Chapter 758 - Bedtime for Good Kids
"—Laevateinn!!!"
"—Whoa... So, you mean this is still a work in progress?"
"...This is?"
"What an idiot."
"Incredible..."
"Well, yeah. Less a work in progress and more like 'Ver. 1'—or maybe even 'Ver. 0.'"
The evening meal had ended, but the party continued. The lavish spread on the table was replaced with snacks everyone had brought, and for a while, the viewing session continued, with the group tirelessly asking for my commentary and Sora's thoughts.
"Basically, that attack was just me firing it off without any real control or anything—huh?"
Just as the day was about to bleed into the next, I felt a weight slump against my side and turned to look...
"Oh my."
"...Hehe."
"So cute..."
Receiving warm gazes from the three university girls who had been doting on her all evening was a single girl who seemed to have finally succumbed to her sleepiness, her energy completely spent.
I knew it. Sora was a good kid, unaccustomed to staying up late. While she might manage a rare late night at home, it was inevitable after a tiring day of travel.
I'd noticed her nodding off for a little while now, but she seemed to want to stay, so both Itsuki-san and I had decided to leave her be.
"Did we keep her up too late...?"
"Nah, she looked like she was having fun. Don't worry about it."
I replied to a slightly apologetic Toshiki as I quickly secured Sora's body, which was sliding off my shoulder. Even though I was used to physical contact in the virtual world, I couldn't help but feel a certain reservation when it came to the warmth of her body here, in reality.
But if I let it show on my face, I'd be teased mercilessly.
And so, I put on my best poker face... and without needing a word from the maid smiling serenely beside me, I prepared for my mission.
Naturally, Itsuki-san saw me lift my partner with practiced ease, nodded in satisfaction, and then stood up, giving my friends a slight bow.
"Well then, we will be turning in for the night. Good night."
""""Good night!""""
Their goodbyes were whispered, mindful of the girl who showed no signs of opening her eyes even as I held her. The maid, looking quite at home in her yukata, never let the fond expression leave her face as she gestured for me to follow her out of the room... and then—
"Take your time."
"See you tomorrow."
"Good night, Nozomi-kun."
"Hey, I don't mind having a room to myself, you know!"
"You guys..."
In the end, I still got an earful of teasing from my friends as I followed Itsuki-san with a sigh.
◇◆◇◆◇
"—Hold on a second, you damn maid."
And so, a dozen seconds later, I stood before the Natsume sisters' room. There, as always, was a free-spirited maid smiling mischievously, and as always, the victim being dragged along for the ride.
So, what was happening...?
"Rest assured. You need not worry; I may not look it, but I am quite strong."
"That's not what I'm worried about. I mean, a woman walking alone late at night isn't great, but there's a much, much bigger problem here."
"Oh, how sad. To think Kasuga-san is not worried about his maid at all."
"Make up your mind whether you want me to worry or not. That's not the point!"
"It will be fine. I will only be gone for about two hours."
"I know full well that nothing is fine, and that's why I'm say—hey, wait, you...!"
And with that, the yukata-clad maid made her brisk exit. Her destination, of course, was not her room, but out of the inn and into the night town, far, far down the corridor.
In other words, that was that.
"I get it now. She's an idiot."
There was no way I could catch up to her brisk pace while carrying Sora. All I could do was stare after her in a daze, muttering the plain truth.
I looked down at the girl in my arms. The lovely young lady was sleeping peacefully.
"............................................................Haaah..."
Standing here forever wouldn't solve anything. There was only one option. Telling myself that was the only way, I brought my silent partner into the sisters' room.
Unsurprisingly, the room's layout was identical to the men's room. The atmosphere, however, was completely different, due to the luggage placed in the corner and the fact that the futons were already laid out.
As expected of a high-class inn, the sheets were tucked in perfectly—a magnificent display of craftsmanship.
............................................................Now then.
"You're quite good at playing possum, Sora-san."
"—...!"
She must have been shocked to be addressed so matter-of-factly, because her sky-blue eyes snapped open. Her gaze met mine, which had been fixed on her, and she blinked several times before...
"No, that's pushing it."
She tried to turn her face away and feign ignorance by closing her eyes again, but I wasn't having it. I know, you know. When it comes to carrying people, I'm a pro.
There's a world of difference in the strain and everything else when someone is conscious versus unconscious.
"........................"
"Honestly, this girl..."
I didn't want to put her directly on the futon, so I sat down beside it instead.
I couldn't just drop her, of course. My partner, still in my arms, remained unchanged... or rather, she seemed determined to continue her masterful performance of playing possum, her eyes stubbornly shut.
She might have fooled my four friends, but I'm sure Itsuki-san knew. Which means they were both in on it.
Sora probably wasn't trying to conspire with her, but the maid was definitely trying to provide covering fire. What a completely unnecessary thing to do.
"Hey, wake up."
"..."
"If you don't wake up, I'll drop you and leave. Don't worry, the door is auto-locking."
The maid took the key, but security wasn't an issue—
"........................Are you going to leave me all alone?"
—And just like that, her soft-hearted stubbornness crumbled under my cheap threat. Looking guilty and a little sulky, she slowly lifted her eyelids, and her sky-blue eyes met mine.
"...Itsuki-san said, right? That if you were with me, Haru, everything would be okay."
"She did. But that was about her going out."
"Are you going to leave me all alone?"
She repeated the words. Her sky-blue eyes stared at me.
Still in my arms, refusing to let go, she clutched at my yukata.
—Give me a break. I feel like I'm going to lose it.
"...You could've just asked instead of resorting to tricks like this."
"..."
"You always do, don't you? When it comes to you, Sora, I'm pretty much a yes-man."
"...Lately, I feel like it's not just when it comes to me."
"You really know how to twist the knife. Ah, well... I mean, still, it's..."
"...I know. I know that you still treat me as the most special."
"Hearing you say that yourself is kind of embarrass—"
"Haru."
At the end of our banter, meant to hide my embarrassment, I didn't miss the color that surfaced in her eyes.
"I'm such a child, aren't I?"
It wasn't self-deprecation or self-blame. She was simply stating a fact, her voice tinged with frustration at an unchangeable reality—and that's why, at this very moment.
There was only one thing for me to say.
"...It's not that I forgot to say it, I was just looking for the right time."
"Yes...?"
Reading the room. This was probably the best move.
"Your yukata looks absolutely stunning on you—you're beautiful."
"—..."
In the unlit darkness of the night, reflecting the moonlight streaming through the window, her sky-blue eyes shimmered and swayed.
I told her, thinking that right now, 'beautiful' would make her happier than 'cute.' And it seemed that, more than I expected—or to be honest, just as I'd hoped.
"...! ...!"
I succeeded in drawing out an expression that was both shy and utterly adorable. And so, the gentle taps on my chest, which held no pain or blame whatsoever...
Well, I'll just consider it my reward.
Because she's a very naughty girl, 'good night' will have to wait.