Once inside her assigned bedroom, Anima retrieved her pajamas from her Magic Box. She used to sleep in the nude, but after Kaito’s persuasion and the gift of these pajamas, she now wore them to bed as a matter of course.
Today has been a truly magnificent day. I got to stay by Master’s side the entire time, we talked endlessly, and we even bathed together... I can’t stop smiling. No, wait—this whole situation only happened because I failed to look after my own health. I should be reflecting on that, not... Ugh, it’s no use. The pure happiness of being with Master is washing everything else away.
She had cycled through this internal debate several times today. In the end, her joy inevitably triumphed over her desire to apologize. While she felt a lingering sense of guilt about it, her state of mind was beyond her power to correct.
Indeed, even as she changed and prepared for bed, her mind refused to dwell on repentance; it was filled only with the blissful warmth of her time with Kaito.
I get to spend tomorrow with Master as well. During the last Beach Trip, I was still a newcomer among his lovers. Since such prestigious figures as Shallow Vernal-sama, Alice-dono, and Kuromueina-dono were there, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of reserve. Even though they told me it was fine to act informal, I was still far too conscious of their presence.
Anima held Alice in high esteem as a role model in many fields, viewed Kuromueina as her practical mentor, and felt a profound sense of awe toward Shallow Vernal, the deity who had reincarnated her. Her devotion to Shallow Vernal was particularly deep; in a setting like the previous Beach Trip where all of Kaito's lovers were gathered, it had been impossible for her not to be mindful of their hierarchy.
Tomorrow, however, would be a Beach Trip at a Private Beach with just the two of them. She would finally be able to enjoy herself more freely than ever before.
Just being alone with Master is a level of happiness beyond my wildest expectations. Seeing the way he looked out for me today... while I do feel apologetic, the feeling of being cherished makes me so happy. In fact, because we were together for so long until just a moment ago, I’m actually starting to feel a little lonely... No! Stop it! I can't keep causing Master more trouble! I must get a good night's sleep so I can greet tomorrow in peak condition. To do that, I shall go to sleep at once.
Shaking off that slight chill of loneliness, Anima climbed into bed and deactivated the Lighting Magic Tool. Nestled in her blankets and dreaming of the coming day with Kaito, she quietly drifted off into a deep slumber.
Anima’s consciousness gradually surfaced from the depths of her comfortable sleep. She let her thoughts wander idly, her eyes still closed.
Ah, is it morning already? I must have been more exhausted than I realized. I slept so deeply that even opening my eyes feels like a chore. This warmth enveloping me is so pleasant... and dozing while surrounded by the scent of my beloved Master is the height of bliss... Bliss... Wait. Master’s... scent?
As her mind cleared, Anima immediately detected the anomaly. As a Beastman-type Demon, her sense of smell was exceptionally sharp; there was no way she could mistake the scent of her most beloved Kaito.
But that didn't make sense. She had slept in a separate bedroom. There was no reason his scent should be here. Not only that, but the blankets felt remarkably warm—it was the unmistakable heat of another person’s skin. Bewildered, Anima snapped her eyes open. Her mind went completely blank at the sight of Kaito’s face, sleeping peacefully right in front of her.
M-M-M-M-Master!?
The shock nearly sent her leaping out of her skin, but at the very last second, her instinct to not wake him took over. She managed to swallow the scream that had clawed its way up her throat.
However, suppressing her physical reaction didn't help her understand the situation. She was utterly lost.
W-W-W-Why is he in my bed?! Did he mistake the rooms? No, that’s impossible. Even if I was asleep, could I really have failed to notice someone entering... let alone Master's presence?
She searched for answers with her racing mind. Anima was one of the world's elite, a powerhouse with strength comparable to a Count-class. No matter how tired she was, failing to notice an intruder should have been impossible.
Furthermore, her heart was so attuned to her beloved Master that she was certain she would have sensed him approaching. Yet here he was. The impossible had occurred, and her brain couldn't keep up.
Still careful not to wake him, Anima shifted her gaze around the room, only to realize something even more startling.
Wait... The window... is in the wrong place. In my room, it should be over there relative to the bed. If it's over there... then this isn't my room. This is Master’s room. Which means... I’m the one who intruded into Master’s room and crawled into his bed?!
The only thing that kept her from howling in despair was the sheer depth of her love for him. Needless to say, Anima’s mind once again plummeted into a state of total, paralyzed shock.
???: "Phew."
Machina: "Oh? Back already?"
???: "Yes. As the Cupid of Love, I just finished a very important job. Anyway, what are you doing?"
Machina: "Ah, just taking precautions. In case you turn into Solid Chocolate, I'm preparing tools to crush or melt you down."
???: "...Ah... I see... Wait, what?"