Stealing Spree

Chapter 1072 Responsibility

　　“Papa… Ru-nii?” The boy said, slightly confused as he stared at my face and fondled my cheeks in the process. His innocent eyes trying to memorize it.

　　After descending from the peak, we’re now in our rented cabin. While Minoru and I sat before a fireplace, Miwa-nee was having a good fit of laughter nearby while dotingly looking at the two of us.

　　She’s preparing another tea for us to drink because it’s still too cold.

　　We got out of those thick hiking gears, after all. We couldn’t continue wearing it when we’re supposed to rest here.

　　Anyway, after what we did right in front of the boy earlier, even if it would leave him a little confused, I told him that I would be his father from now on…

　　It’s not full disclosure of the secret yet. In consideration for his young mind that wouldn’t be able to fully digest everything, this was enough.

　　And thankfully, he’s a little welcoming of the idea.

　　“Mhm… I’ll be your papa now. Do you like it?” I ruffled his hair dotingly. Seeing him like this, almost a split image of my younger self, I started to wonder if I was this adorable before. Probably not, right?

　　I was probably clingier, not wanting Akane to leave my side. Or running to my mother whenever Miwa-nee would bully me.

　　“Y-yes!” Minoru beamed a delighted smile as he threw himself in my arms, clinging to me as much as he could. “I like Ru-nii to be my papa… You love mama and me.”

　　“Yes, I do love you both.” I nodded at him and smiled before turning to Miwa-nee, who had just finished making the tea and making her way toward us. I then stretched one of my arms open, inviting the lovely woman to join us.

　　Minoru copied me, looking at his mother with one of his arms stretched out to her.

　　“You two are getting along too well, huh?” Miwa-nee laughingly said as she placed the tray on the log table. Following that, she went to our open side, taking her place there while also stretching her arms to envelop the two of us.

　　“Mama, Papa.” As innocent as he could be, Minoru alternately looked at us while muttering that. Repeating that at least ten times, his jovial mood reached its peak as he just enjoyed that moment with Miwa-nee and I hugging him closely.

　　When I looked at Miwa-nee, she mouthed a silent ‘Thank you’ before kissing me and kissing Minoru’s forehead.

　　This particular moment warmed us up more than the heat being emitted by the fireplace or the tea that Miwa-nee prepared. I could even feel my chest pounding in delight as I imagined a scenario if there were only the three of us.

　　Although that wouldn’t happen because of my desire, it’s not bad to dream of the possibility.

　　Eventually, the boy fell asleep in our embrace with a smile remaining on his lips.

　　He woke up earlier than normal and we brought him to this tiring hike up the mountain. It’s only natural for him to be exhausted.

　　I carried the boy to the room in the cabin, tucking him in the bed there before returning outside, joining Miwa-nee on the couch.

　　Even without words exchanged between us, Miwa-nee instantly inched closer to me, raised my arm and put it around her shoulder before using my chest to rest her head on.

　　“Ruki, what will you do now if Minoru starts calling you Papa in front of the other girls?” After enjoying that moment for a few minutes, Miwa-nee raised a question.

　　“I don’t think I need to do anything to prevent it nor do I need to explain at all. They’re aware. Most of them, at least. And even if the other girls failed to connect the dots yet, they will soon do. It’s not a secret that I’ll keep hiding from them.”

　　It’s not something that could be hidden until the end and I never even thought of hiding it. Indeed, it would be too complicated to digest at the moment when most of us were still supposed to be studying. However, this was one of the inevitable...

　　And I think I can already guess what Miwa-nee will say next… It will be about the girls failing to accept it.

　　“Even if that’s the case, knowing that you already have a son at your age, won’t they start thinking of getting out of the relationship with you?”

　　There, right as I expected.

　　“Yes. That can happen. But you see, they’re all within their rights to do that.”

　　Arisa would surely scold me for being too honest when I could keep Minoru’s identity vague for as long as I wanted. But what would that do? It’s just delaying the inevitable.

　　Besides, if it’s something they wouldn’t be able to accept, then they would now have a chance to get out early before I became more possessive of them to the point of not wanting them to leave at any cost – the same as what I feel for Akane.

　　I love all of them and I am still aiming to be with them for as long as we can… But at the moment, there’s an exit door for them. If things reach an unacceptable level, they’re free to go out and I will have no choice but to accept their decision.

　　At the moment, I could only hope that it wouldn’t reach that point…

　　“No one is bringing that up because we’re all being vague about it. However, I will never lie to them, Miwa-nee. Not to any of you.” I continued.

　　Miwa-nee raised her head to look me in the eyes, perhaps seeking if there was some kind of hesitation in it… But going into this relationship with all of them, I had to expect things to go sideways at any moment. I do not own their minds. They can all think for themselves.

　　If they decide that it’s already too much, what can I do to stop them? No… it’s a lot better not to do anything to stop them if I’m thinking about their well-being. Because if not for me, they won’t be in this extremely complex relationship where they’re waiting for their turn to be with the guy they love…

　　“I see… Your determination is still unwavering. I turned you into someone who can love multiple women without feeling any remorse at the idea. Now, you’re going to endure even if those you love will come to shun and leave you.” Miwa-nee paused right there. She reached for my cheek and caressed it endearingly.

　　Even without saying it, I could feel that she was blaming herself again…

　　That’s why before she could even form words for that, I returned the gesture. Not only that, I pushed her down the coach and climbed up on top of her.

　　She’s wearing a thin dress at the moment, something that wouldn’t be out of place in this rather luxurious cabin. Her black underwear was faintly visible because of how thin it was.

　　All I had to do was lift it and I would be enjoying her irresistible figure once again.

　　But well, that’s not the point I did this…

　　I placed my hand on her cheek before sliding my fingers to the back of her ear. Holding her head like this, I kissed her once before saying, “Enough with the self-blame, Miwa-nee. It’s all in the past, hmm? We can only live in the present and dream of the future. The past cannot be corrected anymore but our future is still being written. What we can do right now is to just accept whatever may come and move on from it.”

　　“Move on… Then Ruki, you better let me tell them that I’m the one responsible for everything… Because without doing so, I cannot move on from it. They deserve to know it, am I right? I won’t let you carry everything by yourself. Your shoulder might be broad but it’s not invincible.”

　　Ah… If I’m understanding this properly, she’s talking about Minoru. The responsibility of conceiving the boy and giving birth to him away from me and without my knowledge.

　　Because I was so ready to accept it and make it water under the bridge without blaming her at all, she’s finding it acceptable that I’m the only one who will be affected if the girls decide to leave me because of it…

　　Haa… What should I say here? I still didn’t want her to be blamed but as she said, she wouldn’t be able to move on from it…

　　“I understand… Miwa-nee can do that. For our future…”

　　In the end, after thinking hard about what kind of response I should give her, that’s the only answer I could come up with. To let her do it…

　　And upon hearing that Miwa-nee put on her brightest smile before saying, “Yes. It’s for our future.”

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