Marriage.

The super important event in someone's life where they get lumped together with the person that they desire to live forever—to share their love for the rest of their life yadda yadda. People say that marriage is the most important thing in life; as if getting a job to feed yourself was nothing but a chore compared to the act of tying one of your leg to another person.

Anyway, marriage has been around ever since the rule of Gilgamesh, which means that it's an old tradition that has been carried over for thousands of years. In another perspective, marriage might the representation of humans marking their territories and possessions like animals. As if a piece of shiny metal could save your failing relationship with your spouse.

You get what I'm saying…

Almost everyone has dreamt of marriage once in their life. Of course, I wasn't different. Even now I still dream of getting married to a capable woman who earns enough to be able to support me. That's right, you can't be a househusband if your wife can't provide for you! Heh…

What I'm getting here is that no person has escaped the thought of getting married.

A perfect example of this, is none other than Hiratsuka Shizuka.

"Hah! Yeah!"

For this person who was always worrying about marriage, getting hitched even in a game was something that brought joy.

As for me, well… I know this is only a game but still. I am a person committed to the title of househusband. This might be an unexpected training for the future so I'll try my best to act as one. It's totally not because I'm clueless of what to do when playing with other people.

It's been a few turns since sensei activated that card, but she's still wearing that self-satisfied smirk on her face.

I think it's starting to annoy the other players.

"It's your turn now Yuigahama! If you're lucky, you might even get a partner ha ha ha!"

Completely forgetting her position as an educator, sensei riled up the other players. She's totally become that unrestrained person in every group gathering.

"Ah, ahaha…"

Making a stiff face, Yuigahama did her usual placating laugh. Yuigahama you're too nice for your own good. Even I got to admit that sensei is being a pain in the ass. But isn't she kinda cute right now? Like the way she acts so carefree is just a sight to see.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, please do not forget propriety."

Naturally, the only person who has been criticizing sensei's actions was none other than Yukinoshita. Seeing that she's the only person here overly aware of etiquette and whatnot.

But since this is sensei we're talking about…

"Oh don't be like that Yukinoshita. It's just a game~ a game that I'm winning that is! Hah ha!"

The place under Yukinoshita's right eye twitched.

Ah crap.

"Oh? We are still in the beginning phase are we not?"

She's completely in the competitive Yukinon mode right now.

"That's right, we're still at the start but I already got married. I guess the real thing is just around the corner right, Hikigaya?"

Unaware about the beast that she has roused from slumber, sensei directed a bright smile at me. Kuh! Is this the power of marriage? To make my sensei who's always trying to act cool look like a woman who won at life?

"R-right. Whatever you say Hiratsuka…"

Unable to destroy the smile on her face, I acquiesced while feeling hot in the face.

"Hikigaya-kun…"

"Senpai…"

I shrugged under the glare of my fellow students. What can I do? Isn't it normal to protect that kind of smile?

"Ah, I landed on a black tile!"

Yuigahama's disappointed voice reached my ears. Oh right, it's currently her turn right now.

[You messed up cooking a meal for your crush -1000 SP -500 BN]

Ah… no surprises there.

With that, Yuigahama was forced to part with her lifelines, leaving her at half amount of what she started with. On the other hand, both Isshiki and Yukinoshita were unable to escape from the black tile and paid the price also.

"Bad luck Yuigahama! Don't worry Hikigaya, sensei will definitely fight fate!"

Showing a confident smile on her face, sensei winked at me. I'd like to say that I was unaffected but that would just make me come up with an explanation about the sudden beating of my heart relating to the heat coming from the summer season.

Seriously why is this woman still not taken?

What's wrong with society?

"Y-yeah, do your best."

What else could I do but send off my spouse with an encouraging smile?

"Unbelievable…"

"He's totally under her…"

"This side of him is unexpectedly…"

Ah. It's happening. I'm getting bullied.

Unaware of my predicament, sensei rolled the wheel of misfortune and ended up getting a number seven.

Which landed her on a pink tile.

Seriously? Another one of those? Sensei cheered and I clapped as a decent househusband should to show their support on their wives' gambling addiction.

"Hehehe let's see."

