Is It Wrong To Have A Harem In Daily Life?

I'm really stupid, truly...

Murakami Yuu's current feeling was regret, deep regret.

Located near his residential apartment was a large plaza with a well-stocked supermarket, but it had been over forty minutes since they left home, and Murakami Yuu still hadn't taken a single step into the supermarket.

As for the reason...

Murakami Yuu held women's clothing in his hands, looked at the long queue in front of him, then at Tachibana Rui beside him with her hopeful expression.

"I mean, it's just crepes. There's another shop over there that sells them too without a queue. Shouldn't we go there instead?"

"That's different. This chain store uses imported flour for their crepes, making them crispier. The bananas and kiwis are also premium high-grade products with amazing taste."

Faced with Tachibana Rui's enthusiastic explanation, Murakami Yuu helplessly pressed his forehead.

"Fine, if you want to eat it, we'll wait."

It was twenty minutes later when they received the crepes from a store clerk whose smile had stiffened after a day of work.

Originally, Murakami Yuu wasn't interested in this, but Tachibana Rui ordered two without explanation. According to her, she wouldn't allow such delicious food to go unknown.

After taking a bite, Murakami Yuu's response to Tachibana Rui was "the taste is average."

Tachibana Rui replied with a speechless and contemptuous expression.

When the two finally managed to enter the mall after leisurely wandering, Tachibana Rui's attention was caught by the colorful stuffed animals.

"Hello, this doll is made from rex rabbit fur and feels very nice."

A salesperson approached with an appropriate smile.

Tachibana Rui reached out to slowly stroke the doll's surface, seeming somewhat tempted but also hesitant. She turned to look at Murakami Yuu, hoping to get an answer from him.

"Is it cute?"

"It's okay."

This answer successfully made Tachibana Rui stop hesitating and she directly moved on to the next target.

Murakami Yuu showed a regretful expression. He should have said it was very cute—then she would have bought it directly and they could have moved to the food section. He was really tired of this boring wandering and waiting time.

"How about this one?"

This time Tachibana Rui held up a crocodile doll.

"Very cute."

Murakami Yuu gave a thumbs up.

After getting the answer, Tachibana Rui looked at the doll in her hands thoughtfully, but ultimately put it back.

"Not buying it again?"

Murakami Yuu's tone was weary with a hint of despair.

"The price is a bit high, and I think I already have a crocodile doll at home."

Tachibana Rui explained and turned to walk toward another shelf.

Murakami Yuu took a deep breath, repeatedly telling himself in his mind to exercise restraint and be patient.

He dragged his already thoroughly exhausted body and slowly followed.

...

By the time they finished buying ingredients and returned home, it was already past seven o'clock.

The ingredients were carried into the kitchen by Murakami Yuu, while the living room was filled with bags—all Tachibana Rui's spoils of war.

"Well done, Miss Tachibana Rui. You successfully took me out for a meaningful three hours."

Murakami Yuu collapsed on the sofa looking at the ceiling, not wanting to move even a finger.

"The last time I went shopping was three months ago, so I got a bit carried away today."

Tachibana Rui heard the meaning in Murakami Yuu's words and candidly admitted her loss of composure.

"Hah... do whatever you want... I need to cook..."

"If you're feeling very tired, I can cook."

Tachibana Rui said to Murakami Yuu as he stood up.

Compared to the dispirited Murakami Yuu, Tachibana Rui's current state looked almost identical to before they went shopping—completely composed.

The huge difference between males and females was clearly demonstrated at this moment.

This was a matter of stamina.

Thinking of the quality of Tachibana Rui's breakfast today, Murakami Yuu wasn't polite.

"If possible, that would be wonderful."

"Understood. I'll borrow your kitchen. I'll improvise with the ingredients you bought."

"Mm, you don't need to make many dishes. Just enough for one meal."

"Understood. Just lie there."

Tachibana Rui nodded and walked into the kitchen.

Watching Tachibana Rui put on an apron and start bustling about in the kitchen, Murakami Yuu suddenly felt an indescribable strange feeling in his heart.

It was like the déjà vu of a husband who had worked hard all day and a housewife dealing with each other.

