NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 25: 25
Hibari stood in the genkan of Yuragi-sou, her heart still thrumming from the unexpected jolt of love at first sight. Ren, standing before her, looked confused.
"Can I help you?" Ren asked, his brow furrowing slightly. He recognized her, vaguely, from his rewritten memories as Sagiri's cousin, but her presence here, now, was far too early according to the original story's timeline. Still, he reminded himself, the original story was merely a loose blueprint now. His reality manipulation had ensured that.
Hibari, usually so composed, found herself stuttering. "I-I'm Hibari Ameno," she managed, her voice a little higher than usual. "Sagiri's cousin. My grandmother… she wishes to see you. At our village."
Ren blinked. Sagiri's grandmother? He had no idea why, but he decided to play along. This could be an interesting development, perhaps even an opportunity for another Reality Ticket. "Alright," he said, a casual shrug. "Let me just tell the others."
He quickly informed Chitose and the other residents that he would be stepping out for a while, then followed Hibari out of the inn. Hibari, still reeling from her sudden infatuation, tried to compose herself, planning how she would subtly seduce him on the journey. But her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, making her unusually quiet.
The journey to the Chuuma village was a blur for Ren. He was led through winding paths, past traditional houses nestled among lush greenery, until they arrived at a large, imposing estate. Inside, in a serene room, Sagiri sat beside her grandmother. Sagiri's eyes widened in surprise and confusion as she saw Ren enter.
The grandmother, her gaze sharp, observed Ren with keen interest. She had expected a psychic, given Sagiri's earlier description, but Ren emanated no spiritual power, not a single leak. It was as if he were a perfectly ordinary human, yet Sagiri's love-struck expression told a different story. This made him even more intriguing. A psychic who could completely suppress his spiritual aura was rare, indeed. This strengthened her resolve.
"Shigeno Ren," the grandmother said, her voice clear and resonant. "I have a proposal for you." She turned to Sagiri, a gentle smile on her face. "Sagiri, my dear, I believe it is time for you to be engaged."
"Grandmother!" Sagiri shrieked, her face turning a furious shade of red. She was mortified, utterly embarrassed by her grandmother's bluntness.
"What are you doing, Grandmother?!" Hibari exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief, her carefully constructed composure shattering. She had just found the man she wanted, her first love, and now he was to be engaged to Sagiri? This could not stand.
Hibari immediately launched into a flurry of excuses, her competitive nature overriding her usual politeness. "Grandmother, Sagiri doesn't need a husband! She's far too busy with her ninja duties! She needs to focus on her training, not… not a man! Besides, she's always been so focused on her work, she wouldn't know how to be a proper wife! She's clumsy, and she can't cook, and… and she's always comparing herself to me!" Her last words slipped out, a raw confession of her long-held resentment.
The grandmother listened patiently, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. Hibari's excuses had more holes than a fishing net, and it was painfully obvious what was truly going on. Her two granddaughters, both so different, yet both so utterly smitten with the same young man. The grandmother hadn't anticipated this, but a feeling of profound contentment settled over her.
"I apologize, my dears," the grandmother said, her voice soft, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Perhaps I was a bit too hasty."
Sagiri and Hibari both sighed in relief, the tension in the room momentarily deflating. But for Sagiri, a pang of disappointment followed. She had been so embarrassed, so mortified, yet a part of her, the part that was truly in love, had felt a flicker of hope. She still believed this feeling was a curse, but the thought of Ren accepting her had been undeniably appealing.
Before the atmosphere could fully shift, the grandmother spoke again, her voice calm, yet with an underlying firmness. "However, Ren-kun, I have another proposal. I ask that you take both of my granddaughters as your wives."
Sagiri and Hibari simultaneously coughed, their eyes wide with disbelief. "What?!" they both exclaimed, their voices a synchronized chorus of shock.
The grandmother nodded serenely. "It is not common in our village anymore, for a man to have two wives or more. Due to modern ethics, we have, for generations, adhered to the practice of a single wife. However, this was not always our tradition. In ancient times, it was quite common for powerful men to take multiple wives within our village. I am not so close-minded as to ignore our heritage, nor to deny my granddaughter's happiness."
Ren stood there, utterly bewildered. Two wives? Both of Sagiri's grandmother's granddaughters? He had come here expecting a chore, or perhaps a minor spiritual incident, not a double marriage proposal. But then, a mischievous grin spread across his face. This was an unexpected bonus, a delightful twist to his unfolding narrative. Without a moment's hesitation, he spoke.
"I accept."
The grandmother remained composed, but a visible wave of relief washed over her. Her granddaughters, both so dear to her, would have happy lives.
Sagiri wanted to protest, to argue, to insist that this was all a misunderstanding, a curse. But the overwhelming happiness that flooded her heart, the sheer joy that Ren had accepted her as his future wife, drowned out all logical objections. She could no longer deny her feelings. She was truly, irrevocably, in love.
Hibari, too, wanted to disagree, her competitive spirit screaming at the thought of sharing Ren with Sagiri. But as her eyes met Ren's, her heart pounded, a frantic drumbeat in her chest. The feeling was undeniable, intoxicating. A secret smile touched her lips. "Since it is Grandmother's word," she said, her voice surprisingly steady, "I will follow it." She had found her first love, and even if she had to share him, she would fight to be the best wife.