"Then, wait for me. When I can do well, I will propose to you."
"...."
Nifuji stared at Chika, who spoke speechlessly, ignoring all the bite marks on his neck and shoulders, which clearly showed how angry she had been previously.
Would he wait for her?
"What? What's wrong?" Chika's face felt like it was about to melt with the heat that came from how embarrassing her words were, and frankly, she said those words due to impulse, yet... to be honest, she was real!
"No, it's my first time to hear someone propose to me like that."
Nifuji didn't lie as it was his first time confessing, especially from someone who was younger than him, and also was fully naked. Yet, he also couldn't help but think about it, considering they had known each other for so long, and he had also taken her virginity. Still, for him to make that decision impulsively was wrong and irresponsible, especially toward the other women he was with, since Chika wasn't the only one whose first time he took.
However, his heart was swayed, as Chika was the first to say those words to him, and this might be what made her different from others.
Was it because she was young?
Or was it because she was from a different generation?
His words might be rude, but every generation faces different problems, so naturally, they grow up differently.
Regardless, could he wait for Chika?
How long would she be ready?
Four years?
Or more?
Nifuji wasn't sure, but he didn't take her words that seriously, as he had to admit that he knew the world wasn't so easy, and instead of her, who proposed to him, it was better for him to propose to her.
"I think that it is much faster if I propose to you instead."
"Let's go, then! Let's start the marriage right away! The ward office is open 24 hours for the marriage! We can register right away!"
Chika didn't waste time and, despite her exhausted body, stood up to take Nifuji to the ward office to register their marriage.
"...aren't you too hasty?"
"I am not!" Chika denied his question without hesitation. "I am serious! I love you! I want to be with you! Or..." Her eyes met his, filled with sadness. "Do you not want to be with me, Onii-chan?"
"...." Nifuji.
Unlike his other novels, where the background was a high school student who was underage, whether it was Chika or Nifuji, they were adults in the eyes of the law, and if they wanted to marry, no one would stop them.
However—
"I can't marry you."
"Why?"
"First, because I own a company."
"...." Chika.
The reason that came from his lips was different from what she expected.
"...what does that mean?"
"It means that if we want to marry, we need to sign a prenup agreement first."
"....." Chika.
"Don't look at me like that. I know that it might sound harsh, cold, and even like I don't love you, since it feels like I might divorce you, and I am afraid of you taking my business."
"...aren't you?"
"No." Nifuji was speechless. "I can give you all my equity now if you don't mind paying the tax."
"..." Chika.
"It's a business practice, and in business, it's profit over feelings. It is cold, but if I don't do so, then the law, the country won't allow us to marry."
"....." Chika.
"Also, the law aside, the most important thing is..."
"The most important is...?"
"I hate it when someone makes a decision based on impulse."
"..."
Those words stung her heart so much.
"I know that you love me, and I love you, but marriage isn't a simple matter, as you will face many things, whether it is the consequences, the burdens, and all other things, especially when you know about my relationship with others."
"Wait, what?"
"Are you ready to be my wife even if you know I have other women?"
"...." Chika.
However, Nifuji wasn't going to sugarcoat what would happen if Chika were his wife; yet, when he started to calm down and think this problem through, he felt that it might be okay at first, but it wouldn't be so easy if he really went on a marriage.
Yes, there was no guarantee that what he did might appear, especially when he had known Chika well for a long time, and if he could only have her in his heart, it would be wonderful, too, as the two of them could slowly build up and love each other, trying to grow up together.
This was how the perfect situation would be, yet when he thought of Chika, he was afraid that it would be him who took care of her all the time, like he kept a pet.
Such a relationship, where the wife was just the trophy, the side of the husband for being beautiful and sexy, and who comforted him at night, might work, but somehow, he wanted a relationship where they worked together.
What did he mean by working together?
Based on the majority, it would be at how the men handled the work and money, and the women handled at home, or the two of them decided to work together, but somehow, for him, it would be too simple if that was the case.
Nifuji wasn't really sure what he wanted, yet inwardly, he wanted something more pure, more genuine, and because of that, he felt so blinded toward Chika, yet also hated himself for not being able to understand her.
