The interior of the National Assembly Station was packed to the brim.
As I pushed through the crowd and made it to ground level, the scene before me was truly a summer festival straight out of an anime.
People crammed in so densely, it was beyond anything inside the station.
Food stalls selling snacks that looked like they jumped right out of a Japanese manga, lined up with orange lanterns twinkling brightly.
“Wow…”
“This is the Sanno Festival…!”
Two guys next to me exclaimed in awe.
I didn’t show it, but I was a bit surprised too.
It really looked just like it does in the original anime.
Just as I was thinking that, I heard the Black Prince’s voice.
[Partner, the girls are coming over. Over there. That way.]
I turned my head.
There were Rin, Makoto, Eri, and Kasumi dressed in yukatas.
And then there was Olivia.
But why on earth was Olivia dressed like that?
Is this what they call “living in reality”?
“Master? It’s Master! Master! It’s Eri-ring!”
It seemed Eri spotted me and waved her hand.
My gaze, which had been on Olivia, shifted to Eri.
Wearing a fox mask tilted on her head and an orange yukata matching her hair, Eri ran over to me.
She spun around playfully.
“How do I look in this yukata, Master? Eri-ring is the best, right? Right?”
Eri’s eyes sparkled.
The collar she wore was still there as well.
It was already getting chaotic.
I glanced to the side.
“Ishihara, should we go watch the festival?”
“Ah, yeah. Sure. Kurosawa.”
Kurosawa and Ishihara exchanged awkward smiles and wandered off together.
Is this what they call intentional distraction?
“Your chest, as flat as the Pacific Ocean, hasn’t changed. A washboard. No matter how good-looking you are, how could you entice anyone like that?”
With a relaxed stride, Rin, wearing a blue yukata and with dark blue hair tied high, placed her hand on her ample chest.
“Kim Deok-Sung. Look at me. Can’t you see this abundant chest that the yukata can’t hide? My body and innocence belong solely to you. So choose me.”
With a smooth movement, Rin leaned in and whispered to me.
“I’m not wearing any underwear today. Isn’t it ‘common sense’ not to wear any under the yukata?”
My body trembled uncontrollably.
Why on earth was she saying such unnecessary things?
[Wow. Partner. You’ve got quite the popularity, huh? Is this what they call living in reality in Japan?]
“Just say ‘influencer’. Don’t use words that were trending a decade ago in Korea.”
Living in reality, huh.
The cringe-worthy memories of my middle and high school days came flooding back, sending chills down my spine.
“Not curious at all, so get away from me, Rin.”
I tried to shake her off, but as if waiting for that moment, Rin stuck to me like glue.
She clings to me.
Maybe it’s because she sprayed perfume, a faint lavender scent lingers at the tip of my nose.
Rin rubs her chest against my arm as she speaks.
The soft touch felt through the yukata is squished against my forearm.
“What’s wrong? Are you shy, Kim Deok-Sung? There’s no need to be embarrassed. If you want, you can take my virginity anytime, anywhere. I am always ready. It’s a privilege only you possess…”
Rin blushes pink and gives a seductive smile.
What’s up with her? When did she become so bold?
Just as I was feeling a bit flustered and trying to pull my arm away.
“Get away from our junior, Shinozaki.”
A kind yet sharp voice rings out.
I turn my head.
There stands Hoshino Kasumi with her slightly blurred violet eyes.
Wearing a purple yukata and styled hair up like Rin, she gently separates Rin and me.
“Junior is feeling uncomfortable.”
Rin bites her lip and steps back.
“Hehe. Junior.”
Swish.
Now, it’s Kasumi approaching.
“Will you choose me? I’ve been so excited today that I couldn’t sleep at night. I know you’re a bad boy, but please don’t stomp on a poor girl’s heart. I know you have a preference for the princess, but just this once, I want to be chosen too?”
Kasumi’s eyes sparkle brightly.
“Master, me too, me too…! I want to be chosen too!”
Makoto, not using ‘watashi’ but returning to ‘boku,’ raises her hand high.
Having her originally short hair styled into a flower-shaped hairpin, Makoto’s ample chest bounces uncontrollably, despite her green yukata not hiding it.
