NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 19: 19
The sting on Ren's cheek lingered, a physical reminder of Chisaki's fury. As he walked home, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, his thoughts were a tangled mess. His grand plan, meticulously laid out to play the hero and subtly draw Chisaki into his orbit, had veered wildly off course. The 'hero to heroine' part was complete, yes, but Chisaki's abrupt confession had skipped several crucial steps. He hadn't anticipated her directness, nor had he factored in the immediate rejection of his "second lover" proposal. His strategy to gradually introduce the idea of sharing him with other girls had utterly failed.
Whenever his plans went awry, Ren tended to retreat into the labyrinth of his own mind, dissecting every misstep, every variable. This mental absorption often rendered him oblivious to his surroundings, and tonight was no exception. He walked with the unconsciousness of a sleepwalker, his gaze fixed on some distant, internal point.
Suddenly, a jolt. He collided with someone, a soft thud followed by a surprised gasp.
"Ah, sorry!" Ren mumbled, barely registering the person. He offered a quick, perfunctory apology and continued his absent-minded stride, his thoughts already pulling him back into their depths.
He arrived at the familiar entrance of Yuragi-sou, the warm glow from within a stark contrast to the cool evening air. Stepping inside, he found Nonko in the living area, a bottle of booze clutched in her hand, her cheeks flushed. Ren knew that Nonko's spiritual powers were often linked to her consumption of alcohol, so he usually paid it no mind. But tonight, she was exceptionally jolly.
"Ren-kun! You're back!" Nonko slurred, her eyes sparkling with an almost manic glee. Before he could react, she launched herself at him, enveloping him in a surprisingly strong hug. He was instantly drowned in the soft, ample expanse of her breasts, a sensation that, under normal circumstances, he might have enjoyed. But in her current state, she was simply too overwhelming to resist.
From a corner of the room, Yaya and Yuuna watched the scene unfold. Yuuna tilted her head, a thoughtful expression on her face, as if trying to decipher the peculiar interaction. Yaya, however, merely shrugged, her cat ears twitching, and returned to playing with a group of stray cats that had wandered into the inn.
Eventually, Nonko's boisterous energy waned. She drank a little too much, her head lolling against Ren's shoulder before she finally succumbed to sleep, her soft snores a gentle rhythm beside him.
Ren, now free from Nonko's embrace, noticed Yaya. She was still playing with the cats, but in her human form, not her usual yokai form with the prominent cat ears and tails she typically displayed within the inn. It bothered Ren slightly; he preferred her more natural, yokai appearance.
"Yaya-san, why are you in human form?" he asked, his voice low so as not to disturb Nonko.
Yaya merely looked up, a playful glint in her eyes. "Because I feel like it," she replied simply, before returning to her feline companions. Ren sighed. Some questions, he knew, were best left unanswered.
Yuuna, meanwhile, was in the kitchen with Chitose, the sounds of chopping and sizzling indicating that dinner preparations were well underway.
After a few more minutes of playing, Yaya, still in her human form, approached Ren. To his surprise, she leaned in and sniffed him, her nose brushing against his shirt. Ren stiffened, a flicker of primal fear igniting within him. He smelled good, she said. The thought that she might eat him, a fleeting, absurd fear, crossed his mind. But then he remembered. He had used the Ticket of Existence earlier, making him far stronger than before. And besides, Yaya wasn't like that. He decided to let her do as she pleased.
Like Nonko, Yaya suddenly laid her head on his lap, her soft hair tickling his leg. Ren was surprised, but he didn't try to make her move. He had no idea what was going on with the women of Yuragi-sou tonight, but despite the slight static sensation building in his legs, he felt a strange sense of contentment.
Dinner was a lively affair. Ren learned from Chitose that Sagiri had gone back to her home for a bit. Ren nodded, understanding. As a ninja, she likely had missions or other duties to attend to. Nonko, despite her earlier drinking, forced herself awake to eat, though she occasionally nodded off mid-chew. Yaya, for some reason, insisted on eating right next to Ren, so he found himself flanked: Nonko on his left, Yaya on his right.
Yuuna watched them, a warm smile on her face. She felt happy that everyone was getting along, that Ren was so easily accepted into their eccentric family. But then, a subtle, unsettling thought pricked at her: why was she bothered by Ren being surrounded by other women? She quickly dismissed the thought, shaking her head. It was probably nothing. She just enjoyed their company, the easy banter, the feeling of togetherness.
After dinner, Chitose began to clear the table, but Ren stopped her. "I'll do the dishes, Chitose-san," he offered.
Chitose paused, a grateful smile touching her lips. Ren was always so helpful, so considerate. Yet, a pang of guilt, a desire to be more useful herself, stirred within her. She often wondered how she could contribute more, how she could help him in return, but she had no idea what he truly needed.
Hours passed in comfortable camaraderie, filled with conversation and laughter. Nonko, who had decided to drink again after dinner, eventually succumbed to sleep once more. Ren, with a gentle sigh, lifted her and carried her to her room.
He looked around her room, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air. His gaze drifted to the futon, and a vivid memory of last night flooded his mind. It had been a thrilling experience, loud and uninhibited, if not for his 'Real Illusion' creating a soundproof barrier around the room, blocking out any noise. He smiled, a private memory shared only with himself.
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Nonko's forehead. "Good night, Nonko-san," he whispered, before quietly leaving the room, the door clicking softly behind him.