Chapter 1023

"Before, playing Old Maid was about making someone take the Old Maid, but now playing Old Maid is about keeping the Old Maid in your hand until the end."

"I feel this game shouldn't be called Old Maid, it should be renamed Draw the Ace — the person left with the last Joker becomes the King."

"I feel the same."

Erina nodded in agreement with Hisako's words, then looked at Broly: "Then, King of this round, what question do you want to ask us?"

The girls of varying appearances all looked at Broly in unison, and Arato Hisako even gave a preemptive warning.

"Let's get this straight: if your question is too excessive, I can't guarantee I'll answer, and even if I have to accept punishment afterwards, same thing — if it's excessive, it doesn't count!"

"Mhm, okay, my question absolutely won't be excessive."

Broly nodded, acknowledging the girl's words, scanned the circle, and said: "My question is very simple — how do each of you feel about me?"

"?"

This question made all six girls' expressions turn somewhat stunned.

【This straightforward?】

Arato Hisako only felt Broly's straight ball was blazing fast, a rarity even for harem manga protagonists.

"What kind of question is this?"

Nakiri Erina furrowed her brows, not expecting Broly to ask others how they felt about him.

"Ah, Broly, you're quite special, when I'm with you I feel very happy."

Mito Ikumi said with a red face.

"Komekko, how about you?"

Broly looked at Tadokoro Megumi.

"Broly-san, you're very good, you always take care of me."

The girl tied with a somewhat dangerous married-woman hairstyle also answered with a red little face.

"Yoshino and Sakaki Ryouko, what about you two?"

Broly absorbed the previous experience, this time also including the two who didn't belong to the Crystal Palace's acknowledged capture targets in the questioning.

"Pretty good, getting along with you is very comfortable."

Sakaki Ryouko thought carefully, then spoke the truth.

Back at Polar Star Dormitory, whenever there was something needing a hand, just calling Broly once, the other party often wouldn't refuse o

Usually chatting and discussing fermented cooking, although they didn't chat much, they could always chat well, and moreover, Broly's attention was mostly placed on Tadokoro Megumi, so for her as an outsider, he was instead a friend who wouldn't make her feel any burden when getting along.

"Broly-shishou, it would've been better if you weren't so double-standard when teaching me knife skills——"

Yoshino Yuuki also thought a bit, then voiced dissatisfaction with some of Broly's ways.

Same as being taught knife skills (swordsmanship), Broly's attitude toward her and toward Tadokoro Megumi were completely different.

A more vivid metaphor: the difference between home-raised livestock and livestock picked up off the roadside — one taught gently with patient guidance, the other taught with a stern face like a strict teacher.

"Although I know Broly-shishou, you have special feelings for Megumi, but I also want to be gently taught by you, okay!"

"Ah, Yoshino, what are you babbling about?!"

Yoshino Yuuki spoke without filter, her words making the girl next to her with some married-woman vibe rush over in a panic, stretching out her hand wanting to cover her

mouth.

"I'm not babbling, everyone at Polar Star Dormitory has eyes to see, Broly-shishou's attitude toward you and toward us has some subtle differences, he's more attentive to you, and closer!"

The pinned Yoshino Yuuki broke free of Tadokoro Megumi's hand covering her mouth, and directly shouted these words out.

The country girl's face flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a shrimp body gradually steamed cooked by water vapor.

And behind, Mito Ikumi who heard this, her slightly red face turned pale, but quickly she gritted her teeth, using a gaze for a rival, looking at the back of the girl who pinned Yoshino Yuuki.

【Broly is just nice to her, the two haven't even confirmed a relationship, even if they confirmed it, as long as they're not married, I still have a chance————】

In Mito Ikumi's mind, keywords like netori, unrequited love rivalry, and such surfaced.

"Hmm~"

Erina let out a sound from her nasal cavity, but deliberately dragged out the ending.

"Unexpectedly, you actually care quite a lot about classmate Tadokoro!"

"Mhm, I like her, so I care more."

Broly nodded, speaking his heart directly.

"Ugh————"

Erina only felt choked for a moment, wanting to say something but not knowing how to start.

After thinking, she said to Tadokoro Megumi: "Classmate Tadokoro, if you feel troubled, I can help you, for example transfer him away from Polar Star Dormitory."

