Epilogue

June 30th. Sunday. On Maki Shuu’s official account on χ (Kai)—

I played the demo version of Mellow’s new work, White and Blue Linoleum.

Honestly, I’m impressed. In an era where quick, accessible localization games dominate smartphones, I believe doujin games should pursue that path to its fullest. Yet, this work lays a practical, accessible scenario as its foundation while delivering a profound, moving narrative that hits hard—a true “dual-wielding” masterpiece in the doujin game world. It’s simply stunning (and a little frustrating). I’ve only cleared one heroine in the demo, so I’m eagerly awaiting the full release.

White and Blue Linoleum, absolutely incredible!

—Such was the lengthy review posted.

In a custom-renovated 3LDK apartment, in one of its rooms,

“I never expected Kyo-kun to pull such a clever move. Negotiating a ‘reschedule’ with an external party to physically carve out ‘one week’? That’s proof of some sly cunning.”

As for me… I’m currently basking in the bliss of a lap pillow from Sakurako, who’s still in her school uniform, on the sofa.

“…Haha. I got a personal message… from Mahiro-san. She says she won’t forgive me for acting on my own. Wants to talk one-on-one next time. Chikage tried to stop me with some serious intensity, though.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it either. Mahiro-san has a severe shotacon complex. Kyo-kun, you’re probably right in the center of her strike zone.”

Huh…? I’m not a shota, you know.

“We got one over on Maki-san. Praise me, Kyo-kun.”

“You really did amazing.”

Even as she says this, I’m the one getting my hair gently stroked.

What’s more, Sakurako seems to know exactly how to hit my weak spots.

Her touch is so practiced… it feels so good, it’s almost troublesome.

“It’s all thanks to you, Kyo-kun. We managed to release both the physical and digital versions on the announced schedule. The demo’s getting great feedback too. Without your groundwork, we wouldn’t have pulled this off.”

“No… no matter what anyone says, it’s you who worked hard, Sakurako. You overcame yourself and nailed the best rewrite in just one week.”

“You’re too hard on yourself, Kyo-kun. You should take more pride in your achievements. But I love your humility too. Even Mahiro-san was shocked. She said, ‘I can’t believe there’s another fool besides me who’d barge in on an external rep.’ We got scolded for not keeping her in the loop.”

“…Is Mahiro-san, Chikage’s older sister, maybe a scary person?”

“If Chikage’s action-oriented nature is a ten, Mahiro-san’s a hundred. She’s not scary so much as she’s fearless.”

“That’s… kinda terrifying…”

Talking one-on-one with someone like that… well, it can’t be helped, I guess.

“Kyo-kun. Time’s short. Chikage and Tsu-chan were kind enough to give us this moment alone. It’s limited. Before they come back, we need to do what needs doing.”

“…Wh-What needs doing?”

“The continuation of what happened in the sports shed.”

“C-Continuation?”

“I desire the true ending route where Kyo-kun becomes my true master.”

It seems I can’t escape my fate of becoming her master.

“…Before that, there’s one thing. I need to apologize to you, Sakurako.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Kyo-kun.”

“…No, when you opened up about your painful past… I brushed it off and left things vague. It’s been eating at me. I’m sorry.”

“That was just me fishing for sympathy.”

“Really…?”

“I’m sorry… It’s still painful. I’ll be more honest.”

“No, you don’t have to force yourself… I just wanted to make sure that, um, by touching you… I wouldn’t bring back those bad memories.”

“On the contrary, I want to overcome my past with you, Kyo-kun. I’m not saying I want you to overwrite me anymore. I won’t run away. With you, I can face any past.”

Sakurako really is strong… I need to be stronger too.

…To keep supporting her, always.

“If you become my master, my wounds will heal in no time.”

“Y-You’re really not budging on that master thing, huh?”

“Obviously. I have my own line I won’t cross.”

“…O-Okay… I’ll do my best to play the master.”

…Looks like my secret training wasn’t for nothing.

The ultimate technique of a kept man with a braid-level leash—Himo’s ACT 3 (named by Akari)—it’s time to shine.

