The date with Kari had ended, but the date with Momo had only just begun.
The plan was simple: take Momo to the Jindai Botanical Garden in Chofu, about 30 to 40 minutes from Sainan, in Tokyo. Of course, Momo didn't know where I was taking her. She only knew that our date would be outside the house, unless Nana had told her, but I doubted it because Nana knew very well how to keep secrets.
{Note: this botanical garden really exists. Search on internet if you don't believe me}
After finishing my date with Kari, we both got up calmly, showered, and then had breakfast. There was still plenty of time until the agreed hour, so I had more than enough time to have breakfast with Kari without any rush.
After yesterday, Kari and I were closer than ever and there were no longer any barriers between us. Our conversations, our behavior, everything felt much more natural and harmonious, like a newly married couple on their honeymoon.
With that said, after saying goodbye to Kari, I headed home at a leisurely pace. There was no hurry. It was still very early and the girls were probably still sleeping or just waking up, so there was no need to rush and I could enjoy the pleasant morning breeze.
…
A good while later.
As I had predicted, all the girls were still asleep, so I simply went to my room, where Lala was lying naked as usual, and lay down beside her for a few minutes, waiting for time to pass.
Time passed and the date with Momo officially began. My plan was simple: go to the train station and from there head to the botanical garden where we would spend a great day surrounded by flowers and at the end… well, let's just say the cherry on top would come at the end.
However, although that was my initial plan, I now found myself waiting outside the house for Momo to come out the door. The reason? The reason was simple: Momo didn't want me to see her dress until she was completely dressed. Even though I didn't understand the reason—since I was going to see her just seconds after she changed—they still kicked me out of the house and I had to wait outside.
The good thing was that we had plenty of time, so there was no need to hurry, and I waited obediently outside.
"Um… Akira. Do you have a moment?" someone said.
When I turned around, I realized it was Haruka, who was wearing a very pretty blue pajama that suited her quite well.
"I was waiting for Momo, but I suppose it'll still be a while before she comes out, so yes, I have a bit of time," I nodded.
Ahem, when I left the house, Momo was still in her pajamas and I hadn't been waiting outside for more than three minutes, so anyone could imagine how long it would take for Momo to finish getting dressed. In fact, even with the dress already chosen, it would take quite a while. I don't want to sound sexist, but no matter the race, all women are the same.
"Can you… um, come to my house? I want to talk to you about something," Haruka said.
She seemed a bit more reserved than usual, which was quite strange coming from her.
"Alright. Anyway, Momo will take quite a while to get dressed, so I can entertain myself for a few minutes," I nodded.
"Perfect, and don't worry, it won't take more than five minutes," Haruka said with a smile.
Before, she wouldn't even have smiled at me, let alone looked at me, and if she had, it would have been with a furrowed brow like Ren does. However, the change she had undergone during the past few weeks was impressive. Right now she didn't seem like the same Haruka who wanted to flirt with Lala at all costs and behaved in a superior and arrogant manner. Now she was… a completely normal girl. I would say her personality is similar to Momioka's, only a little more reserved.
With that said, I followed her to her house and sat down at the table.
"Would you like something to drink? I have some exquisite tea that I brought from Tokyo and I still have quite a bit left," Haruka said.
Haruka's family was extremely rich and the tea she was offering me wasn't the typical tea you could buy at a supermarket, but a rather special tea that wasn't easy to get and was quite expensive, but delicious.
"If you don't mind," I nodded.
Since she was offering it, I wasn't going to refuse. Besides, there was still plenty of time, so I could have not one but three cups of tea.
"I'll serve it right away," Haruka said.
And as if she were a traditional Japanese wife, Haruka served the tea with an elegance that was unusual for her.
When I saw the tea Haruka served me, I immediately took a sip and my eyes widened strongly. It was delicious, nothing like the one I buy at the supermarket!
"Do you like it?" Haruka asked curiously.
"I love it," I nodded.
"I'm glad you like it. It's my favorite too, although it's not easy to get," Haruka added.
It was a delicious tea, her favorite, but not easy to buy, although for her family it was much easier. After all, they were disgustingly rich.
"Thank you very much… I don't want to be impatient, but… what is it you want?" I asked curiously.
Haruka's hand trembled. The moment had arrived, the moment to tell Akira the whole truth, and she wasn't completely ready to do it. To be honest, Haruka hadn't planned this. In fact, Lala was technically the one who was supposed to inform Akira about what happened yesterday, but this morning, while she was drinking a glass of warm milk, she looked out the window and saw Akira waiting alone. Since she had spent yesterday afternoon playing and talking with the girls, she knew that today Momo would have a date with Akira, so she assumed Akira was waiting for Momo to come out of the house, exactly what she had planned yesterday. Exactly, Momo had already planned this situation since yesterday. In fact, to be more precise, Momo had already chosen the clothes she would wear today thanks to everyone contributing their grain of sand, so even the author doesn't understand why she is taking so long.