Perhaps feeling her words were a bit abrupt, Nakiri Erina paused, then tried to patch it up for herself: "Mhm, as one of the Totsuki Ten, and the owner of the Sixth Cooking Building, Broly is my Sixth Cooking Building's person, so I won't allow him to cause trouble for a female classmate like you, thereby smearing my and the Sixth Cooking Building's reputation."

【Erina-sama, this righteous-sounding statement, even I on the side can feel your jealousy and vinegar intent!】

Arato Hisako thought in her heart, and at this moment she finally confirmed her own Big Sister had quite a degree of favorable feelings for Broly, otherwise she would never say such words.

"Ah, no need, Broly-san hasn't caused me any trouble!"

Hearing Erina's kindhearted words, Tadokoro Megumi who came back to her senses hurriedly waved her hands.

"It's fine, if there's trouble just say it boldly, helping classmates not be troubled in the academy is also what I as one of the Ten should do."

Erina grabbed Tadokoro Megumi's hand, looking like she especially wanted her to say she was troubled by Broly, that attitude so eager it was felt by Sakaki Ryouko and Yoshino Yuuki too.

【Megumi ah, the enemy you have to face seems more terrifying than imagined————】

The two good friends exchanged a glance, inwardly thinking, originally thought only needed to deal with Mito Ikumi, but now learned there's actually also a Totsuki Ten, and the Totsuki Headmaster Food King's own granddaughter, the famed God Tongue.

"Really no trouble————"

Tadokoro Megumi explained with a red face.

Erina still wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Broly: "Erina-sensei, you still haven't answered my question, how do you feel about me?"

Erina, interrupted, looked over with some displeasure; for some reason, she now found Broly thoroughly unpleasant to look at, and without thinking she said: "What else could it be, you're just a hateful guy, you deceived me during the enrollment exam, if I'd known your cooking foundation level was that poor, I absolutely would not have let you pass————"

"Erina-sama!"

Hisako's voice rang out, cutting off Erina's words; her face went pale, realizing she might have misspoken.

But her tsundere nature wouldn't let her back down; Nakiri Erina lifted her chin, turned her face away, hmphed, and said in a small voice: "I didn't say anything wrong."

【Tsundere may be a moe point in manga, but placed in reality, it's not a very likable trait————】

Arato Hisako sighed inwardly; what her ojousama just said, to a student aspiring to become a chef, was absolutely very hurtful; its effect was about the same as a mother telling a child 【If I'd known you'd turn out like this, I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place】.

"Erina-sensei————"

"What, you want to cut ties with me?"

【Cut ties then, a guy like you, I don't need you anyway————】

Erina thought, subconsciously pursing her lips, only feeling her nose turn a bit sour.

"Cut ties? How could that be, I want to thank you."

"?!"2

Erina looked over in surprise; Hisako was also somewhat dumbfounded.

"You're right, during the transfer exam back then, I did cut some corners on my end to pass your assessment, so I'm very grateful to you, for being willing to help me make up my cooking foundation after learning my true situation, thank you————"

"Hmph, you don't have to be like this, after all, you're someone I passed, if you were easily eliminated, I'd lose face too, this is for my own sake————"

Being thanked by Broly, Erina instead felt a bit uncomfortable.

As for Broly, regarding cooking, compared to making it, he actually prefers eating.

So, Erina's words just now actually didn't harm him in the slightest.

"Regardless of the reason, Erina-sensei, your careful guidance is real————"

There are quite a few tsundere wives in the Crystal Palace; Broly knows how to handle tsundere capture targets when he accidentally gets himself into a ride-the-tiger situation — in a nutshell: treat them seriously, don't be perfunctory, go along with them.

"Well, a guy who knows his foundation is weak and is willing to put in hard work to make up the basics, I still appreciate that somewhat."

Erina changed her tune.

"Erina-sensei————"

"Hm?"

"I like you too."

"Ah, what are you saying?!"

Nakiri Erina's face also turned red.

"And besides you and Komekko, Hisako and Mito, I like all of them."

Broly added, his words that straightforward, not beating around the bush at all.

"This 'like' of yours sounds a bit cheap, feels just like a child's kind of liking?"

Nakiri Erina raised an eyebrow and asked.

"So it's just a child's kind of liking after all?!"

Mito Ikumi and Tadokoro Megumi breathed a sigh of relief, yet at the same time felt a bit disappointed.

"Then what about me and Ryouko, Broly-shishou, you don't like us?"

