The Fate of the Protagonist Who Chose the Harem Ending - Episode 7

The Exploding Bomb

—

A few days after my encounter with Kanefune-senpai.

Ichijou and his harem were having lunch in the cafeteria. 

From a distant table, I was observing the scene when— 

“Yo, Ichijou!” 

Kanefune-senpai smacked Ichijou on the back with great force. 

The sound of impact was loud enough to make it seem painful. 

“Ouch! What the hell, Kanefune-senpai?” 

“Heh heh, it’s a sign of affection,” 

She replied with a mischievous grin. 

“O-Oh.” 

Though Ichijou tried to get mad about being hit, Kanefune-senpai’s words sapped his will to argue. 

Kanefune-senpai then looked around at the cafeteria. She was eyeing the number of people and the prices on the menu, and commented: 

“Man, with this many people, even eating in the cafeteria gets expensive.” 

“Yeah, no kidding.” 

Grinning slyly, Kanefune-senpai said something completely out of the blue to Ichijou: 

“Hey, to maintain this harem, how about using my family’s wealth?” 

The daughter of a conglomerate casually suggested something utterly scandalous. 

“Huh, are you serious?” 

“Maintaining something like this costs money, right? Well, it can’t be helped.” 

“Sweet! Let’s use that conglomerate cash then!” 

Ichijou was the one who had just declared himself a freeloader.  He seemed ecstatic. But I didn’t think this plan would work. 

Even if it was just a guess, I couldn’t imagine a conglomerate funding someone’s freeloading lifestyle. 

Money gets spent with the expectation of returns; if there’s no return, there’s no funding. 

While I was thinking that Kanefune-senpai might end up getting disowned by her family— 

“…No.” 

“Huh?” 

“Amamiya-san?” 

“I said no! I refuse to live like some parasite, depending on others!” 

That’s when the bomb Shizuku had been holding inside her finally exploded. 

“A parasite? If she’s okay with it, what’s the problem?” 

“That kind of life will only rot you away! It’s the end of you as a person! I absolutely refuse to live like that!” 

Shizuku was angrier than I’d ever seen her. 

The bystanders, on the other hand, had mixed reactions: 

“So, it finally happened, huh?” 

“Amamiya-san’s too serious; no way she’d accept something like that.” 

“Wow, Ichijou’s thoughts are that messed up? Glad I didn’t get involved with him…” 

“Yeah, go on, give it to him!” 

The cafeteria was abuzz, and all eyes were on the harem drama unfolding before them. 

Amidst it all, Kanefune-senpai muttered something under her breath. She was glaring disdainfully at Ichijou: 

“Gotcha, Ichijou Makoto…” 

Was Kanefune-senpai not really interested in maintaining the harem? Could she have deliberately sown discord to break it apart and claim exclusivity? 

But if so, her muttered words seemed contradictory to that motive. 

While I was pondering this, Shizuku and Ichijou’s heated argument continued. 

“Amamiya-san, try to understand. Kanefune-senpai said it’s fine.” 

“I don’t want to understand! I refuse to live a life where I don’t know how long it will last! I’d rather live modestly and make each day fulfilling!” 

Though Shizuku was still furious, she tried her best to convey her feelings— 

Ichijou didn’t understand at all. 

“Man, you’re such a pain.” 

And that was the final blow. 

Shizuku wilted, like a flower losing its bloom. 

I can’t understand Ichijou. 

I can’t understand Kanefune-senpai either. 

What are they even trying to accomplish?