Episode 406: A Brief Moment of Peace

「By the way, why did Mayumi and Sara come here? I’m sure I told you to wait over there.」

Managing Director-san and his son left, and once the atmosphere finally settled, Masaomi-san returned to his usual tone and asked Mayumi-san. Now that he mentioned it, I wondered why Sara-san and Mayumi-san were here.

「Hmm, I just followed after Sara-chan because she moved so suddenly… I had a bad feeling about it.」

「I simply came because I sensed the presence of some insolent person planning a wicked scheme against Kazunari-san.」

「A wicked scheme… do you mean the Managing Director?」

「No, that is something else entirely.」

「…Don’t tell me.」

「Oh, does Masaomi-san have someone in mind?」

「Eh!?」

Under the interrogating, judgmental glares from Sara-san and Mayumi-san, Masaomi-san quickly looked away. Unfortunately for him, that reaction was completely counterproductive.

But wait, could that talk just now mean…

「Hmm? I thought it sounded strangely noisy out here, and it is Mayumi and… oh, Sara is here too!」

The door opened again, and just like Masaomi-san had earlier, someone popped their head out. It was, of course, the Saba Group Chairman, Shoji-san, or rather, Great-uncle. He seemed unable to hide his joy at Sara being there, but the timing was a bit off.

「It has been a long time, Uncle Shoji.」

「It has been a long time, Great-uncle.」

「Yes, yes, it has been a while, you two. My… even so, hasn’t Sara become even more beautiful since I last saw her? This already surpasses Mayumi in her youth…」

「Oh Uncle, I wonder what exactly you mean by my「youth」?」

「Ugh… n-no, that was just a figure of speech, or rather, you are still quite you… sorry.」

Facing Mayumi-san’s smiling face which radiated a terrifyingly mysterious pressure, Great-uncle quickly raised the white flag and bowed his head. Yeah, age is definitely a forbidden topic with women. It is best to let sleeping dogs lie.

「By the way, there’s something I would like to ask you, Uncle. Is that alright?」

「Hmm? What is it, looking so serious?」

「There are a few things that have been on my mind for a while. But I will set those aside for later…」

「It seems Father has some idea who the insolent person planning a strange scheme against Kazunari-san might be… what about you, Great-uncle?」

「A-a strange scheme?」

「Yes. I intend to take a firm stand against any insolent person who troubles my precious Kazunari-san.」

「T-troubles…?」

Under Sara-san’s pressure (and with a straight face to boot), which was no less than Mayumi-san’s, Great-uncle looked like he had plenty of ideas. In fact, his expression practically screamed that she had hit the mark.

「Oh dear… I hope you are not going to tell me that you tested my cute son, Uncle? For example, seeing how serious he is about Sara-chan… or something like that?」

「Testing… I cannot let that slide. You aren’t going to say something ridiculous like you were doubting Kazunari-san, are you, Great-uncle?」

「N-no, well, you see… S-Sara? Since when did you become so, sca…」

「Just answer the question.」

「Y-yes!!」

Cornered from the front by Sara-san and Mayumi-san, the two great heroines the Satsukawa family boasts of, even the Chairman of Saba was completely on the defensive. He was sending pleading looks for help toward Masaomi-san and me.

Or rather…

Sara-san, if that’s true, that’s seriously impressive!?

「W-well, about Sara, of course, but I also wanted to hear directly from him how serious he is about the future…」

「There was no need to confirm that. Kazunari-san has already begun putting in effort toward his future path, has he not?」

「I’m sure we reported that to you already, so were you not trusting us?」

「N-no, that is a separate matter, I just wanted to see for myself.」

「…I see. So, what kind of things did you say while trying to test Kazunari-san?」

「It looks like we really need to interrogate him properly, doesn’t it? Depending on what was said, I might have to report this to Mother too…」

「What!? N-not Sachie-san, please spare me!?」

At the keyword「Mother」dropped by Mayumi-san, Great-uncle showed his most intense panic yet. It seemed he was truly flustered… or was he actually afraid?

「Great-uncle?」

「Uncle?」

「S-Sara? M-Mayumi?」

Cornered by Sara-san, who was now closing in with such intensity she was practically expressionless, and Mayumi-san, whose smile didn’t reach her eyes at all, Great-uncle looked pitiable, without a shred of dignity left.

Mmm… this is a bit sad.

「Sara, Mayumi-san, Great-uncle was just truly worried about me. That is why he said those things to test me and hear my true feelings. I don’t think it was a bother or a nuisance at all. In fact, I’m actually grateful…」

This wasn’t just me throwing him a lifeline, it was how I actually felt. While it is true he was tested, Great-uncle also showed a side of himself that was genuinely worried about me while claiming he just wanted to confirm things… probably.

