Chapter 164 ~ Farewell

The next day. 

Having spent the entire day catching up with each other in the comfort of the Kashiwazaki estate, Estelle, Mira, and Aika decided to venture out today. 

Unfortunately, though Tooya City was a peaceful town with plenty of beautiful natural scenery and fresh air, entertainment had never been the forefront of the city. There's an indoor water park in the city, which was one of the greatest attractions in the city, but the ladies did not feel like having their sexy, mature bodies be ogled at by other men aside from their beloved. Thus, they'll simply be going to the mall their children went to yesterday with Tenma and Stella accompanying them. 

It would be a girl's shopping trip to celebrate their reunion, and they will be using Tenma's card to pay for everything. 

Meanwhile, since they had explored the mall thoroughly the day before, Yuuji, Yuna, Nina, and Sena were given the choice to go on their own.

Estelle had given them her husband's other card and a bunch of cash from her husband's wallet, and told them to have fun and not worry about money. 

Of course, Tenma had no say in this and was forced to accept his fate…

"Hey, Sena-chan~! How about going to the shopping district~? It seems like it has a lot of interesting shops!"

"Hm? I guess… it's fine. I've never really been to the shopping district, so I don't really know much about it."

"Then perhaps it's a good chance for you to get to know it better. Shall we go?"

"S-Sure!"

"What do you think, Yuu-kun~?"

"I think it's a great idea. I'm curious what we could find there as well."

"Then, it's decided~! Let's goo~~!

With the decision made, the four went around and explored the shopping district to their hearts content. 

They visited numerous food stands, using the cash Tenma "gave" them, and enjoyed the cheap yet delicious chicken skewers, rock-sugar coated fruit sticks, Takoyaki, Taiyaki, and various other snacks and drinks. 

Then, after having their fill, they went to an arcade to play some games. 

However… halfway through it, Yuuji was faced with the pouting and glaring figure of the three girls before him.

With Yuuji's enhanced senses and reflexes, in addition to his accelerated learning abilities, winning against him would've been a miracle for Yuna, Nina, and Sena. 

That's why, Yuuji immediately decided to hold back as much as he could so the three girls could have fun. 

But… What he didn't expect was the fact that all three of them were terrible at games, that even when he held back to the best of his abilities, they couldn't win against him. 

In the end, Yuuji decided to appease their wrath by winning them a plush of their choosing each from the claw machines. And of course, he didn't forget to win a few more for Est, the slime twins, Mira, and his Aika-nee. 

After the arcade, Yuna and Nina decided to visit the Karaoke with Sena. 

Although a bit shy at first, with Yuna, Nina, and Yuuji's encouragement, Sena built up the courage to sing before her first friends, revealing her beautiful singing voice. 

Then, Yuna and Nina also joined in the fun, giving Yuuji a front row seat to a show that, to him, surpassed even a full blown concert from a famous singer. 

"Yuu-kun~! You sing too! I want to hear your voice!"

"Mm. Do your best, Yuuji. We look forward to your performance."

"I-It's not like I want to hear you sing… But it'd be a waste to come here and not sing, so you should do a few songs!"

Faced with the three girls' request, Yuuji had no choice but to take the mic from them, and sang a few songs. 

And the moment he did… the girls all looked at him with eyes widened in shocked awe…

In the end, he was forced to sing until their time in the karaoke ran out by Yuna and Nina…

In fact, if not for him catching Sena in the act, she would've extended the time secretly so she could hear Yuuji sing more. 

After sufficiently playing around the shopping district, the three went to a restaurant for a late lunch, before returning to the mall to meet up with their parents. 

And when they arrived… They saw a bizarre scene…

"...Sena-chan, what happened to your father?"

"...I don't know."

"...Is he okay…?"

"...I don't know."

Yuuji, Yuna, Nina, and Sena all stood in silence… looking at the gaunt figure of a thoroughly exhausted man with bags upon bags of his wife and their friends' shopping haul hung on his shoulders, arms, and back. 

And walking in front of him, not even paying attention to his pitiful form, were Mira, Aika, and Estelle, all of them wearing an ever so bright smile, with Stella accompanying them from behind to assist them at a moment's notice. 

Yuuji, as the sole other male in the group, couldn't help but send Tenma a look of pity… For he too knew the suffering a man must endure to make his women happy. 

If not for his [Divine Physique] and [Inventory] skill from the group chat, he might've been in the same state as him when he went shopping with Aika, Erika, and Mayumi…

'A man of true valor… I will remember you, Tenma-san…"

He prayed for him silently. 

After the shopping spree, everyone promptly made their way back to the Kashiwazaki Estate. 

This would be the last day of the trip, when Yuuji, Mira, and the others would all return home. 

Upon arriving at the estate, they all packed up their belongings, including the things they bought in the mall today and yesterday, and got ready to depart. 

"I'll miss you so much, Mira… Let's meet again soon after my trip to Bali…"

"Fufu~ I'll miss you too Estelle… Next time, I'll welcome you to my home~! Although not as big as yours, we have a few guest rooms for you, Sena-chan, and Stella-chan~"

"That's a great idea~!"

