"Can you tell me what your plan is?"
Yukino asked directly because she couldn't figure out Makoto Amano's true intentions after thinking for a long time.
Yuigahama Yui's words had unsettled her heart.
Is it really possible for Kaumigaoka Utaha to be persuaded by him?
"Very simple. I will combine your and Yui's suggestions."
" First, I'll assist Kasumigaoka-senpai in her career, using that as a way to improve her opinion of me."
" Then, I'll exploit her character flaws. I'll make her play hard to get, and she'll realize that I won't take the initiative to approach her. Instead, she'll have to come to me. That way, everything will fall into place."
While the exact implementation of the strategy required a thorough investigation of Kasumigaoka Utaha, He was confident in its success.
"It's 'Repaying Grace' once again, and it's just as despicable as before..."
Yukino recalled how Makoto Amano had treated her in a similar manner in the past.
"I'm going back."
She packed her schoolbag, gathered the library books, and ignored the other two people in the clubroom. She turned around and walked out of the classroom.
"Yukino... she must be really angry..."
Yuigahama Yui reached out to stop Yukino from leaving but ultimately chose to remain silent.
"Do we really need Kasumigaoka-senpai?"
The girl's desire for a peaceful and harmonious "three-person life" was suddenly shattered by Makoto Amano's ambition to expand his harem.
It seemed that she had already come to terms with the idea that the three of them would continue in this situation.
"Not necessarily... it's just..."
Makoto Amano leaned on the table in front of her, looking at her gently.
"Just what?"
Her eyes brightened with hope upon hearing his response.
"It's nothing... If you and Yukino can't accept Kasumigaoka-senpai's presence, then I'll give up."
Makoto Amano reached out and ruffled the girl's hair.
This shy girl was as adorable as a small animal, and he found himself becoming addicted to touching the fluffy hairball on her head.
"Really?"
The light in her eyes grew even brighter, and the clouds on her face dissipated with Makoto Amano's words.
She decided to share this "good news" with Yukino later, and once they stood united again, Kasumigaoka-senpai wouldn't stand a chance.
The joyous girl even forgot to resist when Makoto Amano continued touching the hairball on her head.
"Of course, but... I think she could become friends with you."
Just as he had initially thought, He believed that Yuigahama Yui and Yukino would definitely become friends.
The harem list he had compiled wasn't simply about finding two beautiful girls who ranked highly in appearance and figure; it also took into account the compatibility of all the girls together.
"Hmph, become friends with us only to be bullied by you, you big villain, right?"
Yuigahama Yui took a few steps back upon hearing his words, avoiding his hand that was still touching her hairball.
"Yukino is right, you're a nasty pervert!"
The angered girl picked up her schoolbag and left the clubroom.
---
"The path to building a harem is indeed fraught with challenges and misunderstandings..."
Ultimately, the first harem meeting ended with everyone feeling unhappy.
Amano Makoto had done his best but still couldn't change the girls' minds.
"Besides, I never intended to blackmail Yukino into repaying me... I never even thought about using it as leverage..."
Bringing up their shared childhood experiences might have appeared as "repayment" to Yukino, but in reality, it was just a means to bring down her excessively high self-esteem.
He knew that even without mentioning their childhood, Yukino would still spend most of her time by his side.
However, her self-esteem and reservation made her crave a reason or an excuse...
Whether it was repeatedly mentioning their childhood on Sundays to ask the girls out or the statement about the harem being a social experiment, they were all excuses for the girls to accept him.
Otherwise, things would continue to be awkward between them.
It was a mutual understanding between the two of them.
But this understanding could also be seen as taking advantage of Yukino's feelings for him...
Was that the reason behind Yukino's anger today?
Not because of the argument between him and Yuigahama, but because...
Did Kasumigaoka-senpai and her sister create a sense of crisis for her?
"Ah, girls' thoughts are just too difficult to fathom, especially Yukino's..."
Makoto Amano, the last person to leave the clubroom, pondered for a long time but couldn't determine whether his decision to continue with his harem king plan was right or wrong.
"Maintaining the status quo would be enough..."
That's what Yui wanted to convey to him just now.
However, as a true king, he couldn't settle for the idea of being stagnant.
Shaking his head, He regained his determination.
If he was ready to become a king, he needed to bear the responsibilities and burdens that came with it at all times.
Sorry, Yukino, Yui, this time I have to win.
---
"Big sister?"
As soon as Yukino walked out of the school gate, she spotted black limousine.
Inside the car, her elder sister, Yukinoshita Haruno, sat in the backseat and waved at her.
"Huh? Isn't Amano with you?"
Haruno noticed that her sister was the only one coming out of the school gate, and Makoto Amano hadn't appeared yet.
"Are you waiting for him?"
Yukino immediately realized that her sister might not be there for her.
"Yes, our mother asked me to bring him home today. Oh, why don't you come as a guest and stay overnight? Otherwise..."
Haruno narrowed her eyes, her smile filled with mischief.
"It seems that Mom is concerned that something might happen between you and him."
"Mom wouldn't say something like that..."
Yukino's face blushed slightly.
She suddenly remembered the fact that she and Makoto Amano had been living under the same roof since last night.
But she quickly dismissed the blush.
She and Makoto Amano would never let anything happen between them. It was impossible.
"Perhaps, while the latter statement is just a guess from your sister, who knows what Mom really thinks?"
"..."
Yukino, who had only been away from home for a day, suddenly felt the urge to go back.
Even though the chances were one in ten thousand, she didn't want her mother to have any misunderstandings.
"Okay, okay. Yukino has finally stepped out of the house, and it's too..."
Apologies for someone's sacrifice.
As Haruno recalled the conversation between Makoto Amano and herself on the phone, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
Furthermore, even their mother seemed to be accepting the fact that Yukino could move out of the house.
Yukino was indeed well taken care of.
Unlike her...
No matter how hard she tried, it seemed she could never obtain anything.
It was truly enviable to the point of being jealous, Yukino...
___
As I have already uploaded up to Chapter 64 on Patreon, you can go ahead and check it out if you're interested....