“S-Sara-san, stop!! No more, please!!”
“Big Brother Baby, you have to be good, or it’s mischief, okay?”
“You have to listen to what your mama says~”
“There’s a good boy~”
“Ugh...”
The moment I showed any sign of resistance, Mio-chan and the others ruthlessly pounced on me to hold me down. Of course, shaking them off would have been easy, but I couldn’t exactly do that to children. That said, at this rate, Sara-san was definitely going to—?!
“Grandmother, ‘that,’ please.”
“Sara-chan, are you really doing this? Even now, you could still...”
“That is a foolish question. If it is for Kazunari-san’s sake, I will answer with my full power, no matter what it is.”
“I see... your resolve is firm, then? All right, wait just a moment.”
“Please.”
What was worse, even Yukie-san—whom I had thought was my final bastion—had apparently decided to support Sara-san, albeit reluctantly. At this point, I was out of moves.
Nishikawa-san’s words didn’t reach her, and anything I said would only have the opposite effect. On top of that, I couldn't expect any covering fire from Hanako-san...
“Kazunari-san...”
“I understand... I’ll gird my loins too.”
“Yes. Please rest assured, I shall accompany you to the very end.”
“...Thank you.”
Now that it had come to this, I had no choice but to finally steel myself.
Besides, Sara-san would surely suffer far more psychological damage—or rather, a greater mental burden—from the Ritual (?) about to take place than I would. Having let her go so far as to say that, there was no way I could be the only one to run away!
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Sara-chan.”
I gently closed my eyes and remained still to calm my heart. Soon, the light, rhythmic sound of Slippers pattering approached as Yukie-san returned from wherever she had gone.
...It was okay.
I was a man... no, a true man who could happily accept anything Sara-san did.
Right, Kazunari?
“Here you go. I think it’s fine now.”
“...There is no problem. Thank you very much.”
“It’s no trouble. Let me know if you need anything else, okay?”
“This is more than enough. I shall handle the rest...”
“W-What is that?!”
“I see, so that’s how it is...”
“Yeah, if it’s that...”
“?! To think I would...”
“Well, I figured it would be something like that...”
Filtering through my closed eyelids were the sounds of Sara-san and the others having a conversation as something was handed over, followed by everyone’s meaningful gasps of surprise.
Of course, the voices of Yuji and Hayato were mixed in there as well. Come to think of it, I felt bad for those two, but shouldn’t I have asked them to leave?
Rather, it was certain that having even one fewer person in the gallery would reduce the burden on Sara-san.
“Sara-san, maybe we should ask everyone to step away...”
“Please do not worry. Given the circumstances, I have no problem with this at all.”
“N-No, but then at least just the guys...”
“Thank you for your concern. But it truly is fine, you know? The preparations are already complete, and I am ready whenever...”
“Sara-san, why...”
This... no matter how I looked at it, this was a bit strange.
Normally, Sara-san would never dream of showing herself in such a state to any man other than me, even if they were friends like Yuji and the others. So why was she going this far?
...Wait!
Could it be that what Yukie-san prepared was...?
“...Sara-san, are you truly, truly okay with this?”
“Of course. I am fully prepared, so please rest assured and leave everything to me.”
“...Understood.”
I see, so that was it.
Despite being the center of attention and having men watching, the reason Sara-san said it was no problem—and even declared she was fully prepared—was likely because whatever Yukie-san had brought was some kind of “countermeasure” for this situation.
For instance, wasn't it likely one of those things mothers use to wrap around their entire bodies when they nurse their babies in public?
If that were the case, it would explain why Sara-san was stubbornly insisting she was fine. Well, to begin with, Sara-san was wearing clothes, so perhaps I didn't need to worry quite that much.
“Sara-okaasan, hurry, hurry!!”
“Drink lots, baby~”
“I’m so excited...!”
“Then, Kazunari-san... here I go.”
As Sara-san spoke with a voice tinged with a hint of tension, she moved her hand to the Back of the Head as I lay on her Lap Pillow, applying a bit of pressure to lift me up.
I felt a slight, subtle sense of dissonance in that movement that was different from usual. When I thought about what was about to happen to me, the tension spiked.
“Fufu... you do not need to be so nervous. I do have some experience with this, for what it’s worth.”
“Eh?!”
E-Experience? What on earth did she... No, no, she meant she’d done it before as part of Playing House with children, right?!
Then it didn't count, it doesn't count... Stop thinking about unnecessary things, me!
“Kazunari-san...”
As I harbored those irreverent thoughts, I felt the presence of something approaching my face. In the next moment, something touched my lips.
But what was strange was that the sensation felt remarkably lifelike. I couldn't believe it felt like it was touching me through fabric. What was going on?
Could it be... No, it couldn't be?!
“Now, open wide (Ahn)...”
“Wait?! S-Sara-san, stop!! You don't have to go that far?!”
“Eh... Kazunari-san?”
I couldn't imagine Sara-san would actually go that far!
But since Sara-san never compromised when it came to me, the possibility wasn't zero... maybe?!
Anyway, right now—!
“N-N-No, it’s still no good!! I can’t let Sara-san do something like that!!”
Even if I was called a wuss or a coward, I couldn’t let Sara-san go that far as part of a mere game!
In the first place, I believed that things like this should be done when we were alone... at a more proper time.
“Kazunari-san, whatever is the matter? I do not believe I am doing anything particularly special...”
“Eh...?”
“True, giving a Baby Meal to Kazunari-san might be a bit unusual, but this is ultimately just Playing House... and there is nothing particularly problematic about this act itself, is there?”
