Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Ignition! Yume's Confession Operation!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Alright, let's head in."
I followed Yume into the game center.
Before enrolling in the academy, the four of us—me, Yume, Isihoon, and the others—used to come here often to hang out. But today, it was just Yume and me.
"Rubelt! Let's play that fighting game. The one you and Isihoon always played!"
"That's what you want to do? Yume, do you even know how to play?"
"W-Well... I've been practicing lately! Come on, let's do it!"
"Sure, okay."
I figured her "practice" was probably just some rushed sessions this past week.
She must have picked up the fighting game I often play with Isihoon, all to make sure I had a good time.
No way a few days of practice would make her a match for me.
But what mattered was that Yume had gone out of her way to practice a genre she'd never touched before, just for me.
Beyond that, there was something fun about testing the skills of a total newbie.
As I'd expected, Yume wasn't all that skilled.
It was obvious she was relying on combos she'd memorized hard.
She had zero reads on my moves—she wasn't predicting patterns; she was just reacting after seeing what I did. It was plain as day.
A perfect display of fresh newbie behavior.
Even though it had only been a few days, I was impressed she'd gotten this decent.
If it were Isihoon, I'd wipe the floor with him mercilessly, but with Yume, I wanted to hold back just enough to keep it fun and wholesome for both of us.
Thanks to that, instead of the brutal beatdowns I share with Isihoon, I got to savor some gentle, playful newbie fun.
"How was I, Rubelt? Not bad, right...?"
"Yeah, you did great. That was fun."
"Yes! Hehe, good!"
That pure, beaming newbie smile of hers.
I just wanted to protect it.
Yume probably didn't plan on sticking with fighting games long-term anyway. At best, she'd be a temp newbie for this short stint.
Still, I hoped we'd make some happy memories during that brief time.
"Yume, let's try some other stuff besides this."
"Okay!"
Yume and I played all sorts of games at the arcade.
We cleared a shooting game by syncing our timing, and I tried the spot-the-difference game she said she often did with Rize.
Even for hunters, spot-the-difference can be surprisingly tough, but according to Yume, Rize nails them lightning-fast and spot-on.
We even did DDR together, where I got a nice view of Yume's chest bouncing as she danced along. Then racing games for some driving thrills.
Before we knew it, time had flown by, and lunchtime was approaching.
"Let's grab some food."
"Sure!"
Yume seemed thrilled to be back at the arcade after so long—gone was her nervous morning vibe, replaced by her usual kind, cheerful self.
But as we left and walked to the restaurant together, she started growing aware of the fact that it was just us two. Her cheeks flushed a bit.
Shy one moment, bright the next—it was an adorably fresh sight that made me smile.
We settled into a nearby family restaurant for a simple meal, and Yume asked me,
"Did you have fun, Rubelt?"
"Of course. Lately at the academy, it's all training, so this was a nice change of pace for me."
"Really? Phew, glad to hear it!"
She beamed at my positive reply.
Resting my chin in my hand, I gazed at Yume and asked,
"Where to next?"
"Huh!? N-Next is... karaoke. How's that?"
Game center first, then karaoke.
That was our usual group routine.
Yume's plan today was recreating our group hangouts, just the two of us.
From her perspective, it was the best way to pay me back.
"Sounds good. Let's go straight there."
After eating, Yume and I headed to the karaoke spot.
We usually came in a group of four, but today it was just us.
Being alone in the private karaoke room created a different vibe from usual.
Of course, I deliberately ignored that and jumped right into picking songs.
If the awkwardness dragged on, it'd make it harder for Yume to bring up what she wanted to say.
"Pick some, Yume."
"O-Okay!"
After about twenty minutes of taking turns singing, the tension that had crept back into Yume's face from the atmosphere began to ease.
She must be mentally prepared by now.
This was the perfect moment to nudge things along.
"Your skills haven't rusted at all, Yume."
"Really? You were great as always, Rubelt."
"I got vocal training during my gifted education."
"Gifted programs cover all sorts of stuff, huh... Um, Rubelt."
"Yeah?"
"D-Did you have fun today?"
"Yeah, it was fun. Being alone with you felt a little special, too."
"S-Special? For real?"
"Totally real. Even as friends, being alone together as a guy and girl—I'm aware of it, you know?"
"I see... So you do think of me that way, Rubelt..."
I could see Yume duck her head slightly, her lips curving up.
