Chapter 459: insert Chapter title here |
'It's like a shoujo love triangle, but worse...'
The 'main story' for Mister Kai, Mom, and Miss Elise was already over. The 'time skip' had happened too. And just when Mister Kai and Mom were starting to rekindle their flame after Mister Kai was starting to get his footing raising his unexpected daughter, the other heroine, Miss Elise, showed up again.
In short...
'Super messy.'
Rin was sure that her mom wouldn't ever ask Mister Kai to leave Miss Elise for her.
'Mom is too nice for that. And especially if a little girl is involved...'
But at the same time, Rin was sure that her mom wouldn't agree to sharing either, or being a mistress.
'Mom IS an all or nothing person...'
Part of that was the way she had to raise Rin. The other part of that was because she was jaded about love in general.
'If Mister Kai wants to be with Mom...'
Honestly, Rin didn't think it was possible now. Mister Kai was nice, and he was pretty capable.
But the only man that Rin could think of being able to pull off properly loving multiple people was Mister John.
And even HE chose Miss Yue. One person. He ALSO went out of his way to gently nip away any budding affections from women before they could bloom. That, or delicately reposition those affections into a platonic bond.
Like how he stubbornly refused Rin's affections for him at the start because he recognized it came from a desperate sense of gratitude and dependency instead of genuine attraction. And also because he knew it wasn't good for her.
Yuri frowned and said, "That's right... It must be super complicated right now with Miss Elise and Tsuki too." She shook her head and said, "I still can't believe that Miss Elise is alive. Grandpa was convinced that she was dead."
Rin giggled. "If there's anything I've learned since meeting Mister John, it's that miracles happen all the time!"
Yuri snorted. "Right. Miracle." She shook her head and said, "It's more likely that John and Titor concocted some crazy timetravel heist to pull her back from the brink of death or something."
Rin shrugged. "Maybe?"
Yuri paused and gave Rin a side-eye. "Senpai... is there something you're not telling me?"
Rin giggled. "There's a lot I'm not telling you, silly~ But you'll have to figure it out yourself or ask Mister John~"
...Rin still didn't know for sure. But she was 99% that Mister John was a returnee from an isekai of some sort now. Especially after the incident with Hana.
He never did confirm it.
But Rin was DEFINITELY sure he had magic or some 'cheat.' And there was the harem aura too!
Yuri opened her mouth to reply. But then a bell chimed. The first morning bell telling everyone to head to class. Hearing that, Yuri frowned and said, "...Okay, we are SO talking more about this later, Senpai."
Rin giggled and started skipping to class. "Maybe~ Catch me first, Riri~"
"Wait! Senpai! Dammit...! You know that I can't catch your freakish Olympic level speed...!"
===
Meggie yawned, walking out of class with her bag slung over her shoulder.
Morning classes came and went without any trouble.
'For once, thankfully.'
There had been a bit of an incident where the girls who had bullied Emma had their parents show up to take them out of school. And there had been some fatty who started making a racket at the gate.
But then Mister Claus and Seth showed up before 'politely' escorting him off campus via controlled propulsion.
...Okay, they threw him over the school gate, caught him, and then marched him away for a 'talk.'
'Should have taken some pictures...'
Maybe Meggie would ask her mom for the security footage. It would be fun to edit that and post it on her social media accounts...
But anyway.
Classes were over now. Since it was Saturday, they only had the morning classes and homeroom. Because that was over, they were all dismissed just before lunchtime normally would start.
Which meant they were free.
And by 'they,' Meggie meant her, Emma, Tsuki, and Peri.
'...So how did it end up in this mess?'
A talkative and annoyingly pushy red-haired boy. Ares, the nephew from Mars, the attorney John had on retainer for some projects.
A collected and nonchalant boy with black hair and crimson eyes. Rei, the nephew of Akira, who was a returnee from another world and currently running a massive streamed ARG.
Then, acting like he was their minder and also looking like he was irritated out of his mind, a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes who looked a bit like John. Al Smith, Meggie's cousin.
'...Should I just ditch them?'
Meggie had wanted to just have a chat with Emma and Tsuki.
But Peri had showed up, insisting that he would protect Emma.
The moment he did though, the other boys showed up on cue, as if trying to get in between Peri and the other girls.
Other girls being Meggie and Tsuki.
And right now...
"I told you, we should go play some sports!" Ares crossed his arms and said, "It's Saturday! It's boring to just sit around inside!"
Rei idly ran his hand through his hair and said, "Girls don't like to play sports with guys, Ares."
Al subtly stood between the two boys and Meggie before saying, "And you two are acting like you have a say in their plans. Cut it out."
Peri subtly moved as well, positioning himself in front of Emma. "If you want to play games, we can do it right now."
Al noticed and then shifted to stand beside Peri. "Yeah, we can play games right now. Two on two."
Watching the stand-off, Meggie clicked her tongue and murmured, "Boys. They're the same anywhere you go, huh?"
Meggie was VERY much reminded of the flashy young masters who kept trying to show off in front of 'jade beauties' back in the Three Realms.
And she was ALSO very much reminded about how much she hated it. Especially when they were trying to impress HER of all people while being so weak.
Which meant that, right now, Meggie had to make a decision before it spiralled into something annoying.
And as for what Meggie decided...
"Yeah, no. We're done here." Meggie lightly clapped the shoulders of Al and Peri. "You take care of them like the good little boys you are."
Peri immediately turned a bright red. "G-Good little boy...?!"
Al's eyes lit up and he puffed out his chest. "Leave it to me, Cousin!"
Emma tilted her head, clutching her bag against her blouse. Her emerald eyes flitted between the boys and said, "Um... is it a good idea to-"
Meggie cut her off. Without a word, she walked over and scooped Emma up, tossing her over the right shoulder. Then she moved and scooped Tsuki up next, tossing her over the left shoulder.
Emma turned a bright red and said, "M-MEGGIE?!"
Tsuki turned red too and said, "L-Let me down! I can walk! Mou...!"
"Denied." Meggie glanced at the two blonde boys who had decided to martyr themselves today for absolutely no benefit. Then she nodded and said, "Catch you later."
After that, she booked it down the hallway, a girl over each shoulder.