Chapter 338

After waiting in a long line, we finally made it into the Momo-nim Merchandise store.

Surrounded by a crowd of mostly young girls, I browsed the merchandise alongside Renka and Chinami.

A vast array of items lined the shelves, a testament to the character's massive popularity.

They had the basics—plushies in every size, cups, tumblers, postcards, and notebooks—alongside everyday necessities like shampoo and body wash.

Impressive. Tragically, they still didn't have an ahegao Momo-sama.

Did the demands of sexual deviants mean nothing to them?

I would have to file a formal complaint. This simply wouldn't do.

After a glance at Chinami, who was frantically picking out items, I nudged Renka. She was standing with her arms crossed, just window-shopping.

"President, didn't they make a Momo-sama anime?"

"They did."

"Then why aren't you fangirling over Momo-sama?"

"Ah, shit...! Do I have to like something just because it's an anime?"

"Since it's you, President, of course."

"What a narrow-minded view. Typical of you."

"Narrow-minded? Are you one to talk?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

She haughtily raised her chin, looking incredibly pretty as she stubbornly talked back.

Did she think I wouldn't do anything just because we were in public?

If so, she had made a grave miscalculation.

Pat.

Without caring who might be watching, I rested a hand against her uniform skirt.

"Hiiik...!?"

She recoiled and frantically glanced around.

Fortunately for her, no one was paying us any attention.

Relieved, Renka shot me a furious glare.

"What are you doing, you crazy bastard...!"

It was the exact same pattern every time, but it never stopped being fun.

Chuckling, I gave the top of her rear a couple of warning pats, telling her not to get smart with me. Then, I walked over to Chinami, whose shopping basket was already overflowing.

"You're buying all that?"

"Yep. They released a lot of new merchandise."

"Do you even have room for it in your room? It must be packed with Momo-sama stuff by now."

"I bought a new display case just for today. Surprisingly, Renka has a lot of expertise in that area, so she helped me out."

Renka's expertise wasn't in display cases, but in otaku subculture...

I still didn't understand why she kept her fandom a secret from Chinami.

Chinami would have kept the secret and understood completely.

Well, it didn't really matter. She would find out naturally once we all moved in together anyway.

Thinking that, I pointed at one of the packages in her basket.

"What's that?"

"Ah, this is peach powder."

"Do you mix it in to make something like iced tea? Or sprinkle it on Popcorn?"

"No. It's a powder you sprinkle on fruit."

"...Excuse me? Fruit?"

"Yep. If you sprinkle it on things like strawberries or oranges, it instantly melts and makes them taste like peaches."

Why the hell did the Momo-sama company make something like that?

Had they run out of merchandise ideas and just decided to make whatever came to mind?

The world was truly going mad. I suddenly wanted to sit down and have a serious discussion with their development team.

"It's actually a powder made from real peaches, so I bet sprinkling it on a peach would make the sweetness even richer! I'll bring some tomorrow so we can eat it together."

I flashed an awkward smile at her words and nodded.

"Sure. Let's do that."

"Yep."

I noticed Renka watching us with extreme unease in her eyes.

It was proof she already had a gut feeling she would be the first guinea pig for the peach powder.

She must have found the unknown substance just as suspicious.

Still, it was hilarious that, being the soft-hearted girl she was, she was fully prepared to eat it if offered.

Having finished her shopping spree, Chinami stuffed the merchandise into her bag until it looked ready to burst.

Even that wasn't enough, leaving her carrying two massive shopping bags as well.

I helped her out by grabbing the shopping bags, then led the two of them to the car.

Afterward, Chinami left her bag behind to make a quick trip to the subway station restroom. While watching her walk away, I chatted with Renka.

"President, get in the back seat."

"Me?"

"Yeah. The person getting out first always sits in the back."

"I mean... I don't care where I sit... but Chinami's place is closer, so why are you dropping me off first? You're planning to do something weird to Chinami after I leave, aren't you...!"

"Something weird? Like what, specifically?"

"H-How am I supposed to say that out loud...!"

Was this deja vu? I felt like a memory of this exact conversation was replaying.

Renka must have had the same thought, because she firmly bit her lips, which were glossy with light pink lip tint.

"You always seem to say the exact same things, President."

"...Because you keep saying the same things first..."

"Fair enough. Shall we try something different from now on, then?"

"S-Something different...?"

"How about it?"

"I'd... rather not..."

"I'll take that as your agreement. We'll do that."

"When did I ever agree! I said I'd rather not!"

"Just get in."

"No! I'm taking the subway with Chinami...!"

I silently opened the back door and gestured with my chin, looking back and forth between Renka and the seat.

She jutted out her lips in a deep pout, mumbled something, and climbed inside while carefully holding down her skirt.

She was going to get in anyway, yet she just had to put up a fuss.

It seemed the memories of her serving me had completely vanished from her mind. I would have to crank up the intensity and do it again soon.

"Are they heavy for you?"

"No. I just have to carry them, so it's not a big deal."

"I'm sorry. I'm just being a burden."

"A burden? Please don't say that."

"Yep. Thank you."

We were in the elevator of Chinami's apartment building.

While carrying the shopping bags to help her out, I could see the apologetic expression lingering on her face.

Our Chinami was just too sweet. It made me anxious to let her face this harsh world on her own.

"Master."