So, I could at least say this much.

「Darling… fufu, I understand.」

「Sara?」

「Since you have gone that far, I can’t possibly meddle any further… and besides.」

「…And besides?」

「Fufu… it is a secret♪」

「Eh?」

Her demeanor toward Great-uncle changed completely, and she smiled at me with a look that was strangely cheerful, happy, and a bit mischievous.

To be honest, she is so cute it’s a problem.

「…W-what… the.」

「…Uncle, what is wrong?」

「…N-no, to think he could change Sara from that state in an instant…」

「…Nfufu, Sara-chan is head over heels for Kazunari-kun, after all.」

「…I-I see. But calling him「Darling」even though they aren’t married yet…」

「…Isn’t it fine? It’s up to them.」

「…You have changed too.」

「…Maybe, nfufu.」

「Anyway, regarding Great-uncle…」

「Yes. I will follow your wishes.」

「No, you don’t have to be that formal about it…」

「Fufu♪」

Sara-san was in such a good mood that it was almost excessive. Her behavior was a bit different than usual, which left me a little confused, but since she wasn’t in a bad mood, I decided to just let it be. I didn’t quite understand the reason, though…

「A-alright, now that the talk is settled…」

「Oh, we will put Kazunari-kun’s matter on hold, but I still have other things I want to ask, you know? Masaomi-san is curious too, right?」

「Y-yeah. There are certainly some things I’d like to confirm.」

「W-what is it…?」

It seemed Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san had something else on their minds, but since nothing else occurred to me, their words were a bit concerning.

「I see, well, I will leave that matter to you then… Great-uncle, could you lend us a room?」

「Hmm? A room? You can use this one if you like… did something happen?」

「No, I just thought I would let Kazunari-san rest for a bit.」

「Eh? Sara?」

Did Sara-san just say she was going to let me rest? Why so suddenly…

「Rest? Well, there is a bed, so I don’t mind… b-but, the two of you?」

「Aww, Sara-chan, that is unfair! If that is the case, then Mother will…」

「Mother, you have things to discuss with Great-uncle, do you not? Don’t worry about us and please have your talk to your heart’s content. Or rather, I’m sure I have always said that taking care of Kazunari-san is my duty alone.」

「Uugh… Sara-chan is so mean.」

「I wouldn’t know anything about that.」

「Haha…」

The interaction between those two was so typical that I couldn’t help but laugh. But putting that aside, why did Sara-san suddenly…

Ah…

Don’t tell me…

「…M-Masaomi-kun, are Mayumi and Sara always like this?」

「…It is embarrassing to admit, but yes.」

「…Mmm, it seems she has found a big shot in a different sense as well.」

「…Haha, certainly.」

「S-Sara? I am not really tired or…」

「Darling, do you really think I haven’t noticed?」

「Ugh…」

It seems my guess was right, she had noticed「that」. As expected of Sara-san, she sees right through me…

「…I don’t quite get it, but anyway, if you want to rest, use that room. We will talk in a separate room used for meetings… is that alright, you two?」

「Ee. Any place where we can talk calmly is fine.」

「Yes. We look forward to it.」

Masaomi-san and the others nodded at Great-uncle’s kind proposal. Meanwhile, Sara-san was already gripping my hand and pulling me toward the room… or rather, trying to get me to rest, applying a bit of strength to draw me in.

「There is still some time, so feel free to take it slow, okay? At the very least, just make sure you’re back by the time the next guest arrives.」

「Yes. Please excuse us then.」

「Sorry, Great-uncle.」

I gave a light bow to Great-uncle for his kindness and followed Sara-san into the room after she opened the door to the special suite.

And the first thing I should do…

I’ll take my medicine before it gets too bad.

「Darling, here.」

「Thank you.」

I accepted the glass Sara-san prepared and took one pill from my portable case… medicine for migraines, and swallowed it. To be honest, it hadn’t reached the level of「pain」yet… but they say it’s better to take this kind of medicine before the pain gets strong, so sooner is better.

However, putting that aside, as always…

「Phew…」

「How is the pain?」

「I’m still okay. It’s just starting to feel like a light ache. Or rather… how did you know?」

「Fufu… I see everything when it comes to you♪」

「Haha, that’s true. It’s a real help, thank you.」

「Yes♪」

When I gave a small bow, Sara-san beamed with a happy smile…

「Now then…」

As if she had thought of something, she suddenly looked around the room and started walking toward the sofa where we had been talking with Great-uncle… bringing me along with her.

