CH 44

The scene could be considered inevitable in a way.

“Hey, what do you mean?”

“…Well…”

At the Gundo family dining table, Kagetaka, who was Arashi’s father, was being questioned by his wife, Yukari.

The subject of their conversation was their son, Arashi… Kagetaka had no intention of informing them, but Kana, who had heard everything from Hisui, relayed it all to him.

“Dad, what’s going on?”

Yoshiya, who wasn’t present at the time like Yukari, asked Kagetaka the same question.

However, when Kana mentioned Hououin’s name, Yoshiya recalled the scene from that time – when he was enjoying shopping with his girlfriend from university and Shirayuki, who was Hououin’s daughter, was with Arashi.

(…That guy… Arashi is going to be a son-in-law? And to the Hououin family, no less?)

Kana conveyed everything at the family dining table.

Arashi going to the Hououin family as a son-in-law, getting engaged to Hououin’s daughter, and the decisive outing with Hisui Hououin… Yoshiya bit his lip.

Whether Kana was aware of Yoshiya’s reaction or not, she continued talking.

“Hououin… You’re kidding, right? I mean, that family is one of the top three in Japan, if not the top! And yet, they chose Arashi… that failure?”

Yukari never believed it.

Although it was something Kana suddenly brought up, as a loving mother, she wanted to believe her daughter’s words. However, the content was too absurd to be true.

For Yukari, her husband Kagetaka was an excellent and indispensable pillar of the family… Their other children, apart from Arashi, were also outstanding, ensuring a secure future.

Yukari had never lacked anything since she met Kagetaka… However, she couldn’t help but be drawn to the prestige of the Hououin name and had entertained the idea of somehow benefiting from it, even if it meant using Arashi.

“…That’s enough about Arashi. We’ve already made an agreement on paper… Yoshiya, Kana, forget about Arashi.”

That was all Kagetaka had to say.

Despite already being in a precarious situation, Kagetaka had noticed the change in Hisui’s expression when Kana had said various things about Arashi. It was evident that Hisui had taken a liking to Arashi, and Kagetaka understood that she genuinely cared for him. That’s why he intended to take the stance of not meddling with things that shouldn’t be touched, like a deity.

“If you’re considering the well-being of this family… the company… and the future, then I forbid any contact with Arashi, even if you happen to run into him in the town.”

“What…?”

“…You! We’re talking about Hououin! Can’t we explore other options…?”

“This is already a settled matter!”

Kagetaka interrupted Yukari as she tried to speak further.

He had no intention of yelling, but he knew that if they refrained from contacting Arashi any further, the secret would be kept… His position at work, the trust within the family, everything would be preserved. That’s why Kagetaka had no choice but to say this.

“I’ll say it again. It’s already decided that Arashi will go to their place, and when he turns 18, he will be engaged to Shirayuki, their daughter. It’s settled, Arashi will no longer be a member of the Gundo family, he will become Hououin Arashi! Do you understand?”

As if he had said what he wanted to say and finished it off, Kagetaka began tidying up the dishes.

Yukari, Yoshiya, and Kana were dumbfounded by this sight of Kagetaka, which they had never seen before, but there was nothing they could do but remain silent after being told all of that.

However… there was a feeling within the three of them that resembled jealousy. For the family, including Kagetaka, Arashi was considered a blemish, almost a stain.

He was such a nuisance that they were willing to forget he had ever been part of the family… That’s the extent of his existence. But now, he had caught the eye of the Hououin family, and it seemed like decades of future tranquility were promised.

(…Marriage to Hououin’s daughter… That’s such an extravagant privilege. And to have such a beautiful woman by his side all the time… Why does someone like Arashi get to have that kind of life?!)

The younger brother, whom he had always looked down upon, was about to embark on the best life.

Of course, Yoshiya was also part of the elite and had a promising future. He was even involved with a respectable young lady.

And above all, there were times when he had convinced Kana to abide by her advice.

But even so… Faced with the prestigious name of Hououin, he was still one of those humans who couldn’t help but feel jealousy.

“What’s… happening?”

“…”

The Gundo family was filled with surprise at the sudden turn of events.

However, Arashi would never return to this house again… His future was already determined as a member of the Hououin family.

Truly, it seemed they had let a big fish slip away.

▽▼

“…Ah-choo!”

“Oh my, do you have a cold?”

“Are you okay?”

Mt sudden sneeze worried Shirayuki and Hisui.

It didn’t seem like a cold, perhaps just a spontaneous sneeze due to an itchy nose.

“Maybe someone’s talking about me.”

“Hmm… Could it be your former family?”

“That’s possible. Maybe they’re questioning him?”

Hisui said with a smirk.

It might be true, but honestly, I don’t care anymore. It’s not something that concerns me.

(…Or could this be the cause of the sneeze?)

We were currently in the bathroom.

I casually carried my change of clothes and headed to the bathroom alone. Shirayuki and Hisui followed me and started undressing together. By the time I realized what was happening, it was already too late.

The two of them, completely naked, embraced my bare arms and led me to the bathroom, where they proceeded to wash my body for me.

(Since it’s already summer, it’s not cold at all… I must be getting too excited and losing my mind.)

I’ve already done intimate things with them, so it’s not like it’s something new.

Still, it wasn’t just about taking a bath with two beautiful women. The fact that they were washing my body together gave me an indescribable sense of guilt.

And moreover… the way they washed me without using a towel was even more incredible… I can only describe it as incredible.

“Does it feel good?”

“Feels good?”

“…It’s amazing.”

Seriously, this soft and squishy sensation is addicting. It’s not bad to get all fired up in the bath… but I mustn’t forget that we came here to wash our bodies. I steeled my heart and endured, and afterwards, the three of us soaked in the bathtub, relaxed and at ease.

“…This is how a bath should be, right?”

After washing my body, it feels good to soak in the slightly hot bathwater.

Perhaps my expression was quite relaxed, because Shirayuki and Hisui chuckled and leaned closer to me. I was truly in the perfect situation, enjoying the best sensations and the ultimate relaxing time.

“By the way, you’ve really slimmed down, haven’t you?”

“Right? I think it’s quite good.”

While Hisui was kneading my upper arm, she mentioned it, so I let her touch not only my arms but also my stomach.

“But this part still needs a bit more work, right?”

“Are you getting a bit carried away?”

It seems there’s still some excess fat left.

When I grabbed her hand moving from my stomach towards the lower side, she pouted cutely, but I didn’t mind.

Then, as if taking Hisui’s place, Shirayuki’s hand approached, but I stopped her, and Shirayuki pouted in the same way.

“Aren’t you two too alike?”

“We’re mother and daughter, after all.”

“We’re family.”

Well, that’s true. As I laughed, the two of them chuckled as well.

After leaving the bath and returning to the room, I thought again about the Gundo family.

If they were to fully understand my circumstances, they would surely be confused and wonder why. However, I couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of joy in that moment… I wondered if that meant I had a bad personality.