Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as the saying goes. I’d just survived a front-and-back happiness sandwich, only to find myself caught in a left-and-right one.
I wasn’t even sure what I was thinking anymore, but I knew my current situation was precarious.
I was lying in the middle of a massive bed. I’d fainted in the bath, so I’d been worried I was naked, but to my relief, someone had dressed me in a bathrobe-like garment.
That was the good news. The bad news was that Kuro was on my right and Isis-san was on my left. They were fast asleep, sandwiching me and clinging tightly to my arms.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized Kuro was wearing nothing but an oversized shirt, while Isis-san was in a baby doll. Their attire was incredibly defenseless—and provocative.
It was dangerous. Once I became aware of it, the soft sensations against my arms became impossible to ignore, and my heart began to hammer against my ribs.
Kuro’s chest was modest, but it had a pleasant, firm elasticity that I could feel vividly through my sleeve.
Isis-san was larger and incredibly soft; it felt like my arm was being enveloped by warm pillows of mochi. This was bad. Seriously bad. I felt another nosebleed coming on.
"...Nnh."
"——!?"
As if to deal a finishing blow to my sanity, Kuro tossed and turned in her sleep, stretching one hand across my body.
Her hand slipped through the gap in my bathrobe with terrifying precision, coming to rest near my waist—or rather, right next to the Dangerous Zone.
This was bad! Really, really bad! I had to move her hand... Wait, she wouldn't budge!? What was this strength? She was supposed to be asleep, yet I couldn't move her an inch!
I couldn't worry about being rude anymore. If this continued, things were going to become very unwholesome. I had to wake her up.
"K-Kuro... please, wake up..."
"Nnnh... hnyu... nyaa? Kaito-kun...?"
"Thank goodness... Sorry for waking you—!?"
As I called out and tried to shift the arm she was holding, Kuro slowly shook her head and opened her eyes.
My relief lasted only a second. A tremendous chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat began to pour as I saw her drowsy, melting gaze.
It was what you might call a survival instinct. Based on past experience, my body sensed exactly what was coming next.
But even if I wanted to run, Isis-san was clinging to my other arm. I was trapped!
Kuro’s hand slowly reached around the back of my neck.
"Mwah..."
"Mmph!?"
"Nnh... chu... mwah... hah..."
"~~!?"
Her lips pressed against mine, and her tongue slipped inside, moving wetly in every direction as if to savor every corner of my mouth.
I desperately tried to escape the thick, deep kiss that felt like it was melting my brain, but my body wouldn't budge a millimeter.
Kuro usually didn't sleep; she had no need to. However, after we became lovers, she started sleeping beside me on occasion. It was an expression of affection, showing me that she didn't mind revealing her defenseless sleeping face to me, which made me incredibly happy—but Kuro was an abysmal waker.
To be specific, this was the second time this had happened. It seemed that whenever she found me while half-asleep, she immediately transitioned into kissing. Both the first time and now, I ended up on the receiving end of a passionate assault without any hope of resistance.
There was no way that I—who was weaker than average—could resist Kuro, who was arguably the strongest being in the world, no matter how drowsy she was. My movements were completely neutralized by the hand she had wrapped around the back of my neck.
Actually, I should probably be grateful that her strength control was perfect. At least my neck hadn't snapped like a dry twig.
"Mwah... nnh... Kaito-kun... I love you..."
"!?!?!?"
"...Hmm? ...Eh? Kaito-kun?"
"..."
Accompanied by that passionate kiss, she whispered her love in a sweet, melting voice, pushing my temperature to the boiling point.
Just when it felt like my reason was about to crumble into dust and I was going to pounce on her, Kuro fully opened her eyes and tilted her head.
It seemed that this time, too, she didn't remember the kiss. Regardless, my body was released. I felt both relieved and somewhat disappointed.
"...It's unfair... for Kuromueina to be the only one."
"Huh?"
"Fueh?"
Wh-What...? That voice just now...
Just as I thought I’d been released from Kuro’s reason-destroying kiss, I heard a familiar voice. I turned around with the jerky movements of a rusted tin doll.
There, having woken up at some point, was Isis-san. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she was looking at me with expectant eyes.
"...A-A-Ah, Isis-san!? Wh-What do you mean by unfair...?"
"...I... want to... kiss... Kaito... too."
"~~!?"
I knew she was watching! No, seriously, I couldn't take any more! I’d worked so hard, I’d endured with everything I had! One more attack was going to be the death of me!
"...Ah, no, well, that's..."
"...Kaito... do you hate... kissing me?"
"I don't hate it! In fact, it would make me very happy!"
"...I'm glad."
There was no right of refusal.
Upon hearing my words, Isis-san narrowed her eyes happily and leaned in.
"...Nnh... chu..."
"Mmph!?"
"...Slurp... chu... hah."
"~~!?!?!"
It was sweet. The inside of my mouth felt warm and sugary. My thoughts were melting. I was going to turn into an idiot.
"That looks nice... Kaito-kun, I'm next!"
"Mmmph!?!?!"
Next!? Kuro, you might not remember it, but you just had plenty! Are you still going!? I can't, I really can't anymore!
"...Haa... haa..."
"Kaito-kun? Are you okay? Was it hard to breathe?"
"...N-No..."
"...Do you want... water?"
"...I-I'm... fine."