Then she clenched her fists tight, lifted her gaze, and looked me straight in the eye.
"Rubelt... There's something I really want to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I... I've heard something. From Rize and Eli. That you've... been with both of them. And that you like... having a harem."
Yume brought up her talk with Eli to lay the groundwork, making it easier for her to open up.
Of course, I played it like I had no idea, to make it easier for her.
"Oh, you heard that? Ahaha, embarrassing. Well, I am a guy, after all..."
I didn't deny it—instead, I acted sheepish, keeping up my natural, confident harem-guy vibe.
Denying it here might make me seem like a timid guy too obsessed with his public image.
Better to gently plant the idea that this is just how guys are.
With ordinary girls, this might gross them out or shock them into thinking, "So he's that kind of pervert."
But sitting in front of me was Yume—a girl who knew I had a fiancée and still pursued me with strong feelings.
My words actually gave her an easy opening to push forward.
"Hey, Rubelt. If I... said I wanted to join your harem? That I wanted to be one of your women... would you like that?"
Yume fixed her trembling eyes—equal parts hope and anxiety—on me.
"Yume..."
I widened my eyes dramatically to show shock at her words, then narrowed them into a serious gaze while gripping her shoulders.
"I'll answer seriously."
"O-Okay."
"I'm really happy you said that. Like I said, I'm a guy too. Even as a friend, I know you're an attractive, beautiful woman."
"Ah..."
Whoosh! Yume's face turned beet red.
"But Yume, if you're saying this just to repay me for saving you from Steel Mountain last time, then I..."
I phrased it to imply I didn't want her becoming my woman out of mere gratitude rather than true feelings, trailing off to invite her input.
And right on cue...
"No! It's not like that, Rubelt!"
She shook her head and shouted.
"It's not about repaying a favor or anything! I... I really! From way back...! I've liked you, Rubelt! That's why I want to be your woman!"
Yume's usual personality kept her from expressing her feelings strongly.
By giving her the opening and stirring her anxiety, I'd successfully led her to confess boldly. The plan was working perfectly.
"For real?"
"For real! Actually, I did ask you out today under the pretext of repaying you... but it was really because I wanted to tell you how I feel! That's... the true goal! I...! I like you, Rubelt! Haah! Haah!"
Having poured out her heart, Yume was breathing hard.
"So, Rubelt! Me too...! Like Eli and Rize, I want to be your... Rubelt?"
She caught her breath to continue, then let out a startled voice as she looked at me.
It was only natural she'd react that way.
The moment she confessed, I'd pulled my right hand from her shoulder, covered my mouth, flushed my face, and shyly turned my head.
The classic pose: thrilled by the confession but embarrassed.
(For the record, the heat in my face was real, not acting.)
"Huh? Rubelt?"
She hadn't expected this reaction and called my name in surprise.
"Sorry, just a sec. Hearing you really like me like that..."
"...!"
Yume's eyes widened.
My embarrassed, joyful response was closing in perfectly.
Way better than she'd hoped—Yume was shocked and delighted.
"Rubelt, you're... happy?"
"Of course I'm... happy. How could I not be when you say you like me as a woman sees a man? Honestly, my face is burning up more than I expected."
"R-Really..."
"Phew..."
I let out a big breath, dropped my hand from my mouth, looked at Yume, and asked,
"Yume. As you know, I have Eli. And Rize too. Plus, as a promising hunter, I might end up with even more women down the line. I can't promise to look only at you."
First things first: I made sure she understood the harem reality.
"And I'm not as wholesome a guy as you might think. My... ahem, sex drive is several times stronger than most guys'. You really okay with someone like me?"
I downplayed myself sexually too, checking her resolve again.
I already knew the answer.
From what she'd heard from Eli and Rize, she knew about my strong urges and plans to expand the harem. She'd steeled herself for it.
This was just reinforcing that resolve.
And as expected, Yume met my eyes with fierce determination.
"It's fine. I still like you, Rubelt. I want to be with you. I want to be your woman. So please, Rubelt... go out with me."
"Yume..."
Our eyes locked deeply.
I didn't give a verbal answer right away.
Instead, I just held her gaze, letting the atmosphere between us build as I slowly brought my face closer.
Yume didn't pull away, flinch, or resist—she just gently closed her eyes.
And so, Yume and I pressed our lips together, sealing the confession with a kiss.