Yoshino Yuuki asked.

"Is it possible that the 'like' I'm talking about isn't a child's kind of liking, but treating you as the opposite sex, wanting you to become my wives kind of liking?"

"Uh, so, shishou, you're confessing to everyone at once?"

Yoshino Yuuki asked.

"You could put it that way too."

Broly nodded.

"That's not right, even if you want to two-time, who would confess to this many girls all at once?"

Sakaki Ryouko started tsukkomi-ing.

"I would."

Broly pointed at himself.

"Then do you think you'll succeed?"

"I don't know."

"Then why go all-in?"

"Uh, originally I wanted to use the Old Maid question game to test your feelings first, but as the words went on, it reached this point, so I could only express my true feelings."

"Quite sincere, didn't think to deceive anyone."

Sakaki Ryouko evaluated with a sentence.

"But even so, why not include me and Ryouko, Broly-shishou, do you have some opinion of us two?"

Yoshino Yuuki crossed her arms; she still minded not being treated fairly.

"Uh, I have no opinion of you and Ryouko, I just didn't know how you two feel about me, wasn't that question just now probing for that?"

"Sounds like it makes a bit of sense————"

Yoshino Yuuki scratched her head.

"No————"

Immediately, this genki girl detected the blind spot, raised a finger pointing at Arato Hisako beside her and said: "She hasn't expressed her stance, how did you know she has feelings for you?"

"Uh, this... if I said I can see, to a certain extent, specific people's favorability toward me?"

"If you can't say it, don't make up that kind of excuse."

Yoshino Yuuki wore an 【I absolutely don't believe it】 expression.

"It's true, I'm not lying. Forget it, I'll just ask directly: Yoshino, Ryouko-san, are you willing to date me with the purpose of becoming husband and wife, knowing that I like many people?"

Yoshino Yuuki and Sakaki Ryouko exchanged a glance, then asked Broly: "Are you serious about this?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Broly looked at the two sincerely.

"Mm, so my future husband is Broly-san————"

Sakaki Ryouko closed her eyes and imagined it seriously.

"Can't say about other things, but the sense of security is absolutely maxed out."

Yoshino Yuuki said directly.

"Uh, I agree with that."

Sakaki Ryouko nodded, and the others subconsciously followed suit and nodded.

"Honestly, due to heavy study pressure, plus Totsuki Academy's competitive atmosphere, romance between men and women basically rarely develops.

So, until now I've never dated once; therefore, I also don't know how to date someone with the purpose of becoming husband and wife.

But if my first dating partner is Broly-san, I feel I can accept it, because getting along with you is relaxed."

Sakaki Ryouko answered honestly.

"Hey, Ryouko, this means becoming one of someone else's harem!"

"Is there a possibility that I think becoming family with Komekko is also a good thing?"

"Hiss————"

Yoshino Yuuki sucked in a breath, and actually felt those words made a lot of sense.

If possible, she also didn't want to separate from her good friend in the future.

"If you put it that way, then I actually don't mind either."

Yoshino Yuuki also expressed her stance.

【So there was an option where everyone can be together, no need to do some multiple-choice question?!】

Tadokoro Megumi's expression was somewhat complex, but in her heart she inexplicably felt relaxed.

Compared to agonizing over a multiple-choice question, the harem issue wasn't worth mentioning instead; at least for her it was like that.

"Since it's like this, then things are simple. Yoshino, Ryouko-san, are you willing to become my wives?"

Broly closed his eyes, made figurines of the two inside the Crystal Palace, then directly sent out the External Wife invitation to the two.

"Huh? What is this, why did a virtual frame appear before my eyes?"

Yoshino Yuuki cried out in surprise.

"Well, this is one of my abilities. I'm actually from another world. Anyway, you just need to agree as you said just now. Once you agree, you'll know how I detect whether a person has favorable feelings toward me."

Broly explained.

Sakaki Ryouko and Yoshino Yuuki exchanged a glance, then nodded simultaneously and said: "I'm willing."

"Huh? The virtual prompt box turned into a virtual panel, and your chibi avatar even appeared on it?"

Yoshino Yuuki clicked her tongue in wonder.

"You guys didn't rehearse a skit to perform in front of us, did you?"

Arato Hisako frowned and asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever virtual panel you're talking about, we didn't see anything at all."

