Chapter 576: Kissing for the World to See
Chapter 576: Kissing for the World to See
Chapter 576: Kissing for the World to See
Today marked Kashumigaoka’s long-awaited livestream. Representing Fujisawa Books as a judge, she prepared to share interesting new reads with everyone.
Since her pregnancy caused discomfort, Kasumigaoka had turned down many projects lately.
But feeling better recently, she happily took on this task.
Before the stream began, Sonoko mysteriously hinted there might be a special guest, telling her to look forward to it.
Fine. Kasumigaoka felt she’d probably guessed who it was.
……
“Of course it’s you.”
Kasumigaoka sighed, pretending annoyance as Himekoji approached with a cheeky grin.
“Is it bad it’s me? We are old partners after all~~”
As fellow rising-star authors, they ’d co-hosted several shows like this before.
“Did I say you could see me?” Kasumigaoka crossed her arms, holding her ground.
“But I wanted to see you. My heart pushed me to come meet you.” Pausing briefly, Himekoji poured on the act, giving her pitiful, innocent puppy-dog eyes. “Is that not okay?”
Helpless against such tactics, Kasumigaoka reached out to pinch his cheek in mock irritation.
“You really can sweet-talk girls with that face!”
Himekoji just chuckled, taking it as praise.
What happened next—whether impulsive or bold—either way, Himekoji suddenly pulled Kasumigaoka into a tight hug.
He couldn’t hold back any longer!
They say to stay calm for peace, but looking back, it made him angrier.
Himekoji regretted not barging into Kasumigaoka’s home days ago when he visited!
Every time he recalled it recently, frustration grew.
Maybe—no, surely—Kasumigaoka had been waiting for him to do just that!
“You really can sweet-talk girls with that face!”
“So Senpai, when will you let me sweet-talk you?”
Holding her close, breathing in her lovely scent, Himekoji asked seriously.
“Before that, you should let go of those wandering hands.”
“No.”
“I didn’t allow you to hug me.”
“And I’m waiting for your permission right now.”
“Well, I don’t permit it.”
“Then I won’t let go!”
“Pfft.” His shamelessness made her laugh. She lightly thumped his chest. “Seriously, are you an idiot? Acting like a three-year-old.”
“Yeah, I’m an idiot. Love makes people foolish.”
“Mouth’s gotten sweeter. Here, let me taste.” Playfully winking, Kasumigaoka rose on tiptoes and kissed him briefly.
It was a sneak attack—light and quick.
By the time Himekoji reacted, she’d already pulled back with a satisfied smile. He felt instantly ripped off.
He asked her—
“Did you taste it?”
“Nope.”
“Try again?”
“Okay.”
This time ready, Himekoji held her firmly, his eager arms begging for overtime.
Machida Sonoko almost jumped seeing this on screen!
She’d forgotten to tell them—the stream was already live…
She rushed to bang on the door—
“Hey! It’s live! You’re live right now!!”
“……?!”
The two happily kissing froze.
They felt tricked by their editor!
Who starts a stream without warning?!
Meaning… their shameless display was broadcast nationwide in real time?
Kasumigaoka immediately tried pushing Himekoji away, but he refused.
Since they were caught anyway, Himekoji decided to kiss his fill!
One arm tightened around her; the other reached out blindly to cover the camera.
The stream flooded with Danmaku—
“?? ??????”
“Why’s my screen black?”
“Am I blind?”
“When did you two get together?!”
“I object!”
“I object to this marriage!”
“Black screen smooching? Teacher Himekoji is so greedy! Keeping it all to himself?!”
“My Kasumi Utako-sensei is being kissed by a dog! Ugh!”
“I wanna see too!”
“Don’t block the camera! Show us!”
“Call the police! I can’t take this!”
“FFFFFFFF!”
Such comments filled the screen for half a minute. Then suddenly—tipped off—the “Shiiji CP Support Club” army stormed the stream, joining the fight.
Rainbow Danmaku was instantly overwhelmed by floods of “I AGREE”, “Perfect Match” and heart emojis chanting support.
“Open the door! Open the door already!”
“Kissing kissing kissing—that’s all you do?!”
Locked outside, Machida Sonoko first typed “I OBJECT” angrily on her phone. But eventually, her resolve crumbled against the wave of support. Shaking her head with a smile, she posted “I AGREE”.
