My direct approach towards Shi Ji’s subtle advances during our training seems to momentarily pause her for a bit before she swiftly recovers. The honed skills of a noble lady.

“My apologies, Young Master. Wasting someone of your caliber’s time with hidden intentions is a great disrespect.”

As she says this, she gracefully moves to her knees and gives a deep bow.

Interestingly, my scan advises me to resist my normal urge to wave off actions like these. She holds the bow for a period, but almost had begun to rise. Even she had gotten used to my way of waving these off.

A bad precedent sent on my part.

Though, I am trying to change things here, I have to walk the fine balance of not letting the people of this culture think I’m a pushover. This is one of those situations, unfortunately.

She seems to realize this and continues to hold it until I speak again.

“You may stand.”

With grace and finesse, she raises to her feet again, but with a slight bit more humbleness. After she does, her words come out at a hurried pace.

“Young Master, I am attracted to you and wish to be ‘closer’ to you. I’d like to do whatever it takes to do so. Anything, Master.”

She has undoubtedly heard from the others about me liking that form of reference. But, regrettably for her I've just started to dive into my relationship with Ai, Lin, and Shi. Of course, Gong is included in that.

I may care for Shi Ji, but that will never overshadow my blossoming relationships. Regardless of the common sense of this world, where harems and relationships are far more… fluid than my world.

At least I can be clear about how I word things here, without causing too much backlash.

“Shi Ji, I would be lying if I didn’t say that I consider you an amazingly beautiful person. I don’t mean that just because of your looks, but the person you constantly strive to be and the kindness you show to others. I find that immensely attractive.”

Her faces brightens like a star at my words, but freezes near the end, as she realizes there is a ‘but’ coming.

“But. Ai, Lin, Shi, and another person who I can’t name are extremely precious to me. If I even want to consider anyone else, I would first be going to them.

“As you probably have gathered, the people closest to me are extremely precious in my life. I won’t do anything that would betray their expectations.”

I give a pause to let her recover a bit. Mostly because she literally looks like she’s been gut-punched.

Once a second or two passes, I continue.

“With that said, I’ll be talking with them about such things and sometime later, if they allow it, you can join too, regarding this.”

And that’s when she throws a curveball at me. Her noble demeanor breaks at this and explodes with excitement.

“Really?! All three of them have said they would fully support me in pursuing you, as long as you were fine with it!”

She pauses and adds a note.

“…They also said that to some of the others, as well. A lot of them, actually.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

…

…

…

I really need ask them about these things more.

Maybe an additional scan with more details on what they talk about with the others in the group as well. They might have assumed I would be okay with it, considering the things they’ve said in the past.

“I-I’ll need to check with them on that…”

Even with my improved body and mind, even I stutter at this, out of the shock of the situation.

She seems to quickly realize that I didn’t know this and promptly backs off, literally stepping back. However, I can see a slight smile on her lips. One of success.

“Of course, Young Master. Take as much time as you need. I’m always here for you.”

Sigh.

What have I got myself into?

With this in mind, I soon finish up our training. Something that hasn't diminished Shi Ji's mood in the slightest.

I sprint in the direction of the one who will give me the most straightforward answer.

Ai.

I stumble upon her inside the hospital, where she's chatting with a few of the other women who work there. They are standing in one of the resting areas for the staff. I notice it's predominantly the victims that are here, talking with her.

And I find myself privy to the exact conversations that I was going to ask about.

“… and you’re telling me he literally came in on a white horse in this dream? How long did you spend together in this?”

“sob. Years. Decades. I lost track after our twentieth anniversary.”

Oh no.

Ai’s face turns in pain and I can see the gears turning in her head. In how she would feel, in the same situation.

“… he doesn’t know any of this, does he?”

The woman in question vigorously shakes her head.

“No, I only talked about it a little with him. We’ve mainly been talking with Ming, whose been amazingly helpful. But I didn’t… couldn’t tell him.

“How could we put that on him? Especially, since…”

She pauses and holds her breath before recollecting it.

“… he’s the same. And even though he told us what would happen, it’s so hard.”

…

As she continues to speak, I see Ai coming to a decision. One I realize she’s been doing a few times now.

She gives her a hug. And I can sense all of them following soon after, with tears and hugs. Ai speaks out in a hushed tone, but enough that they can all hear it.

“Na? You don’t have to hold it in anymore. I won’t stop you from pursuing him. Any of you can, especially considering what you’ve been through.”

She pulls back before looking to the side.

“You all already know my story. But even I haven’t had the chance to learn that much about him. To grow with him yet. You guys have just as much of a right to be with him.”

… Ai hasn't been making her offers recklessly. Only people she thinks would match well, she’s saying she’ll support. And from what I can gather, it’s the same for the others. Each of them is getting to know those who are interested and finding out more.

My scan tells me there have even been some that they’ve rejected, who they don’t want us to be with.

That’s when the group takes notice of me and gives a yelp. Before scattering without a glance back.

The only one who stays is Ai.

“Did you hear all of that?”

She asks the question that anyone would, in this situation.

“Yeah. Enough to understand that maybe my doppelgangers weren’t as different as I thought… or hoped.”

It’s not that I was being negligent. My scan has showed me the best way for them to continue healing was to allow others to help them process it. To not ask as many questions, to widen an open wound. To not dive too deep into what they experienced.

And if I were to ask, it would only make things worse.

She stays silent for a bit. Giving me space to ask the question I wanted to know initially.

“Are you really okay with other people joining… what we have together?”

Is she really okay with a harem scenario or something similar?

She looks up at me in surprise, as it's not a normal question in this society. It’s just assumed to be okay.

That look transforms into a soft smile.

“That’s what I like about you, you know. At every step, you check with us. Looking after us every step of the way. Constantly surprising us with your words.”

She goes silent, but it’s easy to see that she’s trying to find the right words to say.

“… I want others to experience what we have. All of us do.”

Wow… things really are different over here.

I have to ask the next question, though. As this is most definitely a poly relationship now.

“What about you, though? Don’t you want the chance to see multiple men?”

The look of growing confusion on her face expands, before popping into…

“HAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahhahah”

Her laughter resounds throughout the halls, causing some of the staff to peek their heads around the corner. She waves her hands at them, still laughing, to reassure them. Instead, this seems to make it even worse as she gets even louder. Tears filling her eyes.

It takes a while before she’s able to control it a bit, but as she does, she wipes the tears from her eyes and straightens up. Dead serious.

“Yes. I would.”

…