The Fate of the Protagonist Who Chose the Harem Ending - Episode 9

Breaking Ties with the Harem Protagonist

The day after Shizuku resolved herself. 

She called Ichijou out behind the school building after classes. 

When Ichijou arrived, I walked toward him, hand in hand with Shizuku. 

This was her final request regarding Ichijou: 

She was afraid to face him alone, so she wanted me to come with her. 

With a request this endearing, I’d do anything for her.

Ichijou was visibly shaken when he saw Shizuku approaching, holding my hand. 

I could feel his glare directed at her. But while Shizuku faltered slightly, she gripped my hand tighter and kept moving forward. 

I matched her grip, squeezing back to reassure her. And we stopped in front of Ichijou. 

“…Is this your way of declaring an affair, Amamiya-san?” 

“You’ve never been in a relationship with anyone, so please don’t call this an affair.”

Ichijou called her actions infidelity, but in truth, wasn’t he the one playing around? 

I thought so as Shizuku began to pour out her feelings to him. 

Unlike the confession she had once made to him, this time it was the complete opposite.

“I worked up the courage to confess my feelings to you. 

But you refused to choose anyone. You wouldn’t even try. 

You disregarded the affection everyone gave you and trampled on it. 

I’m disillusioned with you, and I’ve decided to stop chasing you. 

I’m leaving your harem.”

Shizuku’s resolute words left Ichijou visibly rattled. 

He turned his furious gaze toward me. 

“Higashiya…! You wormed your way in just to steal my harem, didn’t you?” 

He advanced toward me in anger. But honestly, I had no interest in his so-called harem. 

It seemed more like a headache than anything else. 

“That was never my intention. But Shizuku had more than enough reason and time to give up on you. That’s all.” 

“When did you start calling her by her first name?!” 

“Long before you even met her. Shizuku and I are close childhood friends, and we’ve always called each other by our first names. I only used her last name in front of you to avoid any misunderstandings.” 

“Wait, what? Childhood friends? I didn’t know that!” 

His expression was one of genuine surprise—unsurprising, since we’d never told him. 

It was for his benefit, really. If he had known about my existence, he might not have pursued her in the first place. 

Still, was this revelation really something to be shaken about? Childhood friends, old connections—relationships come in all forms. 

“We didn’t mention it because it would have only caused more confusion. Besides, weren’t I the one who initially encouraged you to make Shizuku your girlfriend?” 

Not that he ever answered those suggestions. 

And now Shizuku had decided to cut ties with him entirely. 

I wouldn’t let him have any further contact with her. 

“Why are you leaving, Amamiya-san? You said you liked me! Leaving doesn’t make sense!” 

What was he even saying? Unless someone is brainwashed, it’s only natural to leave when treated like this. 

Shizuku, on the other hand, stared at Ichijou with a cold, detached gaze. 

I never knew she could look at someone like that—it was a look I never wanted to see again. 

“You’ve done enough to kill my feelings for you. That’s all. I have nothing more to say.” 

With that, Shizuku said, 

“Let’s go, Haruka,” 

And we turned away from Ichijou, still holding hands. 

Behind us, I could hear Ichijou muttering something about betrayal in a resentful tone. But Shizuku didn’t even glance back. 

Her only response was, “You were the one who betrayed me first,” as we walked away

It was puzzling, though. I had braced myself for Ichijou to retaliate in some way. But he did nothing. 

The decisive, impulsive person I thought he was seemed like nothing more than an illusion. 

I couldn’t help but think that.

—

“Ah, I feel so much better now!” 

“Seeing you back safe and sound makes me want to cry,” 

Aiba said, revealing that she had been waiting behind us out of concern. 

Shizuku was now cheerful again. She brushed it off with a casual tone.

“You’re exaggerating!” 

But Aiba countered, 

“After how withdrawn you were, who wouldn’t worry?” 

Flustered, Shizuku fumbled with her words. She then finally said, as if to deflect, 

“Oh, right! If you’re saying I’m back safe and sound, there’s only one thing to say!” 

With a beaming smile, she declared: 

“I’m home!” 

“Welcome back, Shizuku.” 

“Yes, welcome back, Shizuku-chan,” 

Aiba added with a smile.