A while later, Haru and Sora had finished their passionate tussle. They had moved into the sofa in the living room. Haru was resting his body there, while Sora was straddling Haru's laps and resting her bosom on Haru's chest, her head resting on the crook of Haru's neck. Simultaneously, Sora was wrapping her arms around Haru's waist, and vice-versa. They stayed like that, immersing in the comfortable silence.
Sora shifted her body all of a sudden. She raised her head and looked at Haru's eyes, her expression was intense. In return, Haru questioningly raised his brow and silently asked Sora with his gaze, which was as if to say, "what's your problem?"
"Don't think that I will forget my previous question," Sora curtly stated.
Haru unconsciously made a wry smile. He soon wiped out his smile and responded, "So, what do you want?"
"Your answer!"
"About what?"
"Don't act ignorant! You know what I meant!"
Haru wryly smiled again. He couldn't help it. Sora was being stubborn, and when she had set her mind at something, it was almost impossible to change her decision.
"Now, talk."
Haru released a sigh out of resignation after listening to Sora's order. Sora's expression was grim as if she wouldn't accept anything but his real answer.
"It's complicated."
"Then, explain."
"It is long."
"We have time."
Haru unconsciously released another resigned sigh. He spent a short time to prepare his words before beginning his explanation.
"To be honest, I am not ready."
Sora gave Haru a scathing look and shot back.
"I don't believe such bullshit."
Haru laughed dryly before speaking back. "Let me finish talking first."
Sora shut her mouth and waited for Haru to go on.
After a short time, Haru opened his mouth. "Personally, I want to do it with you. This is my true feeling."
Sora's eyes lit up when she heard that. But, she stopped herself from commenting because she felt like Haru wasn't finished with his talk.
"However, I am not ready because of the repercussion. Our family situation is still unstable. It has not been long since our parents' funeral. And our situation, we are like standing on thin ice that can crumble anytime, breaking out the fragile harmony and balance between the three of us."
Sora unconsciously made a complicated expression after hearing Haru's honest thought that he'd voiced out. She was aware that they were orphans without the support of adults. It was a miracle that they weren't taken away by their relatives, getting separated because they must live with different families. They couldn't help but feel grateful for their current legal guardian because she had helped them to live together. Without their guardian's assistance, they wouldn't be here, living together in the same apartment.
Regarding their guardian, it was a topic for another time.
Putting all digressions aside, Haru continued his thought, "I don't want our little family to break out. I really care and love you two. I don't want us to be separated, and I hope to live together with you two forever."
The complicated expression on Sora's face deepened. In fact, her face had distorted in disbelief, distress, confusion, and trepidation.
"Haru," Sora called him in a peevish tone. In return, Haru looked at her and waited for her next words.
"You," Sora said, "When you said you care and love us, are you…" she trailed off as if she was unable to finish her sentence.
Haru deeply looked into Sora's uncertain eyes and gave her a nod. "Yes," he said. "I love both you and Suzuka. Not as a brother but as a man."
Sora was stunned. Then, her face contorted in frustration and anger. She released her hands from Haru's waist, grabbed his right shoulder with her left hand, and raised her right hand.
When Haru saw that, he also released one of his hands while keeping his other hand around Sora's waist. He then stopped Sora's hand from slapping his face.
Even though Sora saw her attempt to slap Haru had failed, she had yet to give up. She needed to vent out her boiling feelings and decided to bite Haru's unprotected shoulder.
This time, Haru couldn't stop Sora. He flinched and released a loud, "Ouch!"
Haru was pained by Sora's bite and struggled to stop her. Thankfully, he succeeded in the end.
After pushing Sora from his shoulder, Haru was stunned. He saw Sora was crying silently. Her tears were falling down on her cheeks, dropping down from her chin.
"Haru, *Sob!* You selfish jerk! Stupid! Asshole! *Sob!*—*Sob!*—!" Sora sobbed in front of Haru. In return, Haru unconsciously formed a pained expression.
Haru felt guilty and sick from making Sora cry like that. He was aware that it happened because of the assimilation and the burgeoning love he had quickly developed for Sora.
Haru wanted to make Sora happy. When he saw her sad and crying like that, he had a great urge to stop her from feeling sad. However, he was at a loss. He didn't know what to do.
In the end, Haru followed his gut and put Sora's head on his chest, hugging her tightly. He used his free hand, which previously stopped Sora's slap, to rub her back.
"I'm sorry. I know that I'm a selfish jerk and a stupid asshole. However, I can't help it. I love you two. I can't choose one of you two because it will break me. But, believe me. My love for you is genuine. I promise that I will make you happy in the future," Haru apologized and whispered to Sora's ear.
"Can you pick one between us? *Sob!* I don't want to share you with another girl! I want to have you for myself! *Sob!*—*Sob!*…"
Haru listened to Sora's muffled words while trying to calm her. He then responded, "Sorry. I can't choose. It's either I treat you both as my lovers, or we stay as siblings. I can't pick one of you two. Sorry, really sorry."
"Uuu… You dummy! *Sob!*—*Sob!* Selfish jerk! Asshole!"
Haru silently accepted Sora's verbal abuse. He felt like he deserved that much. Well, perhaps more. But, his pride and self-respect wouldn't allow someone to harm him. Hence, he had stopped Sora's attempt to slap him previously.
For a while, Haru waited for Sora to stop crying. After she stopped crying, Sora fidgeted in his embrace.
"Can you release me, please?"
Haru heard Sora's muffled plea. He contemplated his answer for a short time before coming to a decision; he released her from his hug.
After Sora pulled her body back, Haru saw her tear-stained face. He then cleaned her face in silence. In return, Sora let him do it while looking at his face with red eyes; her expression was complicated.
"Sorry," Haru apologized again.
"I need time to think," Sora said and tried to leave Haru's lap. When he still held her in place with his hand, Sora added, "Alone."
Although Haru felt unwilling, he still moved his hand and let Sora be free. Then, he saw her leave his laps and trudged away. When he saw her slumping shoulders and small back, he wanted to stop and hug her but endured that great urge; he let her leave for her bedroom.
Haru became alone in the living room. He rubbed his face with his hands and quietly muttered, "Shit! Love is complicated. What bullshit!"
***
A couple of hours later, Haru was in his bedroom. He had moved there after calming his chaotic mind. He then threw himself into writing his novel, trying to distract his mind from what had happened between him and Sora.
Putting Haru's complicated relationship aside, Haru had chosen some novels in his past life to write in this world. The ones he'd picked were 'Sword Art Online,' 'God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!' which was also known as 'Konosuba,' and 'Burning-Eyed Shana.'
Haru had written the general plot and story progression within an hour after returning to his bedroom. Of course, he changed some parts to suit his fancy, though he didn't change too much.
For example, Haru made the main character of SAO into a Harem Protagonist. In his past life, he felt that it was such a shame that SAO didn't become a harem story with many interesting and lovely heroines around the main character.
Then, with 'Konosuba,' he made the male lead ending with a harem. The harem consists of the masochistic female knight, the explosive loli magician, and other fascinating female characters, except for the useless goddess.
For 'Burning-Eyed Shana,' Haru also made the male lead end up with a harem. The harem consists of the main heroine, the maid of the main heroine, the lover of the male lead's predecessor, and the male lead's friend who had a crush on him.
"Now, it's time to start writing the script. What should I write first?" Haru wondered loudly. After a short time passed, he decided to write 'Sword Art Online' first.
About his plan for 'Sword Art Online,' Haru wanted to write the first Arc—Aincrad Arc—following the Progressive version of the series in his past life. With that, he began typing on his laptop.