Chapter 51: Reveals

(Hina ♥)

[I'm outside. <3]

"Huu..."  I breath. Rising from my bed, I head to the door. Full of nerves, my heart beats rapidly in my chest. 'I should've been honest way sooner...'  I say internally, regretting my past decision.

'Even though Hina already said she's fine with me having multiple partners, I still can't predict how she'll react to this...'  with that thought, I reach for the handle. But freeze just before my fingertips could touch it. 'Hina... won't break up with me because of this, right?'  The thought peered its ugly head.

'No. There's no way.'  I shake my head, pushing the negative thoughts. 

"You're way too special for me to have all to myself, Andy..."

"But I can't promise I won't compete for more of your attention..."

My head replayed Hina's words that day. The same moment she accepted the future I'll have.

'I just need to be honest. Lay my heart out and let Hina decide...'

Steeling myself, I grab the handle and push it down. Opening the door, I soon lock eyes with Hina on the other side. Dressed casually in a plain shirt, jacket, and jeans.

"Good morning, Andy!"  Hina says with a wide smile on her face. Gazing at me with loving eyes.

"... Good morning, Hina."  I say with my own smile, attempting to match her energy.

Stepping aside, I gesture for her to come in. 

"Pardon the intrusion."  Hina says as she walks in. Her eyes dart around the place while I close the door. 

"Do you want something to drink? I bought some orange juice yesterday if that's your fancy."  I say, guiding Hina inside.

"Sure. I'll have that."  Hina says, sneaking some more glances. And although it was brief, I felt her gaze on my butt, and also the back of my thighs.¹*hamstrings

'Maybe I should have worn pajamas instead of shorts.'

"You can take a seat right here."  I pull out a chair from the dining table. The same one mom sits on when we eat.

"Thanks."  Hina utters a word of gratitude as she sat down. 

Confirming she's seated, I walk over to the kitchen and pour each of us a tall glass of orange juice.

"So, what did you want to talk about, Andy?"  Hina asks. Her eyes gazing at me from behind.

"It's....."  I trail off. Trying to think of what to say. 'Should I say it now or later? If I don't say it off, then what do I tell her now?'

However, the pause went on long enough that Hina started to worry. "Is something the matter?"  she asks, evident concern in her voice.

My mouth hangs open for a couple more seconds before I finally say something. "... Yes. Yes, there is..."  I confess. Grabbing the two glasses of juice, I head back to Hina. Placing a glass in front of her before moving to my seat.

"Andy..."  Hina reached out, and placed her hand on mine. "I'm here for you, whenever you need me. So please, tell me what's weighing on your mind."  she says. Looking at me with the expression of a reliable adult. 

'In moments like this, her maturity over me really comes out...'  I thought, gazing at her hand on mine.

"..... Last month, I was on a rental date when my client drugged my drink."  I say. Looking up, I see the look on Hina's face. One of utter panic. "Who- What did she-"

"Her name is Reiho-san. And what she slipped in was an aphrodisiac."

"!! That bitch..!"  Hina's features twist in anger. 

Seeing her like this had me taken aback. Because ever since I've known her, this is the first time I've seen Hina get this angry.

"Do you have her picture? Her last name? I swear I'll find out everything about her and ruin her life!!"  Hina growled. Her tone suggests she really will follow through with her claim. As for how she'll do it, I don't have the faintest idea.

I shake my head lightly in turn. "There's no need. She already got arrested."  I say. At the revelation that the culprit is already behind bars, Hina started to calm down.

She closed her eyes, and opens them again. Gazing at me with pity in her eyes. "Andy, did she..."  she trails off, letting me finish the thought. "No, she didn't get to."  I say, shaking my head. "An officer saved me before she could."

At my reply, relief spread across Hina's face. "Thank gooodness-"

"But."  I cut her off. Her relief short-lived.

I look up, and meet her gaze with guilty eyes.

"I couldn't resist the aphrodisiac's effects and ended up sleeping with that same officer..."  The confession finally came out. And instead of feeling lighter, it felt like the load on my shoulders only grew heavier.

I look away in shame, refusing to meet Hina's gaze. 'Please don't hate me... Please don't hate me... Please don't hate me...'  I repeated the wish in my head. Pleading for Hina not to hate me for failing to control my desires.

