Eve of the Festival ②
I finally escaped that hell and returned to my room. Haaah, I’m exhausted.
But in the room, Shiro-san, Chive-san, Munieca-san, and the Witch were glaring at each other.
They were sitting or leaning against each of the four beds, glaring at one another.
“Uh, um…”
“Oh my, Wof-boy. Welcome back.”
“Welcome back, Master.”
“You’re back.”
“Ooh, welcome back~”
“I-I’m back. Shiro-san. You’ve returned.”
“Yes, sorry for the trouble. Still, to think you saw through Thousand Faces’ transformation.”
“No matter how I looked at it, it just wasn’t Shiro-san.”
“…Is that so. It wasn’t Shiro.”
“Yes. That’s why I knew immediately.”
“………I-I see.”
Shiro-san. What’s wrong? She looked down.
“Wow~ I’ve never seen Shiro act like that before~”
“I feel a little jealous somehow.”
“Haha, haha, even Kon would react like that if told something similar.”
The Witch gave a wry smile.
“? What are you talking about? More importantly, what were you all doing?”
“Hmm-hmm~ Wof-kun. Don’t you notice anything~?”
Something… Four beds. They’re all identical beds.
From the right: the Witch, Chive-san, Munieca-san, Shiro-san. Four people.
“Huh, is one missing?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“In that case, I’ll use a sleeping bag—”
“Now, now, Wof-boy. You understand that won’t be permitted, don’t you?”
The Witch said it as if it were obvious. Eh, why?
“Wof-kun. It’s already been decided that you’ll be sleeping together with one of us each night, taking turns, until the Great O’Browns is over.”
“Decided…?”
“Yes. It has already been decided.”
“Eeeh…”
My opinion wasn’t considered at all!?
“Ah~ Don’t worry, Wof-cchi is still a minor, so we won’t do anything weird~ Everyone else is here too~”
“Weird things…”
What came to mind was the Tail Grooming.
That was unforgettable.
“Ahem. As you can see, there is nothing improper.”
In that case, wouldn’t it be fine for me to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag?
I thought so, but didn’t say it. Either way, I had no chance of winning.
I could only let them do as they pleased.
It’s definitely not like I want to sleep together with them or anything.
But if asked if I don’t want to, well, it’s not like I don’t want to.
Even I can tell they hold affection for me, given how far things have gone.
However, I just don’t understand why they hold so much affection for me.
Because I don’t understand, there’s a part of me that can’t be proactive.
Even before that, there’s the question of whether it’s okay for me to be proactive.
Of course. I don’t dislike receiving their affection, and if there’s anything I can do for them, I want to do it.
I want them to smile. I want them to have fun. I want them to be happy.
For that reason, I want to be kind. I want to be strong. I don’t want to make them sad.
“So, so, we were just deciding who gets the first night.”
“You were deciding?”
The way she said “first night”…
And weren’t you just glaring at each other?
“It was a battle of crushing presence.”
“…No, let’s just decide this normally with Janken.”
At that, the four of them looked puzzled.
“Jaa-ken?”
“What might that be?”
Huh? Does this world not have Janken?
Come to think of it, I don’t remember ever playing Janken with anyone.
It doesn’t exist? Janken!?
I’m shocked. To think Janken doesn’t exist.
“Ho ho. Interesting. So this can settle the matter?”
“It can?”
Well, I should answer for now.
“It can.”
I immediately explained Janken to them.
Actually, from my past life memories, the winning conditions for Janken differ by country.
But since Janken doesn’t exist in this world, that doesn’t matter.
So, I taught them the most standard version of Janken from my past life memories.
Teaching Janken… feels kind of weird.
“Hmm hmm. This is quite interesting.”
“It allows one to decide victory or defeat peacefully.”
“This could sell.”
Sell…?
Can Janken be sold?
“Let’s just get started already.”
“Yes, yes. This is a method of intrigue and stratagem. Kon will surely win.”
