“I think you should just accept the harem.”, 20 minutes later and a whole lot calmer I sat in Mike’s flat and drank a cup of black tea when Mike said this to me. I frowned.

“No way.”, even though I had calmed down a lot and was far more composed than in the moment I left my flat, I still was a nervous wrack compared to my normal self. At this moment I couldn’t even imagine talking to Shiina ever again, not to mention create a harem with her!

“Why not, it’s the easiest way to sincerely apologize to Shiina-chan.”, that gay guy in front of me kept on urging me while using the cringy Japanese honorific commonly unitized by sick weaboos (weaboos are sad creatures that can’t accept their own culture and claim to be Japanese even if they don’t know shit about real Japanese culture or language). It ticked my of a little, but I remained composed, mainly because I knew that he was right.

Despite that I couldn’t accept it just yet.

“Would you like to be in a gay harem?”, I asked Mike seriously. Honestly, I wondered how I could keep a straight face despite saying such outrageous words.

Mike was similarly serious as he replied:

“Yes, I would like to be in your gay harem, thank you for accepting me as your concubine!”, I almost slapped him right into the face. In the end we both just laughed though, we both knew that this was just joking around.

At least I hoped it was…

My gay friend sighed.

“If I have understood you correct, your problem is that you love Shiina too much to imagine having another relationship, no matter whether just sexual or romantic, with any other women. But if you really love Shiina, wouldn’t it be far more romantic to go through with her wishes and stay ‘faithful’ despite the other women in your life?

Of course, the word faithful is used a little strange in this context, but wouldn’t your continuous fixation on Shiina as your romantic partner despite the existence of other partners be the ultimate proof of your ‘faithfulness’ and love?

Furthermore, I think if you told any other man that you have a problem with your girlfriend creating a harem for you, I think they would just kill you right there. So in the end it’s kind of for your own health that you accept this arrangement!”, god, he was really good at convincing me.

In the end I knew that he was right. What kind of man was I that I complained about my love interest wanting me to have sexual relationships with her sister? There were men you did it without their girlfriend’s explicit agreement (and those mostly ended up without said girlfriend) and I was bitching about my situation?!

Even I knew that I was being unreasonable. Despite that I couldn’t just agree.

Truthfully, I just didn’t want anything to taint my relationship with Shiina. And to me, having sex with other women destroyed any romantic delusion I could have had until that moment. Of course, I had to admit that I had fucked up our relation without said intercourse, so what was the point in even struggling with myself?

I knew what I had to do!

I let out a tired sigh.

“You’re right Mike. Thanks for being a great friend to someone like me…”, I still felt guilty for completely forgetting about his existence.

Mike smiled slightly. “If you want to thank me, introduce me to your soon to be concubine and some hot dude you know!”

I looked at him with a slightly annoyed glance. First one was easy, but where was I going to get a hot dude from?

“Sure, but the hot dude will take some time…”, I owed him one…

We left his flat and called a taxi which we took directly to my flat. Running around had tired me out even more than having an argument with Shiina and the upcoming task would prove to consume even more power. I had to save any bit I could!

The ride took only a few couple minutes and soon Mike and I stood in front of my building, me looking quite afraid while Mike was the epitome of relaxation. He looked so relaxed that I wanted to punch his face.

It took all of my resolve to walk up the stairs and knock on the door. Three times I almost turned around and ran away, only to feel guilty and angry at my weakness. I didn’t want to be a pussy who would run away from an open conversation.

I had to apologize even if I truly just wanted to hide in some corner.

The door opened, and Mei appeared in the hallway of my flat. When she saw me she looked relieved, surprised and a little angry. An awkward expression soon took over as she stepped back to let the two of us in.

My expression was no less awkward, and I silently formed the words: “I’m really sorry!” With my mouth. She sighed and nodded silently. Then she ‘led’ us into my flat.

Shiina was laying on the couch, her arms crossed in front of her small chest. I couldn’t quite believe how childish she looked, pouting like some little girl. Despite my negative emotions I felt a little sweet to see her adorable self.

This sweetness instantly turned into even more guilt.

Once again, I gather all my resolve and stepped forwards. She had clearly noticed me but was actively ignoring me. I chuckled wryly. Such was the girl I had fallen in love with.

“I’m sorry.”, I simply said and made a deep bow, reminiscent of the bow a yakuza would make to his superior if he committed a mistake. This was really fitting as I technically was a yakuza.

Shiina still didn’t budge and continued to stare at the roof.

I did not mind. In the first place I never expected this short apology to suffice.

“I would love to have a child with you. Shiina, you are the cutest and most beautiful girl I know, and you know that I love you more than anything else. I don’t want to disgrace you by having other women around me, but if you really want to I will make a harem.

But if I do, then please remember:

I did it for you and ONLY because I love you.”

I stocked for a moment and let my words float silence that was left behind.

“So please.”, I continued. “Please forgive me for what I said.”, I bowed again.

I couldn’t see it, since my eyes were pinned on the ground, but behind me Mei and Mike were so touched that they almost started to cry. Mike even took a pink tissue from his pocked and started to swipe it around his eyes.

Even if I would have noticed that, I wouldn’t have cared less. Because right there only one person was important.

And that person had stood up from the couch and stepped in front of me.

“You are stupid you know that?”, Shiina grinned wryly as she said that. Her cheeks were still wet from her tears and her eyes still red, despite that she seemed like the most cheeky and lively girl in the world.

“Of course, I forgive you, you stupid, but if you think you can get out of our bet just like that you are even more stupid than I thought!”, I couldn’t quite grasp what this woman was talking about.

“So, what you are saying is….?”, I gave her a carefully questioning glance.

She smiled and stepped forwards.

“I’m saying that I love you.”

Her soft lips pressed against mine.