Episode 346: Spoil Me Tonight

Night…

I decided to take a slightly longer bath today, partly to wash away the exhaustion of the day.

I used to be the type to jump in and out like a crow, well, maybe not quite that fast, but I usually finished up pretty quickly. The fact that I have started properly soaking every night now is undoubtedly thanks to Sara-san. Especially since I started living alone, I found filling the tub to be a hassle and wanted to save as much as I could on living expenses, so I was even faster and simpler about it than when I lived at home. But since I started living with Sara-san, I obviously couldn’t keep doing that, or rather, I couldn’t make Sara-san do the same.

Well, since Sara-san started barging into the bathroom, you could say it has become semi-forced, including today.

By the way, I have no reason to worry about saving on living expenses at the moment. (That doesn’t mean I have become rich). The money sent from my parents hasn’t changed much, but on top of that, I have support from the Satsukawa family, and since Sara-san is surprisingly good at managing money, my savings have actually increased.

Of course, since it’s not an allowance, I do have the thought that I should return it if it is too much, but…

When I lightly touched on the subject before, Mom gave me an answer solely focused on Sara-san, saying,「Use it for Sara-chan or save it for Sara-chan,」and Mother-in-law even went as far as fake crying (probably), saying,「Even your Mother-in-law wants to give Kazunari-kun an allowance, so don’t act like such a stranger, sniff sniff.」In the end, I reached the conclusion that I should just accept it gratefully.

Click…

「Phew… sorry to keep you waiting.」

While I was thinking about that, the door to the changing room opened and Sara-san came out in her pajamas. It is not just today, but Sara-san after a bath is… well, how should I put it, strangely… actually, never mind.

「A-Are you done already? You must be tired today too, Sara-san, you could have taken your time…」

「Fufu, thank you. I have relaxed enough, so I’m fine. More importantly, Kazunari-san, please put something on, okay? You will catch a cold dressed so lightly.」

Since I was still feeling the warmth of the bath, I was in a light state with only a shirt on top, though my bottom half was fine. And since the air conditioner was on in the room, to be honest, I wasn’t cold at all. That said, I usually dress properly, so I was just being careless today.

「I’m sorry, I will put it on right away…」

「Here, please take this.」

Sara-san opened the dresser before me and quickly pulled out my pajamas. I thanked her and took them, sliding my arms through the pajamas that were folded as neatly as if they were brand new.

「Now, Kazunari-san, why don’t you come over here?」

In the meantime, Sara-san had sat down on the futon and was lightly patting her thighs, staring at me with a beaming smile. This was undoubtedly an appeal for a lap pillow, and since it was right after a bath, it was one or even two levels more dangerous for me, yet the option to refuse didn’t exist for me.

Because, I mean, it makes me happy…

「E-Excuse me…」

「Fufu, welcome♪」

I sat down next to Sara-san and slowly lowered my body, finally resting my head on Sara-san’s thighs. This moment is when I am most nervous, or rather, the exquisite sensation that hits me immediately after is so happy it is actually scary, in a way…

「♪~」

Stroke, stroke…

But… Sara-san started stroking my head gently and carefully as if to soothe my tension. She seemed to be in a very good mood, even humming a tune, over and over…

Stroke, stroke…

Stroke, stroke…

「Phew…」

「Fufu, what is the matter?」

「No, I just felt relieved all of a sudden and lost my strength…」

「I see. A lot happened today, after all…」

「Yeah.」

To be more precise, Sara-san’s lap pillow just felt so good that everything I had been holding in just came out at once, but well, it’s not exactly wrong, and there’s no need to correct it.

「Ah, that’s right. I received a message from Mother on RAIN earlier…」

「From Mayumi-san? Come to think of it, what happened with that talk in the end?」

Given the situation and the flow of things, I did not think she would say「cohabitation is no good」anymore, but still, since we took the form of a「match,」it would be awkward if the conclusion was left unknown.

「The conclusion is that she will no longer meddle in our lives. She said we may continue our life together as we have been.」

「I see. So that means Sara-san won, right?」

「I believe that is what it means. There was no explicit mention of winning or losing, but knowing Mother’s personality, she would never say such a thing if I had lost.」

「I see, well, that is good then. To be honest, I was more worried about that than the results of the Miss Contest…」

I didn’t think Sara-san would lose, but the condition for this match was that it wouldn’t be a victory unless Mayumi-san accepted it, which was a pretty disadvantageous condition. Anyway, if she won safely, I’m relieved.