Chika's feelings were sincere, and while it was impulsive, it was real, as she just wanted to be with him, but Nifuji, who had become an adult, felt that the life of a marriage wasn't as easy as he thought it would be, and there was this hesitation within him that made him unable to properly make the decision.
No, it could be said that it was better for him not to marry at all, so that way, no one would be jealous of each other, and this what he had been thinking since instead of having to tie each other when they might get hurt as what they expected was different from the reality, it was far better for them to just remain as his sugar baby.
After all, compared to the wife, the life of the sugar baby was much easier.
If a wife was expected by their husband to do the role of the wife, then the sugar baby had only needed to make their sugar daddy happy.
Then again, was he afraid of marriage?
He would be lying if he wasn't, but he didn't feel afraid of being betrayed or cheated, as others did; he was just afraid he would disappoint those who had given their hearts to him.
Being their man, and when he chose one of them to be his wife, he knew well that his heart would prioritize the wife, and the time he spent with other women would be less, and when he thought of their disappointed face—
"Eh?"
Suddenly, his cheeks were pressed by Chika's palms as she forced him to look at her.
"Onii-chan, you should be selfish!"
"....." Nifuji.
"Do you think I will be sad after you refuse me?"
"Aren't you?"
"Of course, I did! I want to cry!"
"...." Nifuji.
"However, I know that you think the best of me."
Nifuji stared at Chika, who could say something so heartfelt and genuine from her lips, clearly showing her feelings and love, wasn't that because of money, his dick, looks, but truly because she wished for his happiness.
"Being your wife might be hard, and I understand that since you are a scumbag, and also have a huge company, but look at me."
"...what?"
"I am the type who never thinks of anything!"
"...is that something that you should be proud about?"
Chika felt her face was so hot, but she forced herself to continue. "Wait, wait! That's wrong!"
"What is it?"
"Remember our first trip?"
"Our first trip? Of course, we went to Aizuwakamatsu, right?"
"No, not the destination, but the feelings!"
"Feelings?"
Chika took a deep breath and said, "At that time, I was at my lowest point, and you were the one who made me keep going. Yes, I know that you can't only be mine, but even so, I decide to be with you since I know you well, and I can see the future with you,u even if you might not be able to part ways with those you have a relationship with."
"...how can you be so sure?"
"Remember our first trip, right?"
"Yeah..."
"I was so worried, and I couldn't sleep, feeling worried about the future trip might end up in a mess, or make you angry at me, yet somehow... we... could do it together. The trip that I thought would be a mess suddenly became something like an irreplaceable memory for me, and as it could happen on the trip, then it should happen in married life, right?"
"....." Nifuji.
"Yes, there are many worries, many problems, and all other things, but if we face them together, then I believe we can do it!"
Like the shounen protagonist, Chika believed she could make him happy!
"..."
Be the provider, the one who had always been the one who gave to his other one, and this what he had always thought, and he didn't think that he would change his mind, as he knew how messed up their life was in reality, or even in society that forced women to have a lower income than others unless one had a certain connection, a true ability, or something else, so he had to be the one who made the move.
Still, he had never thought of this as a sacrifice, as he did this because he didn't want to be someone who was at the bottom, the helpless one.
However, like him, Chika also dared to fight for him and decided to give up her selfishness because she truly wished for him.
So, how would he answer it?
"Give me time."
"How long?"
"After I talked with all of my women, I need to make sure that you are the one for me."
Chika opened her lips, feeling at a loss, afraid that she might lose the competition, but she nodded. "Okay. That's fair."
Yes, it was fair, and because of that, Nifuji would see everything through, talking with each of them to truly understand what they felt, and because of that, he decided not to take the trip with Chika.
So, what would happen after this?
Nifuji would meet each of them one by one, making sure who would be the one to whom he would give his heart, and to do that, he thought of going to the two people who often stayed together.
"Chizuru isn't here! Come in, Hirotaka-kun!"
As Nifuji was in front of Mini's apartment, as expected, she was as aggressive as ever.