In the end, this farce was finally resolved with Captain's explanation, and Ragna somewhat began to believe it.
"So, Captain really consented to this?"
Ragna still looked skeptical, "Captain, you're not being threatened or anything, right? Like Himeko withholding your salary or having some dirt on you?"
"How is that possible!"
Himeko frowned, "He's already lost all shame, what dirt could there possibly be?"
Well, there was something, but Himeko still needed it, so it couldn't be used as leverage.
Speaking of which, why did her squad leader have so little faith in her?
"There's no blackmail involved."
Captain Jun'an said, "We just developed mutual feelings and got together, that's all."
Ragna became even more confused, "But aren't you two in an adoptive mother-son relationship?"
She thought she and Himeko weren't even in the same league.
"Oh, that thing."
Himeko shrugged, responding somewhat awkwardly, "That was just for show to outsiders. Though Theresa and I are nominally taking care of the Captain, in reality, he's the one taking care of all our daily needs."
As everyone knew, Himeko without supervision was a money pit, and Theresa, unable to break free from Otto, was still basically a child. The fact that these two combined could manage St. Freya Academy and the Far East Branch was already quite impressive, let alone taking care of themselves.
Therefore, Jun'an, being the only one among the three with actual life experience, had no choice but to cook for both of them.
Jun'an nodded, "They just gave me a backing in name only. We never actually signed any adoption papers."
Though Himeko and Theresa were nominally his adoptive mothers, it was just to provide Jun'an with some protection to help his career progress more smoothly.
After all, the position of Hyperion Captain wasn't some minor role. In the original timeline, Himeko only became captain after reaching the rank of Major, and that was after climbing up through the Assault Squad, a unit with an extremely high mortality rate. Jun'an had done it in less than two years.
But because Jun'an knew the plot in advance, earning merits and promotions was quite easy. Their status as adoptive mothers didn't actually matter much, so in reality, Jun'an, Himeko, and Theresa were more like childhood friends.
Jun'an continued, "Since they usually don't maintain any adult dignity, the only time Himeko acts with adult authority is when she's teasing me, like just now."
Though hearing the couple's suggestive banter made her blush, Ragna was nearly thirty after all, not some pure maiden. She wouldn't overreact to a couple's flirting.
Besides, she just happened to walk in on their intimate moment. Though it was quite shocking, whoever felt awkward first would lose.
"I... I see,"
Ragna tried to maintain composure as she said, "Well, I won't disturb your newlywed life then. I'll take my leave."
Ragna wasn't lacking in emotional intelligence; she'd been feeling like a third wheel since earlier.
"Eh?! You're leaving?" Himeko seemed surprised.
"Why would I stick around for your newlywed life?" Ragna had no intention of being a lightbulb.
"Oh, I thought you might try to use this to blackmail me or something."
Himeko breathed a sigh of relief. People tend to judge others by their own standards.
When she had discovered the Captain's affair with Theresa, she had used it to extort several "tributes" from him. She had been ready to sell out the Captain completely.
"Why would I do something like that?"
Ragna sighed helplessly but still bid farewell to the couple, "Anyway, congratulations on your marriage, but remember to lock the door next time. I'll go find some alcohol to drink."
With that, Ragna took her leave.
"So what did she come here for anyway?"
Himeko was somewhat confused. She had been trying to experience the joy of being the aggressive one, but couldn't even connect to Elysia's livestream. Her halfway-experienced pleasure had been interrupted.
"Probably came to hang out with you. Maybe her vacation happened to coincide with yours?"
Jun'an tightened his belt to prevent Himeko from starting again. Ever since getting their marriage certificate, she had been in a state of ambiguous excitement.
Her limited rationality only extended to not dragging Jun'an into a public restroom to do it.
And now that Ragna, who had served as Himeko's voice of reason, had left, Jun'an had no doubt that if he remained disheveled, Himeko would continue what they were doing earlier.
If Elysia's stream got banned because of this, Jun'an couldn't afford to compensate her – she was a major streamer now, after all.
"Alright, let's go home. Today's date ends here!"
Jun'an plopped down on the sofa. Theresa had borrowed Himeko's office for remote work, so she wasn't home.
"Getting home just to lie around playing games, you weren't like this before."
Seeing Jun'an take out his phone to continue watching Elysia's stream, Himeko immediately leaned in close, "You really aren't afraid I'll get jealous and take you again?"
Ragna wasn't here anymore, after all.
Feeling Himeko's soft body pressing against him, Jun'an asked without hesitation, "It's just following a streamer. Want to watch together?"
"...Fine."
Himeko finally resigned herself to hugging her husband while watching his favorite streamer perform.
"By the way, what makes you like Elysia so much, Captain?"
"Because she's genuine."
"I'm genuine too."
"It's different. I prefer passive ones."
Or rather, most people from their homeland had this preference – everyone likes a nice girl who approaches you actively, has almost no ill intentions, doesn't do stupid things, and holds noble principles.
Himeko retorted, "Haven't you been passive enough?"
"If I could beat you in a fight, would I be the one lying down?"
Jun'an's hand reached for Himeko's thigh, which still felt warm and moist.
Himeko thought Jun'an was going for another round, but realizing he was still in cooldown, she understood he was just playing around. She simply put her leg on his lap to make it more convenient.
"Well, we'll see when you become a Fusion Warrior."
Though she couldn't experience growing up together with him, regrets were regrets. This was the Captain's business; he could decide for himself.
Moreover, the Captain only lacked recovery speed and stamina reserves, not single-instance performance. Himeko had no complaints in that department.
"Say, do you really like her that much?"
"That's the second time you've asked."
"But your hand hasn't stopped sending gifts."
"What's wrong with spending a few years' salary on my favorite virtual pet? Last time I didn't even use it all before dying."
After all, Jun'an had several large suitcases of money that Himeko had deposited in the bank. It was enough for him to splurge for quite a while, and if it ran out, he could always rely on his spouse's income.
"Even with money, you shouldn't waste it like this."
Jun'an kept sending gifts while fondling her thigh. It was clear he really liked the streamer.
"The person in first place just has one more gift than me. I can't accept that."
"The one in first place is Eden."
"...Never mind then."
Chapter End