I can’t believe this, seriously.
Just as I sigh and run a hand through my hair.
“Everyone, step back!”
A familiar voice sweeps through the night sky.
Tap, tap.
Olivia approaches, striking a lady-like pose covering her mouth.
She’s wearing a white hanbok jeogori and a sky-blue hanbok skirt, and she smiles.
Naturally, this is an appearance that has never even appeared in the original.
“This match is obviously a victory for me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! Because I’m the only one wearing the traditional Korean attire, ‘hanbok’! Kim Deok-Sung, you’re Korean, not Japanese. So you have no choice but to pick me, who embodies the beauty of Korea! Right, dear?”
Swish.
Olivia fans out a traditional folding fan adorned with an ink wash painting she must have acquired from somewhere, wearing her signature lady-like smile.
Seriously, who comes to a Japanese traditional festival wearing a hanbok?
This is definitely Bella’s doing.
Anyway, Olivia looks good in it since she has such an elegant frame.
“Junior!”
“Master!”
“Dear!”
“Kim Deok-Sung!”
“You!”
Five beautiful girls in different outfits gaze at me.
Somehow, they seem unnecessarily pretty, possibly because they’re dressed differently than usual.
An inexplicable tension fills the air.
“““““Who will you choose?!”””””
The overlapping voices of the five ring in my ears.
I can’t believe this.
What’s with that yukata causing all this chaos?
[Partner. You’re obviously going to choose my lovely sister, right?]
The Black Prince applies subtle pressure.
“Sigh.”
As I let out a sigh, the five girls’ gazes sharpen and focus on me intensely.
I silently walk over and grab Olivia’s wrist.
“Today, Olivia is the best choice.”
Honestly, I was surprised at how well it matched, almost comparable to the hanbok.
I was surprised at how well it suited her.
The hanbok is a traditional outfit that, while not as common as a yukata or kimono, caught my eye for its freshness since I’d never seen it before.
As expected, I decided to choose Olivia this time.
“······.”
Olivia’s face turned bright red.
Her blue eyes spun around in confusion.
“U, uuuuuh······.”
A bizarre sound escaped Olivia’s mouth.
[Partner. You sly devil. You can say that, huh?]
What do you mean by “that”?
I expected a more intense tsundere reaction from Olivia, but this is a bit unexpected.
[That’s my little sister for you. So lovely.]
I hear the voice of the foolish Black Prince in my head.
“Junior······. I was expecting just a little bit······. To think you would ruthlessly trample on the pure heart of an expecting girl, the Black Beast is indeed dreadful······.”
Kasumi-senpai mumbles while tilting her head down and grabbing her yukata’s hem.
“Eri. I decorated myself carefully to show the yukata to my Master and even bought a cute fox mask······. Huh······. Is it because of my chest? Is that it? I’ll drink more milk······.”
Eri whines, fiddling with the fox mask tilted on her head.
What kind of childish notion is it that drinking milk will make your chest bigger?
“Ugh······. Am I going to lose like this again······? Well, it doesn’t matter. Victory and defeat are just part of the game. For now, I might be losing, but Kim Deok-Sung. I will definitely take you down with my womanly charms!”
She said, dramatically placing her hand on her chest and biting her lip.
What is she planning to do with her womanly charms?
My head is spinning.
“My lord, I’ll try even harder. I’ll become someone worthy of you.”
Just as Makoto finished her shy declaration.
“Fufufu. I knew you would choose me, your dedicated maid, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! Just like the sun rises in the east, my victory is inevitable and natural!”
Olivia, in her hanbok, covers her mouth with her right hand and lets out a lady-like giggle.
Sure, as long as Olivia is happy.
“Then! During the fireworks tonight, I’ll monopolize him! Since I won this round!”
She poses, placing a hand on her chest while smiling.
Fireworks, huh.
I never imagined I’d see the summer festival fireworks in reality, only ever seeing them in animation.
“I’ll admit defeat. Bonaparte. But don’t think you’ll win next time!”
“Uuuuuh! Eri will work harder too!”
“My lord. I will strive to become the woman who earns your acknowledgment.”
“Junior. You’re such a bad guy, only favoring your knight princess······.”