Erina said; since agreeing to become a wife on the spot felt a bit like a joke, she instead didn't feel much.

"Impossible, this virtual panel is clearly right here————"

"I guarantee, what Yoshino said is true."

"Well, only those who agree to become my wife can see this panel."

Broly hurriedly explained.

"Ho, then I'd like to see it for myself. Come on, let me become your wife too!"

Erina clearly didn't believe it much, put her hands on her hips, and said.

"This won't do————"

"Why?"

The blonde girl raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Because you are Capture Targets acknowledged by the Crystal Palace. Inviting you to become wives now would lose a large amount of Happiness Points————"

"Happiness Points?"

"Happiness Points are————"

Broly then explained to all the girls in the room about Happiness Points, Happiness Value, Capture Targets, External Wives, and other information related to the Crystal Palace, and he also explained why he was obsessed with Happiness Points.

"At first it was to eat well on the Barbarian Planet in my original world; now it's so that everyone who has joined the Crystal Palace can live better together————"

Broly explained very sincerely, but as Erina and the others listened, they felt something was a bit off.

"So this isn't a group confession, but a married man fooling around in another world? Pah, dead scumbag!"

Arato Hisako gave Broly a look of disdain as if looking at trash.

However, her Happiness Value didn't drop.

"Put that way, the fact that you said you like us was all fake, and your real purpose was just Happiness Points?"

Nakiri Erina asked.

"Really?"

Mito Ikumi and Tadokoro Megumi looked over nervously.

"No, at first I actively approached you because you were indeed the Capture targets acknowledged by the Crystal Palace, but now when I say I like you, although there is also the reason of Happiness Points, I did not lie; during this time getting along, I truly like you from the bottom of my heart."

"I like Komekko's simplicity, I like Shi Nature Lao Shi Erina's tsundere, I like Hisako's seriousness and sense of responsibility, I like that Mito Ikumi likes my appearance too; you are cute and beautiful, and it makes my heart move."

"Who are you calling tsundere?!"

Erina pinched her small fist and complained dissatisfiedly, Hisako was comparatively calm, as for Tadokoro Megumi and Mito Ikumi, their faces turned red."

"That's right, no matter what the reason Broly actively contacted them for, but in getting along with Broly, they indeed felt happy, and were indeed properly taken care of by the boy."

"And normal romantic relationships, don't they also start from reasons like looks or personality? It's totally impossible to approach and like someone for no reason at all."

"Erina complained for a while, then quieted down; although she knew Broly was a guy who opens a Harem, this identity of an Isekai person had considerable attraction for her."

"Hmm, to be specific, it's that there are certain fantasy shoujo manga developments where the male protagonist has an unusual identity."

"Of course, these trivial matters can be temporarily set aside; what's more worth discussing now is————"

""So, when you played Old Maid just now, you cheated using that Crystal Palace Space of yours, didn't you!""

""Uh————""

""No wonder, when I was drawing cards I felt the card count seemed somewhat off, so it turns out you were cheating!""

""I can explain————""

""No need to explain, you bastard who cheats at cards, go die!""

"Broly was ultimately pinned on the bed by the girls with pillows, and directly kicked out of tonight's card game by Erina."

""You two can't use that Crystal Palace Space to hide cards and cheat either; if you dare cheat, don't blame me for drawing little turtles on your faces!""

""We won't cheat, we guarantee it.""

"Yoshino Yuuki hurriedly raised her hand."

""Me too.""

"Sakaki Ryouko agreed in turn."

""Then, second card game begins; Broly, you crafty guy, are not allowed to participate!""

"The card game started again, and this time there wasn't any sword-drawn-bow-bent feeling."

"As for the reason, it's also very simple: they knew Broly was a guy who opens a Harem."

"A guy who opens a Harem, and it's not one-on-one, so there's fundamentally no conflict of interest."

"On the contrary, those other Crystal Palace members in the Isekai, although no one discussed it, still made Erina and the others subconsciously react by grouping together."

""Nothing to do with me anymore, so I'll go outside for a walk?""

""I see you want to go find my cousin; that guy should be a Capture target too, right?!""

"Erina drew a card from Tadokoro Megumi's hand, discarded the pairs she could form in her hand, and glanced over saying."

""Uh, yes.""

""Hmph, go on, give that guy some trouble, better that you're not here being an eyesore!""

"Erina waved her hand and said."