Within that very awkward atmosphere, partly because of what happened in the bathroom, I went back to my assigned room and laid down in bed.

  A lot has happened today, especially because of the event in the bathroom, and I’m mentally exhausted, so I thought of getting a good night’s sleep.

  After a night’s sleep, Alice should return back to normal…… I’m confident that such a thing would happen. So, let’s get a good night’s rest for now.

  Foolishly thinking about such things, I turned off the light in the room and closed my eyes.

  ……After I had such a thought, two hours have passed.

  I- I can’t sleep at all. Why? It’s already 1 am, and I’m usually asleep at this time, and because I’ve been walking around for the whole day, my body should have been quite tired…… but for some reason, I can’t fall asleep at all.

  No, I shouldn’t say it like I’m wondering what the reason is…… I clearly understand the reason why.

  Yes, even if I close my eyes and try to empty my mind…… The scene I saw before…… The image of a stark naked Alice is seared into my brain, and I can’t calm down.

  Could it be…… I have been accumulating it that bad? I can’t really say…… that isn’t it.

  Looking back, that kind of topic had also come up quite a bit during the course of our date, and I had probably been anguishing over it without even realizing it.

  When I pulled Alice’s hand as a joke and was about to head to the inn district after lunch…… Alice hardly resisted at all. Perhaps, if I had pulled her even more…… with Alice……


  The moment such a thought crossed my mind, the image of Alice’s nude body came into my mind again…… still lying down on the bed, I punched myself in the cheek.

  What the heck am I thinking about!? No matter how little Alice resisted, when she says she’s not ready for it, forcibly prioritizing your own desire is the most horrible act and is being disrespectful to Alice!!!

  That’s right, this is definitely because of that. It was because our date was really fun, and that’s why those dopamine and adrenaline stuff that was being released by my body is making it hard for me to sleep!

  Free myself from thoughts. I will be free from all thoughts…… Yes, my mind will now be as clear as the sky as I go to sleep.

  While I pulled my blanket over my head and desperately tried to sleep, but reality certainly is a cruel mistress…… The reserved knocking sound that followed immediately afterwards startled me to the point where I thought my heart would come out of my mouth.

  [……Kaito-san, are you still awake?]

  [A- Alice? I- I’m still awake but……]

  [……Can I come in?]

  [Eh? Y- Yeah……]

  What should I do!? The person herself is here!? C- Calm down, there shouldn’t be any strange meaning with her visit here. She’s just here to do something. Yes, she must have just been here because she had something urgent she needs to do……


  With a hand on my chest, trying to push down my loudly beating heart, I get out of bed, turn on the light and then unlocked the door.

  [……G- Good evening……]

  […………….]

  Then, seeing Alice’s appearance, I was speechless.

  Alice was wearing a pale light blue loose-fitting nightgown, a slightly large shirt with polka dots and pants. On her head, she was wearing a triangular hat, which was kind of striking in several ways.

  Hey, Alice!? Aren’t you being too serious here? Seriously, aren’t you too cute!?

  Her nightgown looks great on Alice’s wavy blonde hair, and a glimpse of her collarbone can be seen through the gap in her large shirt, which looks strangely cute.

  [……Kaito-san?]

  [……Hahh!? Ah, no, sorry. What’s the matter?]

  I was completely charmed by her appearance. Alice really unmasked herself when it was just the two of us, and along with her loose long blonde hair and blue eyes…… her appearance looks very orthodox and well-groomed.

  Even though the person herself frequently calls herself that, I guess it isn’t an exaggeration to say that she’s beautiful.

  Oops, I need to renew my thoughts. Alice is supposed to be saying something very important now. I’m sure that there must be something urgent……


  [……Ummm, “Can I sleep with you”?]

  [……Eh? Sorry, what did you say?]

  Kenayislipwidyu? Was that some kind of magic chant? Unfortunately, with my limited knowledge of magic, I don’t know what magic she’s talking about……


  [L- Like I said, I’d like to sleep with you, Kaito-san.]

  [………………..]

  Apparently, it isn’t some unknown magic, but it really was as I heard before, a question asking me permission to sleep with me…… That’s great.

  No, wait! There’s nothing great over there, right!? Rather, it’s very bad…… Sleeping on the same futon with such a murderously cutely dressed Alice? No, no, that’s impossible, as expected, if I don’t refuse here, my reasoning will be……


  [……Ummm, I feel a little “lonely”…… is it…… no good?]

  [No, I don’t mind. I was just about to go to sleep myself.]

  ……It was no good. No, this can’t be helped. I mean, there’s no way I can say no to her if she looks that lonely when she asked that.

  Guhhh, i- it’s alright. I should still be able to endure it…… My reasoning still haven’t fallen yet.

  The room is dimly lit, with only a faint moonlight coming through a crevice in the curtains. In a bed that was wide enough to sleep alone, but a bit narrow for two people to sleep in, I was currently in the blanket facing away from Alice.

  [……I’m sorry. Selfishly asking you this.]

  [No, but what’s with you, all of a sudden?]

  [Ahh~~ No, ummm, today’s date…… I really had lots of fun, and because of that…… I just wanted to act spoiled to Kaito-san for a bit.]

  [………………….]

