More than a week passed by like water flowed down to the sea in a surge. That time also made Tatsumi realize just how busy he had been and decided to leave time for an important discussion.
When he was still in home, he could hear the television channel discussing the news about the source of problems in the Hinon Federation.
“It is said that an anonymous person dealt with the perpetrator who caused several big projects to be debated and thus delayed. This has been corrected by the related personnel and the perpetrator has been caught.
“What’s interesting is that the Hinon Science Institute will be taking care of the delayed project and dealing with the aftermath of this.”
Tatsumi headed to his room to change his clothes but was surprised to see that Nene was waiting in front of the door.
“Brother.” Nene said while walking to him. Tatsumi felt that he could see dark clouds around Nene since she moved with precise accuracy toward him.
“What’s wrong? I want to change clothes.” Tatsumi asked.
“You need to tell me that you are going out with someone!” Nene exclaimed.
Tatsumi understood that Nene knew about his outing today. This time became important to Tatsumi since he wanted to convey what he had thought and deal with everything all at once. But for Nene to find out about it was unexpected.
“How did you know about it?” Tatsumi decided to ask since he was sure that he had not divulged anything about this.
“From your expression and body language, of course!” Nene answered so sure.
Tatsumi facepalmed at the realization that he was too nervous and his body tensed up. But his eyes were full of determination as he wanted to completely clear the matter.
“I am going out. This is important so please don’t mess this up for me.” Tatsumi said before he went into his room.
Nene wanted to grab Tatsumi’s arm but she decided not to and looked at the closed door.
After a while, Tatsumi opened the door with his new clothes. This time, it was a grey shirt with long black pants. This was his choice of clothing since he wanted to go out. He hoped that his choice would not be too flashy.
“Well, I am off.” Tatsumi said to Nene before he brought a small bag with him and headed to the exit.
Nene wanted to say something more but could not let it out.
‘Seeing him like that, perhaps it is the matter with Sister Charlene. But why is he so serious as if shouldering a mountain?’ Nene wondered but she decided to respect the choice that Tatsumi had.
She also knew that once Tatsumi decided on something, it would not be changed.
-
Before the meeting even took place, Tatsumi had contacted both Charlene and Ame. He needed to resolve this thoroughly so that there could be no doubt about their relationship.
‘Now that the matter is brought up, I feel nervous and still feel that. Is something wrong with me?’ Tatsumi thought.
‘I think it is because of your lack of confidence that caused it.’ Goto commented.
‘Well, there is no such thing as certainty in the perception of a human being. But I want to do my best.’ Tatsumi replied in his mind.
Tatsumi went to the park where they should meet. The park was close to the school and his residence but was also convenient for them to meet.
The park had some trees, along with the trimmed bushes as well as a paved road for those who wanted to enjoy the entirety of the park. There were also recreational objects for children to play with, along with the fountain of water that was in the middle of the park.
The violet sun was bright and the clouds dispersed so that there would be no rain in the area. Tatsumi felt the heat land on his body and felt that it started to heat him slowly.
‘I have already asked Teacher about the way his relationship is going but all I got was that I need to place my heart and let it guide me. That’s hard,’ Tatsumi grumbled something due to the heat from the violet sun since it started to get him uncomfortable.
But he walked around and found benches in a row and decided to wait by sitting. He then wore a cap so that the heat did not get to his head any longer.
Then he looked around and saw that numerous people had finished their aerobic exercise. That was one group and then he shifted his gaze and saw that there were children playing in the designated area; their laughter could be heard even from a distance.
He shifted his gaze once more and realized that there was someone he had been looking for.
She had her blouse with a skirt that reached her knees while also carrying an umbrella. Her long brown hair was swaying slightly due to the small wind that came from the change in the air. Her brown eyes locked onto Tatsumi as she let out a smile, and she headed toward him.
“So you are here, sitting while waiting. Have you waited long?” Ame said as she got close to Tatsumi.
Tatsumi focused on her umbrella. It was an artifact that Romanov had given her and he knew that it could change form to anything that Ame wanted.
