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Chapter 317: The Collection of the Girls' Hearts of Love — Complete
🕑 Added 2025-04-30 12:26:25 +0000 UTCMinami couldn't help but look at Chisato again.
He had truly never expected her to contact Matsuzaka Satou before he even had a chance to.
Even with fragments of memory from the dream simulation, it would have been extremely difficult to track Satou down.
Yet—
Chisato had done it.
Her level of Action-Taking was astonishing.
Minami stared at Chisato, who shyly turned her head away, deeply impressed.
"Uhh..."
Maybe realizing she couldn't hide anymore, Chisato simply coughed lightly and muttered:
"What's the big deal anyway... We're all sisters. Meeting Satou-chan a little earlier isn't a problem, right?"
She was quite bold about it.
Grinning playfully at Minami, with no hint of guilt at all.
But honestly, she wasn't wrong.
Meeting earlier or later, they would have met eventually.
So an early meeting was still perfectly reasonable.
Minami shook his head,
deciding not to fuss over it.
Instead, he curiously asked Satou about her reason for coming.
"Ah... um... actually, it's because..."
Matsuzaka Satou didn't hide it.
After a moment of thought, she explained to Minami.
Thanks to the recent simulation,
Satou had foreseen a future where she might face financial difficulties.
Wanting to ease the burden on Matsuzaka Sayuri, who was already working part-time at an izakaya, Satou decided to find a job herself.
Since she wasn't in university yet and didn't have the writing skills her dream self had.
She needed to find simple, manual labor work.
Thinking carefully, she remembered Chisato and Takina from her dream and how they worked at a café called LycoReco.
If she could find them, maybe she could land a good job.
Following that thought, she used her phone's map to search...
and just happened to run into Chisato Nishikigi, who was looking for her too.
The two hit it off immediately and came together to LycoReco.
As for why Takina wasn't behind the counter, it was because she was bringing Satou to Mika for a preliminary interview and work schedule orientation.
"I see..."
After hearing the whole story,
Minami nodded.
He fully supported Satou's decision.
First, because there was no reason to refuse.
Second, because LycoReco was a great workplace,
and with Chisato, Takina, and Rio Futaba there too,
he felt reassured.
"What does Manager Mika think?"
Minami turned to Mika sitting at the long table and asked.
"Ah...
I think it's great."
Mika's warm, kind expression never changed.
He nodded and said:
"Satou's conditions are excellent.
And I've been planning to expand the shop a little.
Our current staff just aren't enough."
"Ah, I see."
Minami nodded thoughtfully.
Recently, LycoReco had indeed been getting busier.
He could feel it too.
The small café space they had now,was starting to feel a little too cramped.
Just as Minami was about to thank Manager Mika on Matsuzaka Satou's behalf—
Before he could even open his mouth,
the manager, who had just finished organizing some documents, spoke first.
"By the way, Minami-kun... I believe you already know my attitude toward you."
The sudden remark sounded a bit out of nowhere.
It made Satou, Chisato, and Takina all look up with puzzled expressions.
But as a fellow man,
Minami understood Mika's meaning instantly.
So it's finally come to this...
Minami sighed quietly in his heart.
Mika's message was simple and clear.
The manager had always silently supported his relationship with Chisato and Takina.
Because the two girls were inseparable.
As their foster father,
Mika had always hoped they would find true happiness.
That's why he never intervened when Minami grew closer to them, not even when Rio Futaba, another girl with a close bond to Minami, started working here.
But...
This time was different.
"Minami-kun... you've gone too far."
Mika looked up at Minami, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
"I personally have no objection to you being involved with Chisato and Takina... but—"
He didn't finish.
Minami already understood what he meant.
Now, besides Rio, there was also Matsuzaka Satou.
Mika could no longer pretend not to notice.
If things went on like this,
there would probably be more and more girls drawn to Minami.
That was something Mika could no longer accept.
And so, even if it meant being resented by Chisato and Takina...
He had to ask Minami directly.
"Minami-kun, what exactly are you thinking?
