Chapter 91 A Woman
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Checking the email from Fujita-san, it read: ‘I’m right behind you.’ I turned around to find her waving her hand slightly.
”Hirokazu-kun, do you have a moment?” Mayu asked.
”I was just about to head home, so I suppose I do,” I said.
We decided to duck into a cafe near the station.
”Thanks for the other day. My treat this time,” Mayu said. “So, why do you think I cut my hair?”
When we’d met earlier that day, Fujita-san’s hair had transformed from a semi-long style into a short, bright brown cut. At the time, she’d claimed she just wanted a change of pace.
”Didn’t you say earlier it was just for a change of pace?” I asked.
”It’s more like a declaration of resolve,” she replied.
”Resolve? About what?” I asked.
”When I went back to my parents’ house, my ex-boyfriend came by, saying he wanted to get back together. He had the nerve to say that after bringing another woman into his own apartment. Unbelievable, right?” Mayu said.
”Doesn’t that just mean he’s still that into you, Mayu-chan?” I said.
”If he were, he wouldn’t have brought another woman over. I’m honestly wondering what I ever saw in a guy like that. He’s in a completely different league compared to you, Hirokazu-kun,” Mayu said.
”I’m just an ordinary guy,” I replied.
”Most people can’t devote themselves to others without expecting anything in return. And because I hated being all secretive about it, I told Manami-san that I have feelings for you that go beyond friendship,” she said.
”What! I haven’t heard a word about this from Manami!” I exclaimed.
”She told me that since you would accept it, the confession should come from me. I don’t care if it’s only while we’re students—I want you to make me your girlfriend. And if not a girlfriend, I’m fine with being ‘friends with benefits.’ That is my resolve,” Mayu said.
”Friends with benefits…?” I muttered.
”I know we can’t get married, so I don’t mind. Girls have desires too, you know. I just want you to be my outlet. Ever since I experienced that kind of intimacy, I feel like my libido has spiked. But I can’t satisfy myself. Even once a month is enough. Please,” she pleaded.
”A relationship built only on s*x is…” I started.
”I’m the one saying I’m okay with that,” Mayu interrupted.
”Mayu-chan, you actually want to be my girlfriend, don’t you?” I asked.
”I’m not letting myself hope for that much,” she replied.
”I hate the idea of a relationship being just about sex. So, I’ll make you my girlfriend,” I said.
”Wait. Really?” she asked.
”I take responsibility for the things I say,” I replied.
And just like that, I ended up with a third girlfriend (sweat).
”So… Mayu-chan, you’re the third one,” I said.
”Wait, what?” she asked.
There was no point in hiding it now since she’d find out eventually, so I told her about Yuzuki and Emilia.
”Hirokazu-kun, what on earth is going on with you?” Mayu asked.
”I just didn’t want anyone to be in pain because of me. And since Manami was the one who accepted it first, things just… spiraled into this. Honestly, I don’t want to increase the number any further,” I explained.
”Would you accept Yuri too then?” she asked.
”Takahashi-san doesn’t seem to have any interest in me,” I said.
”You might be the only one who doesn’t realize it, Hirokazu-kun. If someone gave her a little push, there’s no telling where she’d land,” Mayu said.
”Please, just stop right there. I’m aiming to be a lawyer; that would be a total moral disaster, wouldn’t it?” I said.
”As long as everyone involved understands, who cares what the rest of the world thinks?” she replied.
I had a sinking feeling that things were drifting toward a situation I couldn’t even begin to fathom.
* * *
When I got home, Manami approached me with a beaming smile.
”So, how did things go with Mayu?”
Until now, she had always called her Fujita-san, but now she was on a first-name basis. Mayu (who told me she wanted me to stop using ‘-chan’ since she’s now my girlfriend) must have reached out already.
”I made her my girlfriend,” I said.
”That makes three. I wonder how many more there will be. Kotoha-chan is a candidate too, isn’t she?” Manami teased.
”If I went that far, I wouldn’t be able to look Watanabe-sensei in the eye,” I said.
”That might be true for you. But Kotoha-chan probably thinks it doesn’t matter at all,” Manami said.
Manami headed back to the kitchen to finish dinner, still giggling to herself.
* * *
The next day, when I ran into Mayu at the university, she acted just like her usual self. I’d worried she might be overly clingy now that we were official, but those fears were groundless. It was a Home Tutor¹ day, but since I had a bit of a gap in my schedule, I took Mayu to a department store. I bought her a necklace and earrings featuring a Gerbera² motif—her birth month flower.
”Is this really okay?” she asked.
”I’ve been giving everyone birthday and Christmas gifts. It would be sad if only Mayu didn’t have what the others have,” I said.