That kiss felt endless, shaking heaven and earth. When Himekoji finally released her, Kasumigaoka was dizzy and weak.
Himekoji, with good lung capacity, fared slightly better.
He uncovered the camera, pointed it at himself, took a breath, and spoke—
“Hello everyone, sorry about that. I didn’t realize the live stream was already on, and Utaha is pretty shy, so I blocked the camera temporarily. Hope you understand. But since things have turned out this way, why not go with it? I actually want everyone here to witness something.”
“Hm?”
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka turned to Himekoji in surprise.
Is Himekoji actually planning to…?
“Kasumi Utako Sensei, please marry me!”
He really did it!
Right in front of all the viewers, Himekoji proposed to Kasumigaoka.
How bold!
He actually dared to announce to the whole world that he wanted to marry her?!
“I agree!”
“I’ll marry him!”
“Who asked you? It wasn’t you he proposed to!”
“Damn it, that Himekoji stealing my wife actually looks damn handsome right now! Fine, I guess I yield my wife to you!”
The atmosphere in the stream was once again ignited by Himekoji’s unexpected move.
A popular high school light novel author proposing live on stream? More and more people flooded into the room. Danmaku flooded the screen so fast the stream froze from the overwhelming traffic.
“Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!”
It wasn’t just the viewers. Even the editors and staff at the Fujisawa bookstore on site joined in cheering. That Kasumigaoka liked Himekoji? Everyone had known that for ages.
This romance was finally blooming today. Everyone was happy for them.
In this reset world, getting married at high school age wasn’t all that strange.
…
Everyone was waiting for Kasumigaoka’s answer. Her answer was—
“Kneel!”
Himekoji hadn’t knelt on one knee during his proposal.
Because if he knelt, the camera wouldn’t see him…
Kasumigaoka pointed at a chair, offering him a solution. Himekoji immediately kneeled on the chair like an obedient dog.
He already had the engagement ring ready.
Kasumigaoka asked him, “Do you know what two new books I was supposed to recommend today?”
Himekoji shook his head.
Kasumigaoka reached over, picked up a Bunko edition book from the desk, and showed it to Himekoji.
“Human Nature is to Love Them and Leave Them and Everyone Possesses an Instinct to Get Bored…”
Himekoji read the titles aloud and was flabbergasted.
What kind of terrible book titles were these?!
Would anyone actually want to read stuff like this?
“So, Kichan, what do you think?”
This was Kasumigaoka’s final challenge for him.
Himekoji immediately pressed a hand over his heart. Right in front of the entire audience, he vowed to Kasumigaoka with solemn dignity—
“Even if abandoning after loving is human nature, even if everyone possesses an instinct to grow bored, I will defy my nature! I will fight my instincts! And I will love you forever!”
A perfect answer.
“Those are your words?”
“Mhm, they are.”
“Alright then, my husband.”
With those words spoken, Kasumigaoka Utaha… no, rather Himekoji Utaha now.
Himekoji Utaha leaned down to kiss Himekoji Akito, who was kneeling on the chair.
Himekoji Akito kissed her back fervently.
Neither of them gave the camera any more thought.
Let the whole world watch.
…
…
Final Chapter: Please Attend My Wedding (Grand Finale)
Himekoji was getting married.
An invitation to the wedding ended up with Eriri.
Eriri wished she were dead.
Eriri was going to die right now!
No. Before that, she had one big thing to do!
Eriri snatched the invitation. She shredded it to pieces and shoved it into her mouth.
She was so angry she forgot what was edible and what wasn’t.
“Bluuugh! Ptooh!” Wads of chewed cardstock were spat out in disgust. “Tastes disgusting!”
While Eriri was doing something so stupid, Himekoji unexpectedly called.
Thinking ‘I absolutely won’t answer!’, her hand disobeyed.
Himekoji was calling to check if she’d gotten the invitation. That damned bastard!
“Got the invitation!”
Eriri couldn’t manage a friendly tone. Snarling with her little fangs bared, looking fierce – though acting tough over the phone was pointless. He definitely couldn’t see her.
“You’re coming to the wedding, right?”
“No time!”
“Aw, come on. It’s not like you do anything besides stay home.”
“No time!”
“Please? Pretty please?”
On the other end, Himekoji laid on the syrupy sweet pleading voice.
That only made it even worse!
Begging me to attend your wedding to another woman?
Excuse me???
