Is It Wrong To Have A Harem In Daily Life?

Time came to Saturday morning at a certain café by the main street in the city center, where Murakami Yuu and Tachibana Rui sat huddled in a corner position by the edge.

Today they weren't out on a date, but had other business to attend to.

The two occasionally cast glances at Tachibana Hina, who sat by the window.

She had ordered a cup of coffee and sat there quietly, occasionally raising her hand to check the time on her wristwatch.

"It seems the person she's waiting for hasn't arrived yet."

"That guy is almost half an hour late... Even though he's already married, he still has no sense of time. Why does Hina-nee want to date such a man..."

Tachibana Rui clenched her fists, feeling indignant for her sister.

"Your sister isn't anxious, so you don't need to be so angry."

"But she's my family!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Tachibana Rui regretted it. She glanced at Murakami Yuu, then quietly apologized:

"I'm sorry..."

"Although I don't really understand what you're apologizing for, if it makes you feel better, I accept."

Murakami Yuu withdrew his gaze from Tachibana Hina and dropped a sugar cube into his coffee cup, stirring it slowly.

"Actually, after these past few days of contact with your sister, I think something's strange."

Seeing that Murakami Yuu truly showed no sign of being bothered, Tachibana Rui breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's strange?"

"I always feel your sister isn't just a simple face-obsessed person like you said."

"What's your reasoning?"

"Because she rejected me and chose that married man you mentioned. Other aspects might be hard to judge, but in terms of looks, I don't think I'd lose to anyone."

Last night, after Tachibana Rui learned that Tachibana Hina had a date with that man Saturday morning and informed Murakami Yuu, he had "coincidentally" sent Tachibana Hina a message expressing that he was free Saturday morning and hoping he could treat her to drinks again. However, he was cleanly rejected by Tachibana Haruna, who said she had other plans.

"Sorry, I don't really feel like laughing right now..."

"Who's telling you jokes? If your sister really was face-obsessed like you said, she should have thrown herself into my arms by now after these past few days, instead of just exchanging harmless messages with me over the phone."

Murakami Yuu took a sip of coffee and said seriously.

"What have you two been talking about these past few days?"

"Afraid that coming on too strong would scare her, I've just been having simple exchanges—mutual preferences, habits, interesting experiences, and restaurants with good service. Basically daily conversation between friends with a good relationship."

Tachibana Rui frowned with a very strange expression, looking somewhat conflicted and somewhat angry.

Murakami Yuu smiled with pleasure, because he read something from her expression that put him in a good mood—a rarely seen expression.

"I have a question."

"What?"

"I want to know who initiated this relationship."

"To determine which side was wrong..."

Tachibana Rui lowered her head and muttered, then slowly shook her head.

"I only learned about this through my sister's phone. I don't know who actively started this relationship. As you know, my sister doesn't want to tell me these things."

Murakami Yuu nodded.

"I understand."

"He's here..."

Tachibana Rui's expression changed as she leaned forward and quietly warned.

"Oh?"

Murakami Yuu pretended to casually turn his head to glance over there.

A man wearing glasses and a beige suit, about thirty years old, came up to Tachibana Hina. He first lowered his head as if apologizing, then sat down beside her.

"He has a refined, scholarly air. Just looking at his appearance, he could indeed attract women's favor."

"I have absolutely no favorable feelings toward him! Only disgust!"

Tachibana Rui said coldly.

"You don't need to be so worked up. Just getting angry won't solve the problem—your thinking will be led around by uncontrolled emotions instead."

Murakami Yuu helped calm Tachibana Rui down.

"Phew..."

Tachibana Rui let out a long breath and moved her chair back.

"I'm going over there."

"Didn't we agree earlier to have me break up their relationship?"

"Change of plans. That approach takes too long."

Also, regarding Murakami Yuu being close to her sister, although this was something she had requested herself, for some reason her heart still felt uncomfortable about it.

"I'll go directly warn that guy to stay away from Haruna-nee."

Tachibana Rui stood up and walked toward them. Murakami Yuu didn't try to stop her—after all, this was a matter between the sisters, and his position was just as an assistant helping from the side. He had no place to interfere.

But when small exclamations rang out in the café, he still helplessly stood up and walked over there.

Perhaps because the conversation content made Tachibana Rui angry, she had directly picked up a cup and splashed cold water on the man's face.

"Even if you're Haruna's sister, this is too rude!"

As he reached their location, Murakami Yuu heard the man wiping his collar with a tissue say this calmly.

"The rude one is you—not only were you late for the date, but you're also playing out an extramarital affair, sir."

Murakami Yuu placed both hands on the shoulders of Tachibana Rui, who had stood up with her chest heaving, indicating she didn't need to be so agitated, and spoke flatly.

"Who are you!"

"Just a friend."

Murakami Yuu replied lazily. For some reason, seeing the man's glasses up close made him feel inexplicably irritated.

