Bzzzz...
A bothersome notification popped up on my Apple Watch. Ugh, it just had to interrupt at the best part... I glanced at the screen without much thought.
[Ovulation detected]
What the hell?!
I screamed internally, resisting the urge to shout out loud. The timing couldn't be worse. But still, the 24 hours before and after ovulation are prime time for conception. If things went well tonight... maybe?
Wait, would he even want to?
Sure, he hugged me earlier, but just because he doesn't seem put off by my height doesn't mean he's actually attracted to me. Maybe he was just being polite.
I think he reacted a little, but maybe I was imagining it? It might not have been anything romantic. For all I know, the hug was just a casual gesture, like an employee benefit or something.
Besides, hooking up on the same day we met? What is this, some adult video, erotic manga, or smut novel?
Poke.
"Ahhh!!"
Lost in my spiraling thoughts, I was caught off guard when someone suddenly poked me from behind. I turned around hesitantly... and saw Yata Grandma grinning smugly.
(Leave it to me.)
She gave me a silent thumbs-up.
Wait. What is she planning?!
I greeted him with a polite "Thank you for calling on me," but it didn't seem to register. It looked like he hadn't specifically chosen me—how disappointing.
I already knew where this was going. Another interview, another rejection. At this point, I was used to it.
Yata Grandma probably got ahead of herself and summoned me without asking, huh?
Being hugged was a first, but this was probably just a consolation prize.
I mentally braced myself for the worst, trying to lower my expectations. That hug alone had sent my spirits soaring to 1,000 meters in the sky. If I fell from here, I'd shatter completely.
Maybe Yata Grandma sensed my sinking mood because she spoke up.
No, really, don't force yourself on my behalf.
I appreciate the thought, but this is up to him. There's no point in meddling—
"As a member of the harem..."
Well, yeah, but demanding... that… is a pretty rare expectation. That's pushing it—
"So, considering all that—do you see her as within your preferences or not?"
W-Wait! Isn't that kind of phrasing, like, super inappropriate? If someone calls it harassment, you could be socially executed, you know?!
I held my breath, watching how things unfolded.
"If we're talking in those terms, then yes, she's within my preferences."
...Huh?
I blinked in disbelief at the unexpected response.
I'm... acceptable?! Seriously?!
"T-Thank you very much! I may be inexperienced, but please take care of me!"
"Yes, please take care of me as well."
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
Does this mean… I got the job?! That was basically a proposal, right?!
"OHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Cheers and applause erupted around us.
The onlookers—my half-sisters and the others—surrounded me in a celebratory mood.
Guess I won't need to report this, huh? Almost everyone involved is already here.
Then, as if it were the natural next step, Misago retrieved the marriage registration form that Hisui had filled out earlier and handed it to me with a smile.
Wait—hold on—
I mean, sure, that was basically a proposal, but are we really just going ahead with it like this?!
"Just sign it already! Congrats! You did it!"
They hyped me up.
This is all happening way too fast!
But with the momentum of everyone's excitement pushing me forward, I gave up resisting.
Fine! I'm going with the flow!
I started filling in the necessary details.
"Isn't this a bit fast?"
A little distance away, Hisui and Yata Auntie were having a conversation.
They weren't far, so I could more or less hear.
They were talking about marriage, expectations of men, social norms…
Wait, are we the only two wives so far? That seems… low.
Shouldn't there be more candidates? Like, for example, that scheming tactician pretending to be a serious and responsible woman over there?
Realistically, he should have at least 10 or 20 wives.
From a population standpoint, 100 would be ideal.
Wait, is Yata Grandma planning to get him to marry everyone eventually? Well, if she's handling it, I guess that's fine...
If she's pulling the strings, things will probably work out.
"Will you marry me?"
At Hisui's sudden proposal, all eyes snapped toward him.
"Why are you proposing to an old woman?!"
Yata Grandma turned bright red and stammered out excuses. She loved meddling in other people's romances, but apparently, she never expected to be on the receiving end.
"Because that's exactly what I want!"
Oof, direct hit!
Now they're both blushing.
Damn, that's cute.
"Idiot."
Yata Grandma muttered before throwing her arms around him.
And just like that, it was settled.
So that makes Yata Grandma the third wife.
Then that means Tsugumi should be next, right?
"He's more interested in her, huh?"
I mumbled without thinking.
"Well, everything's going according to her plan."
Misago replied, and yeah, that made sense.
So basically, Yata Grandma is handling all the matchmaking from here. That's actually kind of reassuring.
By the way, does this mean I can reserve Hisui for tonight?
Author's note :
Ovulation tracking notifications are a real feature in smartwatches, including that Apple Watch. The accuracy has even improved in recent years.
Hachikuma has a light menstrual cycle, so she doesn't take birth control pills. As a bodyguard, she needs to stay in tune with her physical condition, so she tracks her cycle even when it's not immediately relevant.
...I know detailing this kind of thing might make me seem like a creepy author, but oh well. I already wrote it, so it stays.
Yata is the type to be ridiculously doting towards family and allies.
She's ruthless to her enemies, but that happens off-screen.
Grandmothers tend to be extremely sweet to their grandchildren, right? That's the idea here.
This novel has been lovingly translated by https://www.patreon.com/Jenuinez_translation