Life after Harem

Before seeing her.

The next day came, Akira had easy time falling asleep and woke full of energy. Mostly because the immense feeling of relief that made this night that much different from the few preceding it where he was all stressed out because of what was coming. Partially, because all that beating he took made his body feel like after overextended, intense workout - he couldn't move too much even if he wanted to. He was a bit anxious about when and how should he see Futaba, but luckily enough she understood him so well that she texted him to come visit her at 17.

When he left his room and went down to get something to eat, Sojiro was really surprised seeing how he greeted him with a smile and in cheerful mood. 

- Maybe you are a masochist after all.

- Oh? No, I'm just happy because my talk with Futaba went much better than I expected.

- So you went to talk to her after all! I was asking if she was alright and if she needed anything after I came back home, but weirdly enough she sounded quite cheerful. What the hell did you tell her, to cause that much of a mood swing after she ran out of here crying a little bit earlier?

- I was completely honest. It didn't happen a lot since I came here, being honest I mean, but I thought about it for long time, and decided that I don't want to lie to her ever again.

- And what about the rest of the girls?

Akira let out a big sigh and put his right palm on his forehead. It was still scary. Things went really well with Futaba, but he had no idea how to even partially make up for how things turned out to be with everyone else. Situation with Futaba had an advantage, that after the Valentines day fiasco she was the one he wanted to be with. Joker was trembling while thinking how hard, painful and awkward would be talking with every girl that he's dated and instead of telling them that he made a terrible mistake and wants to be with them like he did with Futaba, explaining that their relationship is over, even if they would want to forgive him, because he chose someone else. 

- Boss, I know deserve it, but why did you have to ruin my mood?

- You wanna apologize to all of them? I mean, at least few of them you see daily at school, or almost daily, so if you don't clarify things it will get really awkward. Though, if you try it, it might be even worse. You're doomed either way.

- Thanks for the peep talk. I really needed that.

Sojiro let out a big laugh. 

- Sorry, but you reap what you sow. Well, I'm just happy that things turned out ok with the two of you. But if will ever again try to do something like that to her, facing world ending events with your troupe will be the least of your worries, I'll make sure of that.

His expression was enough for Akira to believe that Sojiro meant what he said.

- Don't worry, It will never happen again. I actually want you to end me if I would be ever dumb enough to sadden her like this once more.

- I can promise you that. 

Rest of the day went rather uneventful, or rather Akira was too focused on thinking what might happen and what he should do in certain scenarios when he will visit Futaba, that he couldn't really give to much of his attention to anything else. He was also extremely lucky to not met any of his dates through the entire day.

He did meet Ryuji though. His friend learned some slight bits of information about what happened yesterday and was dying to know more. 

- Wait, so you weren't spending Valentines with us because you couldn't get a date, but because you had too many dates and you feared what they will do if they'll find out?