Sensei inspected the pink tile, and since she was currently married, that means that the standard event has nothing to do with her. Instead, she had to do the second event written on the tile.

[You and your spouse celebrate your first anniversary with friends. +500 SP + 10 Affection -100BN to unmarried players.]

"Would you look at that Hikigaya, we're already at our first anniversary!"

"Yes, yes. Great work sensei."

There was a collective groan as the unmarried players parted with their money.

Once again sensei wrapped an arm around my shoulders and laughed. She's really enjoying herself huh? On a side note, the heat from my face was definitely from the summer heat and nothing else. Yeah…

-o-

The summer heat crept inside the room.

Despite my effort to fan myself and sensei with an old magazine lying around, I still found myself sweating too much for comfort. Since I'm in a room with four people of the opposite gender, it was natural to get self-conscious of myself. It was totally their fault.

I also blame the parents who consented for me attending summer club. Right now, I could be in my cool room and farming the current event damnit.

I sighed in annoyance as a drop of sweat made its way down from my forehead.

Ah fine, whatever.

Having enough with the heat, my hands reached for the button of my uniform and started undoing them. Naturally, this attracted the attention of everyone.

"Hikigaya-kun, what do you think you're doing?"

Halfway in the middle of my actions, Yukinoshita stared at me.

"It's damn hot so I'm removing my uniform."

I was wearing a shirt underneath so it's not like what I'm doing was indecent. I made a sigh of relief as I removed the white uniform, the breeze touching my wet skin.

Strange, I was expecting another retort from Yukinoshita. Well whatever.

It was then that I noticed that all the occupants of the room were still focused on me.

Even Isshiki who was about to roll the wheel stopped to look at me.

"What?"

Yukinoshita coughed and averted her gaze, while Isshiki returned her focus on the game. Yuigahama continued to stare making me a little uncomfortable. She met my gaze and turned red.

"Umm yeah. H-Hikki is a boy after all!"

What?

"Hikigaya, you're surprisingly fit huh."

Nodding to herself, sensei muttered. It's not like I'm buff or anything, but I do bike from my home to school so I'm not exactly fat. Is that what Yuigahama thought?

"Ah! Iroha-chan landed on a black tile…"

My attention was returned to the game where Isshiki was clutching her forehead in distress. She's been landing on black tiles since a while ago. Currently she was low on Banknotes since she keeps getting in somewhat realistic events like…

Overspending on room decorations.

Buying unnecessary stuff.

Dining on expensive places.

"G-Guh! Who needs popularity if I'm out of money? It's not like this would feed me!"

Isshiki said something unlike her usual persona as she rubbed her hair in distress.

That's right. Your social position doesn't mean a thing when you don't have money. Take those 'social influencers' for example. They're visiting places all over and demand to get free stuff at the exchange of showing the place in their accounts. What a joke. If you can't be bothered to buy something then go do something instead of ranting.

"Don't stress yourself Isshiki, it's just a game (lol)."

Laughing at her student's situation, sensei waved her hand in a placating manner.

"Easy for you to say sensei, you've benefitting a lot from senpai after all…"

In response to this, Isshiki shot her an annoyed look. She was referring to my luck as I kept providing Banknotes during my recent turns.

"Well, what can I say. I'm just that lucky, ain't that right Hikigaya?"

"Of course, sensei."

"You're totally no good senpai!"

Isshiki gave me a fed-up look. Hey it's not like I can go against sensei. As a househusband it's my job to agree to whatever the wife says. If I don't, I might find myself without a house and a provider.

Seeing the expression on my face Isshiki's face turned stiff.

"Ah! I can't believe this, senpai is totally whipped!"

Hey now, that's not a nice thing to say. I'm not whipped. I'm just doing the logical actions as a dedicated househusband! You can't judge me!

"Geez, calm down brat. Like I said, it's just a game (lol)."

It's not like sensei was wrong, the way Isshiki is taking this, she might be letting the heat get to her. In common term, she's currently 'raging' in the game. But the way sensei appeased to her was completely annoying.

"A game huh? I guess it's fine since this is a game right~?"

Whoa Irohasu, that's scary!

Making her trademark megawatt smile, Isshiki placed a hand on her face, as if trying to look innocent. All it did was make her look like a woman scorned.