”Hirokazu-kun, you’re too kind. I have to report this to the group chat!” she said.
”Wait. You’re already in the chat?” I asked.
”Manami-san added me yesterday. She told me ‘Don’t show this to Hirokazu-san,’ so I won’t,” Mayu replied.
”I’ll bet it’s nothing but them complaining about me,” I said.
”Who knows? But because everyone accepted me, I finally felt relieved that I could be your girlfriend. And getting this present… it really made it sink in,” Mayu said.
After saying goodbye to Mayu, I headed over to Watanabe-sensei’s house.
Kotoha-chan had climbed to 21st place in the second semester finals, but cracking the top 10 for the third semester was looking like a steep climb. Our original arrangement was only for a year, but her mother had already asked me to continue tutoring her for the full three years of school.
When I entered Kotoha-chan’s room, she was glued to her phone.
”Manami-oneechan is so cute. I was shocked by how much prettier she’d become when I saw her the other day. I totally admire her,” Kotoha said.
She seemed to be scrolling through photos from my New Year’s visit.
”Setting that aside, let’s get to work,” I said.
”Oh, right. Since my rank went up in the finals, give me a smooch!” Kotoha said.
She hadn’t mentioned anything like that when her rank improved before. Where was this coming from?
”Manami-oneechan said that if I work hard, it’s okay to get a smooch from you,” she claimed.
”There is no way Manami would ever say that,” I replied.
”Busted, huh?” she giggled.
She really thinks she can get away with anything just by using Manami’s name. I can’t let my guard down for a second.
”In that case, guess what color my panties are today! If you get it right, I’ll show you,” Kotoha teased.
”If you actually want to reach the top 10, you need to focus on studying, right?” I said.
”It might be impossible already,” she muttered.
”You can’t just give up,” I said.
”But I worked so hard… so, it’s fine now,” she replied.
I had to find some way to motivate her.
”If Kotoha-chan’s grades tank, I might get fired. Are you okay with that?” I asked.
”Mama already asked, ‘Can Hirokazu be the tutor forever?’ so you won’t get fired. Besides, if I ask Papa, there’s no way he’d let you go,” she said.
”How about we make it a kiss if you get into the top 15?” I proposed.
”Top 20 is better,” she countered.
”That’s only one spot away. You already jumped six places; you can definitely hit the top 15,” I said.
”Mmm… then the top 18. But if I hit the top 15, I’ll work extra hard if you kiss me every time,” Kotoha negotiated.
”Fine, let’s go with that,” I agreed.
”Time to study!” she cheered.
I have a feeling I’m going to be wrapped around her finger all year long.
—
Summary:
Hirokazu officially makes Fujita Mayu his third girlfriend after she offers a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement out of desperation. He later gifts her jewelry, only to discover she has already been integrated into a secret group chat by his first girlfriend, Manami. Finally, Hirokazu struggles to motivate his student Kotoha, eventually resorting to promising a kiss as a reward for her academic performance.
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Character Insight:
Mayu’s ‘resolve’ is a shield for her low self-worth, as she tries to secure a place in Hirokazu’s life by any means necessary. Hirokazu’s refusal of a casual sexual relationship highlights his rigid, almost burdensome sense of responsibility toward the women he interacts with. Meanwhile, Kotoha’s manipulative charm and Manami’s ‘shadow management’ of the harem suggest that Hirokazu is less the master of his fate and more a passenger in a domestic structure designed by the women around him.
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Behind the Scene:
The transition from ‘Fujita-san’ to ‘Mayu’ marks her formal entry into the inner circle. The mention of the ‘group chat’ is a classic light novel device to show the heroines’ solidarity and their tactical advantage over the protagonist.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Fujita – A female university student who was part of the same bus hike group as Hirokazu. A beautiful girl who recently broke up with her boyfriend. She claims to have the largest breasts Hirokazu has ever seen. She seeks emotional release and ‘punishment’ from Hirokazu to cope with her guilt. Brown short haired.
• Mayu – A female student and member of Hirokazu’s study group. She lives in a rental apartment/condo. Hirokazu is her third sexual partner.
• Emilia – A second-year student, biracial (French father, Japanese mother), with white skin, dark brown semi-long hair, modest chest, and hazel eyes. A talented hurdler known as the Snow Princess. Looks like bisque doll.
• Yuri – A friend who accidentally gets drunk and becomes sick. She is self-conscious about her appearance and develops feelings for Inamori after he cares for her.
• Kotoha – Junior high school student, middle school 3rd year (short height). Daughter of Watanabe-sensei. Energetic, playful, short hair in a ponytail.
• Watanabe – The protagonist’s guardian. He is a lawyer who is skilled at dealing with difficult people and has a history with Yabuta’s father.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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