I sit up and pull Sakurako into an embrace.

“Hey, Sakurako… I wish there were a salve for wounds of the heart.”

“Kyo-kun… I’m so happy. So happy I could cry. I’m blessed.”

Sakurako softly buries her face in my chest. I… I might cry too.

“But right now, I just want my reward.”

“…Yeah.”

I know I need to switch gears.

“Only you can do whatever you want with the strong me, Kyo-kun. Does that spark something?”

“…It’d be harder not to feel something.”

“Then don’t hold back. If you do, I’ll have to punish you.”

P-Punish? …Alright! I’ll become the ideal master Sakurako wants!

“B-But, hold on. I… I’m not sure I can do the whole ‘ordering’ thing well.”

“No problem. Just repeat after me.”

“R-Repeat, got it.”

“Yes. ‘You ditched the rewrite work, so you’re getting punished. Turn around. It’s time for your penalty.’ Repeat.”

“Uh, um… Y-You ditched the rewrite work, so you’re getting punished. T-Turn around… I-It’s time for your penalty.”

“Understood, Master.”

Sakurako spins around in front of me, sticking out her backside in a perfect pose.

A flawless crawl on all fours.

“‘It’s the spanking penalty.’ Repeat.”

“I-It’s… the spanking penalty.”

“Understood, Master. Please, spank me as you wish.”

Sakurako delicately lifts her skirt, flashing a glimpse of white panties.

Her perfectly rounded backside is oddly enticing.

S-Spank? …W-Wait, does she mean actually hitting her butt?

“S-Sakurako, this is, like… a bit too much, don’t you think?”

“A soft touch is fine. It’s just for show. An extension of roleplay.”

“Oh, r-right… Just for show, got it? Okay, then.”

I aim at Sakurako’s backside and hesitantly raise my hand.

(Gently… gently) …Man, this is quite the sight…

Just then—click—the living room door swings open.

…Oh my God. Chikage and Tsu-chan, perfectly timed, catch me in the act of (pretending to) spank Sakurako’s butt.

Chikage and Tsu-chan freeze, their faces blank with shock.

Sakurako stays perfectly still in her crawling pose.

“K-Kei… you’re into that kind of thing…?”

“Okei-han’s into some hardcore stuff… That’s intense…”

“N-No, it’s not like that!”

“Chikage. Tsu-chan. This is a form of affectionate communication.”

“Hmph… Well, I guess Sakurako’s making Kei do something weird, as usual…”

“Still, Okei-han going along with it is, like… I don’t even know anymore.”

“I ditched the rewrite work and caused trouble for Kyo-kun. This spanking is my penalty. You two came back a bit early.”

As Sakurako explains calmly, Chikage and Tsu-chan start trembling.

“Heh… Hey, Sakurako. Was Kei the only one you troubled? What about me and Tsu-chan? You caused a lot of people worry, you know? We haven’t even heard a proper ‘sorry’ yet.”

“Yeah, exactly! Do you know how worried Chikage and I were?”

Chikage and Tsu-chan close in on Sakurako step by step.

Even Sakurako seems to realize she’s in trouble and straightens up.

I retreat to the edge of the sofa, watching the scene unfold.

“I was too embarrassed to say it. Chikage. Tsu-chan. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“Nope, that won’t cut it. Tsu-chan and I were just talking about this.”

“Yeah, we were saying we gotta give Sakurako a piece of our minds. So…”

Chikage and Tsu-chan grab Sakurako by both arms.

“…Chikage, Tsu-chan. This is incomprehensible.”

“Heh… Kei, don’t just sit there—help out.”

“Okei-han, come on, switch to the offensive side for once. Hehe.”

Offensive side? Oh, right. Usually, I’m the one getting teased by the three of them, but today it’s me, Chikage, and Tsu-chan ganging up on Sakurako.

This is a fresh and kind of fun turn of events… but it’s gonna come back to haunt me.

“K-Kyo-kun… Requesting backup. Repel Chikage and Tsu-chan.”