“...Is that so?”
“Yes.”
In contrast to my flustered state, Sara-san’s voice held not a shred of hesitation. That meant I was the only one panicking in this situation.
In that case, honestly, it wasn't that I didn't have thoughts about it—on the contrary, I had nothing but thoughts about it—but since the person herself, Sara-san, was saying that much, shouldn't I just accept it?
And presumably, countermeasures had been taken against the surroundings... they were taken, right?
Alright, this time for sure.
“I understand. Sorry for the weird concern.”
“No, likewise. I am deeply reflecting on the fact that I have ended up making you feel embarrassed at this late stage. Once this matter is concluded, I shall apologize properly...”
“No, no, that’s exactly what I should be saying...”
The embarrassment I was feeling was nothing compared to the Ritual (?) Sara-san was about to perform. Letting her apologize for that would truly leave me with no dignity whatsoever.
So even when this sequence ended, I wouldn't let Sara-san apologize.
That was final!
“Then, Kazunari-san...”
“Yes...”
This time, I opened my mouth without hesitation and waited for the moment that was about to arrive.
It was okay, it would be fine.
Even if I didn't worry, Sara-san would surely...
“Big Brother Baby, it’s time for your meal~”
“Kazunari-san, open wide...”
Mio-chan and Sara-san’s voices overlapped, and the moment I felt something enter my wide-open mouth...
Whatever, let it happen!
“Amu!...”
Since I had no idea how much pressure to use, I gently took it into my mouth, being as soft as possible so as not to hurt Sara-san, as if I were touching a fragile object.
The moment I became aware of that sensation, my heart rate surged all at once. While desperately suppressing the irreverent sensations that were about to sprout in my head and heart, I squeezed my eyes shut tight to focus my spirit...
And the sensation of that soft something I felt clearly immediately after...
The sensation was...
...Wait?
Oh...?
“Kazunari-san, how is it?”
“Mugu...”
The sensation in my mouth had a strange elasticity that was clearly different from a person’s skin, and the shape felt somewhat different too.
Furthermore, if I were to think about it carefully, if I were to take Sara-san’s “that” into my mouth, there should be various other parts touching my face...
Which meant...
“Mgh?!”
Taking the plunge, I opened my eyes. The first thing that jumped into my field of vision was Sara-san’s face, gazing down at me with her usual gentle look.
And at the edge of my vision, I could see what looked like a bottle containing a whitish liquid, and it was extending from my lips... maybe?
“Kazunari-san, you do not need to force yourself to drink all of it, you know? I did not specifically adjust the flavor.”
“That’s right. I just used the powder as-is, so don’t overdo it, Kazunari-kun?”
“Mmph?!”
Being pointed out by the two of them, I finally noticed the taste of the milk filling my mouth. To put it mildly, it wasn't delicious. The moment my sense of taste, which had imagined something like cow's milk, registered the utterly unexpected flavor, I let out a muffled groan.
I mean...
Is! This! A! Baby! Bottle?!
“What a truly strange feeling. To think the day would come when I would serve Kazunari-san a meal with a baby bottle.”
“That’s true, but I never expected Sara-chan to go this far.”
“Fufu... answering Kazunari-san’s spirit is my top priority.”
“Mugu.”
At such goddess-like kindness overflowing with affection for me—so very typical of Sara-san...
The irreverent emotions I had been suppressing instantly transformed into embarrassment, wretchedness, and then, a massive sense of guilt.
Toward Sara-san’s heart and feelings, which were so pure, innocent, and untainted... I...
Toward that Sara-san... I waaaaaahhh...!
If there was ever a time to want to crawl into a hole and die, it was now!
“Pfft... uhihihi...!”
“N-Natsumi-san, laughing is a bit much... pffft.”
“Takanashi-kun definitely misunderstood it for something, didn’t he... ehehe!”
“Y-Yoko!!”
“No, I mean, it’s only natural to misunderstand...”
“Yes. Even a certain Young Lady was mistaken.”
“Wait, surely you all were the same?!”
Hey, you lot, I can hear everything!
And just like Nishikawa-san said, you guys definitely misunderstood too, didn't you?!
“Big Brother Baby, is it yummy?”
“Drink lots and grow big, okay~”
“Kazunari-san...”
As if to purify my filthy heart, Sara-san, Mio-chan, and the others stroked my head. Their kindness only served to highlight the grimy something inside me, and my unbearable feelings continued to swell at an accelerating rate.
All the various things I had been thinking on my own were nothing more than irreverent delusions...
I...
I was...!!
“Muuuuuuu!!”
“K-Kazunari-san?!”
Don’t look at me, don’t look at me right now, Sara-san!
“Big Brother Baby, behave yourself!!”
“Are you still hungry~?”
“Munaieekuee!!”
But Mio-chan and the others desperately tried to hold me down as I struggled to look away, unable to bear the pangs of conscience.
And while Sara-san looked puzzled by my behavior, she continued to stroke my head while holding the Baby Bottle...
“Fufu... mischief is a no-no... isn't it?”
“Uuuuugh!!”
And for the finishing blow, she released a line to pamper me with the most brilliant smile possible. To me right now, it was nothing short of a coup de grâce.
“Sara-okaasan, Mio wants to give the milk too!!”
“Sakura too!!”
“Yuki wants to do it too~”
“Fufu... please do your best, Kazunari-san?”
But...
It seemed I wouldn’t be forgiven just yet... yeah.