「Fufu, even if the opponent is my own Mother, it is impossible for me to lose when it involves Kazunari-san. If there is anyone I cannot win against, it is only Mother-in-law.」

「Haha, that is true. I didn’t think for a second that Sara-san would lose this match either. I mean, I think you could win easily even against my Mom?」

I am not saying this out of bias, but in my pure evaluation, the victory would undoubtedly go to Sara-san. Or rather, Sara-san is just that amazing.

「Thank you. I shall put in even more effort from now on to meet your expectations, Kazunari-san.」

From my perspective, Sara-san is already more than enough as she is, and I don’t think any more effort is necessary, but saying that would just be tactless.

In that case, I should just be honest…

「Truly, thank you as always. I can only convey my gratitude with words like this, but…」

「No, for me, those words are the greatest reward. I am truly happy that I could make you glad, Kazunari-san.」

「Sara-san…」

「Besides, I have even received the proof of our engagement… telling me not to be fired up after that is simply impossible, you know? Fufu…」

「Ah, well, that is…」

Certainly, for Sara-san, who is a stranger to the word「compromise」in the first place, there was no way she would accept an engagement ring and then say,「I will just keep doing things as I have been.」In that case, my role is to accept the things Sara-san wants to do with a smile more than ever before, it comes down to that.

「But, it’s a strange thing. Our engagement is a fact, and we have already started preparing for the future, and yet, just by having one visible form like this engagement ring, the reality of it has strengthened all at once, in a way…」

「…I agree. I feel like I can sense something different now, just from the fact that Sara-san is wearing the ring I gave her.」

「Yes. I also feel like the confidence that I am Kazunari-san’s fiancée overflows even more when I am wearing this ring. And in terms of the public eye too…」

「Yeah. To tell you the truth, that was one of the reasons I prepared it. To let other guys know that Sara-san is my fiancée and not to approach her. So, to be honest, I was relieved that I was able to give it to you there.」

That ring also had the aspect of acting as a so-called bug repellent to show the public that we were already engaged, so I wanted to give it to her at「that place」no matter what to maximize that effect. If we did it that proudly, I want to believe there will not be any more guys approaching Sara-san at school.

「Fufu, thank you, Kazunari-san. I am truly happy that you would think that much for me. Let me thank you once again…」

「Sara-san, that goes both ways, you know? I received a necktie, after all.」

「No, a necktie and an engagement ring cannot even be compared in the first place. I am truly…」

「If you are going to say that, you have no idea how happy your present made me, Sara-san…」

「Kazunari-san…」

To me, the value of that necktie is not at all inferior to an engagement ring. The reason that it is a precious present from Sara-san is obvious, but the act of giving it in that place was synonymous with me proposing to Sara-san, so its value should be the same.

「Fufu, I understand. Then, as you say, Kazunari-san, I shall consider that necktie to be synonymous with the ring, okay?」

「Yes, please do. That necktie is proof that I am Sara-san’s fiancé, you know?」

「Yes! Now that it is decided, I shall put even more feeling into tying that necktie starting next time!」

Sara-san showed a beaming smile at my answer and resumed the movement of her hands that had stopped on my head. I felt the emotion of joy through the movement of her hands as well…

「Sara-san…」

That said, the lines I am about to say will not look right if I stay on the lap pillow. Even though I feel a strong pull to stay right where I am, I brace myself and slowly lift my upper body. If I am going to say this, I want to at least be looking at her properly.

「Once again, I look forward to our time together. As lovers, and as fiancés…」

「Yes, me as well. I am a person of many faults, but I look forward to being with you. I shall put in even more effort from now on to become a woman who is not a disgrace as your fiancée, and as your future wife.」

In response to my more or less formal greeting, Sara-san unexpectedly sat in seiza and bowed her head deeply. It is very like her, in a way, but being that formal makes me a bit panicked!!

「Sa, Sara-san, please stop!! That is my line!! If anything, I’m the one who needs to work hard to become a man worthy of Sara-san…」

「No. I am the one who must become a woman worthy of being Kazunari-san’s partner…」

「Sara-san, you are perfectly fine exactly as you are!! If anything, I am the one…」

「Kazunari-san, this is my…」

「No, no, I am the one… mgh!?」

The second I thought this exchange felt like déjà vu, my lips were easily blocked by Sara-san who suddenly launched an attack. Another scene of déjà vu… or rather, is this Sara-san’s finishing move to forcibly seal my words!?

「Mnh…」

Chu…

Being blocked almost by force, I couldn’t say anything more, and besides, the sensation of Sara-san’s lips felt good… no!! While I was in a slight panic from the suddenness, Sara-san pulled her lips away slowly with a mischievous look that said,「I got you.」

Dammit…

It’s frustrating that I’m not frustrated even though I lost.