Standing in front of the estate with Stella and the car behind them, ready to drive them back to the station, Estelle hugged Mira and Aika tightly. Her arms wrapped around their neck. 

"Eh…? Then where will I sleep… The living room… Am I even invited…?!"

Everyone ignored the plight of the head of the household. Even his own daughters did not spare a glance at the pitiful man…

Sena kept glancing at Yuuji as her mother hugged Yuna and Aika, and patted Yuuji on the head… Her eyes slightly red and wet as she pursed her lips tightly. 

The last few days had been… the most memorable days she's ever had. 

As someone who couldn't make any friends since elementary school (she did not count her "follower simps" as friends), being able to hangout and explore the mall and the shopping district together with Yuna, Nina, and Yuuji was a dream she always had. 

Moreover… meeting Yuuji once again reminded her of a lot of things from her childhood.

He… was still the same kind, reliable, and cool boy she knew and…

…

"Sena-chan! I'm gonna miss you so much!!! Let's meet again soon!!!"

Suddenly, Sena was abruptly brought out of her daze from Yuna leaping onto her and embracing her tightly. 

She immediately froze, having never been in this situation and not knowing how to react. 

"U-Uhn…! I-I'll miss you too…"

"Sena-chan, please take care of yourself. And let's meet again in the near future."

Nina approached her with a soft, gentle smile, unlike her little twin sister. And Sena nodded in response, instinctively. 

"Sena… Let's meet again. Until then, take care of yourself. And send us a lot of messages too."

Her cheeks blushed the moment Yuuji approached and stood beside Nina. His gentle smile and soft, comforting gaze sent her heart into a flutter and her mind into a daze. 

"I-I guess I'll do that…! Y-You guys send me messages too! T-Though I-I'll probably just respond once in a while!"

"Uhn~!!! I'll send you lots of messages! Let's chat a lot! In fact, let's make a group consisting of the four of us!!!"

Sena, who immediately regretted saying such things in instinctive reflex, bloomed into an excited smile when Yuna suggested making a group. 

That way, she could talk with all of them just as they would now…! And she could do it no matter where they were!

"Y-Yes!"

After saying their last goodbyes and thanking Tenma, Estelle, and Sena for their hospitality, Yuuji and the others alighted the car and left with Stella driving them back to the station.

And as they left, Sena unknowingly stood in silence for a while, her eyes never leaving the direction they left in.

"Hehe~ Do you already miss them~?"

Suddenly, hugging her from behind, her mother whispered directly in her ears. 

"M-Mom?! W-What are you doing!?"

"Fufu~ Don't be so shy, dear~ You must've a lot of fun playing with the three of them again, right~? You used to be inseparable from them when you were younger, you know~?"

"I-It's… Alright…"

Estelle simply chuckled at her daughter's unwillingness to accept the truth and express her true feelings. It's the only cute thing her father fortunately passed on to her, since he had no other cute traits. 

She let go of her daughter before moving in front of her and held her hands. Her gaze directed straight at her, prompting Sena to also meet her soft, loving, motherly gaze.

"I'm glad that you had fun."

"..."

A healthy red blush colored Sena's snow white cheeks as she looked down in embarrassment. 

"U-Uhn…"

Facing her mother's genuine happiness for her, even the tsundere couldn't help but nod and express her true feelings. 

Yes… She was happy, beyond happy, to have spent the weekend with them. It was a magical weekend. The best weekend she ever had…

Seeing her daughter being honest, Estelle giggled and hugged her again, stroking Sena's beautiful, long, golden hair that she inherited from her. 

"So~? What do you think of Yuuji-kun~? He's so handsome, isn't he~?"

"Uhn… Wai- W-What are you saying, Mom?!?!?"

"Oh my~ Fufufu~ You finally became honest of your feelings for him~ Tenma, should we just engage them already~ Sena had given her consent~!"

"Mom!!! W-What are you saying?!?!?! I-I d-d-don't even l-l-like him!!!"

"Fufufu~ Sure~ Whatever you say dear~ How about the next time I return, we'll go to their home and formalize the engagement~?"

"Y-Y-You…! I-I don't know anymore! Mom, you dummy!!!!!!"

Sena quickly pushed herself away from her mother's embrace and rushed back into her home, immediately making a beeline to her room with her face as red as a tomato. 

And as she did, she could hear her mother's melodic laughter echoing from outside. 

S-She must be teasing her! T-That must be it! O-Otherwise… How could she say that… She loves Yuuji…?!

'Geez…! M-mom you stupid! Idiot! Dummy! I-I don't know anymore!!!'

In the end… for the rest of the day, Sena couldn't get her mother's word and Yuuji's figure out of her mind… Not even in her dreams was she safe from her fantasy of being engaged to Yuuji and going on dates with him…

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AN: Sorry! I did not realized I haven't post this chapter on the 12th... m(_ _)m