"I'm back, Raphne."

Returning to the Academy after visiting the Hyde Family and attending the funeral took longer than expected.

I had informed Raphne that it would take at least three days.

But I arrived at the Academy after five days had passed.

"Ken—!!"

Perhaps that was why Raphne’s face looked very gloomy when I opened the Tower's Door.

Her usually dull and dark face was welled with tears.

"Why are you so late!"

I spread my arms to receive her as she usually ran to me in tears.

But seeing my face, Raphne slowed down her pace.

"Is... is something wrong?"

Then she gently approached me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and looked up at me with concern.

How sweet. In the past, she wouldn't have been able to notice my state and would have simply clung to me.

"It's just, my feelings are too complicated to explain."

I vaguely said and wrapped my arms around Raphne's shoulders, burying my face in them.

I felt Raphne's familiar scent.

Of course, I had only spoken with Mr. Raymond for just a few minutes.

But I was there by Mary’s side, watching as she cried the tears she had been holding back after witnessing his last moments and his passing.

It was just painful.

Perhaps not as much as it was for Mary, who had just lost her father.

But the thought that there was nothing I could do for her lingered.

Raphne must have sensed these emotions in me as I arrived here.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting too long?"

"No... it's okay."

Raphne hugged me tightly, as if understanding my feelings, pressing against my waist.

Thanks to her warm presence and familiar scent, my complicated feelings seemed to calm down.

"Well, I don't know what happened..."

Then Raphne gently kissed my neck and began to speak softly.

"No matter what happens, Ken, I'll always be by your side."

It seemed like she was trying to comfort me in her own way.

Her words felt like they were unraveling the tangled emotions in the center of my heart.

I wished I had said something like that to Mary.

"Will you really be by my side no matter what?"

"Y-yes! Of course! I only have you, Ken."

"Even if I do something terrible?"

"Even if you became a traitor to the nation, I would still stay by your side."

Her calm and tender voice was filled with strong confidence.

A belief that she would keep her promise, no matter what happened.

"I can't live without you, Ken."

Raphne lifted her face from my shoulder, looked at me, and smiled innocently.

Her cute smile made my previously dark expression naturally lighten up and smile as well.

It had been a week since we returned from visiting Mary's Family.

Fortunately, after returning to the Academy, Mary appeared to be regaining her energy, looking as bright as usual over time.

Of course, whether she was merely putting on a brave face, or actually pushing her sadness aside, I couldn't tell.

"What a surprising event. Raphne giving up her lunch time with Ken."

And now, a week later, Mary, Emily, and I were having lunch together.

By the way, I had not one, but two lunchboxes in front of me.

Lunchboxes filled with the love and affection of two people.

"Well... because nobody decided who would make it..."

"When I came to my senses, it was already made."

"No! It's okay! I can eat both! Haha, you know I have a big appetite!"

I looked at the two apologetic people and did my best to smile.

It's true that it's fine.

If I was in my old chubby body, this amount would be no problem to handle with a smile.

Even now, I can still comfortably deal with two lunchboxes.

'This will probably happen often in the future...'

Today, I made arrangements with Raphne to have lunch separately.

And with the remaining time, I suggested to Emily and Mary that we have lunch together.

As a result, we ended up sitting on a bench in the small garden behind the Academy Historical Hall, having lunch together.

The menu was lunchboxes.

Due to my thoughtlessness, both Emily and Mary made separate lunchboxes for me.

It’s truly a joyous thing.

But naturally eating two love-filled lunchboxes creates a strange sense of guilt that is no joke.

"How is it? I tried my best to make it."

"The rolled omelet is my masterpiece. Is it to your taste?"

I tasted the lunchboxes from both women, receiving their anxious gazes from either side.

"Mm! It's amazing! It's the best lunchbox I've ever had!"

"Isn't it contradictory to say 'the best' when there are two lunchboxes?"

"Oops!"

At Emily's sharp observation, something went where it shouldn't have, and I choked a little. Mary hurriedly handed me a drink, and I managed to regain my composure.

It's unfortunate. By my standards, both lunchboxes are so excellent I can't pick a favorite.

Is this the dilemma of being caught between two choices?

No, typically, being in a love triangle doesn’t involve scheduling with three people at once, so this is my own unique dilemma.

"But really, what’s the occasion? Setting a lunch date with Ken... and even with Emily, the three of us."

