Chapter 210 - A Cat at the Front Gate, A Wolf at the Back Gate
February 25th, Volume 2 Now on Sale!
I picked up Erin, who had gone completely still, and headed for the bedroom.
The first thing I checked when I opened the door was the state of the bed.
"Oh, she's asleep."
Wrapped up in my blanket, a girl was sleeping peacefully, her breath soft and steady.
Tonight's bed-sharing duty member—Ayako-chan.
As you know, I take turns sleeping with the women of my house every night.
Apparently, for a daddy's girl, "electricity," "water," "gas," and "father's snoring" are like lifelines, and if I don't sleep with her regularly, it apparently constitutes child neglect. So it's a necessary task.
It's completely incomprehensible, and if I did understand it, I feel like I'd be done for as a human being, but necessary is necessary.
And, of all nights, tonight is Ayako-chan's day.
This is the worst.
If she wakes up in the middle of it, there's no telling what kind of grotesque event she might trigger.
I carefully lowered Erin onto the bed, trying not to make a sound. Since Concealment Magic doesn't work between Party Members, I had no choice but to move as quietly as possible.
I slid Erin's small body into the spot next to Ayako-chan... the spot where I was supposed to be sleeping.
"...Nya."
The cat-eared mage looked up at me with eyes that seemed to expect something.
Now then, what to do from here?
There's no way I can actually sleep with her, so I have to find a way to escape.
I brought my mouth close to Erin's ear and whispered.
"For now, I'll sleep with you tonight, so put up with that."
"...Nya."
It was a naive judgment that just offering her my arm as a pillow would be enough to calm her down.
Well, I did relieve her a few times in the bathroom and toilet before bringing her here, so she should be a bit calmer now.
Since Erin's real age is in her late twenties, I have no objection to providing services that don't lead to the real thing.
It's the same logic as with Philia.
That being the case, Erin is relatively docile right now. I wouldn't have any complaints if she'd just turn back into a cat, but she's still squirming restlessly in her human form.
"...Hurry up and turn back into a cat. You'll wake Ayako-chan."
I whispered in her ear, but Erin just kept shaking her head.
Huh? She's saying it's still not enough? How greedy can this girl be?
I already calmed her down with an immoral, indecent, and unspeakable act that can't be put into words.
"I'm telling you, I can't do anything more than that. It would completely cross the line."
"...Cross it, nya."
"No."
"...I'll pay money, nya."
"Aren't the genders reversed for this kind of thing?"
"...Just up to the first knuckle is fine..."
That's too vivid.
"Cut it out," I said, tapping her forehead.
...Well, I have no choice.
I let out a sigh and lay down next to Erin.
I guess I'll buy some time by holding her until she turns back into her cat form.
I hugged Erin and rolled over, turning my back to Ayako-chan.
Yes.
I'm using my own body to hide Erin's form.
In this precarious situation where Ayako-chan is sleeping right there.
To use an analogy, it was like hugging a lover while your wife sleeps beside you—an act with very little room for mitigating circumstances. If Ayako-chan stabbed me right now, every juror would probably side with her.
...Please, just stay asleep...
I closed my eyes in prayer, and then—
"...Nakamoto-san?"
She woke up.
She woke up all of a sudden.
Ayako-chan woke up...!
"...Welcome back. You're late tonight."
As she spoke, Ayako-chan pressed herself tightly against me.
It seemed she was in a state of "pressing herself against me," and I could feel her ample softness being squished firmly against my shoulder blade.
Normally, this would be a fairly pleasant situation, but right now, only fear and anxiety were swelling inside me.
"W-Welcome back. It's late, so go to sleep."
"...Why won't you face me?"
"..."
How should I talk my way out of this? I desperately racked my limited brain.
An excuse for not turning around while a girl is pressing her body against me from behind.
...My opponent is still a seventeen-year-old virgin. I have no choice but to try and confuse her on this front.
"Sorry, I'm not in a state where I can face you right now. ...You get it, right?"
"...What do you mean?"
"It's because you pressed your chest against me."
"...My fault?"
"My body reacted, and it's not in a state I can show a girl. Cut me some slack, I'm embarrassed too!"
"...Eh, ah, that is...!? W-Well, I'm sorry...!"
Ayako-chan flustered in a way that almost made me feel sorry for her, and then pulled her body away with incredible speed. The sound of her clothes rustling was "SHWOOOOSH!"
Well, well.
I can't tell if this girl has resistance to this kind of thing or not.
As I was wearing a victorious smile, I felt a presence slithering up to my back.
Why, though?
"Ayako-chan?"
"...I'll take responsibility."
"Huh?"
"...If it's my fault you're like that... th-then I have to take care of it...!"
Ayako-chan wrapped her arms around my neck.
"...Please, face me. That thing of yours, Nakamoto-san... I'll try to do something about it."
It was the moment the situation took a turn for the worse.