“You are carrying something precious like that? The Myriad Manifestation Umbrella is a suitable weapon for you.” Tatsumi said while slightly praising the compatibility between it and Ame.
“Thank you for the praise. May I sit next to you?” Ame smiled and asked.
“Sure. But change it, please.” Tatsumi nodded and made a request.
Ame flicked her wrist and the umbrella let out a brilliant light as it changed into a dual dagger which Ame stored on her waist where there were the daggers’ sheath. Then she sat down on Tatsumi’s right.
“Are we waiting for someone else?” Ame realized that the moment Tatsumi still sat and looked around.
“Yes. Someone equally important to me. You won’t mind, right?” Tatsumi said while still looking around.
Ame sighed but she had guessed as to who Tatsumi’s important person was. She felt a pang in her heart but recalling the information she had on Tatsumi, it dawned on her as to why Tatsumi regarded that person as important.
As expected, there was someone who came to the park and it made Tatsumi look in that direction and he was surprised to see that most people were looking in his direction or to the current place where his gaze landed.
Ame also realized that the one Tatsumi had been waiting for was here and narrowed her eyes.
The closer the figure was, the more Tatsumi could see the face and appearance of the figure.
She had pink hair and her red eyes were looking in his direction. A confident smile graced her face as she walked to him. Even Tatsumi stood up as if staying sit would be a desecration.
“Hm, you tend to choose the nearest place as your meeting place.” Charlene said while shifting her gaze between Tatsumi and Ame. She realized that it was as she had expected.
“Sister Charlene, sorry for being easy to read. I have not thought of a more appropriate place for our discussion.” Tatsumi even placed his hand behind his back while having a bashful expression on his face.
“I don’t mind that. And what a good day to meet you, Miss Mikazuki. It has been some time since the last time we met. How are you doing now?” Charlene said with a nice voice and a confident smile.
Ame looked at Charlene but decided not to be outdone and let out a smile as she said, “Yes. To be able to see one of the Federation’s top scientists spending her time on this means that this will be quite serious.”
Tatsumi, who was on the side, realized that the two seemed to be working together quite well. But their glance swept over him and he knew that he needed to steer this conversation into one he wanted to truly discuss.
Then Tatsumi gestured for Charlene to sit on the bench and she did just that. Tatsumi sat between them and took a long breath.
Charlene seemed to know the discussion for today and an anticipation brewed in her heart which reached her eyes. Ame, on the other hand, did not want to lose someone important.
“I have something important to tell you two. I have said it before, but I really wanted you two to listen to what I say.” Tatsumi began. Even if he was heading toward an unknown future, he needed to do this so that his feelings and heart reached the two.
‘I am ready. Whatever the result, I will gladly accept.’ Tatsumi thought as he accepted the situation, whether it would turn out good or bad for him.
“Sister Charlene, perhaps you know it or maybe not but the truth is I have been feeling strange whenever you are in my presence. I have bottled these feelings for quite some time and I think that I like you.” Tatsumi said, while a sweat appeared, whether due to nervousness or heat.
Charlene just looked at him, and the corner of her mouth slightly raised. Her eyes focused on his face and she knew that what he had said was true. But she knew that he wanted to say more.
“So please at least try to go out with me!” Tatsumi said with all his might because he knew that he had spent every courage he had to do this.
Charlene’s eyes became a bit blurry but she still had her smile. She looked at Ame and realized that she was looking lost and shaken.
‘I know that this is his way of properly settling things but…’ Charlene thought and wanted to say something.
“Do you know the weight of those words? You realize that there is one more person in this.” Charlene said.
Tatsumi felt like he was hit by something blunt in his chest but he endured. Charlene still did not answer his confession so there was a chance. His brow furrowed as he thought about Ame and realized that she was struggling and trembling.
“Of course I know. But this needs to be discussed together!” Tatsumi said with a hoarse and grated voice.
Then he turned to Ame and said, “My first impression of you was the worst. But the time I spent with you is slowly changing my view of you. Perhaps I'm being greedy for saying this, but I've started to grow attached to you. Now, I also like you.”