Are you serious about being with Chisato and Takina?
Or do you intend to involve yourself with Satou... and with Futaba too?
What is your true decision?"
He fixed his gaze firmly on Minami and asked.
As soon as Mika spoke, even the usually airheaded Chisato picked up on the gravity of the situation.
Let alone Takina and Satou, who immediately understood.
It was clear, Mika was displeased at the constant appearance of new beautiful girls around Minami.
And honestly, it was understandable.
Unlike the original world of Lycoris Recoil,
this Mika had personally raised Chisato and Takina from a young age.
His affection for them ran even deeper.
As their foster father, it was only natural that he would want to be absolutely certain.
After all,
who would willingly entrust their daughters to someone who might not truly cherish them?
Thus, he had to ask.
And he couldn't afford to avoid the issue any longer.
The usual warmth faded from Mika's face and an unspeakable pressure settled into the air as he placed his hand on the table and looked at Minami.
The atmosphere turned heavy.
Even Satou, standing behind Minami, instinctively took a step back.
She wasn't naive.
She understood that this situation was partially her fault.
Feeling guilty, she stepped forward:
"Um, Manager Mika... this is actually my fault. I—"
She barely got halfway through, when Minami reached out and gently grabbed her hand, interrupting her.
"Minami-senpai..."
"It's not your fault."
Minami shook his head.
This had nothing to do with Satou.
Even if she hadn't shown up today,
this conversation with Mika would have happened eventually.
Satou's presence merely accelerated it.
Minami never once thought about pushing responsibility onto the girls.
If he couldn't even protect them, how could he ever hope to make them happy?
Without a word,
he stepped forward...
Shielding the three girls behind him.
"..."
Mika.
Watching Minami stand protectively in front of the girls, his eyes flashed with a trace of concealed satisfaction.
But—
this alone wasn't enough.
"Minami-kun, is this truly your decision?"
He asked while slowly rising from his seat.
Given Mika's large, imposing frame. The moment he stood up,
a heavy, overwhelming pressure wrapped around Minami like a suffocating mist.
"Yes."
Facing that pressure—
Minami didn't waver.
No hesitation.
No change in expression.
He simply nodded firmly.
"I see..."
Mika's voice trailed off.
He stared at Minami saying nothing more.
"Manager Mika, Minami-kun, he's just—"
Having fully grasped the situation,
Chisato's brows furrowed.
She boldly stepped forward,
wanting to speak up for Minami.
But—
"Chisato, be silent for now."
Before she could even finish,
Mika cut her off coldly.
As their foster father,
Mika had never raised his voice at Chisato or Takina.
Even minor scoldings were rare.
To hear such a cold tone from him was unprecedented.
Chisato fell silent.
But she didn't back down.
She stood tall raising her chin stubbornly to meet Mika's gaze.
Like a daffodil stretching proudly toward the sun.
Unafraid.
Unyielding.
Her stance was simple.
She respected Mika but she couldn't betray her feelings for the boy standing before her.
Her usual bright cheerfulness was replaced by a resolute strength,
as if she could lend courage to everyone around her.
"I believe Chisato did nothing wrong, Manager Mika."
A calm, steady voice chimed in.
It was Takina Inoue.
She stepped forward as well. Her expression composed, her gaze unwavering.
If Chisato was the brave daffodil, then Takina was the quiet, resilient orchid blooming in a hidden valley.
Different, yet equally strong.
The two girls moved forward together,
only for—
Pa.sfx
A warm hand settled on their shoulders.
"Enough, Chisato. Takina too."
"Minami-kun..."
Chisato and Takina instinctively turned back.
And saw Minami's calm, steady face.
He only nodded slightly.
Thanking them silently, from the bottom of his heart.
Then,
Minami stepped forward again, standing once more in front of the three girls.
Straight-backed,
he faced Manager Mika head-on, shielding Chisato Nishikigi, Takina Inoue, and Matsuzaka Satou behind him.
"This is my decision, Manager Mika. I won't change it."
His voice was unwavering.
