Epilogue

After the sensational incident caused by Rokujou.

The police questioning and all the chaos had finally settled, and a few days had passed.

Just when I thought things were finally getting back to normal, I found myself swarmed and smothered by three beautiful girls.

“H-Hey, guys… It’s getting kinda hard to breathe!”

“Kei, never… ever do something that dangerous again, okay?”

“Yeah, seriously! Charging at a guy with a knife? That’s, like, crazy risky!”

“We’re grateful, Kei-kun. But please, no more reckless stunts from now on.”

In the custom-renovated 3LDK apartment, in the familiar living room, I was plopped onto the usual sofa, surrounded by the three of them.

“If you’re gonna say that, didn’t you guys do something dangerous too? You were ready to face Rokujou head-on to keep him from running into me since you couldn’t reach me, right?”

Even though he had a knife.

“About that… sorry.”

“Ugh, my bad.”

“We’re reflecting on it.”

Ever since then, the three of them have been sticking to me like glue.

At school, after school, even on weekends. Maybe because of that, I’ve noticed people’s gazes toward me have shifted a bit compared to before.

Right after the incident, Chikage, Tsu-chan, and Sakurako were a little down, but now they’ve bounced back completely, and that’s what makes me happiest. Being together like this, all lively and cheerful, makes it feel real that we’ve overcome that incident.

“I’m sorry too. For worrying you guys.”

Hearing those words, Chikage, Tsu-chan, and Sakurako hugged me even tighter.

“By the way… could you guys maybe let go soon…?”

“Why?”

“Rea-son?”

“Just a bit longer.”

“B-But, like… I can feel… all sorts of things pressing against me…”

“That’s the point, Kei. How long are you gonna keep playing dumb?”

“I get that Okei-han’s all about work over romance, but we’re making it this obvious, so c’mon, get a clue already!”

“Or rather, you’ve already noticed, haven’t you?”

“Ugh…”

Chikage, Tsu-chan, and Sakurako, now completely open about their feelings, are, in a way, unstoppable.

Telling someone you like them when you do—it’s natural and perfectly healthy, I think.

“I… I don’t know what to do about it either…”

Yeah, the only unhealthy one here is me.

“This might take a while, but will you hear me out?”

I spilled everything I’d been bottling up inside.

The parting with Mom, gone in just one second, without even a chance to say a word.

How the shock of it made Dad quit his job. He’s working at a new company now, but his salary’s much lower than it used to be.

How Akari, despite being only in her second year of middle school, is so mature and declared she’d work to support the family after high school. How I want to make sure my little sister can go to college… my personal circumstances.

How I promised Mom in front of her memorial portrait to protect our family and kept working part-time jobs to fulfill that promise.

How that’s why romance always takes a backseat.

And how I’m struggling with how to face the affection from these three.

I laid it all bare, holding nothing back.

All three of them were great listeners, helping me sort through my feelings.

I can’t find words other than gratitude.

After I finished talking, Sakurako spoke up.

“I understand your situation. You’re carrying a lot more than we imagined, Kei-kun.”

“I’m barely managing to carry it all, though…”

“Then I think we need to find a compromise.”

“A compromise?”

“I’ve analyzed your position, Kei-kun. This might sound a bit harsh, but you’re probably what people would call a ‘kept man.’”

“…A k-kept man?”

“Yes. I want to take care of you, Kei-kun. I’m pretty sure Chikage and Tsukasa feel the same.”

“Yeah. I’d do anything for Kei. Really. Anything…”

“Me too, like… what’s the word? I wanna totally dote on Okei-han or something?”

“No, but… a kept man? How’s that supposed to feel for you guys? Shouldn’t a guy be the one working?”

“Thinking a kept man doesn’t work is a huge misconception. In fact, many are highly capable. They always put their ‘employer’ first, anticipating what would make them happy and acting on it. In that sense, they’re no different from a sharp businessman.”

W-Wow.

Comparing a kept man to a sharp businessman—that’s some wild perspective.

“If I… become your kept man, how’s that different from now?”

“You said your family situation makes it hard to dive into romance, Kei-kun. This would lower that barrier a bit. While being our kept man, you’d also be our ‘special’ person.”

“…So, in other words?”

“We want you to fulfill our requests as much as you can. If you’re a kept man, that’s the least you should do. Of course, we’ll support you too, Kei-kun.”

So, instead of rejecting things because of my circumstances, I’d accept them case by case.

If that’s what they want, it’s a godsend for me. Honestly, I’m thrilled, but…

“Starting today, we expect you to serve us as a three-braid-level kept man.”

“Three-braid?”

“Hehe, like a three-star rating? Perfect title for you, Kei. Congrats!”

“Well, I mean… I’m happy about the title, but…”

“The term ‘kept man’ really does come from ‘string.’ If you braid three strings, you get a three-braid. A bond that can never be severed.”

“Oh, that’s good! …We’ll make sure it never unravels, and we’ll match Kei’s feelings, okay?”

“Pfft, that’s hilarious! So Okei-han’s our kept man for life, huh?”

F-For life?

It feels like they’ve completely boxed me in, but maybe this is a good opportunity.