"Yeah, I've been curious about that too."

"Oh, about that..."

Today, I specifically asked Raphne to postpone our lunch date. Thanks to that, tonight I have to endure a tough battle, cradled in Raphne's arms like a doll.

Anyway.

That's not the only reason I scheduled this meeting with them. This isn't just to experience a sweet lunchbox event.

There's something important.

Which is...

"...How do I tell Raphne?"

"Ah..."

"Come to think of it, Raphne doesn't know yet."

Mary didn't question making a lunch date with Emily and me and sharing these loving lunchboxes because I had confidently declared that I would respond to her confession and keep seeing both of them.

And so Mary accepted it.

That's why she allowed me to spend time with Emily as though we were a couple.

"It's definitely complicated... Handling Raphne is indeed tough."

Emily's words cut right to the heart of my dilemma.

That's right.

Emily and Mary were convinced by my declaration of dating both of them.

I need to present this to Raphne as well.

Of course, Raphne won't attack or go on a rampage and attempt to kill me upon hearing this.

Raphne doing such a thing to me would be impossible even if the Earth split in half.

However.

Raphne has a history.

What comes to mind is the time in the past when I first gave the Goddess Pendant to Raphne.

Yes.

I was imprisoned in the tower by Raphne that day.

It's an unforgettable incident since it's also a beautiful memory of when Raphne confessed she liked me.

Back then, I managed, with some persuasion, to escape my imprisonment.

"...This time, I might really end up deep underground."

"Well, we won't just stand by if that happens."

"Right, so don't worry too much about that."

As I trembled, the two kind women gently patted my head.

The calming touch eased my nerves.

"Anyway, the reason I asked you both to meet today was to discuss this matter together."

The two women, who accepted my declaration, are my companions who will journey with me into the future.

Therefore, Raphne's concerns are partly theirs as well.

I don't plan to bear everything alone. If we can share and overcome things together, then we'll share the burden. Of course, excluding dangerous tasks.

"Do you think she might just approve easily?"

Emily showed a slightly optimistic response.

"Why not? After all, the main point is about Ken proposing marriage. The two of us are just additional, so... maybe she won't mind too much?"

"Isn't that too convenient for us?"

"Uh... do you think so?"

"...Considering how Ken jumped into the trap before, it might be difficult."

I tilted my head at Mary's remark, and upon hearing it, Emily shuddered as if a chill ran down her spine.

"W-Was Raphne really that bad?"

"Yes, as soon as Ken disappeared, she turned into a beast let loose from its leash."

Mary was referring to the time when I fell into a trap alone in the Tower of Tarlos. Back then, as I spent a year at the bottom alone, I didn't know what was happening above.

So Raphne went on a rampage. That made me even more anxious.

"W-What should we really do?"

I cradled my head again, sinking into a dilemma without a clear answer. The two also pondered deeply about how to resolve that aspect.

The first to reach a conclusion was Mary.

"Anyway, I think confronting it directly is the only way."

"...Sorry? What do you mean by that?"

"Literally. No matter how you persuade her, the fact that Ken is determined to marry three women won't change."

"Ugh..."

"Whatever words you use, that fact won't change, and the only thing left will be for Raphne to make her choice."

Mary's words were straightforward. I wasn't thinking of any tricks, but I was contemplating whether any appropriate persuasion could work.

As expected, her cool demeanor led to her confidently stating that the aftermath should be handled by Raphne.

"Even so, don't worry too much, Ken."

Then Mary, seeing the tension on my face, kindly smiled and held my hand.

"When we talk to Raphne, I’ll be right there beside you. ...After all, we decided to face things together from now on."

"M-Mary..."

I felt reassured.

In a situation where I had to make a confession so daunting it made my body tremble, her warm smile and the promise to stay together made me feel incredibly supported.

...Is this what it means to be a couple?

"I-I’ll go with you too! After all, I was the one who brought this up first!"

Perhaps noticing my moved expression towards Mary, Emily suddenly grabbed my hand as well.

Blushing and looking at me anxiously, Emily wasn't as reassuring as Mary, but she was very cute.

It seemed she didn’t want to lose out to Mary.

But since I made up my mind to be fair to all three the moment I decided on this three-way relationship, there was no need for such worries.

In any case.

It was concluded that the only solution was to confront the situation head-on.

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