「Here, Darling… go ahead?」

She sat down right where I’d been sitting earlier and lightly patted her thighs. Of course, I knew what that meant… but today was a bit different.

「Sara, if I do that, your dress will get wrinkled…」

Today, Sara-san wasn’t in her usual clothes, but a gorgeous purple long dress. If I used her lap as a pillow, it would definitely wrinkle it…

「Darling… no-no, okay?」

「Ugh…」

As expected, Sara-san gently scolded me for hesitating. When she does that「no-no」, I can’t resist at all. I’m really weak against it. Which means…

「…I understand.」

「Yes, good boy♪」

When I raised the white flag, Sara-san happily patted her thighs again. That’s right, she isn’t the type of person to care about those things for my sake.

「Well then, excuse me…」

「Fufu… please.」

I murmured my usual line and lay down on the sofa. Sara-san immediately placed both her hands on my head and gently guided me to her lap. And when I steeled myself and relaxed, I felt a heavenly, soft, and comfortable sensation against my cheek…

「Please stay lying down until the pain goes away, okay? If you get sleepy, you can just go to sleep.」

「Yes, thank you.」

While gently stroking my head, she whispered into my ear with a sweet voice that was already generating a soothing effect. I felt my strength and everything else drain away in an instant.

「…Darling, good work today.」

「No, I haven’t really done anything yet.」

「No. Between when I arrived, the meeting with Great-uncle, and what happened just now, things have been non-stop. You must be tired.」

「Ahaha… well, when you put it like that, I might be a little tired mentally.」

Added to the anxiety of participating in the party itself, there was the non-stop series of events… the meeting with Great-uncle was especially tense at first. In that sense, it’s probably no surprise a migraine or two would pop up.

「It’s just the two of us here, so please relax your mind while you can, okay?」

「You’re right… then, I’ll take you up on that.」

「Yes♪ Darling, please face this way.」

「Umm…」

I was currently lying with my back to Sara-san, toward the back of the sofa. 「Facing this way」 meant turning toward her. On a sofa that wasn’t exactly wide, our bodies were quite close to keep me from falling… but still.

「Hup…」

Since I no longer had the option of not following her instructions… I carefully and slowly turned around, being mindful of my position.

「Eipp♪」

「Nmu!?」

Once my head was in place, Sara-san pulled me closer. Immediately after, I felt something soft against the front of my face… a sensation so soft it was alarming pushed against me from the front and sides!?

「It’s easier for the pain to fade when it’s dark, isn’t it?」

「Y-yes, it is.」

It’s true that pain tends to settle down in the dark… I see, so that was her goal with this… no, she’d probably do this anyway, as usual.

「…Darling♪」

「Yes?」

「Fufu… I just wanted to call you♪」

「Umm…」

What should I do? Sara-san looked incredibly happy… seeing her like that made me happy too, but what was this feeling that was even more cheerful than usual, yet also embarrassing?

「Darling… I was happy about what you said earlier.」

「Sara?」

「The way you spoke firmly to that person… clearly saying that you are the only one allowed to call me by my name.」

「…I’m sorry, I guess my possessiveness came out a bit too strong…」

I’d simply felt jealous when that person called her「Sara-san」, and my desire for monopoly came out in full force… and that extra appeal about being the only one who can call her「Sara」without an honorific was a complete manifestation of possessiveness.

「Please don’t apologize. I am truly happy that you felt possessive, you know? Because I feel the same way…」

「Sara…」

「I also want to boast to everyone that I’m your number one, and that often comes out in my actions. But that’s simply because I love you… because I love you so much, I…」

Gently…

Sara-san leaned forward slightly and wrapped her arms around my head, embracing me… as if she were conveying her feelings with her whole body, deeply, deeply…

「If you wish to monopolize me, please don’t hold back and just say so. I desire that, and it is certainly nothing to apologize for, okay? If anything, it’s nothing but a joy for me… fufu.」

「Sara… thank you.」

「Yes, well done♪」

Sara-san, who had completely accepted my embarrassing possessiveness, stroked my head as if to say「that’s the right answer」when I thanked her. Then, she moved my head upward a little…

「Nn…」

Chu… she gave my forehead a gentle kiss…

「Darling… I love you.」

When our eyes met, she whispered that with a heated gaze and a sweet voice that felt like it would melt me just by listening. I felt like my consciousness was about to be stolen away…

「I love you too… muggu.」

Driven by my love for her, I tried to sit up without thinking, but in that moment, my lips were suppressed by hers.