Rin, Eri, Makoto, and Kasumi speak while looking at Olivia.
“Hmph. No matter what you say, the victor remains unchanged! Now, let’s go, you!”
Olivia naturally loops her arm through mine.
I can feel her soft touch on my arm.
She looks particularly pretty today, making my face heat up.
“Wait. It’s not fireworks time yet! Eri will be with the Master!”
“For this time, I agree with the board. Bonaparte. New appearances should be considered cheating!”
“I’ll also be right beside my lord!”
“Junior. Let’s go together!”
The four girls chase after me from behind.
In the end, I found myself carrying all the club members like a burden.
Such is my fate.
[Partner. It’s a harem, alright.]
What do you mean harem?
That’s nonsense.
Ignoring the Black Prince’s ramblings, I walk through the festive night streets of Tokyo.
Ignoring the nonsense of the consciousness, I stroll through the festival-lit streets of Tokyo.
Before I know it, twilight has fallen.
Sparkling lanterns, flamboyant food stalls, and a bustling crowd fill my sight.
It’s summer, so even though the sun has set, the weather is quite warm, but the lively atmosphere is nice.
At that moment…
“Master! Master! Let’s stop by the mask shop!”
Eri tugs at my wrist.
“Why the mask shop?”
“I want to buy you a mask, Master. Is that okay…?”
Eri’s eyes sparkle as she says this.
Hearing that, I can’t help but recall the rainy night, and I can’t say anything.
“Do whatever you want.”
“Master is the best!”
I reluctantly follow her into the shop.
There are plenty of traditional Japanese masks from anime like tengu, oni, and fox.
“Welcome! Wow, it’s the first time such beautiful ladies have come all at once! Ahahahaha!”
A jovial stall owner in a yukata laughs heartily.
Eri picks up a big-nosed red tengu mask and pays for it.
“Here, this mask suits Master well!”
What?
What does that even mean?
Eri tiptoes and places the tengu mask crookedly on my head.
“Done! Hehe. It’s a couple mask for Master and Eri!”
Bam.
Eri taps her own fox mask while grinning broadly.
“Man, you’re still childish. Washboard.”
“W-who said it’s a c-c-c-c-couple mask?!”
“Ziiiiiiii.”
“Nishizawa-san is quite good at cutting in line. I see. You’ve developed a bad habit.”
As I observe, Rin, Olivia, Makoto, and Senior Kasumi throw in their comments.
“Hmph. If you’re jealous of Eri, just say so. No matter what anyone says, Master’s tengu mask and Eri’s fox mask are a couple!”
Eri proudly shouts while placing her hands on her hips.
And I’m expected to endure this until the fireworks?
I already have a headache.
Honestly, Olivia could handle it all alone.
With a sigh, I step aside from the chaos just then.
“An-chan! Seira-tan wants more candy apples! Buy me more!”
A familiar voice sounds from somewhere.
I turn my head.
I see two girls standing in front of a stall selling candy apples.
One is a stunning beauty with dazzling silver hair in an updo, wearing a white yukata.
“Council President?”
It’s Saionji Aris.
And next to her is a fifteen-year-old girl with white hair and red eyes, pulling on Aris’s yukata with a black yukata.
Could it be…?
“Seira-tan is hungry.”
“The President?”
The moment I mutter that,
Thud.
Seira-tan.
No, Yoshizaki Seira drops the traditional Japanese round fan, a uchiwa.
I didn’t know she had that kind of hobby.
“Se-Seira-tan doesn’t know that person.”
Suddenly, the President quickly hides behind Aris with a candy apple in her hand.
A sigh escapes me.
“Isn’t that right, President?”
There’s a setting in which the President has a secret hobby of going on outings while pretending to be a little kid.
It only appears in the setting books, and is used as a gag in the main story.
I never thought I’d actually see it.
Ugh.
Suddenly, I feel nauseous.
“Um, President, it seems everything has been found out already.”
Aris speaks in a low voice while holding the candy apple.
“Ahem, cough.”
Seira clears her throat and steps out with a serious expression from behind Aris.
“Just now, the only one who saw this body was a little kid, right?”
Seira looks slightly deflated.
