The Hidden Talent Show was over, and as Alice had announced, it was time for an intermission. It was only a thirty-minute break, but I was looking forward to refreshing my mind.
"Well then, as I mentioned before, we’re going to take a thirty-minute break. Everyone, please stay right where you are. You’ll be teleported to your respective rooms in five minutes. If you have someone you’d like to share a room with, just picture them in your mind. If your choice matches theirs, you’ll be sent to the same room. Use these five minutes to figure out your arrangements!"
That made sense. For example, Lilia-san would probably prefer resting with Luna-san or Sieg-san, and married couples like Shigenobu-san and Hanna-san would obviously want to be together.
I, on the other hand, figured I’d just spend the time alone and take a proper breather. With that in mind, I waited for the five minutes to pass. Soon, my vision blurred, and I found myself in a room that looked like a suite in a high-end hotel. It seemed like a nice enough place, but as I glanced around, I froze.
"Wait... Shiro-san? What are you doing here?"
Standing there with an expression that suggested her presence was the most natural thing in the world was Shiro-san. That was strange. I was certain I had visualized being alone, which should have made it impossible for us to end up in the same room. That meant Shiro-san must have forced the connection from her end.
"I am here to adjust for a grave injustice."
"An injustice?"
When I tilted my head, unable to grasp her meaning, Shiro-san gave a small nod and began to explain.
"Yes. A trend emerged where your lovers do something special when presenting you with a gift. Since that pattern started well after I gave you mine, I was unable to participate. This is highly inequitable."
"Oh... I see..."
I understood what she was getting at. I wasn't sure how it had started, but a trend really had developed where my lovers were expected to be a bit more intimate during their turns. Even if it wasn't a hard rule—since Kuro and Sieg-san hadn't really followed it—I knew from experience that Shiro-san hated feeling left out.
In Kuro's case, while she hadn't done anything during the gift-giving itself, she had kissed me on the cheek after winning the game tournament. Shiro-san might have been feeling competitive about that as well.
"So, what is it you want to do, Shiro-san?"
"During this thirty-minute break, I wish to engage in the sort of flirting expected of lovers, while also ensuring you receive proper rest."
"Basically, you're saying you want to spend the break here with me?"
"Yes."
It wasn't as if there was a problem with that. Shiro-san was my lover, after all, and I certainly didn't mind her company.
My only concern was how one went about "resting" while also "flirting." Based on her words, I could tell she wasn't suggesting anything scandalous; she genuinely wanted me to recover from the mental fatigue of being the center of attention. But what exactly did she have in mind?
"I'm more than happy to spend the break with you, Shiro-san, but what does resting while flirting actually look like? Did you have a specific request?"
"Rest assured, I have devised a plan. I have come up with a way for you to rest while allowing us to act as a couple."
Shiro-san nodded firmly, then sat on the edge of the large sofa in the room and patted her lap.
"Please, come here."
"Oh, a lap pillow?"
"Yes. This way, you can lie down and rest, which fulfills the requirements for a romantic event."
It was actually a perfect suggestion. It addressed my need for a break while satisfying her desire for intimacy. Since we were alone in this private room, I didn't feel my usual embarrassment. It was an environment where I could let myself be pampered.
"In that case, I'll take you up on the offer. Excuse me."
"Please."
I moved to the sofa, kicked off my shoes, and lay down with my head in her lap. Her thighs were soft, and a faint, comforting warmth radiated from her. It was a wonderful sensation. Looking up, I could see just the hint of a smile on her face. It was the perfect spot to relax.
"You may take a nap if you wish."
"That sounds great. I feel like I could fall asleep right now."
"I can extend this time as long as I wish, so do not let it trouble you."
"I see. In that case... maybe just for a bit..."
Even though the break was officially thirty minutes, time was child's play for someone like Shiro-san. She could stretch the seconds out as long as she wanted. Knowing that, I felt the last of my tension melt away. Her lap was incredibly comfortable, and with her permission to sleep, a heavy wave of drowsiness washed over me.
Serious-senpai: She’s saying some terrifying things... "indefinite extensions"... And Kaito is just flirting away because they’re alone. This is a very dangerous road they’re heading down.