Tatsumi could no longer bear it and said what needed to be said. Now, it depended on the two to decide what their response would be. Then he felt a flicker of killing intent directed his way and he shivered.
‘Ah, I probably angered one of Ame’s shadow guards.’ Tatsumi thought as he tried to rein in his nervousness. The sweat flowed through the nape and he felt that it was probably because of the heat.
Ame looked at Charlene and Charlene also looked at Ame. There was an understanding between the two that could be relayed without saying anything.
‘His heart is torn between us and he decided to come clean with us.’ The two had similar thoughts and realized that Tatsumi’s nervousness was due to the possibility of rejection that would come from them.
“So that’s your answer. To come to us with honesty?” Charlene said.
“Are you saying that you will take responsibility for us?” Ame asked.
Tatsumi gulped down as he felt the two stare intently at him. But he could not come up with a better plan than this.
“Yes. I may not look like it but I will try my best to care and love you.” Tatsumi said this while turning his head to look at the two’s facial expressions.
“It is fine if you reject this. I will be fine either way.” Tatsumi added. He had a resigned expression on his face since he could only wait for them to decide. He had already made up his mind.
“To be honest with you…” Charlene began her speech and continued, “…I am also finding you interesting due to your connection to the Afterlife. Your knowledge mostly comes from there and that made me want to learn from you. Let’s just say that our feelings are mutual.
“But to think that you have another who is attracted to you, that’s the unexpected part.”
Charlene sighed as she had a helpless look on her face and then looked at Ame, waiting for her response.
“I think that you being honest is the reason I like you more. What more can I say?” Ame said while looking at Tatsumi.
“Does that mean you two accepted my double confession?” Tatsumi raised his head slightly due to the words they had said, and that gave him hope.
But it did not mean he was not prepared for the rejection. No, he was ready for that as well. But the direction this was going was fairly better from his perspective.
“Before that, there is something we want to know.” Charlene looked at Ame before saying this. The two of them probably had the same question in their heart.
“Yes, what is it?” Tatsumi asked while keeping the feeling to himself. Only he truly knew how he felt.
“If we reject your confession, what will you do?”
Tatsumi looked at the two of them and knew that they truly meant it. They wanted to know it so badly that they asked.
With a breath, Tatsumi said, “If that is going to happen, I will probably be devastated. But I will recover from that.”
His expression became harder to read but Charlene sighed and opened her mouth.
“Well, we…” The two of them held Tatsumi’s hand, each one for one of them. Tatsumi shifted his gaze between the two and knew that he would hear something that would change his life forever.
“Of course, we are going to accept it. You are the one who brought us and your feelings here.” Ame stated while a small blush appeared on her cheeks, while still holding his hand.
Charlene on the other hand, placed her free hand on Tatsumi’s head on top while her smile became more natural.
She said, “As expected from you, doing all this while expecting the worst. Say, what makes you like me, hmm?”
Tatsumi felt something in his chest beating. It was beating loud enough for him to feel it. His heart beat hard and then he felt blood rush to his head as his face reddened. His eyes became teary as it threatened to drop.
“I like that your thoughts are in a higher place than mine. I also like your spirited self when learning something that even I don’t know about. I like the way you care for me; it makes me feel warm.” Tatsumi said with difficulty. He then sobbed slowly as the two were concerned and realized that what he had said earlier was an understatement.
He would not be just devastated if he were rejected; he would be broken. That was why they tightened the grip they had on his hand, feeling the warmth that his body radiated.
“I…I feel like…a lucky man….to be able to know the two of you…and getting to confess to you…I feel like all the burden in my heart has been lifted.”
Charlene slowly patted his back while Ame clenched her hand that reached for Tatsumi, trying to calm him down while also patting the back of his hand with her free hand.
“Alright, calm yourself. We basically accepted your confession and you probably realized that as well.” Charlene said while observing Tatsumi, who still had tears on his face.
“Thank you, truly thank you.” That was all Tatsumi could say before he lowered his head.