"...... You should have called me..."

"! I-I'm sorry! Please don't break up with me!"

"That's not what you should be saying."

"Eh?"

I open my eyes and look at Hina as she rose from her seat. Pushing her chair back, she walks over to me.

Her hands dart out, cupping my cheeks. "H-Hina..? -Hmph!?"  Without a word, she captured my lips in a passionate kiss. Invading the insides of my mouth with her tongue. Pushing and wrestling against mine. Causing our spit to mix and exchange. "Mmph- Hina..."  I mumble her nickname. The one I gave and the one I use exclusively for her.

"Paah..."  After what felt like a minute, Hina pulled away. Her black eyes staring intensely at mine. "I'll never break up with you, Andy."  she says. Her voice full of conviction. And lacking as I am, even I can tell she's telling the truth

"You won't...?"  But be that as it may, I still have some doubts. And my expression must have given it away by how Hina is looking at me. "You don't believe me?"  she says. Her voice deeper this time, more... dominating than it was before.

I don't respond. Instead I gaze into her eyes. Silently asking her to prove me wrong.

"......"

"........"

"............"

"........................."

*Sweating*

"Are you not gonna do something...?"  I ask, breaking the awkward silence. 

"... To be honest, I have no idea what to do next..."  Hina said, looking away with flushed cheeks as sweat comically pours down her body.

"Pfft! Hahahahah!"  I burst out laughing at Hina's confession. Just a moment ago she had this air of maturity around her, but now she's back to her regular, goofy self. 

"Please stop laughing... I really tried to think of something cool to say but couldn't..."  Hina muttered. Wiping off a tear that formed, I finally manage to stop laughing.

After taking a moment to compose my self, I part my lips and ask. "But really, you aren't mad at me? Even though I slept with a random woman?" 

"Can you confidently say you did it of your own free will?"

"! ...... No..."

"Then I don't see the problem."  Hina shrugs. The thing I've been agonizing over for the past month, and she shrugged it off just like that.

'I don't have to worry about it anymore..?'

Yet, even as I thought that, the ending feels... insufficient. 

I rack my brain, wondering what else I can do.

"How about this? I'll do anything you want one- no, two times!"  I say out loud. With this, I can move on with a clear conscious.

Hearing my offer, Hina went wide-eyed. Pupils quickly expanded in size.

Her hands curl into fists, nails digging into her palms.

Slowly, she parts her lips and utter her first demand. "Then... I want to be your first wife."

"!? T-That's..."  I trail off. Looking away to avoid her gaze. Because what she's asking for isn't something I can give so easily.

"Is that too much..? Then let me change it."  Hina says after noticing the hesitation in my expression.

"If I'm your second girlfriend, who's the first? Surely that isn't asking for much, right?"  Hina asks, replacing her initial request with a question. "Whenever I asked about who she is, you always avoided it. Saying it's not yet time..."

At the question, I fell into thought. Judging whether it's really okay to reveal that truth to Hina now.

'We've only been dating for a month...'  I thought. Looking up, I see Hina's face. Patiently waiting for my answer. 

'..... This should be sufficient. If it's the Hina now, then she might accept it...'  

With that thought, I grab Hina's wrists and pull them away from me. "Let me get something real quick..."  I say, rising from my seat.

"? Alright."  Hina replied, somewhat confused by my choice.

Without uttering a word of explanation, I disappear into mom's room. 

Later coming out with an unmarked white folder.

With both hands, I offer it to Hina. "Read this."  I say, keeping my tone neutral.

Hina stared at the blank cover for a couple seconds before taking it.

She casts a brief glance at me before shifting back to the folder.

Hina finally opened the folder with a neutral pace. Not fast, not slow.

Her black eyes narrowed slightly as she read the document.

Then.

"!?!?!"

Her eyes went wide as saucers. She snaps to look at me, then back at the paper. Then she repeated the cycle one more time before stopping at my face staring back at her with pursed lips.

Her hands gripping the folder start to tremble. "Andy... This... Is what's written here really true..?"  she asked through trembling lips.

To her question, I simply nod.

Hina's jaw dropped. "Then does this mean..."

"Yes." Adjusting my gaze, I look straight into Hina's eyes.

"My first girlfriend is my mother, Hana Tsukishiro."

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