Ryunosuke sat in a bus seat that felt both intimately familiar and strangely foreign.
No one had come to see him off—or rather, only one person had: Amasawa Ichika.
She stood by the school gates, waving with a wide, enigmatic grin. Through the bus window, Ryunosuke could see her clearly, her vibrant energy contrasting with the somber finality of his departure.
"Does this girl really not have a shred of feeling for me?" he wondered, bewildered. Even now, Ichika remained a puzzle he couldn't quite solve.
The reason no one else had gathered was simple: Ryunosuke had strictly forbidden it. If the oblivious Kei or the ever-earnest Honami had shown up only to find a literal crowd of other girls, his elaborate charade would have gone up in flames. He couldn't risk exposing his "web of rivals" just yet.
Gazing at the scenery blurring past the glass, Ryunosuke's thoughts drifted toward his mother—the only family member who had ever truly loved him. Yet, for some reason, her face remained hazy in his mind, like a photograph left too long in the sun. Fortunately, the memory of where she lived remained intact, and for now, that was enough.
He leaned back and closed his eyes, letting the hum of the bus lull him into a trek through the past. He remembered the hunger of his childhood, a constant companion brought on by a father who was a quintessential scoundrel—a man enslaved by the bottle and the gambling den. When the cards turned sour, the old man's fists would find Ryunosuke.
The young Ryunosuke hadn't been afraid back then; he would simply crouch in the corner, his eyes sharp and harboring a burgeoning thirst for blood. But he never struck back—after all, the man was his father. He would only tuck his head low, yearning for the warm embrace of his mother. It was a warmth he vowed never to forget, the one constant that had survived even his bouts of amnesia.
A faint, peaceful smile touched his lips as he drifted into a rare pleasant dream. Before long, the bus reached its terminus. He stepped off, hauling a large black suitcase packed with clothes and 40 million Yen in cash—the parting "gift" from Manabu. Tucked safely in his pocket was also the 40-million-Yen check from Ai, waiting to be cleared.
Now that he was in the outside world, his priority was debt liquidation. Between Manabu's cash, Ai's check, and his mounting novel royalties, he finally had enough to wipe the slate clean.
Ryunosuke dragged his suitcase toward the Fushikawa Publishing offices to collect his earnings. Theoretically, the publishing house belonged to Hiyori's father—his potential father-in-law. Given how deep his bond with Hiyori ran, he suspected that even if her parents disapproved, she was the type who would happily elope with him.
He preferred collecting his pay in person. Usually, the funds were funneled into an account managed by Hiyori, but since she was confined to the school and already sat on a mountain of pocket money, Ryunosuke's pride recoiled at the idea of asking her for a card. He didn't want to feel like a kept man, even if Hiyori wouldn't mind in the slightest.
He had left the school in capable hands. The Student Council Presidency had been passed to Suzune, with Kushida promoted to Vice President to keep things running smoothly. He had also funneled 2 million private points to Asuna, specifically to keep an eye on Suzune.
Without supervision, Suzune's rigid nature was a powder keg. And while Kushida wasn't exactly the "calm" type either, Ryunosuke hoped that since they were both "his women," they could maintain a fragile peace. Hopefully.
Ryunosuke swiped his card to board the ferry, leaving behind the isolated island that housed Advanced Nurturing High School. The bus had taken him to the pier; from here, he had to navigate the path home alone.
On the deck of the ship, he breathed in the salt air and listened to the cry of the gulls. Relinquishing the Presidency didn't actually feel like losing power. After all, the real levers of the Student Council were held by his wives:
Hiyori controlled the finances.
Kushida was the Vice President.
Suzune was the President.
They were all his people. Even in his absence, the throne remained his because... well, they were all his partners.
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Meanwhile, back at the school, Asuna was busy counting her new 2 million points. She had zero interest in politics or power; her heart belonged solely to her gaming rig. It was ironic that the things she wanted least came to her the easiest. But she didn't care—with 2 million points, she wouldn't have to worry about in-game top-up costs for an entire year.
Asuna hugged her phone to her chest, laughing like a delighted fool. Her classmates exchanged confused glances, wondering what on earth could have her so giddy. In the end, they chose to doubt their own understanding rather than question her.
Hashimoto and Katsuragi adjusted their non-existent glasses with expressions of profound "realization."
"I see," Hashimoto murmured. "Asuna-sama's smile must hold a deep, strategic meaning that escapes us mere mortals." Katsuragi simply nodded in solemn, serious agreement.