The two then felt that the body they were taking care of relaxed as Tatsumi slumped to the bench. Charlene and Ame quickly stabilized his body and found out that he had fallen unconscious.
“Sister Charlene, what should we do about this?” Ame decided to accept her position and asked the most important question. Her eyes softened when she looked at Tatsumi but she wanted to know how Charlene would take this.
“Let him rest. From my earlier observation, Tatsumi was nervous from the very moment I laid my eyes on him. Maybe he held in that nervousness and still managed to do all of this. Isn’t he so sweet?” Charlene said while letting Tatsumi’s head rest on her lap.
Then as if knowing how she should act, Ame placed Tatsumi’s leg on her lap and let him rest well.
“I didn’t expect that the boy who used to cling to me would have another who is attracted to him. But from another point of view, I should have expected it.” Charlene said while looking at Ame.
“I know that he likes you so much from the start, but I'm still chasing after him. I am glad to make that decision. But it doesn’t mean I am happy to be confessed together like this.” Ame said before letting out a helpless sigh.
“It will be fine. Since he dared to do this, it means that he is serious…about us.” Charlene placed her hand on Tatsumi’s forehead and felt a slight warmth.
‘It is hard on you but now that you have crossed the hurdle, the future should be looking good.’ Charlene thought as she looked at the expression on the unconscious Tatsumi's face. Since she had accepted him, she should act like one. She ruffled his hair contentedly and enjoyed it.
Ame, on the other hand, had to feel a bit disappointed not to be able to observe Tatsumi’s face up close. But she sat on the bench quietly while feeling the circulation of Ether in Tatsumi’s body decreasing from its hyperactive state.
‘Tatsumi, you are too nervous that your transcendent energy circulation almost deviated. That’s dangerous, you know.’ Ame thought as she let out a sigh of relief.
After ten minutes, Tatsumi’s eyes fluttered as they slowly opened to see the face so familiar in front of him.
“Am I out for a moment?” he asked.
“Just for some time. You should relax your body.” Charlene suggested. Tatsumi knew that his going unconscious was his fault so he became relaxed the moment that his confession had passed.
“Here, a drink for you. You are quite emotional so I thought that you also need to rehydrate.” Ame was standing beside him and Tatsumi roused himself up and tried to stand up.
Charlene supported him in that until Tatsumi could sit down. He accepted Ame’s offer and drank it. He felt that his throat was dry so the cool sensation of the water flowing made him feel like enjoying the hydration.
“Thank you, Ame. I feel better.” Tatsumi let out a small smile as he felt his mental state increase.
“You should be. I could accept your confession as an answer to mine, so might as well do it.” Ame said with a small smirk.
Charlene placed her hand on Tatsumi’s shoulder and said, “Was what she said true?”
Tatsumi knew that he had to be honest since it was truly the case and the source of this event.
“It was true. That was the reason why I needed to do this, so that I can selfishly not feel torn apart and get you two to be able to see that I am honest.” Tatsumi said. He was worried that it might cause him to be rejected but it was fine if that had been the case. He would just feel that the entire world lost its color and his senses were warped.
“No, if you did not do this, you would have some psychological issue going forward. You are overexerting yourself just because of this. How can we not worry about you if you are this nervous?” Charlene chided. Her eyes were on Tatsumi as he said all of that.
It was true that wanting to get both of them would be selfish but to Charlene, he was rarely selfish like this. Most of the time, he would care for his family and hers.
“I guess…that is also true. I am sorry for the previous unconscious matter.” Tatsumi opened his mouth and said that with a hint of guilt.
“If you have issues, please tell us more.” Ame stood in front of him and reprimanded him with a soft smile.
Tatsumi nodded and let time pass slowly to recover some strength that was sapped by his extreme emotion. Now, he had to be more grounded and responsible since he had two more people to take care of, well, in the future.
“We will start as a simple boyfriend-girlfriend relationship first, don’t you all agree?” Charlene issued an idea that Tatsumi and Ame agreed with.