Well, it’s not like those elements are completely absent.
“Allow me to show you my true strength.”
“Rock, Paper, Scissors!”
“”Janken!””
Incidentally, for just a moment, I thought about joining in and using a sleeping bag if I won.
But I decided against it. That would be too tactless, and I’m not that much of a goody-two-shoes.
That’s right. While I was bewildered and partly annoyed…
…there was a part of me enjoying the current situation. I could clearly tell.
After a tie, there was one Scissors and three Papers.
The winner was Shiro-san, who threw Scissors.
She turned to me happily and made a peace sign.
“I-I look forward to it.”
As I said it nervously, Shiro-san suddenly came close and tapped my nose with her finger.
“Calm down, we’re not going to sleep just yet.”
“R-Right.”
Behind me, the other three chuckled softly with kind smiles.
How embarrassing.
Surprisingly, there was a bath in the room.
The lodging facilities at this Hydrangea Grand Hall are amazing.
I heard the Witch mention bathing together, but naturally, I refused.
Right. I should tell Munieca-san now while I have the chance.
“Munieca-san. Do you have a moment?”
“What is it?”
“Actually, the Menos Dolls received an offer to work as Maids at the Tasan Family’s villa.”
“Tasan?”
“Yes. They said they want to hire them as Maids and guards.”
“What are your thoughts, Master?”
“Honestly, both my house and the Witch’s House are small, and there isn’t much for them to do. If you, Munieca-san, can properly manage Shardina and the others as Maids, I think this offer is ideal.”
Since it’s a mansion, it’s spacious.
Munieca-san gave a small nod.
“I accept that offer. However, there is one condition.”
“What is it?”
“I wish for a gate to be connected between the villa and Master’s house.”
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s something I’d need to discuss with them first.”
“Is it acceptable on your end, Master?”
“If they agree, then I don’t mind. But why?”
“Firstly, I wish to be able to clean Master’s house regularly, and secondly, it would provide the shortest route to the Lab should anything happen to the Menos Dolls.”
“I see… In any case, let’s confirm with them before setting it up.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“It’ll probably be fine.”
I somehow felt like they’d grant permission easily.
Tasan, huh. Speaking of Tasan, I’m curious about Juicy-san.
Why was she with Alveld? Sesh-san too.
The Witch got out of the bath.
Next, Chive-san went in, then Munieca-san, then Shiro-san.
I was last. It’s cruel to compare it to the bath at the Witch’s House, but I found myself missing the Pot Bath.
After that, we played card games and read books, and I started to feel sleepy.
I realized it was already late into the night. A yawn escaped my lips.
“Wof-kun. Are you sleepy?”
“Y-Yes. I’m sleepy… Huh, where are the Witch and the others?”
“Those three went downstairs, saying they were going for drinks.”
They’re still not sleeping? I’m going to sleep. I’m getting drowsy.
“Shiro-san. Let’s sleep.”
“Yes, over here.”
Shiro-san. Sometime before I noticed, she had changed into light clothes, like a pure white one-piece dress.
It looked thin and almost see-through. Still, hmm. Everything about her really is white.
Also… is it just my imagination?
I get the feeling she isn’t wearing anything underneath the dress.
No way, no way.
“Come now, come over to Shiro, Wof-kun.”
Shiro-san got into bed first, held open the covers, and called me over.
Lying down, Shiro-san had a mysterious allure.
“Y-Yes. Excuse me…”
As I nervously got in, Shiro-san closed the covers. Ah, it feels kind of cool.
Because the bed is narrow… Shiro-san’s body heat… our bodies… are pressed close together.
It’s slightly cool, yet her skin feels faintly warm. Tepid.
I kind of like this tepidness. It’s like the feel and air of lukewarm water, somehow nice.
There’s a faint sweet scent. The fragrance of flowers.
“Good night… Shiro-san.”
“Good night, Wof-kun.”
Shiro-san patted my head, and enveloped in that pleasant tepidness, I fell asleep.