Alice ended up sleeping much longer than I anticipated. I drifted off right along with her, and by the time I woke up, the world outside was already shrouded in night.
My day ended with her telling me about the reunion she’d had with her best friend in her dreams.
A friend who had transferred her soul into a Heart Tool, becoming an entity capable of speaking through dreams... It sounded like a tall tale, but seeing Alice look so truly, purely happy made it surprisingly easy to believe.
Besides, I’d already met plenty of beings who defied common sense. At this point, the existence of a soul dwelling in a weapon—a tsukumogami of sorts—wasn't particularly shocking.
Unfortunately, it seemed her friend could only manifest in Alice's dreams, so I wouldn't be able to speak with her or see what she looked like.
After our talk, I took a bath and lay down in the guest room Alice had assigned to me.
In a sense, I had already accomplished my goal for staying here, but I had decided to spend a few more days at her place, an offer she had warmly accepted.
This incident had allowed me to learn about Alice's past, but I found myself wanting to know more about the "current" Alice as well.
Since I had the opportunity, I decided I would simply enjoy my time with her.
I was just about to close my eyes and drift off when a soft knock sounded at the door.
"...Alice?"
"Ah... um, do you have a second, Kaito-san?"
"Yeah?"
Since it was just the two of us in the house, I didn't need to guess who it was.
I answered her flustered voice and opened the door, only to find Alice standing there in sleepwear I had never seen before.
Wrapped in adorable, multi-layered lace and without her usual mask, she looked almost ethereal in the stillness of the night.
Wait, Alice in pajamas? Well, even if her body didn't strictly need sleep, that didn't mean she couldn't do it.
So, the clothes themselves weren't strange... but why was she clutching a pillow?
"U-Um, Kaito-san?"
"Oh, yeah. What's wrong?"
"Th-That... um... w-would it be okay... if I slept beside you?"
"...Eh?"
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, and she spoke with her head down, fidgeting nervously. Her usual air was gone, replaced by something entirely different, and I felt the heat rushing to my own face.
I mean... sleep together? Does she mean... that?
N-No, wait! Isn't that a bit too fast? I mean, I'm sure we'll get there eventually, and since Alice is a Former Human, she probably understands the implications... but still, right after becoming a couple? I need some time to mentally prepare!
I’m a red-blooded male, after all. If you asked me if I was interested... I couldn't say no. Especially with the way Alice looked right now—so fragile and different from her usual self—my heart was hammering against my ribs.
"...Kaito-san?"
"Ex—! Ah, um... what's the matter? So suddenly?"
"Well... I’m just a little lonely. Is it... no good?"
"..."
Hearing her hesitant confession, the truth finally clicked. I realized I had completely misunderstood her.
Alice didn't have any ulterior motives at all. She was simply lonely and wanted the comfort of company. There was no hidden meaning behind her request.
...Wait, this is so embarrassing. I can't believe I was the only one panicking.
"...Am I being a nuisance?"
"N-No, it’s fine! No problem at all!"
"I-Is that so?"
Desperate to hide the fact that I’d been having such inappropriate thoughts, I hurriedly ushered her inside.
I scrambled into bed a bit prematurely. I was afraid that if Alice got in first, I wouldn't have the courage to follow her.
A moment later, Alice placed her pillow beside mine and slipped under the duvet.
We weren't touching, but just having her under the same covers changed everything. Despite the size of the bed and the plenty of space between us, the temperature under the blanket seemed to skyrocket.
"...Kaito-san."
"Eh? Wh-!?"
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
I must have been looking away without realizing it, because when I turned back at the sound of her voice, her face was right there—so close I could feel her breath on my skin.
Her stunning blue eyes locked onto mine, and her lips, which looked soft and glossy, seemed impossibly vivid in the dim light.
"N-No, it’s nothing!"
"Really? Well... this is quite something, isn't it?"
"Yeah?"
"Sharing a bed like this... it's embarrassing... but I'm so happy."
As she gave me a bashful smile, my heart skipped a beat.
The blush on her cheeks, the glimpses of pale skin through the lace... Alice usually wore long sleeves, pants, and a mask, showing no skin at all. This version of her was so fresh, so new, and so very bad for my heart.
Anyway, I had to do something. I needed a distraction.
"S-Speaking of which, I didn't know you had pajamas, since you don't really need to sleep."
"Yeah. Maybe it's a lingering habit from when I was a human. In fact, until I became your guard, I usually slept every night."
"I see... Isn't it hard being a guard without any sleep?"
"Not at all. I do it because I want to... because I love you, and I want to protect you, Kaito-san."
Her words carried an incredible weight. Maybe it was because of all the heavy things we’d discussed today, but her lack of her usual joking tone was devastating. My heart wouldn't stop racing.
While I was struggling to maintain my composure, Alice seemed genuinely content just to be near me. After a few happy smiles, she shifted closer.
The gap narrowed to just a few inches. My tension was at its peak as she pulled the duvet up over half her face and pressed her forehead against the space between my neck and chest.
"~~!?"
I could feel her breath against my skin. This was bad. This was very, very bad. Because of how gentle the contact was, I felt her warmth even more clearly, and my body felt like it was on fire.
And the most dangerous part of all was knowing that even if she didn't intend for this to go further... she would probably say yes if I asked.
It felt like having the most delicious treat dangled right in front of my nose and being told I could have a bite if I really wanted to. The temptation was agonizing.
Wait... maybe I don't have to hold back? We’re lovers, after all. Whether it’s now or later, it’s going to happen eventually... and I definitely want it to. So maybe it's fine...
"...Kaito-san... please don't go anywhere... Don't... don't leave me alone..."
"..."
Her voice was small and trembling. The moment I heard it, I mentally punched myself.
What was I thinking? Alice was terrified. After revealing her past, she was reliving the memories of everything she’d lost and the thousands of years she’d spent in isolation.
That’s why I had to be there for her now. I had to support her. I needed to put my selfish desires aside and just accept her for who she was.
With that thought, I reached out and pulled her into a gentle embrace, stroking her back.
"Yeah, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere. I won't ever leave you alone."
"Ah... yes... I love you, Kaito-san."
At my soft reassurance, Alice wrapped her arms around me and clung to me tightly.
"...I'm sorry. Tomorrow, I'll be back to my usual self... but just for tonight..."
"It's okay. You can lean on me as much as you want, whenever you need to. Okay?"
"...Yes."
As I held her and whispered those words, Alice gave me a smile that radiated pure, unadulterated happiness.
Dear Mother, Father——An Alice who is vulnerable and unlike her usual self was a fresh sight that made my heart race, but more than that, I felt a deep desire to heal her loneliness. I want to make sure my beloved girl is never, ever alone again.