kscans

Chapter 915 - After-Party Results

—And so…

"…What is this? A scene from hell?"

Nearly five hours after the curtain rose on Nia's birthday party (after-party).

The time, which had flown by in a whirlwind of noise and laughter, was now stored away in my memory banks. I took in the scene before me—the disastrous state of my room—and uttered a single sentence.

"""…………"""

But sadly, the only response I received was silence.

Playing cards and other various games were scattered about. A mountain of late-night snacks had been opened with wild abandon. The Twister game that Mitsueda-san had brought, whether as a joke or in earnest, was a Class-S designated hazard that had been relegated to a wrinkly makeshift rug for playing on the floor. The four racing wheel controllers, which Hayassan had dominated with until his triumphant laughter was cut short by a playful slap from his annoyed cousin, were now lying in front of the TV. And all of that was just the opening act.

The main event—

The cousins, completely spent, were sleeping peacefully on the sofa and the floor. The painter-etcetera, passed out defenselessly in a guy's room, was one thing, but the speed demon (29), showing off his innocent sleeping face in a completely unfamiliar environment, was just as bad. You two are definitely cousins. Bravo.

…Anyway.

Mitsueda-san, who had undoubtedly been more hyper than I had ever seen her, and Hayassan, the inconsistent big brother figure, both wore looks of satisfaction.

The reason was simple: they had both celebrated their precious little sister's special day with all their hearts and souls—or so I assumed.

"…Well, to put it mildly, from what I've seen, she's a very lucky person."

"…………"

Mitsueda-san, snoozing on the sofa.

The speed demon, sprawled out on the floor.

My gaze traveled from one to the other, finally landing on the person next to me. While I was spouting off my exasperated commentary, I too was part of the crew that had created this mess. In that sense, I shared in the festive mood, and I found myself unconsciously patting the conveniently located head beside me.

It was a head at just the right height for me, standing and surveying the disaster. It belonged to the one person who hadn't joined her two relatives on their journey to dreamland, but was instead standing right next to me.

"…!"

"Ow—hey, what's with you? Haven't you used more headbutts than words today???"

It was nearly two in the morning, yet surprisingly, Nia-chan's eyes weren't drooping in the slightest. She had officially crossed into the day after her birthday alongside me.

And for some reason, I felt like I'd been getting headbutted a lot today.

It was a special day, so she, more than anyone, was ecstatic… well, at least, if we considered the two relatives passed out over there to be exceptions, she was definitely the most excited. That, combined with her shyness and what-not, was probably causing her to act strangely.

It's cu—… endearing, so I'll let it slide.

"…Haaah… well… so, what should we do about this? I don't really mind Hayassan, but I can't exactly let Mitsueda-san sleep in my room…"

I glanced sideways for confirmation.

If Hiyo-chan is staying, then I'm not going home either.

The words (voice) displayed on the terminal she thrust at me were so expected, I already knew what they would say.

That was the last thing I wanted. If, by some mistake, I let Nia stay the night in my room, it wouldn't matter that it was an impromptu stayover with several relatives present.

Without a doubt, two more sleepover reservations would automatically be forced upon me later.

Game over. The end.

"Nia-chan, can you carry this?"

If there were two of me, probably.

"That's not what I asked."

Just as I was racking my brain, at a loss for what to do…

Well then, do your best with the heavy lifting, boy.

"Hey… is this really okay on multiple levels…?"

There was no need to ask what she meant. Nia pointed at her best friend, assigning me the delivery job as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I gave her a scowl.

I want to make sure she sleeps in a proper bed. Hiyo-chan is tired from working every day.

"…, ……"

Her responding with such a dead-serious expression is what makes her so unfair.

So obviously, your bed is out of the question, right? That means we have to carry her to my room, right? Huh? If that's allowed, then I'm using your bed.

"You and your way with words."

That part of her is unfair, too.

◇◆◇◆◇

"…Alright, mission complete. Apologize to her for me in the morning."

What kind of proxy apology should I give? 'Sorry for touching your body without permission?'

"Could you please try to make that sound a little less criminal…"

It seemed her being tired from work every day was more than just words.

The usual perfect superhuman, who never showed any openings, didn't even stir as I lifted her from my sofa, carried her to Nia's room, and laid her down on the bed.

It's not my place to say, but I sincerely hope she gets some rest from her daily struggles—

Don't worry about it.

"About what?"

According to Hiyo-chan, she says it's fun now that she has a 'teasable little brother.'

"…Is making me a part of their family a new trend for everyone?"

Hehe. My first love is so popular.

"…, …… It's not 'hehe,' you know… honestly…"

I left the task of pulling up the blanket to Nia and quickly finished my job, averting my gaze from the defenseless maiden's sleeping face and stepping away from the bed.

This was absolutely not because the future where I'd be billed for a 'sleeping-face-viewing fee' when she woke up flashed through my mind.

"…Um… the living room. I'll be over there, for now."

Taking the lazy wave of her hand behind her back as an acknowledgment, I left the bedroom.

—Then, I took a small breath in, and let it out.

"…Okay, I'm good."

The hallway, compared to the bedroom, was either a one or a hundred. The difference was that extreme.

Confirming that I wasn't being swallowed by someone's incredibly dense presence… I wondered whose judgment I was even afraid of as I tiptoed my way back to the living room.

---

What's about to start? The third party (the main event), of course.

By the way, on a certain Hiyohiyohiyohiyo's secret 'List of Things I Want My Ideal Man to Do,' the 'snoozing & princess carry combo' is in the top thr