Tachibana Hina was somewhat surprised when she saw Murakami Yuu. Although his clothing and hairstyle were different, she immediately recognized this as the man who had drinks with her at the bar.

She saw his hands on Tachibana Rui's shoulders and immediately realized that their encounter that day seemed to have been arranged in advance. Today's appearance here probably wasn't a coincidence either.

He and Rui were friends? Or perhaps lovers?

"I'm sorry, Hagiwara-san."

Tachibana Hina apologized to the man with a guilty expression, then turned her gaze to Tachibana Rui with a pleading look.

"Rui, I'll tell you whatever you want to know later, but could you go back now? Please."

Tachibana Rui's gaze toward her sister seemed reluctant. Just as she was about to turn and leave as requested, Murakami Yuu's hand on her shoulder tightened.

"Since all the parties involved are present right now, wouldn't it be better to have a proper talk and resolve the conflict cleanly?"

Murakami Yuu looked at the man called Hagiwara.

"Hagiwara-san wouldn't want water splashed in his face every time he goes on a date, would he?"

Tachibana Haruna glanced at Murakami Yuu, but he didn't meet her gaze, just maintained his smile and calmly locked eyes with the man.

"Hina..."

The man was seeking Hina's opinion.

She let out a long breath and nodded.

"The right decision. Then let's change locations. This place isn't suitable for quiet heart-to-heart talk."

Murakami Yuu felt the gazes from around them and spoke flatly.

...

They came to an elegantly appointed tea house.

After the other three were seated, Murakami Yuu was about to turn and walk to a somewhat distant position when Tachibana Rui grabbed the corner of his clothes.

"Where are you going?"

This action immediately drew the attention of the other two to him.

"This is your family business. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to get involved."

Murakami Yuu explained this way, but Tachibana Rui just shook her head, gripping his clothes corner even tighter.

"It's fine, Murakami Yuu... -san. Besides, you already know about this matter, don't you?"

Tachibana Hina spoke up from the side.

Murakami Yuu glanced at her, nodded, and sat down beside Tachibana Rui as she wished.

"What do you want to know?"

After the tea-serving staff left, Tachibana Hina spoke to Tachibana Rui.

"Everything about your relationship from start to present."

Tachibana Rui's answer was simple and direct.

After meeting her sister's aggressive gaze, Tachibana Haruna showed an expression of helpless shame.

"I..."

"Let me speak, Hina."

The man reached out and grasped the back of Tachibana Hina's hand.

Seeing his action, Tachibana Rui's eyes became dangerous. She opened her mouth to say something but was stuffed with a daifuku from the table by Murakami Yuu.

"Try it, it tastes very good."

Ignoring Tachibana Rui's dissatisfaction mixed with embarrassment, Murakami Yuu turned to face the man.

"You can begin."

The man was stunned for a moment, then drank some tea to moisten his throat before slowly beginning to speak.

"Let me start with self-introduction. My name is Hagiwara Hiiragi, and I currently work doing biological research at a school..."

What followed was quite simple. Under Murakami Yuu's calming influence, although Tachibana Rui was very angry inside, she managed to quietly listen to the other party's complete account and roughly understood the beginning and course of events.

"So you and Haruna-nee knew each other in high school, and your relationship then was teacher-student?"

"That's right. From the first time she inadvertently came to the biology lab and we accidentally met, our relationship became close."

Speaking of this, Hagiwara Hiiragi's gaze became gentle as he looked at Tachibana Hina beside him.

"Hina back then wasn't as cheerful as she is now, but was more introverted and quiet. She had a quality that made me involuntarily fascinated..."

"Skip the irrelevant parts. What I want to know is who initiated the relationship request between you and my sister now."

Tachibana Rui asked coldly.

Hagiwara Hiiragi seemed somewhat displeased that his words were interrupted, but he concealed it well and didn't show much.

"Who initiated it... Although we never formally said something like 'please go out with me,' the one who took the first step was me, so it should be considered me."

Tachibana Hina lowered her head, slowly withdrawing the hand that had been held in his palm and hiding it under the table.

"I've long heard from Hina that she has a cute sister. I originally wanted to buy a nice gift and meet formally under proper circumstances, but Hina said it wasn't time yet, so I didn't insist. I thought I'd let things happen naturally and talk about it after some time."

Hagiwara Hiiragi poured himself a cup of tea.

"Don't you have any sense of shame..."

Tachibana Rui gritted her teeth. These words made Tachibana Hina lower her head even more, and struggle appeared in her eyes.

"Don't you understand your position? Do you really think I, as Hina-nee's family, would accept someone like you?"

"I fell in love with Haruna long ago. I just chose to suppress these feelings because of Hina's status back then. Now she's completely adult, so there's absolutely no problem between us."

"Then what about your wife! Hiding from your wife, betraying the person you made sacred wedding vows with, to date another woman here—what are you thinking!"

Tachibana Rui slammed her fist on the table.