If they’re going this far for me, I should probably make up my mind.

Looking into their eyes, I gave a firm nod.

“I’ll do my absolute best. I’m not perfect, but please take care of me.”

“Then, to celebrate Kei’s new kept-man status, should we give him that?”

“That’s a reward for Kei-kun’s hard work, not related to the celebration.”

“Eh, whatever, right? Let’s just give it to him.”

What’s “that”? While I tilted my head, the three exchanged silent glances, and Chikage stepped forward to fetch something. She came back with a manila envelope.

“Kei, great job.”

“Okei-han, good work!”

“Kei-kun, well done.”

All three said in unison.

“What’s this?”

“Just open it already!”

The manila envelope Chikage handed me was surprisingly heavy, and inside—whoa, whoa, whoa…!

It was filled with serious cash. I’ve never seen a banded stack of bills before.

“Hehe, what’s wrong? You’re frozen.”

Chikage teased with a playful tone.

…Well, yeah, I’m frozen. Even if I knew the job paid 5,000 yen an hour, seeing an actual stack of cash like this makes shock outweigh joy…

“And with this, you’re officially our kept man. Congratulations.”

“Congrats! Wanna seal it with a kiss or something?”

“Nice idea. Let’s steal Kei’s first kiss. Oh, you’re not getting away now.”

Pinned to the sofa by the three of them, I was practically crucified.

“…H-Hey, can we maybe not do this today? Kissing right after getting paid feels… like I’m kissing for money or something, and I don’t like that…”

“““Now you’re worried about that?”””

Oof, they said it in perfect harmony.

“Money is payment. Kissing is part of the job. It’s a kept man’s duty.”

“If we don’t do this, you won’t make a move on us, Kei. Honestly, it’s like we’ve finally gotten to this point.”

“Exactly! Like finally beating the last boss in a brutal game?”

(Ughhh…)

The three of them were pushing for a kiss.

(Oh, come on…!)

“J-Just… one time. No work stuff.”

“““Huh?”””

When I said that, all three blinked in surprise.

“I don’t want your first kisses to be about work… or money or anything like that.”

I laid out my thoughts clearly.

Their reactions were as varied as they were.

“Kei… I love you. Love. I adore you. Ugh, I just… I’m in love.”

“Heh heh, Okei-han, that’s hilarious. That’s basically saying you’re into us, right?”

“That’s such a Kei-kun answer.”

Oh man, I might’ve said something weird again. But I’m done overthinking what comes next and stressing out. I decided to live without regrets.

“So, who gets to kiss Kei first?”

“Hmm, didn’t think that far.”

“If we all kiss him at the same time, we all get to be Kei-kun’s first kiss. I’m fine with that.”

“Oh, that’s awesome! Sakurako, you’re a genius, aren’t you?”

“Yup. Okay, then… ready, set, go?”

No, no, no, wait, I didn’t see that coming!

My inner pleas went unheard as the three lined up in front of me. After exchanging glances, they puckered their lips and leaned in on cue.

Faced with the lips of three beautiful girls closing in, I hesitated but met them with my own…

“Mmm… this feels kinda nice. Wait, my lips are touching Tsukasa’s and Sakurako’s too?”

“Eh, it’s fine, right? It’s so us… Though, this is kinda embarrassing.”

“After this, no regular kiss will faze us. But it’s, like, ticklish or something.”

“Yeah, I’m… super excited right now.”

I’m probably the most excited… Kissing the “three most beautiful girls at school,” who I’ve admired since the entrance ceremony, makes my whole body feel like it’s boiling.

My head’s been spinning, like I’ve got a fever or something.

Chu… chu… chuu…

Sweet. Hot. Soft. Breaths. Sounds. Wet sounds. Nice scent. Girls’ lips. Springy. Breathing. Three different reactions. Flavors. Saliva. Heartbeats. My brain cells are melting. Dizzy. Lost in the moment. Flushing. Happiness. First time. Feels good. Tingling. Dreamlike. Chuu. Squishy. Oh. This might be too much.

Pssshhhhhhh!

“K-Kei! You okay!?”

“Okei-han, pull it together!”

“You two, stop the bleeding for now.”

Right before I passed out, I saw my nose gushing blood like a manga scene and the worried faces of the three girls.

***

—It turned into quite the long “flashback,” but that’s roughly how I ended up becoming their kept man.

After overcoming the trial period, I didn’t get fired and successfully secured a formal contract, officially hired as their kept man.

Life as a kept man is going smoothly… or rather, it’s so intense it’s driving me half-crazy.

Chikage’s sweet, feverish breaths that send shivers from my left ear to my spine.

Tsu-chan wrapping her silky-smooth arms around me from behind.

And Sakurako’s plump, melon-like assets pressing against my right arm.

“Hey, Kei. How far should we go today? Something even wilder than yesterday?”

“Heh heh, how ’bout a bath together? All bubbly and slippery, guhehe!”

“That’s no different from an adult establishment. We should go even further.”

…F-Further?

Further!?

“What more could you possibly have in mind!?”

My pathetic voice echoed through the familiar 3LDK apartment.

Kyosaka Kei. Sixteen years old.

Kept man for the three most beautiful girls at school.