"Just what was that?" Already, the confrontation was upon him from Shinkai.
"I didn't do anything." Kouji put up his hands to defend himself. "that was just the wind." It really was the intervention of God that gave him such a wonderful view.
"But I bet you really enjoyed it, right?" That still didn't keep the man from accusing him. "You must be some real pervert trying to get some lucky moments with the girls, aren't you?"
"Huh?" He was beginning to see a little what the problem here was. However, how should he respond? This guy was accusing him of being a bad person for wanting to see the ladies in rather… Interesting situation. So naturally it would be smart to deny it, but that wasn't entirely honest. Nor did Kouji consider being attracted to their appearances to be a bad thing at all.
"It's okay…" Yuma came over to back him up. While it was appreciated, her words could've been chosen a little more wisely. "He's already... Seen me in just... My… Underwear." That was indeed true, but the boy would've prefer their alone time in the bedroom be kept private.
"What!?" Naturally, this wasn't well-received by her caretaker. "What is the meaning of this? Does that mean you've already taken away mistress's flower?" An odd way of putting it, but at least the two teens understood the meaning.
"No, I haven't gone that far with anyone…" Kouji responded nervously. His sex life wasn't something that he would want to discuss so publicly. Especially not with some other man he hardly knew. "But look, I'm not going to let you scare me away."
"I would assume anyone wouldn't give up so easily in bedding the fair lady." Shinkai had more snide remarks to make. "Even if her parents wanted this relationship, I just do not believe you to be the best for her." He still made his protests on the matter known to them often.
"I doubt there's much I can do to convince you otherwise." He wanted to be accepted, but knew that it was unlikely he could do that with everyone they knew. Obviously they were going to run into others who disapproved the relationships. Though with the head servant, it was more specifically to do with Yuma than with him. From the looks of it, any boy would most likely get this treatment regardless of whether or not any other girls were in the picture.
"May I… Speak?" Yuma cut into their conversation. Given her quiet nature, it was easy for her to get left behind when people were talking, or in this case, arguing.
"Ah yes, apologies, my mistress." Shinkai bowed down in respect to his master. "I just lost my cool for a moment, so I can only beg that you understand where I'm coming."
"I… Do." She responded, to the surprise of both of them.
"You do?" They both replied at the same time.
"I know that… You take issue because… Of the harem." It was indeed the primary concern that Shinkai had. Most people would most likely say that it was practically impossible for someone in Kouji's position to treat every girl properly.
"It's just that… I feel like you should find a man that'll love you wholly." He explained his position, even if it was pretty obvious considering how he had been acting.
"Kouji… Feels the same way." She said, reminding the boy and telling the man about the conversation when she was in the bathroom. On that night when her parents wanted to ask Kouji about taking their young daughter's hand in marriage. "When I confessed... he told me... about the others." The young man even tearfully told her to try and not put herself in such a situation. It was then that she knew how deeply he cared for her feelings.
"I did." Kouji remembered the moment that was capped off with her kissing him. "Maybe we're being unfair to you, but it just feels like you're the type to get taken advantage of easily." She was rather slow about things. Not to mention that she was also the type to suffer silently for the benefit of others. If Kouji were a more immoral person, he could someone who could be making her suffer.
"I can't believe you were someone who would even suggest that." Shinkai was in disbelief over the revelation. For the most part, he had some suspicion that the boy was someone who was going to just use Yuma for his own personal satisfaction. After all, it was hard to ignore that she was growing into one quite beautiful woman that men would oogle at.
"Look, it's not easy to prove that I'm someone who truly loves Yuma." He said. "Even if you still don't trust me, I'm not going to give up. It's just that I hope you'll at least give us a shot to be alone."
"Perhaps you're right." Shinkai relented. "It's just so hard to see her grow up right before my eyes." Kouji could understand if he treated her like his own daughter.
"And I'm glad…" She said, gently touching the man's arm. "That you were there… To help me grow." He cried some tears over her pride in him being one of the people who raised her.
"I'll try my best." Finally, he allowed them to finally be a couple without interference. "But you better not do anything to make her cry."
"I have no plans of that." Though Kouji even doubted himself. The image of the pain he caused Himawari because of Yuma was still ingrained in his mind. Taking care of everyone had not and was not going to be easy.
"Hey, there you guys are." Todoro came up to them as they finished talking. "I got us a nice spot with Mikune." She only returned to help him with that because the woman realized how boring a garden was.
"Well, perhaps we should take this opportunity to leave our two lovebirds alone." It seemed that Shinkai was willing to give this a proper shot. Though despite the changes in attitude, it was Kouji who came up with the unexpected suggestion.
"Actually could we join you for some food?" He asked, turning over to Yuma with a silent request on the matter.
"I'd love to join…" She smiled and gave a nod."