“Don’t you have ANYTHING ELSE to beg me for!?”
“Other?”
“For like… beg… beg… beg…”
“Hm?”
“Whatever, you might as well die! Die a few more times!!”
Eriri’s face flushed red with anger as she hung up the phone in frustration.
The wedding? She wouldn’t go!
It wasn’t even her getting married!
Absolutely! Would not go!
…
“So then, this wedding venue of yours… it’s pretty big, huh.”
Eriri, who had only come to give Himekoji some face, spun her head lightly as she glanced around. When she spoke, her tone was sarcastic, her smile thin and insincere.
She was still upset inside.
Himekoji gave a servile little laugh next to her, bobbing his head. “Well, well… just alright, alright.”
It needed to be big; he was marrying quite a few wives, after all. A smaller place just wouldn’t do.
“Isn’t the wedding supposed to start soon? Why are there so few people?”
“Yeah, seriously weird.” Himekoji looked down at his watch in a pretend gesture and sighed heavily. “Ah, these guys! Honestly! They have to show up at the last minute even for a wedding! It’s fine, I guess they’re all probably on their way.”
“……”
Eriri was speechless. If she had known it would be like this, she would have come later too.
Right now, with just her and Himekoji in the entire hall, wouldn’t it look like she was desperately rushing over eagerly to support Himekoji and Kasumigaoka?
A total miscalculation!
Eriri regretted it so much she tightened her small fists.
Of course, the thing she absolutely couldn’t accept the most was that Kasumigaoka was the bride.
What happened to being lifelong rivals? Why had Kasumigaoka managed to get married first?
No, it wasn’t just getting married first! Eriri had a dreadful feeling she really was destined to lose for her whole life.
Whatever. Maybe it was better that way.
Now, Eriri had fully evolved into a useless Eriri, completely resigned to her fate.
“Where’s Kasumigaoka?”
When Eriri asked where Kasumigaoka was, she was hiding mischief in her heart – she wanted to go stir up trouble for Kasumigaoka!
Stuff like—
“My goodness, that wedding dress doesn’t suit you at all. Who picked it?”
“Did you gain weight again? The dress feels a whole size too small.”
And then, Kasumigaoka would surely be as deflated as if a dog had bitten her, and Eriri could throw back her head and laugh—”Ha ha ha!”—in a stance of victory.
Ha ha ha…
Wait… Why did it suddenly feel like she was about to cry?
Eriri quickly spun around so Himekoji wouldn’t see her face. She took several deep breaths, fanning her eyes with her hand.
“She, along with Hirakawa-sensei and the others, are still inside trying on their dresses and doing makeup.”
“Hiratsuka-sensei?”
In Eriri’s memory, hadn’t Hiratsuka-sensei gone on maternity leave?
Did that mean…
Just as Eriri was thinking of something, Himekoji suddenly spoke, cutting through the thoughts in her head.
“Speaking of which, can you take a look? What do you think of this diamond ring? Kneel or not?”
“What do I care if it’s expensive or not?! How would I know how much you paid for it!”
And besides, it’s not like you’re giving it to me…
Eriri kept that last line to herself. She pressed her lips together, looking sullen.
A few seconds later, Eriri couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at the ring anyway.
Thinking to herself—
So this diamond ring isn’t even that great, huh?
Ugly! Really ugly!
Only someone like Kasumigaoka would treasure it as a prize.
If he were giving it to her, she’d rather throw it away than wear it on her finger!
Cheap!
That hideous, tacky diamond ring wasn’t worthy of the elegant and noble Sawamura Spencer Eriri!
Trash ring! Trash Kasumigaoka! Trash Himekoji!
“Kneel or not?”
Himekoji had absolutely zero tact. After she’d said all that, he was still annoyingly asking her.
“Don’t ask me!”
“This is the one thing I have to ask you.”
“Hmph!”
Eriri turned her face away. Not missing a beat, Himekoji followed her with two quick steps until once again he stood directly in front of her.
Slowly, solemnly, he held the diamond ring out to Eriri and asked again in a serious tone—
“Kneel? Or not?”
Eriri, cornered and feeling she had little choice, replied carelessly: “Expensive!”
As a result, with a thump, Himekoji knelt down right in front of her!
On one knee!.
“You told me to kneel, y’know. Eriri.”
Himekoji wore a sly grin—the look of someone who’d just pulled off a clever trick. Eriri froze, utterly stunned, rooted to the spot.