Ah this is bad…

Then her expression turned vindictive the next moment as she raised the card that she got on the first round.

"I activate the card [Foxy Homewrecker] on senpai!"

[Foxy Homewrecker:

Cost 5000 SP

The player may activate the effect [Instant Divorce] on a married player regardless of the [Affection Points]. During the next turn, the player and the target will get the [Married] status along with 80 [Affection Points] and will take half the amount of BN the married players currently possess.]

W-what the heck? Something like that exist in the gacha? Isn't that a total sure kill card? What's more,she's using that on me. Which means that my marriage to sensei will be void and I'd be married to Isshiki next turn, providing her the BN that I got and saving her from poverty.

N-no… isn't this the complete opposite of a househusband?

But on top of that.

"Well what do you think Hiratsuka-sensei? Not a bad move to survive the game huh?"

She shot a provoking smile to sensei.

Of course, the only natural reply was…

"This means war."

Holy crap, I really should've stayed at home.

-o-

"Ufufu, it's your turn now sen-pai~"

What the hell is this?

I've already removed my cumbersome uniform but why am I still sweating like I just ran all the way from home?

On another note, ever since she finished her turn, Isshiki dragged chair right next to me and made it herself comfortable. But I was sure that she did that so just she could use me as a human shield from sensei who was sitting to my left.

Oh, now I get it.

I'm sweating because I was surrounded by these two.

Is it too late to run?

"What's wrong Hikigaya? It's your turn."

Completely unlike earlier, there was no joy in sensei's voice. It was a cool tone befitting a teacher talking to her student.

There was no place to run.

Come to think of it, wasn't all of this the gacha's fault? It was the damn gacha that gave sensei and Isshiki those horrible cards. Even after so much, is the gacha gods still after me? I swear if I ever survive this, I'm gonna stop the gacha…

Kidding.

I spun the wheel weaker that I intended. I'm totally calm and in control. This is just a game.

Oh, a ten huh…

It was a pink tile.

[You and your spouse got lovey dovey and ended up in a hotel. - 1000 BN + 10 Affection]

Wait what… Did she and I?

"Hikigaya-kun, you scum…"

"Ehehe i-it's just a game."

"Ain't that nice?"

I winced at the tone used by both my club president and teacher. Why are you guys blaming me for this? It's not like we did anything worth the venom! This is all the gacha's fault damnit! As they say, don't hate the player, hate the gacha!

My righteous train of thought was interrupted when Isshiki tugged at my shirt. When I looked at her, she had a troubled smile on red face.

"Hey senpai, umm I just got out of a bad situation here so umm… can you not make it worse?"

Ah. This… I'm getting bullied again.

But isn't Isshiki cute right now?

It was the combined powers of my onii-chan instinct and househusband pride made me lay a hand on top of her head and nothing else.

"Sorry, it was my bad."

It's not my fault damnit!

Isshiki snorted and hid a smile beneath her hand.

Sensei cracked her neck.

Oh shit.

"It's my turn."

With a grace that none of the other girls her age would bother to get, Yukinoshita spun the wheel. Then without further delay, proceeded to the location it gave her.

It was a gold tile.

[You go to the mall with the person you like and they won you a stuff toy. + 1 Milestone]

Huffing at the written event, Yukinoshita then drew a card from the gacha pool. It took her a moment to read the effect before revealing it to us.

"I'm activating this on you, Hikigaya-kun."

What, is it marriage card?

I took a look at her card and…

[Woman Scorned:

Cost 1000 BN 1000SP

The target of this card will gain the [Bad Luck] effect for five turns. If the target gets the same number from the wheel twice during the time in effect, the [Death] effect will be activated.]

Unsurprisingly, Yukinoshita Yukino was trying to murder me.

-o-

It's not the chapter you want, but it is that one I made.

So how are you guys doing? I'm stuck in the house, but not like it's nothing new. Also rolled on LB1 banner and surprise, got nothing. Not even Fionn.

By the way, I'd like to thank a person for sending me a message, you know who you are. This one's for you.

And here's another year of hiatus before this gets updated with an even shorter chapter.

Cheers and stay safe.