“Kei? Sakurako’s the one who caused all the worry here.”

“Yup, let’s mess with Sakurako a bit, the three of us.”

“H-Hey, both of you, calm down. Sakurako’s already reflecting, so… let’s call it a day.”

“Kei?”

“Okei-han, don’t you wanna see Sakurako’s super cute reactions?”

“W-Well… honestly, yeah, I do.”

“Kyo-kun, betrayal is not allowed. You’re on my side.”

“Sorry, Sakurako… but today, I’m your master, so… um.”

“Then I have no choice. I’ll obey Kyo-kun.”

…She’s so obedient.

“But I won’t yield to Chikage and Tsu-chan. I’ll make you pay for this humiliation someday.”

“Oh, you’re gonna say that?”

“Forgot how you made Chikage and me kiss during that Queen’s Game?”

“That was just a game. Doesn’t count.”

Chikage and Tsu-chan pin Sakurako to the sofa, nibbling softly at her ears from both sides.

Sakurako’s shoulders twitch, and her eyes squeeze shut—she’s honestly adorable.

“…Kei.”

“…Okei-han.”

“…Kyo-kun.”

All three reach out and grab my arms at the same time.

And… I’m dragged onto the sofa with them.

Not only Chikage and Tsu-chan, but even Sakurako, who’s on the receiving end, looks oddly happy—I’m sure I’m not imagining it. If a wounded heart can be healed by the number of smiles, if it can be filled with happiness, I’d do anything for those smiles.

June is almost over, and the real summer is about to begin.

My sweet, blissful life as a kept man has only just started.

Afterword

It’s been a while. This is Akatsuki Kiki, in charge of the novel.

Thanks to all of you, we were able to release Volume 2. This is entirely due to everyone who picked up this book. Thank you so much.

Following Volume 1, how did you like the tightrope walk between fantasy and rom-com? I hope you enjoyed it.

I wrote with the hope that the personalities of Chikage, Tsu-chan, and Sakurako shine through in their little lines. For instance, Chikage’s the type to get annoyed if a reply takes twenty minutes, so if Kei ever ignores her on SNS—read or unread—she’d probably bombard him with “pay attention to me” messages.

That goes for Chikage, Tsu-chan, and Sakurako alike.

When super-popular girls at school push and push, then pull back at just the right moment, most guys would end up chasing them instead…

Kei’s strength lies in his family-first mindset, so no matter what romantic tactics they use, he doesn’t easily fall into a love-struck daze.

The three of them understand this, which might be why they occasionally explode with frustration when Kei doesn’t act the way they want.

Since almost all the characters have zero romantic experience, they don’t even know how to play the game of love. That’s what makes this story unique, I think.

Well, you know, as I wrote in Volume 1’s afterword, the part about being a kept man for three beauties at 5,000 yen an hour is pure fantasy, so don’t sweat the details—just dive in and enjoy the ride.

By the way, do you all play games?

I’m a huge fan of a certain zombie game, a cornerstone of horror games. I’ve played Numbers 4 and 8 so much I could clear them without a map.

Recently, I started replaying 8 from the beginning, trudging through the early stages, and hit a moment where I was like, “Yup… that’s how it goes.”

For those who’ve played it, you’ll get what I mean—the three mid-boss sisters in 8… aren’t they just super cute? (Appearance aside.)

And so, exposing my quirks like that…

Acknowledgments.

To my editor, Hayashi-san: Thank you for all the ideas this time too. They were a huge help. To the illustrator, Oryou-sama: Thank you for the beautiful, adorable illustrations, continuing from Volume 1. To everyone involved in publishing this work: Thank you so much.

And above all, my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who picked up this book.

Volume 2’s content is completely new, not in the web version, so I hope those who’ve read both found it fresh.

With that, I hope this work lingers in a corner of your heart for a long time.

Believing we’ll get to release Volume 3, I’ll set my pen down here for now.

2024 is almost over, but I wish you and your loved ones a fun and healthy time.

Akatsuki Takaka