I endured. I made it through. I triumphed over a battle with my own reason that felt far too long and agonizing. Honestly, I deserved a medal. I’d never worked this hard in my life.
I never imagined that keeping my vow to take our time and deepen our relationship properly would be such a steep road. I wondered how many times I’d considered giving up along the way.
In any case, having overcome what might be the greatest trial of my life, I lay back on the bed and steadied my ragged breathing. Kuro and Isis-san followed suit, and a gentle silence descended upon the room.
"...I wonder what this is... I'm... so happy."
"...Eh?"
"Isis?"
In the silence, Isis-san whispered in a small voice. Both Kuro and I turned toward her. She was looking at us with a smile that seemed to come from the very bottom of her heart.
"...Kaito is here... Kuromueina is here, too... I'm not alone... My heart... feels so... warm."
"Come to think of it, ever since the Friendship Treaty was finalized, I've been so busy that I haven't been able to come visit you much."
"...Yes... Thanks to Kaito... I'm not lonely... So... I'm happy."
"Yeah... I feel the same way. Honestly, no matter how much I thank Kaito-kun, it'll never be enough."
Kuro and Isis-san exchanged words in soft, calm voices. Because they were two people who had both suffered through the agony of loneliness, albeit in different forms, they seemed to truly feel the weight of the happiness they shared right now.
Hearing them, my overheated brain regained some composure. I slowly reached out, wrapping my arms around their shoulders and hugging them both tightly.
"!? Kaito-kun?"
"...Kaito?"
"...I promise. I'm just a tiny human... but even so, I'll never let Kuro or Isis-san feel lonely ever again. I swear it, right here and now."
"...Kaito-kun."
"...Kaito."
Hearing my words, the tension left their bodies and they leaned their weight into me.
"...As I thought, Kaito-kun is so cool."
"...Yes... Kaito... is wonderful."
"Right, Isis?"
"...Yes."
While clinging to me from both sides, Kuro and Isis-san exchanged short words before leaning in to kiss me on both cheeks simultaneously.
"I love you."
Their voices overlapped as they spoke those words from the bottom of their hearts. As I savored the happiness soaking into my soul, I vowed once again to cherish them both.
Then, Kuro and Isis-san closed their eyes and fell asleep while still clinging to me.
I truly was a lucky man. I had been filled with tension and panic, but at this moment, I truly felt glad to be with them.
...Alright, now I just had to endure until morning.
In the end, unable to sleep a wink, I returned to the front of Lilia-san’s mansion via teleportation magic, rubbing my sleepy eyes.
"Happiness fatigue" sounded like a luxury, but it didn't make the physical exhaustion any less real.
"...Um? Kaito-san? What happened? You look like you’ve been through the wringer."
"What happened, you say... Alice, weren't you watching?"
"No, even I wouldn't be that tactless. When you're with Kuro-san or Isis-san, I stay at a distance and only use Magic Power Detection..."
"I see... Well, to put it simply..."
Feeling a sense of relief at Alice's rare look of genuine concern, I began to explain the circumstances in brief. She listened in silence, then nodded after a while as if satisfied.
"...I see. Well, unlike humans, Kuro-san and Isis-san don't have instincts rooted in the preservation of the species. In a sense, their affection is incredibly pure and straightforward."
"...Yeah, so it's hard to make a move, or rather..."
"No, well, isn't that fine? Both Kuro-san and Isis-san have lived for eons, and they know that humans have those kinds of desires. So, if Kaito-san wants it, they'd be happy to oblige, you know?"
"...No, that's exactly why I’m hesitant about the timing."
"Hmm, Kaito-san is kind, after all. Well, I guess the timing Kaito-san is satisfied with is the best."
Perhaps because I’d been on edge for a full day, talking with Alice was relaxing.
Oh, right... I was sleepy, but I was also hungry. Since I was here, maybe I’d invite her along.
"...By the way, Alice, changing the subject..."
"Yes?"
"Would you accompany me for a bit?"
"Wha—!? D-D-Date!? K-K-K-Kaito-san!? What’s with the sudden proposal!?"
For some reason, Alice started panicking. It might have been my imagination, but her cheeks seemed a bit red.
"No, I just find it relaxing to talk with you..."
"Fueh!? N-N-N-No way... because you can't make a move on Kuro-san and the others... you're using me as a substitute!?"
"...Huh?"
"W-Well, I mean, I certainly am a 'Former Human,' so I’m more understanding of those things, but... I need time to prepare myself mentally too!"
What was she talking about? The conversation was derailing in an incomprehensible direction.
"W-Well, I can make clones and things... and I can change my size pretty much at will, so I could probably accommodate all sorts of... variety... but I have my own mental preparations to make!"
"...Um... Alice?"
"Y-Yes!? Er, well, ah... P-Please be gentle with me!"
"...No, I was just asking if you wanted to go grab a meal."
"I knew that’s how it would end! Dammit!! I wasn't! I wasn't expecting anything at all!"
"...Huh?"
"It's nothing! Since it's come to this, I’m going to binge-eat!"
She was as baffling as ever. Well, I guess that meant she accepted the dinner invitation.
At any rate, once I’d filled my stomach, I was going to get some proper rest.
Dear Mother, Father——
My stay at Isis-san's house, where I was tense the whole time and repeatedly reached the limits of my self-control, has come to an end. I’ve managed to return home safely. It was exhausting in many ways, but after all is said and done, I feel—truly happy.