When Kaito first offered his lap as a pillow, Anima’s agitation was so profound that it was plain to see even without the use of sympathy magic. Yet, that was only the surface; internally, she was in a state of absolute chaos.
(A lap pillow from Master!? Such an act of utter lèse-majesté... I’m so hap—no! I must decline! To provide one for him is one thing, but to receive one from him is... Ah, no, but then I would be spurning his kindness! What should I do? How should I handle this?)
Her thoughts raced at dizzying speeds. Deep down, she was overjoyed by the offer, and if she let her guard down for even an instant, a grin threatened to split her face. Fighting back the urge, she continued to agonize over her response.
Possessing the mental processing power of a Count-class demon, her magic-accelerated thoughts moved at a frantic pace; even so, not even a tenth of a second had actually elapsed.
Of course, thinking quickly and arriving at a practical conclusion are two very different matters.
(In the first place, these flighty feelings are a mistake! This is no time to be gushing over traveling with Master or reveling in our time alone! My life belongs to him; I must be more disciplined... Oh, but if we are together until tomorrow morning or noon, we’ll have so much time to talk, and I can’t help but feel so hap—Get a grip, Anima! How long do you intend to act like such a flighty novice?!)
She wrestled with her conflicting emotions. No matter how hard she tried to maintain a professional mindset, the sheer joy of being with Kaito kept overriding her discipline. Having been consumed by the launch of the new tea brand lately, the prospect of quiet time with him felt like an irresistible temptation.
(This situation is the result of my own poor self-management! Even though I was warned repeatedly, I got so swept up in the honor of Master relying on me that I let myself become a burden! Remorse should be my priority right now!!)
Anima was well aware of her own over-eagerness regarding the brand launch. Perhaps a lingering remnant of the inferiority complex she once felt toward Alice, she harbored an intense desire to be as useful to Kaito as possible.
Kaito trusted her implicitly, even leaving his financial assets in her care, and she managed them expertly, steadily growing his fortune.
And yet, she often wondered how much that truly helped him. Kaito didn't care for excessive luxury; he was satisfied so long as he had enough to live comfortably and enjoy the occasional treat. Since he already possessed wealth he could never hope to exhaust, she rarely felt that her daily asset management made a tangible difference in his life.
But the brand launch was a different story. Kaito had been involved since its inception, collaborating on the planning and promotion. Being entrusted with the oversight of a project so close to his heart had sent Anima’s motivation into overdrive.
In her excitement, she had worked herself to the bone, neglecting rest and sleep entirely.
(B-But I cannot keep Master waiting any longer. Now that it has come to this, I have no choice but to accept. I-It will be fine. I’ll just take a short... a very short nap, and once I’ve recovered, I’ll wake right up...)
Though her mind had processed a mountain of thoughts, less than a second had actually passed. With a look of solemn resolve, Anima timidly lowered her head onto Kaito’s lap.
(Hwah... Ah... This is dangerous. I’m so happy my mind is melting...)
The sensation of his warmth against her head made the reality of their closeness sink in, and a helpless grin spread across her face. Fortunately, her position meant Kaito couldn't see her expression. But her relief was short-lived; the moment his hand began to gently stroke her hair, her mind went completely blank.
(Hawawawawa, M-Master is petting my head... It feels so wonderful. I’m so happy... Master... I love you so much...)
Bathed in a sea of bliss and exhausted from her long days of work, drowsiness claimed her almost instantly. Enveloped in a dream-like state of euphoria, Anima’s consciousness drifted into the depths of sleep.
Needless to say, the quick nap she had planned turned into a deep, uninterrupted slumber.
Serious-senpai: "Ugh, the sugar is lethal as always, but... Anima really does feel more like a puppy than a bear..."