「Fufu, then shall we work hard together?」

「Yes…」

「Good boy♪」

Besides, if she wraps things up so beautifully with such a radiant smile at the end, I really can’t say anything. I can only call it a complete defeat.

But, I have no regrets in losing.

If Sara-san can smile like this, then that is the greatest happiness for me.

「Sara-san… I will work hard. For your sake, and for my own.」

「Yes. I shall help you with everything I have. It is my mission to support you in both your public and private life as your wife and partner, after all. And…」

Saying that much, Sara-san gently pulled my body close and hugged me as if to envelop me. I also gave myself over to her movement…

「I want to soothe you when you are tired like this, Kazunari-san. That is my most important and happiest role.」

「…Thank you. If I can get a reward like this, I can work as hard as it takes.」

「Fufu, I shall soothe you with everything I have from now on too, okay?」

「Yes…」

If I act spoiled, Sara-san is happy. That is a fact beyond doubt, and if that is the case, there is no reason to hold back. If anything, I know that holding back would actually make Sara-san sad. Of course, because of my internal brakes as a man, I can’t act spoiled without limit, but even so, I can’t help but think I want a little more…

「…Kazunari-san, shall we go to sleep now?」

「Eh? Already?」

When I checked the clock on the wall, it was only just past 9:00 PM. It was a bit early for bed, nearly two hours earlier than usual. I wondered what happened all of a sudden…

「Yes. We were busy yesterday and today, so you must be tired, Kazunari-san… and besides.」

「And besides…?」

「…I am in the mood to dote on you over and over inside the futon tonight, Kazunari-san…」

「…Sa, Sara-san?」

「…Is that not allowed?」

「Ugh…」

Th-This is unfair!! When Sara-san says something like that, especially when she looks up at me with a slightly embarrassed expression while「begging,」how could I possibly refuse, how could I!!!!

「I-I understand…」

「Fufu, please act spoiled with me as much as you like, okay? Holding back is… a no-no, you know?」

「Yes…」

With Sara-san’s whisper being so incredibly sweet, I can’t help but sense an unprecedentedly intense battle ahead. Yes, a premonition of my lonely battle… no, a battle as a man that I absolutely cannot lose!!

But it is okay. I’m not misinterpreting or misunderstanding anything. I know this is a purely Sara-style way of acting spoiled and begging, and there are no deep meanings or impure motives at all. There is only one thing there, Sara-san’s incredibly kind wish to dote on me and have me act spoiled. If that is the case, I will definitely win today’s battle too. If I can see Sara-san’s happy smile like this, I can work as hard as it takes.

But…

I can’t help but wish she would understand a little bit of the male heart that feels happy yet pained, Sara-san.

「Kazunari-san, please move closer, okay?」

「Y-Yes.」

Once we slipped into the futon, Sara-san pulled my head toward her without question. In no time at all, I was guided to the heaven that I could call my special position, and the soft something I felt through the thin pajamas… the large something!?

No matter if it is an everyday occurrence, it is impossible for me to get used to this…

「Fufu, my heart really feels at peace when I am holding you like this, Kazunari-san. I feel so full of happiness that my exhaustion just flies away.」

「Y-You are right, I also…」

「Yes♪ Now, Kazunari-san, as we promised.」

「Y-Yes…」

She immediately started the combo of stroking my head and patting my back at the same time.

Occasionally, she would let out a happy「fufu…」in my ear, and each time she would pull my face tight into heaven, or rather, hug me, trying to let me act spoiled with everything she had, just as she declared.

The embrace felt so incredibly good that I felt like I was already starting to melt…

「Sara-san…」

I also wrapped my free right arm around Sara-san’s back and pressed my body against her as if to hug her back. I know that doing that naturally means my face gets buried even deeper into heaven, but Sara-san just let out a happy sound at my action…

「Good boy…」

Sara-san tightened her grip on my head, and my face was buried deeper into heaven than ever before.

At this point, I passed the point of being flustered, and it felt like a「certain kind」of alarm started ringing loudly in my head… but.

「Kazunari-san… good boy… good boy.」

Stroke, stroke on my head…

Pat… pat… pat… pat on my back.

Enveloped in Sara-san’s boundless kindness and sweetness, as I quietly gave myself over to it, I could hear her heartbeat, thump… thump… No, it wasn’t my imagination.

But why is it? I have felt this before, but when I listen to Sara-san’s heartbeat like this, my heart rapidly starts to find its calm…

All unnecessary anxiety and other things vanish completely, leaving only a pure desire to remain enveloped in a sense of security and act spoiled honestly…

At least right now, I feel like I can act spoiled with peace of mind without worrying about unnecessary things.