Getting up to fetch a change of clothes from his room, Murakami Yuu called out to Tachibana Rui in the kitchen:

"I'm going to take a bath first. Call me if you need anything."

"Mm."

The knife Tachibana Rui was using to cut vegetables stopped, then quickly resumed as normal.

Murakami Yuu entered the bathroom and lay down in the bathtub with just-right water temperature. He rested his head against the side of the tub, feeling the comfortable sensation of his limbs being immersed in water, and let out a long, contented sigh.

The fatigue was gradually receding. He placed a dry towel behind his head.

He'd rest his eyes for a bit, then get up later for a quick wash.

Thinking this, he slowly closed his eyes.

...

Neat desks and chairs, harsh cicada cries, whirring ceiling fans, a teacher holding lecture notes...

It was a dream.

After being stunned for a moment, Murakami Yuu, who had experienced this once before, made this determination.

The current scene was in a classroom, and the uniforms worn by the surrounding students were middle school style.

'He' sat among a group of students looking at the blackboard, occasionally lowering his head to write in a notebook.

Any action commands sent to his body were like stones sinking into the sea without response. He could only passively observe everything from this first-person perspective.

The classroom door was yanked open, and a man ran in breathlessly, pulling him anxiously toward the classroom exit.

The teaching teacher, the surrounding students, including himself—everyone looked confused, not understanding what was happening.

"Your parents were in a car accident and were just taken to the hospital by ambulance."

'His' heart uncontrollably contracted the moment he heard these words.

"A taxi is ready at the school gate. Hurry and come with me!"

What followed was shock, bewilderment, and being at a loss. Like a puppet without autonomous consciousness, he passively followed the leading man, walking mechanically.

Arriving at the hospital in despair, led by a doctor to a room where there were two medical gurneys covered with white sheets.

The white sheets were raised—there were two people underneath.

"They had already lost vital signs when brought in. There was nothing we could do. I'm sorry."

The masked doctor said from the side.

'He' shook his head blankly, slowly stepped forward, then gradually lifted the white sheet.

It was a familiar face. She lay there with her eyes closed, still wearing the long-sleeved shirt from when she left home that morning. The delicate earring on her earlobe had become deformed, and the scarf around her neck, dyed dark red, was torn apart and had lost its luster.

She was going to a class reunion today. Before leaving that morning, she had stood in front of her son who was eating breakfast and excitedly spun around.

"Yuu, does Mom look good today?"

"Dad has been waiting for you for a long time. Is it okay if you don't leave soon?"

A lazy response, without even looking up.

'He' used trembling hands to slowly stroke her face, but felt no warmth. He forced himself to curve his lips.

"Mom, you look beautiful... the most beautiful in the world..."

The enormous grief and pain that had been suppressed burst forth like a dam breaking.

'He' slowly knelt down by the bedside, scalding tears pouring out. His mouth opened wide but only desperate, low screams emerged from his throat. His head buried on the ground, gradually becoming incoherent with sobs.

They had fallen asleep, they were gone...

...

Blurred but clear calling voices made Murakami Yuu slowly open his eyes. He saw Tachibana Rui crouched beside him.

"I called you several times with no response, so I came in."

"...Sorry, I fell asleep."

The empathetic scene from before was still vivid. Murakami Yuu tried to make his response normal, but his voice was still trembling beyond his control.

"You must have dreamed of something very sad."

"Eh?"

"You were crying."

Tachibana Rui carefully extended her hand to Murakami Yuu's cheek, treating him like precious, fragile glassware, gently using her thumb to trace under his lower eyelid.

Murakami Yuu reacted, instinctively leaning his upper body back, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Looking at Tachibana Rui's concerned expression, he reached for a nearby towel, dampened it, and wiped his face in a circle, forcing out a smile.

"It's nothing, just had a nightmare."

Tachibana Rui looked at him, her lips slightly moving as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately held back and stood up.

"Dinner is ready. I'll wait outside."

"Okay."

After Tachibana Rui closed the bathroom door, Murakami Yuu leaned back again, looking up at the ceiling.

What do you want to tell me, what do you want me to do...

...

