth from her.

and so……

"Well, should we call it sharing or cooperation..."

After much hesitation, Chihaya Aine finally decided to explain what happened that night.

"Strictly speaking, we both compromised. After all, Hoshino Ai and I will definitely stay by my brother's side no matter what. Rather than continuing to fight and end up hurting each other, it's better to accept each other's existence as soon as possible."

At this point, Chihaya Aine scratched her cheek a little embarrassedly:

"And if Hoshino Ai is here, brother won't be able to put on a guardian's attitude to prevaricate us. And if I'm here, brother will be more indulgent towards our requests. So, this is just a cooperation based on compromise."

"..."

Ruoye Mu tilted his head after hearing this, and then asked:

“Is it different from sharing?”

"Wow...if you insist, there really is no difference."

Chihaya Aine shrank her neck a little embarrassedly.

"But this is better than us fighting over her forever, right? Although I did initially think she was selfish, now she's given up on wanting to monopolize me and has become my exclusive model. So, for my happiness, it's okay for me to accept her existence."

"I see."

Wakaba Mu nodded thoughtfully.

"...In other words, as long as the other person can help Chihaya-san's future, you will make some concessions to her?"

"That's not the case! It's just that Hoshino Ai's situation is special!"

Chihaya Aine quickly denied:

"She's my brother's savior and an indispensable partner in his business! If it were any other girl, I wouldn't share her so easily!"

"It still said 'share' in the end... but that's not important."

Ruoye Mu shook his head first, then listed them one by one:

"Aine-san, I wonder if you've ever thought that Hoshino Ai isn't the only 'irreplaceable' girl around Chihaya-san."

"……Eh?"

Chihaya Aine was stunned when she heard this, and then Wakaba Mu explained in detail:

"First of all, it's Suyo. You should know that the successful establishment of Starry Sky is entirely due to the support of Suyo's mother. For Chihaya-san, without Suyo, Starry Sky would no longer exist."

"Well... that's exactly the case..."

Chihaya Aine nodded.

"It's not just [Starry Sky], Su Shi also takes care of her brother in daily life, like cooking for him, making coffee for him, and tidying the room. And I don't dislike Su Shi myself... Well, if it's Su Shi, if it's Su Shi..."

Chihaya Aine, who had originally maintained a tough attitude, immediately softened.

And then Wakaba Mu continued:

"As for Shoko, she's already formed a very close bond with Chihaya-san. She's become his first employee and a trusted assistant designer. There's also the prospect of future collaboration with AveMujica, and plans to enroll together at Filia in a year to develop their connections. The two of them will spend far more time together than you, her younger sister, will. And considering the heavy burden Shoko carries, and Chihaya-san's personality, I doubt their bond will end anytime soon."

"As for Toyokawa-san, she does have a close relationship with her brother... but she still has a lot of unfinished business of her own, so she probably can't be counted in yet!"

Chihaya Aine quickly said:

"I know that Fengchuan-san is burdened with a huge debt that an ordinary person couldn't repay in a lifetime! So, if my brother could help her a little, it wouldn't be a bad thing... That's what I think."

"...As expected of brother and sister."

Faced with Chihaya Aine's kindness and soft-heartedness, which were exactly the same as Chihaya Tetsuya's, Wakaba Mu couldn't help but sigh.

"Since I've received so much care from the Chihaya family, I'll help you prepare mentally in advance."

"remind?"

After hearing this, Chihaya Aine immediately showed a confused expression.

"What do you want to remind me of?"

"Perhaps the results you and Hoshino Ai just achieved together have led you to mistakenly believe that you have taken the initiative. However... there are more than just the two of you who are capable of taking action. For example, now that both of us are away from home, it is the best time for Su Shi to take action."

"……Eh?"

Hearing these words, Chihaya Aine's expression suddenly changed.

And Wakaba Mu continued:

"But from what you just said, you don't seem to mind sharing Chihaya-san with Suze, so you probably don't care about this little thing."

"No, no, wait a minute... It's not that I don't mind, but if things really develop to that point, there's nothing we can do..."

Chihaya Aine muttered softly.

"If they really do that at home behind my back... Ugh... I haven't even been intimate with my brother at home yet..."

As Chihaya Aine's imagination continued to deepen, her expression suddenly became more and more conflicted.