「Nn…」

「Uu…」

At the soft sensation on my lips and the warmth of her body pressing against me, I simply let myself be, my strength draining away…

「Fufu… no-no to getting up yet, okay?」

「Ugu…」

Looking at me with that exquisite smile and poking my forehead with her finger, her gesture tickled my heart. It’s no use, I can’t win. Well, I don’t really mind losing…

「Darling… why don’t we sleep just a little like this?」

「Eh?」

「You’ll feel much better after even a little sleep… so please be a good boy, okay?」

「S-Sara… wapu.」

Sara-san pulled me against her stomach again, and this time she started moving her body slowly as if rocking me, while gently tapping my back with a constant rhythm.

「♪…♪…」

Then she began to hum a peaceful, soothing lullaby. Thump… thump… the beat of her heart reached my right ear, which was pressed against her.

「Uu…」

As I surrendered to that comfort, my mind and body quickly regained their calm…

Or rather, I went past that. With the relief from the pain as the medicine kicked in, I felt like I wanted to just leave everything to her…

「Sara…」

「Good boy, good boy… what a good boy… fufu.」

「Uu…」

The affectionate stroking repeated over and over on my head, and her sweet voice tickled my heart, reaching the very core of my body…

My heart was filled with love for Sara and a sense of peace, and I couldn’t think of anything else…

Gradually…

I…

「Sa… ra…」

「Goodnight… Darling.」

「Uu…」

Finally, my voice as I tried to say something…

Did not become words…

「Nn…」

Lastly, leaving behind a happy sensation from a kiss…

My consciousness slowly…

Sara POV

「Suu… suu…」

「Fufu… he has fallen asleep.」

While stroking Kazunari-san’s head and back as he breathed peacefully, I savored this moment of happiness to the fullest… fufu, I’m truly happy. Thinking back, since I arrived at this venue, Kazunari-san has faced one struggle after another…

I feel very apologetic, but seeing him fight so hard for my sake makes me happy and fills me with confidence in him. Even while thinking it is inappropriate, I find myself rejoicing, reconfirming that I’m a woman after all. Well, the fact that I can feel the joy of being a woman is entirely because I have a beloved person like Kazunari-san… this is nothing but happiness.

I would love to stay immersed in the joy of enveloping him like this forever, but unfortunately, there are still major hurdles ahead… a situation that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call the climax is waiting, so Kazunari-san must rest for at least this moment.

「Darling…」

「Nnu…」

「Fufu…」

I don’t know if Kazunari-san is aware of it or not, but since that talk, he has been calling me「Sara」without an honorific. That makes me so happy that I have started calling him「Darling」in return, and it seems he has accepted that without any discomfort. If he continues to call me by my name like this… what shall I do? Of course, if he permits it, I intend to call him「Darling」at school or anywhere else, just as we promised… fufu♪

「Muu.」

「Hyan!?」

Kazunari-san moved suddenly against my stomach, and a sound escaped my lips… good, it seems he hasn’t woken up. This position is efficient for letting him rest, but it has the disadvantage of being a bit ticklish at times… even if it isn’t a specific weakness, it seems my stomach is a bit sensitive. I never dreamed I would discover that fact from a lap pillow…

「Honestly, Darling… being naughty is a no-no, okay?」

「Suu… suu…」

When I whispered to him, Kazunari-san started breathing softly as if in response. Seeing him look so cute makes me want to kiss him again, even though I just held back… honestly… fufu.

「About ten more minutes, I suppose…」

If he falls into a deep sleep, it might interfere with what comes next, so I can’t let him sleep too soundly. So, just like our breaks during study sessions, it must be for a short time… even that should be enough to refresh him, and I can recharge my own energy as well. It’s like killing two birds with one stone, an efficient and ideal rest time for us… oh dear, who am I saying this to? I must focus.

「♪…♪…」

This is a lullaby my grandmother used to sing to me when I was small… Kazunari-san seems to have taken a great liking to this song. When I hum it, he listens with a happy, cute smile. And if I continue for a while, he falls asleep before I know it… that sight is so adorable that I can’t help but kiss him over and over in secret…

After all…

It’s your fault for being so cute, Kazunari-san, you know?

「♪…♪…」

While thinking about those things, another precious minute passed… there isn’t much time left, but at the very least, until the final second arrives…

So that I can be your peace and your healing, I will enjoy this happiness too…

「I admire you… I love you… Darling… nn…」

While humming the lullaby, I feel my dear Kazunari-san’s warmth…

A little over eight minutes left…

Please rest well…

Darling♪