"Yes?"

"You know I really like you, right?"

"Myaah...!?"

Chinami covered her face with her tiny hands, flustered by her own sudden confession.

She was practically oozing cuteness. The shoulder straps of her pink backpack seemed to double that adorable charm.

I naturally flashed a fatherly smile at her antics as I spoke.

"We're here. Shall we get off?"

"Y-Yes...!"

When I held out a hand to Chinami, who had hurriedly stepped to my side, she hesitantly took it with incredibly shy eyes.

With our fingers laced together, I walked all the way to her front door in a sweet, innocent atmosphere.

"Well... I guess it's time to say goodbye..."

"I guess so."

"See you tomorrow..."

"Yes, see you."

We were saying our goodbyes, but she hadn't let go of my hand.

This was how Chinami would express her quiet stubbornness using her body.

She was much better at expressing herself than Renka.

I was just thinking that as I looked at Chinami, whose face was flushed like a peach, when suddenly—

Click.

The front door swung open, and a woman stepped out with pink, shoulder-length bobbed hair curled at the ends.

"Chinami? Are you just getting... hm?"

She was petite and possessed incredibly cute features, along with a remarkably soft, gentle voice.

The moment I saw her in that apron, I instantly knew who she was.

She looked exactly like Chinami; it would have been weirder if I didn't know.

"Who...?"

As she adorably tilted her head, I gave her a polite bow.

"Hello. I'm Matsuda Ken."

"Aha...! Are you Matsuda-kun?"

"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello. I'm Nanase Momoka."

She suddenly switched to polite language and bowed in return.

Chinami had definitely inherited her quirkiness from her mother.

Her voice was fantastic—girlish, yet somehow carrying a hint of maturity.

That was exactly what Chinami would become when she got older.

Her appearance was exactly as I had imagined.

A petite frame that made you want to take care of her, plump squirrel-like cheeks exactly like Chinami's, and soft pink eyes...

Why were the mothers of heroines always such gorgeous women with baby faces?

Who established that cliché, anyway?

The tantalizing temptation of a mother-daughter combo started creeping up on me again.

If Chinami's father, whom I had yet to meet, also turned out to be an oddball...

If he was a quirky, eccentric father, wouldn't he enjoy cuckold masturbation?

To achieve my dream of a harem, I would have to talk to all four sets of parents eventually. Wouldn't it be easier to just conquer the mothers rather than adopting a subservient attitude?

Of course, there would be four victims in this scenario, but from a utilitarian standpoint, sacrificing them for the happiness of eight... no, nine people, including Kanna, wasn't a bad trade-off.

It would be fine if I occasionally sent the husbands a USB drive containing videos of their wives, right...?

Having momentarily indulged in unwholesome thoughts, I shook off the reverie and bowed once more to Momoka, who was flashing a pretty smile.

Then, I spoke.

"It's a genuine pleasure to meet you. I came to drop Senior Nanase off."

"Did you? Thank you so much. Chinami talks about you a lot... You really do look as dependable and trustworthy as she said."

She was saying the exact same thing as Midori.

Heroines' mothers really did easily trust the protagonist.

"Thank you."

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes. The three of us grabbed a quick bite with Inoo-sunbae."

"Really? Would you like some fruit, at least?"

The fruit was obviously going to be peaches, wasn't it?

"No, thank you. I'll eat next time. It's getting late, and I parked on the shoulder, so I need to move my car."

"I see. Make sure to come in next time, then. I'll have some delicious peaches ready."

I knew it.

The more I looked at her, the more I listened to her voice, the more I felt she was identical to Chinami.

If we were to sleep together, wouldn't she also stomp her feet and beg me to hold her, just like her daughter?

Just imagining it sent blood rushing rapidly to my lower half.

Answering that I understood, I bowed to Momoka and to Chinami, who was blinking her large eyes.

At that,

"Get home safe."

"Goodbye."

The two of them simultaneously bid me farewell, without even needing to coordinate.

Seeing that cute display kept rousing wicked desires within me. Did I really need to hold back?

I strongly felt that surrendering myself to pleasure might not be a bad idea after all.

Suppressing the temptation, I left the apartment building, headed home, and took a cold shower.

Afterward, I lay spread-eagle on my mattress and called Miyuki.

"Hello?"

Mmm. Hearing Miyuki's sweet voice didn't wash away my wicked thoughts; if anything, it made them stronger.

"What are you up to?"

"We're having a party right now."

"A party?"

"My grandma's dog just had a litter of nine puppies. She said it was a joyous occasion and gathered all the relatives to celebrate."

Yeah, I figured it would be over something trivial like that.

Still, nine puppies... that was impressive.

Anyway, it seemed Miyuki's grandmother lived in a neighborhood with some sort of superstition... a tradition of throwing a festival whenever a pet had a large litter.

It was an incredibly unique superstition, the kind of thing you'd only see in a rom-com or youth manga.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. I'll make sure to bring back lots of delicious side dishes."

I let out a helpless laugh at Miyuki's words and replied.

"Alright. Are you coming back today?"

"I'm not sure. I might head back late tonight, or early tomorrow morning. Don't wait up for me and just go to sleep."

So Miyuki was coming back late, too?

That meant I was going to be extremely bored until tonight... I'd just have to kill time by relentlessly messing with Renka.