Ever since Takumi had helped the Akizuki family achieve their "reconciliation of the century," there had been no more barriers between the mother and her two daughters.
Airi Akizuki and Marina Akizuki came out shortly afterward. Seeing Kayoko hugging Takumi, they merely brightened with delight before hurrying over as well.
"Takumi-kun~~"
Marina was the first to throw herself into Takumi's arms, claiming the other available spot.
Seeing her older sister beat her to it, Airi immediately grew anxious.
"Onee-san, that's so unfair! You already had Takumi all to yourself for days before, and now you're doing this again."
"Airi~ It can't be helped."
Faced with her younger sister's complaint, Marina had now learned how to tease her back.
Clearly, the current Marina had finally learned to face her own desires and feelings openly.
As their nominal "mother," Kayoko didn't compete with the two of them. She released Takumi and let Airi take her place, then leaned close to his ear and whispered lightly, "Takumi-kun, if you have time tonight, I'll have dinner ready for you at home. Airi and Marina will both be there too."
"Hiss~~~"
Takumi sucked in a sharp breath and nearly lost his composure.
The Akizuki family's "three-woman combination technique" after their reconciliation was simply far too overpowered.
Perhaps only the Yukinoshita family joining forces could compete with them.
Unfortunately, as far as the Yukinoshitas were concerned, he had only conquered Yukino and Kirino so far. He was still missing the bond with Haruno.
Suddenly feels like I still have a lot more hard work ahead of me.
Muttering to himself, Takumi gave Airi and Marina, who were clinging to his arms, a firm squeeze.
"We're out on the street. At least show a little restraint."
Hearing that, Marina and Airi finally noticed the curious looks several girls passing by were giving them.
Their faces immediately flushed, and they carefully released him.
They were fairly bold in private, but in public, they still couldn't quite bring themselves to act that shamelessly.
Airi, who had already shed almost all of her tsun and been left with mostly dere, immediately reacted on instinct.
"I-I was only trying to pull my mom away from you! I wasn't trying to hug you or anything, so don't get the wrong idea."
"..."
Takumi found that line strangely familiar.
Did she learn that from Karane Inda or something?
There was even a bit of Eriri mixed into it.
All Airi was missing was whipping her twin tails around and smacking him with them a couple of times.
"If you put it that way, I could probably collect two bonds at once: twin tails and blonde losing heroine."
"What bonds are you talking about, Onii-chan? What kind of perverted thing are you thinking about now?!"
At that moment, Mio and the others had already caught up from behind.
The previously empty road was soon crowded with girls.
If Takumi hadn't deployed a cognitive interference barrier, their massive group probably would have drawn plenty of attention.
Takumi let out a breath of relief and immediately shook his head when Mio approached.
Seeing that he wasn't going to explain, Mio could only silently stew in jealousy without pressing further.
She could already guess most of it anyway. It definitely had something to do with the Akizuki family next door.
When did those two get so close to Onii-chan?
Mio remembered that Marina had always gotten along fairly well with Takumi, but Airi had been a classic tsundere who constantly rejected him.
Yet now she looked as though she wanted to stick to Takumi every second of the day.
Another Karane Inda?
Mio fell into thought but didn't say anything.
Having already witnessed the ultimate embodiment of a tsundere, she could at least understand the type a little now.
Strictly speaking, she herself had once been slightly tsundere too.
Unfortunately, before she could really build up much tsun, Takumi had already "opened up all her meridians," leaving nothing but dere behind.
My only real [Rival] right now is still Yuki!
Remembering how aggressive Yuki had been yesterday, Mio secretly clenched her fists.
Compared to Yuki, Marina and Airi were nothing!
That thought lasted until Karane Inda and Hakari Hanazono arrived together with Shizuka Yoshimoto.
"Wait, who's that little lo[li] following them!?"
"That's Shizuka. She's one of our classmates, and also my new girlfriend."
Takumi introduced her with practiced ease.
Shizuka Yoshimoto tapped on her phone.
"Ms. Naruse, I'm Shizuka Yoshimoto. It's nice to meet you."
Hearing the voice coming from the phone while looking at Shizuka's earnest expression, Mio finally understood what it meant to be completely overwhelmed by cuteness.
She's so adorable!!
Those who hadn't met Shizuka earlier because they had been absent all looked at her curiously.
After Takumi explained things, they quickly accepted the fact that Shizuka simply didn't like speaking aloud.
Once they arrived at school, Asia finally made up the self-introduction she had missed before.
"E-everyone, hello! My name is Asia. I'll be attending school here from now on. Please take care of me!!"
Asia, now dressed in the school uniform, immediately drew enthusiastic attention from the class after introducing herself at the front of the room.
"Asia-san is so cute."
"So Asia-san transferred here from Europe!"
"Asia-san, are you a nun?"
Faced with her classmates' friendly greetings, Asia quickly began warming up to them.
After practicing her conversation skills with so many people at home, she could at least speak normally now without becoming so shy that no words came out.
Watching yet another girl join her class, Shizuka Hiratsuka stood at the front of the room and began wondering whether her class would soon become the most overcrowded in the entire grade.
But at this point, what could she even do?
Now that she understood Takumi's status and identity, she knew perfectly well that ordinary laws and social morality couldn't exactly restrain that troublesome brat.
Having decided to stop caring, Hiratsuka no longer bothered dwelling on it.
Her previous experiences were already enough to give her plenty to reflect on for quite some time.
Classes passed incredibly quickly for Takumi now.
By the time the midday lunch break arrived, he planned to take Asia and the others to meet Yukino.
They were all going to be good sisters, after all, so they needed to get acquainted with one another.
If he left things alone for too long, it would be troublesome if they finally met later and ended up clashing.
"Where are you going with such a huge entourage?"
Seeing the whole group following behind Takumi, Hiratsuka thought he looked less like a student and more like someone heading out to seize territory.
Takumi answered without the slightest hesitation, "We're going to see Yukino."
"To see Yukinoshita? Here I thought you were heading out to take over someone's turf."
After teasing him, Hiratsuka casually took the lead.
With so many people following Takumi, there was no telling what kind of trouble they might cause if they wandered into the wrong place.
To be safe, she decided to accompany them.
Besides, there was something she had just remembered that she needed to tell Yukino anyway.
On the way there, Asia and the others headed to the rooftop first to wait.
In the end, only Takumi remained, following behind Hiratsuka.
When they reached Yukino's classroom, Hiratsuka glanced inside and saw that she wasn't there.
"Then she's definitely at the Service Club. Takumi, you go on ahead. I need to call someone else first."
"All right."
Takumi nodded slightly and headed toward the Service Club ahead of her.
...
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