「Fufu, you have finally become honest♪」

「…Because Sara-san told me to.」

「Kazunari-san… you are so cute…」

Sara-san tightened her hug on my head even more, and we became so close it felt like she was pressing her whole body against me.

Could it be that my words touched Sara-san’s heartstrings or something!?

「Sa, Sara-san?」

「To say such an adorable thing… you are unfair, Kazunari-san…」

「I-I’m sorry, it just slipped out…」

「Please do not apologize. I am very happy, you know? But… what happened all of a sudden?」

「No, a lot happened today, so I guess I wanted to act spoiled with Sara-san too…」

The desire to act spoiled with Sara-san is there every day, not just today, but I’m aware that the feeling is stronger than usual because too many things happened today.

So that was just… something that happened in the moment.

「Fufu, I understand that feeling well. I was also feeling high-spirited today… it must be because you proposed to me, Kazunari-san.」

「Ahaha. I have the thought myself that I might have gone a bit too far. But if we are talking about that, I didn’t expect Sara-san to say those things either, you know?」

「Yes… I am sorry for acting on my own without consulting you. To tell you the truth, I have had some thoughts about that matter for a while… since I was going to be used as a crowd-puller anyway, I decided to use the situation to its maximum potential. Besides, I could hardly use a school event for personal reasons, after all…」

「Ah, I thought about that too. But I was worried that doing that would not only give us a bad impression, but in the worst case, we might even face disciplinary action from the school. Even if we wanted to announce it grandly, it is still a personal matter.」

If we wanted to make everyone aware of us at once, using a school event where students gather or using the school broadcast would have been the quickest way, but there was no way we could do that.

If we did something that bold and grandly announced,「We are engaged!」then people would obviously wonder,「Who do you think you are!?」

If I would think that myself, then those around us would surely think so even more.

「Yes. Especially for you, Kazunari-san, we must absolutely avoid anything that would affect your internal records. In that case, this Miss Contest was a godsend… or rather, I decided to make them pay the “bill” for dragging me into that farce.」

「I see. For the record, I was in the mood to just destroy the Miss Contest because it was making Sara-san feel bad. Plus, I also wanted to reduce the number of guys approaching Sara-san by making a grand proposal… so I’m actually quite satisfied that the end of the Miss Contest became a mess, you know?」

「Fufu, you are a bad boy, aren’t you, Kazunari-san? But… I am happy about those feelings…」

「Sara-san?」

Suddenly being pulled away from heaven and having my face guided upward, I saw Sara-san’s smile as she stared at me with a gentle gaze.

Her smile, seen faintly in the moonlight entering the dimly lit room, looked as though it held a somewhat mystical atmosphere… but that thought only lasted a second…

Chu…

The next moment, I felt the sensation of a gentle kiss on my lips.

It was not pressed hard, nor was it a light touch, but a kiss filled with Sara-san’s feelings that I could clearly feel.

「Kazunari-san… mnh…」

Chu…

「Mmh!?」

I thought she was pulling her lips away just to call my name, but then she stole my lips again immediately. I was surprised by the unexpected consecutive kisses, but since Sara-san was holding my head firmly, I couldn’t move. So as I quietly gave myself over to her, I eventually felt the sensation of the kisses spreading from my lips to my entire body…

The feeling was so good and I was so happy that I felt like my whole body was truly going to melt this time…

「Fufu…」

Finally satisfied, Sara-san let out a small laugh and slowly pulled her lips away.

She stared at me from point-blank range and then, as if realizing something, showed a mischievous expression.

「Fufu, your face is bright red, Kazunari-san♪」

「Ugh… d-don’t say that…」

I wondered if she could really tell in this darkness, but I guess Sara-san just knows. For the record, I’m aware that my face is bright red myself.

I mean, if there is anyone who could stay calm after having that done to them, I would like to see them!!

「Please show me your adorable face more clearly…」

「Wait, Sa, Sara-san…!?」

Sara-san placed her hands on both my cheeks to fix my head position and then, wearing a very happy smile, stared intently into my face. But her voice did not hold the innocence of her expression. If anything, it sounded like a somewhat devilish begging, filled with a massive amount of sweetness and acting spoiled.

I mean…

When you whisper in such a sweet and sad voice, my heart starts pounding like crazy!!!