  Alice releases a one-two combo of a jab, followed by a straight…… Her bashful smile had a tremendous amount of power that I felt like my reasoning is being slowly whittled out.

  Desperately trying to cheer up my reason that was about to enter the red zone just from her first strike, I turned to Alice and wryly smiled.

  [Ahh, that’s right! Kaito-san, would it be alright if I ask for an “arm pillow”?]

  [……I- It’s totally fine. C- Come on over.]

  [Thank you. Then, excuse me……]

  However, she didn’t let me off and continued with her attack.

  Feeling as if my thread of my reasoning is being sawed away, I agreed to Alice’s request.

  Thereupon, Alice happily held my hand and laid her head on my arm as she declared…… A- And her face is even closer than before!?

  [……A- Ahaha, this feels a bit embarrassing, isn’t it? However, I also…… wanted to try this once too.]

  [……Didn’t you say that you wanted to do everything you’re yearning for?]

  [Yes. And another one of them came true again…… This is happiness.]

  [I- I- I- I see……]

  Hey, as I thought, are you doing this on purpose? Are you deliberately trying to destroy my reasoning? The situation is really bad already, but I can also feel Alice’s body heat on my arm and her breath is hitting my face……


  Thereupon, Alice and I both fell silent, and we stared at each other in the dim darkness.

  Gazing into Alice’s beautiful eyes, I felt as if I was about to be sucked in, and somehow, our gazes were getting hotter and hotter.

  [……U- Ummm, Kaito-san…… I know that it’s already quite late to say this…… but this situation we’re in feels embarrassing, isn’t it?]

  [U- Unnn. It certainly is quite late to say that……]

  [……Ummm…… if it’s just a kiss…… errr…… it would be fine, you know?]

  [……Eh?]

  I reflexively asked back to her soft whisper. Alice blushed with embarrassment, but she still looked at me and continued to speak.

  [……I still haven’t worked up the courage to do “that” yet but…… if it’s a kiss…… no, ummm…… I want to kiss you.]

  [……Alice.]

  I felt so hot that it’s as if my mind has turned numb. I can’t take my eyes off of Alice.

  Even though I’ve already kissed her twice, was it because of our current situation that I’m feeling helplessly tense?

  Putting my slightly trembling hand on Alice’s cheek, I keep my eyes straight in hers as I bring my face closer.

  Alice doesn’t close her eyes either, as she leans her face a little bit closer to make it easier for us to kiss, and after a few seconds…… our lips meet.

  [Hnnn……]

  Alice’s lips are soft and somehow sweet. I could also see my reflection in Alice’s eyes very clearly.

  We kept our lips piled up with each other for a few seconds, not being aware of anything aside…… Guided by the heat, my tongue lightly knocks on Alice’s closed lips.

  [Hnnnn!?]

  When Alice noticed this, her eyes widened and a shocked expression appeared on her face.

  And just when I realized my blunder and tried to move my face away…… Alice’s hand went to the back of my neck, her lips pressed tighter than befor, and at the same time…… as if to lead my tongue in, her mouth slightly opened up.

  […..nnchuu…… aahhnn…… chyuu……]

  As if it was sucked in, my tongue enters Alice’s mouth and begins to move to taste the warm and sweet interior of her mouth.

  At first, Alice accepted my tongue without any resistance but…… after a little while, as if guided by my tongue, her tongue began to move, and our tongues intertwined and were making lewd sounds.

  [Hnn…… Fuuaaa…… nyuu, chyuuu, chuuuu…… fwaahh…… chyuuu……]

  How long had we been exchanging saliva with each other like this? After a long… really long kiss…… When I pulled my face away, I saw a silver thread between Alice’s and my mouth.

  And then, as an absentminded expression appeared on Alice’s face, after a little while, she recovered and her face turned bright red.

  [……Auuuuuuu.]

  [E- Ermm, sorry…… I couldn’t help myself.]

  I’m not sure if embarrassment was welling up from within me or not, but when Alice buried her bright red face in my chest, I reflexively uttered an apology.

  [……I- It’s alright…… I was surprised but…… it felt good……]

  [Uuuu……]

  [U- Ummm…… Errr, Kaito-asn.]

  [U- Unnn.]

  [T- That’s enough for today…… P- Please forgive me.]

  [Y- Yeah, don’t worry…… I won’t be forcing Alice to do anything.]

  Gently hugging Alice in my arms, I spoke to her softly to reassure her. At this moment, I also didn’t forget to keep my lower half slightly apart from her.

  Alice, held within my arms, looks up at me with moist eyes and softly murmurs.

  [……I’m sorry…… I won’t keep you waiting too long…… So until the day I have the courage…… please wait…… a bit more.]

  [Unnn. You don’t really have to rush it……]

  [……Yes. Thank you.]

  Ending with those words, Alice closes her eyes and a little while later, begins to sleep peacefully while leaning her body against me.

  Seeing her expression of complete trust in me…… I quietly prepared myself for an all-nighter.

  Dear Mom, Dad———- This may be the first time I’ve ever been this close to the edge of my reasoning. No, rather, I even feel like it slightly collapsed. But well, Alice asked me to wait. She also had a look of trust on her face, as if to say that she believed in me. Then, I’ll just have to overcome this———— This battle against the warmth that whittles away my reasoning.

  **********