No one expected that the situation would turn into this serious.
They knew that Haru was a bastard and a scumbag, but they didn't think that Umi would react so strongly toward him when she knew that he was dating Maki, Eli, and Nozomi at the same time.
Yes, everyone was in shock, but they didn't think too much about it since they could see that Maki, Eli, and Nozomi were happy and as their friends, all they could do was to support them.
But...
Looking at Umi, some of them realized that her feelings toward this bastard might be stronger than they had thought.
Everyone was silent and looked at Haru, hoping him able to handle this situation since they knew that the one that could handle this situation was him.
"Umi, thank you," Haru said without looking away from Umi's eyes.
"Huh?"
The moment those words fell, there was confusion in Umi's eyes.
"It's because of you that this school idol group can go on and because of you Honoka and Hanayo won't become fat because of all of the foods that they have eaten," Haru said.
"Hey!" 2x
Honoka and Hanayo really wanted to straggle Haru together, but they were held by both Kotori and Rin.
However, Umi didn't say anything and only stared at Haru in silence.
"You have always done your best, you have also been the one that disciplines everyone when everyone is lazy, and you have also written good lyrics for every Muse's song. Without you, Muse won't be complete and I am glad to know you," Haru said.
Umi frowned and asked, "What do you want to say?"
"What I want to say is that I am sorry that I will disappoint you again," Haru said without hesitation.
"......."
"In your eyes, what I did might be wrong, but I didn't regret my choice to date Maki, Eli, and Nozomi," Haru said.
The frown on Umi's face became tighter and she started to become emotional. She saw him wanting to say something, but she couldn't control her emotion and started her outburst.
"Do you mean that you don't repent to yourself that you have tricked the three of them to date you? Are you saying that you're happy that you have played them? You're saying that..."
"UMI!!!"
Maki couldn't handle it anymore and wanted to stop Umi but...
"Of course not! Don't look down on me!" Haru roared and there was anger on his face.
"......"
Everyone was in shock when they saw Haru who showed such an expression since in their minds, he had always been gentle toward them.
Umi was also shaken since these words were aimed toward her.
Haru realized what he had done and quickly apologized.
"I am sorry for raising my voice, but please don't look down on me, Umi." Haru took a deep breath to calm himself and said calmly, "I know that I might be a scumbag, but as a man, I have a responsibility."
"Responsibility?" Umi repeated the word while looking at Haru.
Haru nodded and said, "Maki, Eli, and Nozomi have decided to date me even though they know that they're not going to be the only ones and they know that I am a scumbag. As a man, I don't know what kind of determination they face when they have decided to date me, but I know that they have sacrificed a lot of things for me and I need to answer them.
"I know that you're disappointed in me and I can't change that fact for you nor will I regret myself for doing such an act since if I regret myself, then I will disappoint Maki, Eli, and Nozomi who have decided to date me."
Haru kept looking at Umi and this time, his expression was gentle since he knew how lucky he was that he could date the three of them together.
"Haru..." 3x
Maki, Eli, and Nozomi were moved by Haru's words.
"As a man, I have a responsibility, a responsibility to make them happy and that is what I will do from now on."
Haru let out a sigh and said, "I know that you hate me, but Muse can't afford to lose you so if it will make you happy and stay then I will gladly stop to become your producer as long as you stay in Muse."
"..."
Everyone was stunned for a moment before they shouted at the same time.
"WHAT...?!"
They were in shock and would have never expected that Haru would decide to stop being their producer, however...
"No, you can't!!!" 8x
Eight of them said at the same time since they didn't want to lose him.
Muse could become what they were today was also because of Haru who had helped them from the beginning until today.
"Alright, don't stop me." Haru waved his hand and said, "Your purpose to save the school has been achieved so even without me as your producer, the nine of you will be alright and I am sure that you'll do well on Love Live. I might stop becoming one, but I will support you no matter wh--"
*Slap!*
Haru was slapped right on his cheek very hard. It didn't hurt him, but he was dumbfounded, staring at Umi who had slapped him so suddenly.
Umi couldn't control her tears anymore, but she kept staring at him.
"Don't run away! You're a man, right? As our producer, you have an obligation to watch over us until the end of Love Live!"
"...So you're going to forgive me?" Haru asked.
"Yes, I will forgive you!" Umi didn't hesitate to say those words but then...
"Thank you!"
Haru was so happy that he hugged Umi.
"Wha--?!"
Umi's face turned red in an instant, and she became so flustered that she didn't know what to do.
"Thank you, I won't let you down."
After hearing those words, Umi wasn't sure why, but she started to relax and nodded.
"Um... don't let us down, alright?"
"Yes, don't worry."
"If you really become a scumbag that will throw away all of your women, then I will come to you and cut you down with my father's katana."
"...I will remember that."
Haru was speechless since Umi didn't make a joke.
"Ufufufu, I was joking." Umi chuckled when she saw his body was trembling.
"...That wasn't funny, though."
Umi and Haru felt that it was so relaxing when both of them were together and for a moment, they didn't do anything and both of them were hugging each other, enjoying each other's presence, but...
*Stare!*
Umi and Haru quickly realized that they were being stared at by eight girls at the same time.
Umi was stunned and she became flustered again.
Haru also quickly let go of Umi and caught him several times.
However, it seemed to be pretty ineffective since their stare started to become painful.
Umi twisted Haru's waist, telling him to do something since it was his fault to hug her so suddenly. She then also realized that she became unpure because she had been hugged by an opposite gender and she needed to ask for his responsibility!
'No, no! What am I thinking about?!'
Umi lowered her head, trying to hide her blushing face.
Haru grimaced, but he knew that he needed to solve this situation.
"Well, the matter is over, how about we talk about our holiday?"
"........"
The eight girls looked at each other before they gathered together.
"Do you think this scumbag will target Umi next?"
"There's a chance since the guy has no limit after all."
"He's a beast!"
"Bea... Beast?!"
Haru couldn't handle it anymore and said, "Can we stop talking about this matter?"
"NO!!!" 8x
"....."