"One second," Seiji said. "Let me just drop off my backpack."
He did want to get rid of the heavy backpack. But mostly, Seiji needed to put his amulet on.
Without it, things seem to get out of control. I need it on me.
He yanked the amulet from the drawer and dropped it over his neck.
The amulet immediately warmed, as if he'd turned it on.
That feels better.
He returned to Yumi, waiting in the hallway.
Impatiently pacing, just like Haruko had described it.
"What's wrong?" Seiji asked.
She halted. "I'm scared…"
"Scared?" Seiji was surprised. "Why?"
She looked up at him. Her hands twitched, wanting to rise to his neck.
She stopped herself. "You know I'm happy when we're together… But I'm worried… scared… that you…" She took a sharp breath. "I know you didn't want to tell me about it… but I can see it. I see how she looks at you."
Seiji knew what was coming.
Haruko. Jealousy. Two thunderstorms at the same time.
Yumi wasn't as preoccupied with her own happiness as he'd hoped.
"It's making me crazy, Seiji!" Yumi exclaimed. "I can't breathe when I think about you being with her."
There. She said it.
"Please," she begged him. "Please tell me you love me. Me, Seiji. Only me."
Seiji looked at her face. Yumi looked pitiful. Then he thought of Haruko downstairs, stewing in her own anger. They were both pulling at him, trying to tear him in half.
Why do they have to do it? Can't they see? They simply don't understand!
That wasn't the point of his power.
He had to make them see it. There was no other way.
He got hold of Yumi's wrist.
She looked at him, surprised by his firm grip.
"Come with me," Seiji said.
When the two of them walked into the kitchen, they found Haruko standing by the counter, her arms wrapped tight around her waist.
Fuming.
Ready for combat.
Alright, let's solve it once and for all. Amulet, help me…
"Good," Seiji said. "Sit down," he told Yumi.
Seiji looked at Haruko, then at Yumi.
He could feel resentment emanating from both of them.
Not toward him—resentment aimed at each other.
Seiji was glad for the comforting weight of the amulet against his chest. Without it, he'd probably be afraid to tackle the challenge in front of him.
"I'll say it only once," Seiji said. "I don't want you two fighting."
Simple. Strong.
It wasn't a plea—just a statement of fact.
Haruko tensed. She glared at the floor. Her nostrils flared.
Yumi bit her lip. She looked like she wanted to scream.
"And I'm not going to choose between you," Seiji continued.
The shock was instant.
Yumi's head snapped up. Haruko froze mid-breath.
They both stared at him as if he'd just spoken in a different language.
This silence is good. It means they heard me clearly.
"I'll be with both of you," Seiji said. He looked pointedly at Haruko first, then at Yumi. "So you should stop behaving like that once and for all. You're not rivals. You're not enemies."
A silent beat.
Then another.
Haruko's face was full of disbelief. "Seiji, you can't… that's not how this works. Your father—"
"I'm not my father," Seiji interrupted, trying to remain calm. Cold and calm. "And my father isn't really a good example of how to treat a woman, is he?"
Yumi was shaking. She looked at Haruko, then back at Seiji.
Seiji could see how difficult it was for her to process what he had just said.
He instinctively frowned.
She looked down, hiding her gaze. Then she glanced at him again.
Finally, she seemed to decide.
She turned toward Haruko.
"I'm sorry," Yumi whispered and bowed slightly.
Good. She is accepting my rules. She wants to be with me more than she hates sharing me.
Haruko didn't respond for a long time. She looked like a statue. Then she blinked.
Slowly, very slowly, she nodded.
Her acknowledgment wasn't warm. But it was something. It was a truce.
A beginning.
Seiji exhaled. He felt the tension finally subside.
The amulet went warmer on his chest, satisfied.
Two women. One man.
Him.
Seiji.
Both Yumi and Haruko had just agreed to his new set of rules.