“Marry me.”
As Himekoji spoke those words, Eriri even wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her.
“Clap clap clap clap…”
Suddenly, the lights on the second floor of the venue lit up. It turned out the group of guests had been waiting up there all this time, just hoping for this moment to burst into applause.
“Wh-What? What in the world…?”
“As you can see, I’m proposing to you.”.
Still down on one knee, Himekoji raised the engagement ring high. It sparkled brilliantly under the spotlight.
It really was beautiful… the ring.
Eriri thought to herself.
“Marry him! Marry him! Marry him!”
The guests on the second floor couldn’t contain their excitement any longer and began chanting. Tobe’s voice boomed out the loudest and most enthusiastic among them.
Himekoji had always found his booming voice irritating, but right now? He almost wished he could equip him with a megaphone.
Great job, Tobe!
“Eriri, will you marry me?” Seeing Eriri hadn’t responded yet, Himekoji couldn’t help urging again.
“I-I…” Eriri stammered now.
Himekoji panicked, lowering his voice to negotiate softly. “Hey, hey, Eriri, please! So many people are watching, just give me a straight answer!”
“I-I… if, if… if you really, really want me to marry you no matter what…”
“No matter what! No matter what, I really want Eriri to marry me!” Himekoji suddenly raised his voice, the loud outburst startling Eriri.
The reason Eriri burst into tears right then? Maybe it was because Himekoji scared her.
“Why are you shouting so loud? Really… whatever… s-since that’s how it is… th-then… then I’ll reluctantly… mm-marry you… definitely not because I like you!”
“Right,” Himekoji said softly, “since we were kids, it’s always been me liking you.”
After slipping the ring onto Eriri’s finger, Himekoji stood up straight, pulling her into a hug. He whispered slowly, tenderly, into her ear. “I’ve really, truly liked you.”
“You… you liar!” Eriri could no longer hold back her tears, letting out a “Wah!” “Obviously… obviously it’s me who likes you more!”
“Then I’ll like you way, way more than that!” Himekoji reached out to wipe her tears, but Eriri slapped his hand away.
“Did I say you could stand up?”
“Huh?”
“Stay kneeling!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Himekoji obediently followed the command.
After he knelt down, Eriri leaned over and kissed him in front of all the guests on the second floor.
“Whoo-hoo~~”
“Another one! Another one!”
More and more people joined in the cheers and catcalls.
…
The wedding was huge and really grand.
Getting married to so many wives at once, Himekoji kind of pulled off a big feat.
Eriri’s wedding dress? Kasumigaoka had called her to try it on together a while back. At the time, Eriri thought Kasumigaoka was just trying to make her mad and felt mopey for ages.
But now? Well, the tears were definitely gone, replaced by a smile!
Snowy Yukinoshita and Kasumigaoka, they had gotten their figures back pretty nicely after having their babies. In their wedding dresses, you couldn’t tell they were moms at all.
Yukinoshita had a little girl. They wanted to name her Yuki-ko (Snow Child), but settled for Yukino instead. Himekoji Yukino.
Kasumigaoka had a boy. They hadn’t picked a name yet. Himekoji and Kasumigaoka were fighting tooth and nail over who got to name him.
Hiratsuka-sensei was still newly pregnant, no baby bump yet, so she looked gorgeous in her wedding dress.
As for the Female Teacher part… Hiratsuka Shizuka made the first move. She was like, “Teacher for a day, husband for life!” or something like that. Then her parents straight-up picked Himekoji as their son-in-law. It was all kind of confusing how it happened.
Gotta keep the fertile water within your field, you know. Marrying one meant marrying several, so why not marry them all? Just dating two people is being a jerk. But taking the whole dang sea? That’s thinking big, being a blessing to all! Himekoji was obviously going for that latter one. He had dreams of everyone under one big futon!
Himekoji went table by table with his wives, offering toasts. It was a mighty sight. The wives trailing behind him were enough to form a whole extra group.
Tobe was plotting with Hayama, Kaito, Saika, and the others to take turns challenging Himekoji to drinks. Instead, Himekoji’s badass team of wives blocked them. Turns were called, and Tobe was the one knocked out cold from booze.
Saika was the type who got drunk just tasting alcohol. He had rosy cheeks and sat there quietly, adorably slumped over the table.