"This behavior is too disrespectful to both your wife and Hina-nee! Don't you feel even a trace of shame!"

"I do, of course I do..."

Hagiwara Hiiragi seemed to close his eyes in pain.

"Then end this relationship with Haruna-nee..."

"But I love her!"

Hagiwara Hiiragi's eyes snapped open, full of determination.

"My feelings for Hina have never changed from beginning to end, even after marriage. The person I love isn't my wife, but Hina. So this current feeling, this relationship, isn't an affair but genuine."

"You... you..."

"Calm down."

Murakami Yuu once again stopped Tachibana Rui while moving her teacup in front of himself.

Although he also wanted to see this guy get water splashed in his face, that would waste a lot of time and be endless.

"Simply put, you're dissatisfied with me because I'm a married man."

Hagiwara Hiiragi's gaze swept over Murakami Yuu and Tachibana Rui, then placed his hand on the shoulder of Tachibana Haruna, who had remained silent since the conversation began, pulling her toward his embrace.

"If that's the case, would you bless us if I divorced and got together with Hina?"

"...How could I possibly trust you? A guy who has extramarital affairs and no character—how can you guarantee you won't cheat again in the future?"

"Rui..."

Tachibana Hina called out softly, but after meeting Tachibana Rui's stern gaze, she anxiously lowered her head again.

"Hina, don't worry. Even if there are misunderstandings, I'll do my utmost to gradually convince your family..."

Seeing his companion's expression, Hagiwara Hiiragi compassionately took her hands and gave reassuring promises.

"Clang clang clang!"

Murakami Yuu knocked on the table with his fist, making sounds that interrupted them with a half-smile.

"What a good man indeed. Perhaps Rui-san and I misunderstood you from the beginning."

"Hey!"

Tachibana Rui looked at Murakami Yuu in surprise, not understanding why he would side with the scumbag and show support.

Murakami Yuu patted her head with a smile telling her to stay calm.

Hagiwara Hiiragi was somewhat surprised why someone who had been hostile from the start would choose to speak for him, but he didn't pay special attention and casually responded:

"Your views were indeed somewhat prejudiced, but it's fine. Realizing it now isn't too late."

"Indeed not too late. I wonder how long has the relationship between Hagiwara Hiiragi-san and Tachibana Hina-san been going on?"

"About three months or so."

Hagiwara Hiiragi's brow furrowed slightly. His instincts told him he shouldn't follow the other party's line of questioning, but the questioner's youthful high school face still made him unconsciously lower his guard.

Just a good-looking kid. He can't pull any tricks. Besides, as long as Hina continues to have favorable feelings toward me, whatever others say won't matter.

"Three months already? That's not a short time. You should have met each other's friends by now, right?"

Hearing Murakami Yuu's meaningful question, Tachibana Haruna slowly raised her head and glanced at him.

"No, not yet, because there hasn't been a suitable time..."

Hagiwara Hiiragi was slightly stunned, then instinctively gave his answer.

"I see, because there hasn't been suitable time over these three months!"

Murakami Yuu showed a brilliant smile and emphasized it again.

"That's fine too. There will be opportunities to meet friends later. But right now I think you have an important matter to handle first, Hagiwara Hiiragi-san."

"..."

Hagiwara Hiiragi looked at him without speaking, his expression somewhat dark.

But this couldn't stop Murakami Yuu from continuing. His smile gradually became unbridled.

"You two should also meet each other's parents to discuss your future plans. After all, you just used the word 'love,' didn't you?"

"We'll plan these things ourselves slowly. We don't need your concern."

Hagiwara Hiiragi sneered.

"Ah, plan slowly, talk about it later, I'll find a way..."

Murakami Yuu met Tachibana Hina;s gaze with a slight smile, then turned to face Tachibana Rui.

"Don't you feel these kinds of lines have a strong sense of déjà vu?"

"There's definitely a strong sense of déjà vu..."

Tachibana Rui now understood Murakami Yuu's specific intention and showed Hagiwara Hiiragi a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"They're the lines of those utterly despicable male supporting characters in TV dramas who deceive girls with sweet words."

"Eh? How can you say that about Hagiwara Hiiragi-san? He's different—he truly loves Tachibana Hina-san."

While reproaching Tachibana Rui, Murakami Yuu looked at Hagiwara Hiiragi.

"Isn't that right, Hagiwara Hiiragi-san?"

"You don't need to be sarcastic here. My feelings for Hina are unquestionable—she knows this clearly herself!"

Hagiwara Hiiragi clenched his fists and leaned forward, showing a dangerous expression.

"Ah, of course Tachibana Hina-san knows clearly. But I think there's still a lack of some decisive action that would completely reassure her—not just words but actually doing it. Like what you swore before, divorcing your wife..."

Murakami Yuu stood up, placed both hands on the table, and slowly approached Hagiwara Hiiragi from above with a maniacal smile.

"There's no time like the present—how about calling her right now to tell her this news?"

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