Meanwhile, at the Rokuhara family apartment.
The bathroom door creaked open, releasing a puff of steam as Ren stepped out. His hair was still damp, droplets of water occasionally trailing down his neck and disappearing beneath his plain white T-shirt. The cotton shorts he wore were comfortable, perfect for lounging at home.
As he stepped into the living room, a scene of the two women interacting warmly greeted him. On the sofa, Itsuki sat, her pregnant body wrapped in a casual house dress, while behind her stood Hayasaka, her fingers gently combing through Itsuki's long pink hair.
'Thank goodness they get along.' Ren thought with relief.
The dreaded shuraba scenario—a messy, chaotic love triangle common in anime—had not occurred in their household. Instead, the two women had formed a friendship.
Ren approached the sofa. Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed his lips to Itsuki's.
"..?!!!"
Itsuki's eyes widened in surprise. Her first instinct was to pull away—after all, Hayasaka was right there, watching everything.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. However, Ren's gentle persistence quickly dissolved her hesitation. Before she knew it, her initial reluctance turned into enthusiasm as she kissed him back with unexpected passion.
*JIIII—*
Behind them, Hayasaka stood frozen, her hairbrush suspended in mid-air.
'They really forgot I'm here.' At least they could have gone to their bedroom for this.' She complained inwardly.
Though she complained, she couldn't look away. It was rare to observe such an intimate moment from such a close distance, and her eyes remained fixed on the couple despite her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.
Finally breaking away from their passionate kiss, Ren moved to the sofa across from them, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Itsuki remained seated, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths, her lips slightly swollen from their kiss.
"You... are too aggressive, hubby." She said, narrowing her eyes accusingly at Ren. "Did you forget we have an audience?"
Though Itsuki protested, there was no real anger in her voice—only lingering embarrassment mixed with the remnants of their shared moment. She glanced at Hayasaka, who continued brushing her hair, though the faint pink spreading across the girl's cheeks betrayed her awareness of what had just transpired.
"..."
Hayasaka pretended to be fully focused on untangling a particularly stubborn knot in Itsuki's long pink hair, acting as though she hadn't witnessed their intimate display. Her fingers worked with mechanical precision, but the slight tremble in her hands and her distracted gaze told a different story.
Ren leaned back against the sofa cushions, his eyes never leaving Itsuki.
"How could I resist?" He said with a casual shrug that contrasted with the intensity of his gaze. "When you look that beautiful, it's impossible to hold back."
His words hung in the air between them, simple yet incredibly effective. Itsuki's expression immediately softened, her earlier complaint forgotten. A warm sense of happiness spread through her chest, and she couldn't help the small, pleased smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Flattery won't excuse everything, you know~"
Though her tone had already lost its edge. She reached out to touch her own hair, her fingers brushing against Hayasaka's as the girl continued her work.
Hayasaka cleared her throat softly, finally acknowledging the situation. "Your hair is almost done, Itsuki-sama."
"Thank you for your help, Hayasaka-san. You're really skilled at this." Itsuki said with genuine gratitude.
Hayasaka inclined her head slightly, a practiced movement as a maid. "It's nothing special, Itsuki-san. It's just part of my duties as Ren-sama's maid."
Itsuki frowned at Hayasaka's response. She shifted her body on the sofa, creating space beside her, and patted the cushion invitingly.
"Sit with us. I don't see you as just an maid, Hayasaka-san. You're part of our family now."
After a moment of hesitation, Hayasaka sat down beside Itsuki.
"I've been thinking it's time we bought a new house."
Both women turned to Ren, momentarily startled by the sudden change in topic.
"A new house?" Itsuki repeated, her brow furrowing slightly. "Why? This apartment is still perfectly fine, and the rent is affordable. We've only been living here for a few months."
Ren's gaze softened as it fell on Itsuki's rounded belly, visible even through the loose fabric of her house dress.
"You're due next month. I want the right environment to raise our child. Somewhere with a yard, maybe near a park. A place where our family can grow."
Itsuki's expression shifted as she listened to his words. She placed a protective hand over her eight-month pregnant belly, feeling the faint movements of their child within. After a moment of consideration, she looked up with genuine interest in her eyes.
"Does hubby have enough money to buy a house? If not, we could ask my father for a loan. He'd definitely—"
Ren rolled his eyes dramatically, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"Itsuki-sensei, have you forgotten who your man is? The Shinomiya Consortium—one of Japan's largest corporate groups—has been at my feet since I became a Campione. Money is the least of my concerns."
"Ren-sama is correct. The head of the Shinomiya family gave Ren-sama a black card. That card has... an unlimited balance." Hayasaka stated this matter-of-factly, as if discussing the weather rather than an immense fortune.
"Alright, if finances aren't an issue, then I think a new house sounds great." A smile spread across Itsuki's face as she rubbed her rounded belly.
The conversation about the new house had just ended when her expression suddenly changed.
"I just realized. I suddenly really want to eat meat buns from Yamada Bakery—you know, the bakery I used to visit after school when I was in high school."
Ren raised an eyebrow, checking the time on the wall.
"We just had dinner an hour ago. You also ate a lot. Are you still hungry?"
Itsuki puffed out her cheeks slightly, her hand stroking her rounded belly as she acted sweet. "I'm not just hungry. I'm craving. The little one wants Yamada's meat buns. Isn't it normal for pregnant women to crave things? Especially in these final months of pregnancy?"
Unable to argue with that logic—not when faced with Itsuki's hopeful gaze and the medical facts about pregnancy cravings—Ren nodded in resignation.
"You're right."
Before he could say more, Hayasaka stood and offered to go.
"Let me get the meat buns, Ren-sama. It's no trouble at all. I can be there and back in thirty minutes."
Ren shook his head firmly. "No, Hayasaka. This is my responsibility."
Then, standing from the sofa, he stretched slightly.
"I'm the one who put Itsuki in this condition." He added with a hint of pride in his voice. "Taking care of her cravings is the least I can do."
Ren walked to their bedroom to change, calling out, "Besides, I know exactly which meat buns she likes best."
Itsuki's face lit up with happiness at her husband remembering such a detail. She nodded enthusiastically.
A few minutes later, Ren emerged from the bedroom, now dressed in casual clothes—dark jeans and a light jacket suitable for the cool night air. He grabbed his wallet and keys from the table as the two women accompanied him to the entrance.
"I'll be back soon."
After saying that, Ren leaned down to kiss Itsuki's lips softly. His hand gently caressed her belly, a silent acknowledgment of their growing child.
After pulling away from Itsuki, Ren turned to Hayasaka. Without hesitation, he leaned in toward her. Hayasaka accepted his gesture naturally, her body relaxing as Ren approached. As his concubine, these moments of affection had become a comfortable part of their relationship.
Their lips met with familiar passion, which quickly deepened as their tongues intertwined in a practiced dance. Itsuki watched them with calm acceptance, showing no signs of jealousy. After all, polygamy was legal in Japan, and she had long accepted Hayasaka's position as Ren's concubine. The arrangement was something they had all agreed upon, an unconventional but harmonious household that operated by its own rules.
When they finally parted, Hayasaka's face was flushed with pleasure rather than embarrassment. Ren smiled at both women, clearly appreciating the balance they had found together.
"I'm off."
Ren stepped out into the dark night. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Itsuki and Hayasaka standing side by side in the entrance, gazing at the spot where he had been just moments before.
The night sky outside was dark and vast, dotted with distant stars barely visible through the city's light pollution...