“Can boys… just not…?” He mumbled in his sleep.
When Yukinoshita toasted Miura, the two nearly got into an argument. Yuigahama stepped in to stop them.
“I just wanna mess things up big time, ruin this whole wedding!” Miura huffed angrily.
Yuigahama, hearing this, yelped in surprise. “Come on, Yumiko… it’s my wedding too, you know!” she pleaded, looking flustered.
Akiko, who was close to Miura, also came over. “You can’t do that, Yumiko!” she urged.
Seeing Akiko, Miura suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up with hope, looking conflicted and hesitant to spit it out.
“Akiko… Akiko… that promise we made during the School Trip… does it still count?”
“Huh? Wha? Ah… ahaha,” Now it was Akiko’s turn to get flustered.
“Big Sis… you’re really marrying him?” Komachi, attending her sister’s wedding, felt the world was a scary place.
Someone like her sister, getting married?
“Marry? Of course marry!” Hikigaya nodded firmly. New on the “wife” job scene, she was full of enthusiasm. Even her Dead Fish Eyes seemed to be sparkling. “My dream was always to be a housewife, after all! After tonight, dream achieved! Lifetime position! Iron rice bowl!”
“Snap out of it, sis! Even if you get married, you can still get divorced!”
“No! No divorce! Never!” Beside them, Touka was asking Rikka a similar question.
“Rikka, are you really marrying Himekoji?”
“Yep! Because this… this is all the choice of the Evil Eye of the Wicked Lord! Hey, Sis Touka, wanna join me?”
“…”
Nanami and Mashiro were quietly discussing nearby whether to team up at night and who should go first.
Living together… actually, more accurately, sleeping together… meant Nanami was starting to sometimes say bolder things. After all, she was Nanami, who faced everything earnestly and did her best! A little secret: right now, what Nanami wanted to do her very best for was… getting pregnant with Himekoji’s baby! Out of everyone, she surprisingly liked kids the best. Even Yukinoshita’s and Kasumigaoka’s kids were often looked after by Nanami. By the way, those two little runts in split pants? They loved playing games with Mashiro.
Himekoji’s place? Happy laughs or happy shouts, it was always loud.
Himekoji was absolutely sure: this was the happiness he wanted.
…
Himekoji finished the last toast. He was completely hammered. Staggering every three steps, he headed alone to the balcony on the second floor of the venue. Some breeze might sober him up.
And then, here, right now, he heard a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time –
[Congratulations.]
Himekoji fell silent for a few moments, then finally laughed. “…Thanks.”
[Never going to make any more choices from now on, right?]
“Right.”
Himekoji nodded in agreement.
His second life? Didn’t need any Perverse Choice System messing with his head.
“But, if life could start over… I’d pick A again.”
Looking back at results… that wrong decision he’d made that night for not looking carefully… seemed like the right choice for this moment.
That System prompt felt like it was happening just moments ago…
[Triggering options –]
[Please choose!]
[B: Activate the System!]
[A: Activate the System… and be a Pervert!](A/N: This is the Pervert’s life from now on!!!)
[Note: Once chosen, cannot be changed!]
“I choose A.”
[System uninstalling…]
[Sorry for… all the bad memories.]
“Ha. The happiness I have now? I guess… that’s thanks to you too.”
Himekoji looked up at the night sky.
The stars were so beautiful.
The darker the sky, the brighter they shone.
After that, the System’s voice never appeared again.
…
…
(The End)
(Also potentially a second ending – )
Himekoji finished the last toast. He was completely hammered. Staggering every three steps, he headed alone to the balcony on the second floor of the venue. Some breeze might sober him up.
And then, here, right now, he heard a voice he hadn’t heard in a long time –
[Congratulations.]
Himekoji fell silent for a few moments, then finally laughed. “…Thanks.”
[Never going to make any more choices from now on, right?]
“Right.”
Himekoji nodded in agreement.
[Alright then… guess it’s my turn to choose now.]
The System’s words baffled Himekoji.
“Choose what?” he asked.
[Choose someone who will keep making choices.]
“…?!”
Himekoji spun around, as if jolted awake. Inside the venue, his many brides turned to him, each wearing a sweet, blissful smile. Everything around seemed to swirl away like smoke, the joyful scenery hazy and dreamlike.
Was this real?
Or was it all fake?
“Hello, person living inside my brain. From now on, please… take care of me.” [“…”]