Compared to Mika's large build,
Minami's frame looked slender and balanced, but that straight, unwavering back gave Chisato, Takina, and Satou an unshakable sense of security, as solid as a mountain.
"..."
Respecting Minami's will,
the three girls exchanged glances,
then silently stepped back behind him.
That small action alone spoke volumes about their resolve.
"..." Mika.
He looked at the girls standing behind Minami,
then at Minami himself, who showed no intention of backing down.
Mika could only sigh helplessly, shaking his head slightly.
"Alright, alright, Chisato, Takina, and Matsuzaka-san... you don't have to make those faces.
You're making me look like the villain here. Relax—
I had no intention of making things hard for Minami-kun."
The heavy atmosphere instantly melted away, like thawing ice.
"Seriously—Mika-sensei, if you didn't intend to be so harsh,
you shouldn't have put on that scary face at the start!"
Chisato said with a playful groan, patting her ample chest as if to calm herself.
Typical Chisato, always quick to bounce back.
Knowing Mika wasn't angry, she even let out a cheeky laugh and slapped his broad back in her usual, carefree manner.
"..." Mika.
Casting an exasperated glance at Chisato, he couldn't help but shake his head.
Girls really do grow up and slip away, huh.
He hadn't even done anything yet...
All he'd done was stand up and the girls had already looked ready to go to war for Minami.
But...
Oh well.
Mika had never liked forcing people into things.
Especially not the girls he'd raised with so much love and care.
Thus—
"Minami-kun,
I've always been truly grateful to you."
Mika's voice returned to its usual gentle tone.
"If it weren't for you,
'LycoReco' might not even exist anymore.
And... Chisato's condition might not have improved either."
At this, he paused slightly.
Then bowed deeply to Minami.
"For that, for everything you've done for 'LycoReco' and for Chisato—
I sincerely thank you."
"...It's just what I should have done..."
"No, Minami-kun.
There's no such thing as something a person 'should' be obligated to do."
Mika shook his head, disagreeing.
"You helped us. That's a fact. And perhaps... that's why this Matsuzaka-san came to care for you as well."
Satou said nothing.
But the way she looked at Minami became even softer, even warmer.
Mika continued:
"Minami-kun, as for your relationships with the others, that's not something I can comment on. However—"
He paused meaningfully.
"I only hope that you'll bring happiness to Chisato and Takina."
Waiting, he watched Minami closely, waiting for his response.
"...I understand."
No hesitation.
No grand declarations.
No dramatic promises.
Just a simple nod,
clear and firm.
And yet—
that simple reply carried a weight so genuine that Mika, watching carefully,
could feel it clearly.
Mika said no more.
As he walked past Minami,
he placed a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder.
The pressure was strong enough
that even someone like Minami, used to daily training, felt a jolt of pain.
But beneath that pain—
he also felt the weight of Mika's heart.
The years of raising Chisato and Takina,
and now, handing their futures over.
The door to the manager's office closed with a soft click.
When the girls snapped out of it—
Mika was already gone.
"Eh? Eh??
What just happened?"
Chisato blinked, confused,
glancing between the closed door and Minami.
"Mika-sensei... was he agreeing with us?
Or rejecting us?"
Takina and Satou also wore puzzled expressions,
whispering to each other uncertainly.
Only Minami, rubbing his sore shoulder, understood.
Knowing Mika's character, Neither approval nor rejection... was itself a form of approval..
He simply hadn't voiced his feelings outright.
He just didn't say it directly.
It was more like a silent, man-to-man acknowledgment.
Still—
"Seriously, Mika-san, you didn't have to hit so hard..."
Minami silently complained as he massaged his shoulder.
It was definitely going to bruise.
But even so, he understood Mika.
It must've been unbearable, watching the daughters he'd raised for seventeen years
be taken away by some newcomer.
No wonder he hit hard.
Still—
In the end, Mika had accepted it.
That alone was enough.
But...
there was one more thing Minami had to face.
Because—
a new system notification had appeared.
The collection of the three girl's Hearts of Love... was now complete.
