Since it was already quite late, after we enjoyed chatting while looking at the starry sky, we decided to go to bed… The cottage was quite spacious and had a good number of rooms.

  At least, it was too big for Fate-san and I. There are several bedrooms, and the beds inside them were very high quality and looked very comfortable to sleep on.

  [Heehhh…… The bed looks nice. It’s got a nice feel to it, and it’s big enough.]

  [……………………]

  That’s strange. We should have agreed on a room for each of us at the beginning of our trip, so why was Fate-san here? On the contrary, she even dove on my bed faster than I could……


  [Ummm, Fate-san?]

  [Unnn?]

  [We’ve decided on a room each, right?]

  [That, we did.]

  [This should be my room, right?]

  [Unnn, of course, I know that?]

  I asked her just in case I was actually the one who got the wrong room, but she replied to me, looking as if she was asking about what I’m talking about.

  [……Fate-san.]

  [Unnn?]

  [In the end, what are you doing here?]

  [Eh? Let’s sleep together. Even though we came out of our way to come here alone with each other, what’s the point if we’re sleeping in separate rooms?]

  […………………I see.]

  Perhaps, Fate-san had no evil thoughts at all, and was just saying it in a very normal way…… as if what we were about to do was comparable to taking a nap together.

  How should I say this…… It’s hard to reject someone with such a pure desire to be with their lover.

  Well, as long as I don’t think about strange things too much, it should be fine…… We’ve napped together on floating cushions, and Fate-san finds it easy to fall asleep, so she’ll be asleep soon.

  [I guess you’re right. Well then, shall we sleep together?]

  [Unnn, unnn.]

  At any rate, I left the room and changed into my pajamas before coming back. The bed was large enough for both of us, so we wouldn’t be cramped.

  While I had such things in mind, I decided to lie down on the bed where Fate-san was already lying down on…… Ahh~~ Fate-san’s face is closer than I expected, and she smells kind of nice, which made my heart beat faster.

  [Kai-chan, Kai-chan, what should we do tomorrow?]

  [For the time being, when we wake up, we’ll have breakfast. Just make something simple…… When we’re done, maybe we can go for a walk, not to the lake today, but to the mountains…… When I came here, I glimpsed that there were a lot of flowers in bloom.]

  [Ahh~~ that sounds nice. It sounds like that would be fun!]

  Somehow, being like this, together under the same covers made me feel warmer than when I would be sleeping alone.

  It’s not that I’m in close contact with Fate, as there’s a decent amount of space between us, but it’s still warm enough to make me feel as if our body heat was being transmitted to each other.

  Hmmm, this won’t do. I can’t help but feel like my thoughts are going towards a certain direction. However, if I were to get too absorbed in the conversation with Fate-san, it would result in Fate-san sleeping even later.

  Especially for Fate-san, whose sleep wasn’t essential, so I don’t think she felt that sleepy at all. I suppose it would be like, if she wants to sleep, she can easily sleep? So, as long as she enjoys the conversation, she won’t fall asleep.

  What about staying up all night and continuing talking with her like this? If I were to put aside the fact that I wanted to sleep, it was not a problem and seemed like a pretty good idea.

  Or perhaps, maybe I’ll fall asleep first…… Will I be able to sleep though? Simply sleeping in the same bed with my lover makes me conscious, and even now, I’m already thinking about all sorts of things that I hardly feel sleepy.

  [Oiiiiii, Kai-chan, look here.]

  When I was thinking about what to do, Fate-san lightly tapped me on the shoulder, and I realized that I had been concentrating too much on thinking instead of talking.

  [Ah, I’m sorr——— [ Ei! ] ————Hnnn!?]

  What I saw the moment I turned around, apologizing, beautiful purple eyes filled my vision, and immediately after, I felt a soft touch on my lips.

  I immediately realized that she had given me a surprise kiss, but I couldn’t think of anything else, and after we continued to kiss for a few seconds, Fate-san pulled her face away and my consciousness finally returned.

  [F- Fate-san!?]

  [Hey, Kai-chan? Do you remember the first day we met?]

  [Eh? What are you suddenly saying…… Of course, I remember it.]

  Tilting my head at Fate-san, she didn’t even mention anything about how she just kissed me, but instead asked me about something that seemed unrelated. Fate-san’s voice sounded more serious than usual, or rather, it felt as if her voice was taking my breath away.

  When I responded to her, Fate-san slightly smiled and continued.

  [Ahh, this is troubling. This feels totally different from what I was thinking the first time we met…… You really wouldn’t know what fate brings to you huh. Hey, Kai-chan. Can I ask you something?]

  [W- what is it?]

  [The first time we met, “Kai-chan tried to run away”…… but “if I were to ask you the same thing I did at that time”…… Would Kai-chan accept me without running away?]

  [Fate-san……]

  [Kai-chan…… I love you.]

  Along with those words, I could see Fate-san bringing her face closer again.

  **********