「Uuu…」

「Kazunari-san… so cute…」

「Sa, Sara-san, please, it’s enough…」

「Ah, do not hide. I want to see more of the adorable Kazunari-san, you know…」

I couldn’t hide my face with my hands, and I couldn’t leave this spot either…

In a situation that could be called a shame-play, Sara-san stared at my face while her smile grew even happier…

But…

But…

No matter how much it’s for Sara-san’s smile, I can’t do this anymore!!!

「P-Please, give me a break!」

「Eh… hyan!?」

And the only method left to me… the only shelter was one thing!!!

That was, of course, Sara-san’s heaven!!

Throwing away all appearances, I shoved my face in there on my own, and Sara-san let out a sexy… no!! A surprised voice.

「Ka, Kazunari-san… mnh.」

I moved my face slightly as a sign of protest, and Sara-san let out a tickled sound. I didn’t quite know what I was doing myself anymore, but this was meant to be an appeal for her to at least stop the shame-play.

「Ka, Kazunari-san… naughty is a no-no, okay?」

「Mgh!?」

Then this time, I was squeezed tight against heaven in that same position, losing even the last means of self-assertion I had left.

I mean… what am I actually doing…

「Fufu, bad boys who are naughty get punished. Please reflect on your actions there for a while, okay?」

「Ophay…」

As if she intended it as a punishment, Sara-san pressed my face against heaven a bit firmly.

When that happened, the soft sensation I felt through the thin pajamas was transmitted directly to me, and it felt like my heart was about to start racing at a sudden speed… but.

At the same time, Sara-san’s heartbeat being transmitted back seemed to bring even more of a calm back to my heart.

And besides…

「♪~」

Sara-san’s humming, which sounded like a lullaby and was pleasing to the ear, and having my head stroked gently and my back patted… it almost made me feel as though I had returned to being a small child, a total illusion…

「Kazunari-san…」

Sara-san’s feelings, which enveloped me in a boundless sweetness and sincere kindness, were so happy…

So I was now completely at her will.

「Sara… san…」

Before I knew it, the「something」similar to the frustration I had felt earlier rapidly lost its momentum, and all that remained was a pure desire to「act spoiled with Sara-san.」

So I didn’t resist that urge, if anything, I moved my body closer to Sara-san and hugged her back with everything I had.

「Fufu, what a spoiled boy you are♪」

「…Is a little more… not allowed?」

「No… not at all.」

I thought I had said something bolder than usual myself, but I could no longer hide the truth that I「wanted to act spoiled with Sara-san.」

And Sara-san also let out a happy sound at my acting spoiled, and she hugged me back with everything she had, covering me with her body and squeezing my head.

「Fufu, to think you would make such an adorable request, Kazunari-san…」

「W-Well… I thought it would be okay once in a while…」

「Do not say once in a while, I would like to do this for you every day, you know?」

「N-No, if I did this every day, I think I would be in trouble, or rather, I feel like I would become more and more of a useless person…」

I already leave everything to Sara-san and act spoiled on a normal basis, so I’m scared that doing this every day would really make me fall into depravity.

Besides, I seem to be okay today, but there is no guarantee that the impulsive「something」inside me will not explode at some point…

When I think about that risk, acting spoiled with Sara-san proactively without any brakes is not something I can do easily.

「I understand. It is a shame, but I shall leave the moderation to you, Kazunari-san.」

「Y-Yes.」

「However… you are saying today is not a problem, right?」

「Um…」

「Kazunari-san, please tell me clearly…」

Since it is really rare for Sara-san to「beg」me for something like this… how should I put it, its destructive power is so high it is a problem.

She called me unfair earlier, but from my perspective, Sara-san is the one who is unfair.

「Well… it’s not a problem…」

「Yes♪ Then for tonight at least… please become as useless as you like, okay?」

「Yes…」

「Fufu, it is okay. No matter how much you act spoiled with me, you will never become a useless person, Kazunari-san. That is something I know better than anyone else. And… if by some chance you do become a useless person…」

「…If I do?」

「I shall take responsibility for you for the rest of my life♪」

「Haha…」

If Sara-san says that much to me, I absolutely cannot become a useless person, no matter what.

Besides, in my true heart, I can say with certainty that no matter how much I act spoiled, I will never cross the line at the very end. Because I have the certain confidence that I can work as hard as it takes for the sake of the precious Sara-san.

「So please rest easy and act spoiled with me to your heart’s content, okay? I shall also dote on you to my heart’s content today.」

That said… I already have a premonition of a crisis.

I wonder if I will be able to overcome this trial of excessive happiness tonight…

「Kazunari-san… I love you♪」

Chu…

Apparently my lonely battle starts in earnest from here.

Work hard, me!!

Do not lose, me!!

But at least… please go just a little bit easier on me!!