138 [138] Hachiman's Burnout
Chapter 138: Hachiman's Burnout
As the two individuals locked eyes, Shizuka confidently cast her dice upon the table, a subtle nod to her extraordinary character.
"After toiling for half a decade without a hint of romance, familial pressures led me to reluctantly venture into the world of blind dates," she confessed, her resilience evident.
One couldn't help but be impressed by Shizuka's tenacity and determination.
"What captures your gaze? Your move," she declared with an air of authority, seamlessly continuing the game.
In the backdrop, the sisters Yukino and Haruno stood as unwavering pillars of support for each other. One ascended to become a prominent leader within the local community, while the other skillfully chipped away at the family's once unassailable influence.
On the opposite spectrum, Yui, unburdened by emotional entanglements, rapidly ascended the ranks of their careers, accumulating significant wealth along the way.
Meanwhile, Yumiko, disenchanted by her previous corporate experience, found herself drawn back into the perilous world of the yakuza. Her past reputation as a formidable gang leader still held sway, swiftly amassing a loyal following and setting the stage for a tense rivalry with Yukino.
Hina, influenced by her otaku interests during her school days, followed her heart's calling, choosing the path of a doujinshi artist upon graduation.
In the background, the remaining members, including Saeko and others, quietly pursued their individual life journeys, each forging their unique destinies.
It was Hachiman's turn once more.
"After countless days and nights of hard work, your wife finally became pregnant. Ten months later, she gave birth to quintuplets."
Hachiman couldn't help but glance at Erina upon reading the scenario.
The girl's face turned crimson, and she indignantly exclaimed, "Quintuplets? Do you take me for a pig?"
"Hahaha, quintuplets all at once! Erina, you're truly something," Alice chimed in, stifling her laughter while sporting a mocking grin.
"Indeed, Erina is quite exceptional," even Leonora joined in, clearly savoring the situation.
However, the other girls had mixed reactions.
Saeko remained impassive, and Utaha bit her lower lip, her expression darkening slightly.
Yui and Kotonoha, on the other hand, displayed somewhat melancholic expressions.
"Damn it, stop laughing, Alice, it's your turn."
Upon hearing the mother and daughter's exchange, Erina's frustration was evident as she glared at Alice, her forehead resembling a few exclamation marks.
"Here goes, who cares about you," Alice said, rolling the dice with a playful smirk.
"Ever since reuniting with my first love at my sister's wedding, I couldn't help but toss and turn at night. Eventually, I couldn't resist the inner urge and made a move on my brother-in-law."
It was as if the sister-in-law was on the verge of becoming something more.
Sensing the peculiar glances from everyone, especially Erina's disapproving gaze, Alice's face flushed with embarrassment.
However, she didn't back down. Instead, she boldly declared, "That's right, I aim to win over your husband, Erina, to prove that I'm more captivating than you."
Once again, a stunned silence fell over the room. It felt like a scene from a dramatic family soap opera.
The two sisters locked eyes, sparking with tension, and they both turned their attention to Hachiman, who was about to take his turn.
"Unable to resist the allure of my sister-in-law, I ultimately left my wife and children to marry her," the dice dictated.
Seeing this, Alice's expression was one of triumphant glee as she directed her gaze toward Erina.
"You see? My charms won in the end. Hachiman married me after all."
Erina's eyes practically shot daggers, and she clenched her teeth.
"Leaving your wife and marrying your sister-in-law? Is that the action of a decent person?"
The other girls were quick to join in the condemnation.
"Scum!"
"Pervert! Just as my wife had quintuplets, you went searching for someone else, your own sister-in-law. Is this even human?"
"Beast! Brute! Hachiman!"
"Uh... 'Hachiman' isn't an insult, and this is just a game," Hachiman tried to explain quietly to defend himself.
"Shut up."
The collective glares of the girls were intense, completely dismissing his explanation.
Even Komachi wore an incredulous expression, as if this absurd narrative had somehow become reality.
"Onii-chan, I can't believe you're this kind of person, leaving Erina-neechan and the children to marry someone else. You really disappoint me," she said, her hand wiping at her eyes as if drying away invisible tears.
"Hey, hey, you've taken this a bit too seriously. Your acting was so convincing that it almost felt real."
Well, as long as you're enjoying it.
Observing the group's reactions, Hachiman couldn't find the energy to explain any further, and the game rolled on.
Yet, it seemed this relentless game was determined to paint him as a heartless rogue. At the conclusion of each round, he would invariably divorce his current spouse and seek a new one, perpetuating the image of an unfeeling cad.
Even Shizuka and Leonora didn't spare him. Despite their previous reprimands, when the game reached the part where Shizuka married Hachiman, her face was brimming with excitement, as if their virtual union were real.
Meanwhile, Leonora's face took on a bashful expression, which she attempted to hide with her hands. She softly murmured, "Ah, ah, I can't believe I'm marrying such a young man. It's rather thrilling."
Madam, your thoughts are somewhat risky,
As expected, he faced unanimous censure from the other girls. Phrases like "Deceiving even a mature woman" and "Pursuing a married woman" rained down upon him.
Hachiman was genuinely left without words.
"I was just playing a game. What did I do to deserve this?"
Conveniently, he seemed to forget that he had willingly chosen to play this game himself, leaving no one to blame but himself. It was entirely his own doing.
As time gradually passed, the game finally concluded, well past 5 o'clock in the evening.
Hachiman lay sprawled on the beach, his eyes devoid of energy, as if all vitality had been drained from him.
Throughout those hours, he had endured a relentless onslaught of scolding and criticism from the girls, their cutting words feeling like arrows piercing his heart.
Observing him in this despondent state, the girls exchanged meaningful glances, beginning to realize they might have been overly harsh on Hachiman.
"Maybe we were a bit too tough on Hikki," Yui mumbled quietly, showing some concern.
"He did bring it upon himself. After all, he willingly chose this game," Erina remarked, albeit with a hint of reluctance in her gaze.
"Don't worry; with his resilience, he'll likely bounce back in no time," Shizuka reassured them, recalling her own challenging moments in the game.
"Well, perhaps we should go and console Hachiman-kun," Kotonoha suggested, her sympathy for him evident.
"In that case, I'll go. He is, after all, my 'Onii-chan,'" Komachi said, stepping forward as the younger sister, and approached Hachiman with care.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?"
Hearing Komachi's voice, Hachiman's initially lifeless eyes gradually regained their spark, and he sat up from the beach.
"I'm fine."
He picked up the life simulation game and, with a smirk on his face, tore it to pieces.
"This game is such a scam. Total rubbish."
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