When Murakami Yuu emerged from the bathroom, his face showed no abnormality.

The table was already set with rice and three dishes for one person: vegetable tempura, pan-fried pork, and clam vegetable soup.

"Why is there only one portion?"

Murakami Yuu asked.

"I already had such a large crepe this afternoon—that's enough. If I eat dinner at this time, the calorie intake would exceed the limit."

Tachibana Rui sat at the dining table with her hands supporting her chin.

"I think you don't need to worry about that problem. You still have room to be willful."

Murakami Yuu raised his eyebrows and looked her over, pulling out a chair to sit down.

He thought of that night when they were naked together, when Tachibana Rui's flat abdomen and slender waist without an ounce of excess fat had left a deep impression on him.

"The food is getting cold. Hurry up and eat."

Seeming to sense the meaning in Murakami Yuu's half-smiling expression, Tachibana Rui uncomfortably turned her head aside, pretending to look at the bright lights outside through the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Then I won't be polite. Let's eat."

After saying this with hands pressed together, Murakami Yuu picked up his chopsticks.

Tachibana Rui sat at the dining table. Although her gaze was directed straight out the window, her peripheral vision was still observing Murakami Yuu.

Having just bathed and changed into casual clothes, he had less of his usual aloofness and more approachability. His hair was just casually dried with a towel, still damp at the temples and not completely dry.

His eating movements were quick but didn't make that annoying smacking sound. His Adam's apple moved up and down with swallowing motions—it was somewhat attractive...

Unconsciously, Tachibana Rui blushed.

"Tss... so hot."

Murakami Yuu took a sip of soup but was accidentally burned because he misjudged the temperature.

"Pfft... stu—pid—"

Tachibana Rui couldn't help but laugh, squinting her eyes and drawing out the syllables.

Murakami Yuu stuck out his tongue at her playfully and continued eating with his head down.

...

"I'm going back now."

After Murakami Yuu finished eating and they had spent some more time together, Tachibana Rui stood up to take her leave.

"I'll see you off. You have so many things."

Murakami Yuu said.

The large pile of things in the living room were all Tachibana Rui's spoils from the afternoon shopping, including a rather large teddy bear. It would be too much for one person to take home.

"No need, I'll go back by myself."

Tachibana Rui only picked up two bags.

"If it's not too much trouble, could I leave the rest of the things here temporarily and pick them up next time I come?"

"That's no problem. Is there anything that needs to go in the refrigerator?"

"They're all daily necessities and clothing. Just leave them out normally."

Tachibana Rui put the things she wasn't taking into the guest room, then placed the teddy bear on the sofa and straightened it.

"This is a gift for you."

She said to Murakami Yuu.

"Wasn't this something you carefully selected to buy and put by your bedside? Why are you giving it to me?"

Murakami Yuu remembered her casually mentioning this to him at the supermarket.

"There's no particular reason. I wanted to give it to you, so I'm giving it to you."

Tachibana Rui didn't voice her true thoughts. This was actually a decision she made after seeing Murakami Yuu sleeping in the bathtub while crying.

"I see. Then thank you."

Murakami Yuu nodded. He wasn't that fussy anyway. Then he touched the teddy bear's head.

"Please take care of me from now on, Big Bear."

Tachibana Rui smiled.

"What's with that tacky name?"

"Really? Don't you think it's a very manly name?"

"As long as you like it. Well then, I'm going home now."

"I'll see you to the subway station."

"No need. Then you'd have to change clothes and might need to shower again when you get back."

Tachibana Rui walked to the entrance and opened the door on her own.

"Be careful on the way. And about your sister—I'll contact her tonight and try to resolve her situation as quickly as possible."

Murakami Yuu waved his phone at her.

"Mm."

The door closed, and the house became quiet.

After sitting still on the sofa for a while, Murakami Yuu got up and turned off the living room lights, going to the desk in his room to take out test papers and practice problems.

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt his problem-solving approach and speed were much faster than before.

After his time swimming in the sea of problems ended, Murakami Yuu picked up his phone and opened Tachibana Haruna's contact information.

This feels so much like online dating...

After internally complaining about this, he began editing a message.

---

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