But back to the topic. Seeing him there alone, waiting, she decided to tell Akira everything. She had to be brave and not depend on Lala, not because she didn't want to, but because she had an opportunity in front of her that she had to take advantage of. So, on impulse, she brought him to her house to tell him what had happened.
"You see, I have a favor to ask you and I would like you to say yes," Haruka said.
"A favor? Before I would have refused, but given that you have undergone a notable change in your behavior… explain what kind of favor and if I can, I'll help you," I nodded.
I'm not going to beat around the bush. She has to know why I'm willing to help her. I want her to know that the only reason I'm willing to help her is not because of Lala or the girls, but because she truly seems to have changed.
"Perfect, then I'll tell you everything without omitting anything," Haruka said.
Then she told Akira everything. Her conversation with Souta, her lie, her conversation with the girls yesterday, and the conclusion they reached. The rest of the day was a girls' afternoon, so there was no need to tell him about it. Besides, they just played, talked, tried on clothes, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary that deserved to be told.
After listening to the entire explanation, Akira took a sip of his tea, calm and completely imperturbable.
"And basically that's all," Haruka finished explaining.
"I see. So you told your childhood friend that my girls were actually yours and when you wanted to fix it, it was already too late. Then you asked my girls to do you the favor of pretending to be your girlfriends. They refused and in the end you agreed that I would help you with your problem, preventing your friend from laughing at you. Am I wrong?" I said.
"It's a very summarized summary, but in essence that's it, yes," Haruka nodded.
Haruka was a bit nervous because if Akira got angry with her, it was over. She would have to accept Souta's mockery for the next few years and the worst of all, she would have to put up with it because she had done the same thing before and had no right to complain.
"Alright, I don't mind helping you, but… what exactly do you want me to do?" I asked.
I understand that what she wants is for me to prevent her friend from laughing at her, but… how do I do that? Do I hit him? Do I threaten him? That's the only thing that comes to mind.
"Ahem, I've already thought about it and just threatening him a little would be enough for me. You see, Souta may seem like a confident guy, maybe even a bit dangerous, but the reality is different," Haruka said.
"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"When it comes to picking up women he is the bravest man that exists, but… for everything else he is very shy and cowardly. If you threaten him a little, he will cower and won't dare laugh at me. There's no need to hit him or anything, just threaten him a little and he will cower," Haruka explained.
"And he'll do it just because I tell him to?" I asked.
"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Since I arrived in this city you have not only grown but now you have more… more…" Haruka tried to say.
Her gaze shifted to Akira's torso, which even through his clothes you could notice his abs, and without meaning to, a little drool fell from her mouth.
"More what?" I asked, somewhat confused.
Noticing that she had drooled over a man, Haruka quickly composed herself and became a bit nervous. Had she really drooled over a man's abs? What was happening to her? No, it wasn't that she had drooled over a man's abs, but over Akira's abs! Her confusing feelings surfaced again and she finally realized that she was alone with Akira in her own house. Alone! Her heart began to beat strongly, her cheeks flushed, and her hands began to sweat.
"Are you okay?" I asked curiously.
She had suddenly become static. How strange…
"N-No, nothing's wrong, I'm fine! Ahem, I wanted to say that you have become much taller and more athletic. If someone like you, someone with such an imposing presence, threatens Souta, he will definitely cower. I have no doubts about that," Haruka said quickly.
Haruka tried to calm down, but it was in vain. Her heart was beating strongly now that she had realized she was alone with Akira. Her feelings were confusing, but only to her, because any reasonably intelligent person could realize that Haruka liked Akira. She just refused to accept it herself. And it wasn't abnormal. After all, Haruka still liked women and didn't feel anything for any man… for any man except Akira, whom she was in love with. It's normal not to want to admit that, being a lesbian, you like a man, especially considering that no other man attracts you, only one.
Although little by little, Haruka was accepting her feelings, but it would still take her time to accept that she was in love with a man despite having felt attraction only for girls her whole life. It's something difficult to accept.
"Alright, I'll help you. When do I have to intimidate your friend?" I asked curiously.
"Thank you so much for agreeing, and it will be on Christmas Day!" Haruka said.
"On Christmas? Mmm, Haruka, I would like to spend the night with my girls if possible," I said with a furrowed brow.
Now the girls are my family and I wanted to spend Christmas with them. It's normal, isn't it?
"I understand, but don't worry, they will only stay for lunch and leave before night, so you can spend time with your girls without any obstacles," Haruka said.