Chapter 78: Building a Harem, When Your Girlfriend Defends It for You.
...
Minami Yume wasn't about to be fooled by such illogical nonsense.
She puffed up with confidence and shot back immediately:
"You're lying! From the day I met Kihara until now—sixty-seven days total—he's slept at home every single night. I check his scent before bed every day, and there's absolutely none of your smell on him!"
"Y-You—!"
Tatsumaki trembled with anger, her raised hand shaking.
But she didn't use her psychic powers.
Because she knew, if she resorted to force in a matter like this against an ordinary girl like Minami Yume, she'd lose completely.
"You've been sleeping with my man, and you still have the nerve to act so arrogant?!"
"Your man?"
Minami Yume let out a cold laugh, her gaze drifting downward as she sized Tatsumaki up.
"The one who confirmed a relationship with him first was me, not some S-Class hero who suddenly dropped out of nowhere."
"Do you know what he likes? His habits? What kind of clothes he prefers to wear?"
Three questions in a row.
Each one pushed Tatsumaki a step back.
Still, she stubbornly puffed out her chest.
"So what if I don't? I can take the time to learn! I've already spent over twenty years looking for him—what's a little more time?!"
"…Twenty years?"
Minami Yume froze.
She had assumed Tatsumaki was just a teenage girl. After all, the Hero Association never publicly disclosed her real age.
Kihara, however, narrowed his eyes slightly.
Before arriving in this world, he had passed through a chaotic temporal current…
Could it be—
They had met back then, without him even realizing it?
"More than twenty years ago," Tatsumaki continued, her voice trembling, "you broke into the underground facility where I was being held… and then you just left."
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her usual arrogance gone.
"…Why didn't you say anything? Did you really dislike me that much?"
Kihara blinked.
"Tatsumaki… are you saying… you like me?"
"Of course I do!"
"…Well then."
Before Minami Yume could react.
Kihara suddenly pulled both girls into his arms.
Then, with complete confidence, he declared:
"Then there's no need to fight."
"You're both my wings."
"…Huh?!"
The two girls cried out in perfect sync.
"And by the way," Kihara added casually, "I actually have two more girlfriends in other worlds. When you meet them, don't fight, okay? If you do, I'll just kiss you until you stop."
"Even if you regret it now and don't want to be with me—too late."
"I won't let go."
"I'll use every method I can until you willingly join my harem."
His thunderous declaration echoed far beyond the villa walls.
So loudly that even outside, Saitama, Genos, and Bang heard every word.
Bang stroked his beard and sighed in admiration.
"Truly… one should never judge a book by its cover. The younger generation is formidable indeed… formidable."
To say something like that to Tatsumaki of all people.
This young man was no ordinary person.
"I don't agree!"
"I agree!"
The two girls spoke at the same time.
Tatsumaki turned in shock to look at Minami Yume.
She couldn't understand why she would agree to something so absurd.
Then it clicked.
A test! This must be a test!
A test of who loved him more!
"I—I agree too!" Tatsumaki quickly corrected herself.
Kihara grinned.
Without hesitation, he leaned down and kissed Minami Yume gently on the cheek.
Then turned toward Tatsumaki.
She immediately raised a hand to stop him, eyes wide.
"…Wait. This wasn't a test?"
"What test? Stop overthinking—come here."
"Wait! Y-You… transform into the Black Knight in front of me first!"
"Sure."
Kihara pulled out a belt from his dimensional storage.
And transformed into Kamen Rider Faiz.
In that instant, all doubt vanished from Tatsumaki's eyes.
Excitement surged through her.
Using her psychic powers, she pinned him to the ground, her face flushed as she pressed herself against his armored chest.
Letting out a disturbingly thrilled giggle.
"Black Knight-sama… hehehehehe…"
"W-Wait, Miss Tatsumaki! Not outside!!!" Minami Yume panicked.
"Ah—right. Almost forgot there are people watching."
Tatsumaki snapped back to her senses and floated up.
The warmth in her eyes vanished the moment she looked beyond the wall.
"Bang," she said coldly, "why are you here? Planning to interrupt my married life?"
(Competing with a girl over a man counts as 'married life' now…?)
Bang wanted to say it—but wisely held back.
"Terrible Tornado," he said gently, "I came to persuade you both to return to the Hero Association. Scarlet Rider's name has been cleared. There's no need to quit over this."
"No interest," Kihara replied immediately.
"My husband's will is my will," Tatsumaki added firmly, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
"I became a hero to protect the Earth until I found him. Now that I have, I'll stay by his side."
Bang sighed.
"…Very well. The Hero Association will always leave the door open for you both."
"See yourself out."
Seeing Bang leave, Saitama quietly grabbed Genos.
This… was clearly not the right moment for hot pot.
"Kihara! Let's eat hot pot another day!"
With that, the two made a quick escape.
Tatsumaki crossed her arms, looking smug.
"Well? I passed your test, didn't I? Not only did I support you, I even played along as part of your harem in front of an S-Class hero."
"…Who said that was a test?" Kihara replied innocently. "I meant every word."
"…What?"
Her expression darkened instantly.
Her emerald curls began to float as an oppressive psychic pressure filled the air.
Her fists clenched tightly, cracking audibly.
"I spent over twenty years looking for you… and you cheated on me while I was searching?!"
"You scumbag!"
Without hesitation, Minami Yume stepped in front of Kihara, arms spread wide.
Even under the crushing pressure, she stood her ground.
"It's your one-sided crush! What right do you have to call him that?!"
"If you can't accept that he has other women, then leave! Don't get in our way!"
Tatsumaki laughed in disbelief.
"Have you lost your mind? You're actually supporting him having a harem?!"
Minami Yume didn't hesitate.
"Kihara has strength, looks, and money. Even someone like me—with my personality issues—fell for him."
She met Tatsumaki's gaze head-on.
"You're an S-Class hero. Do you really think ordinary laws apply to people like you?"
"He defeated a monster that even S-Class heroes couldn't beat. He's on your level."
"So what if he has a harem?"
Kihara was stunned.
Never in his life did he expect.
That one day, a beautiful girlfriend would personally defend his right to build a harem.
"Is this what they mean by 'someone else making the argument for you'…?"
This feels amazing.
But no rushing things.
At a moment like this.
What would Makoto Itou do?
.....
Thank you for reading.