Chapter 6 Seren-chan Gets Jealous
After we started living together, the instances of her visiting my live-in butler room naturally decreased, but.
“...Honestly, where does she even acquire this stuff?”
One evening, at the end of dinner. It was late June, and unlike the rainy season, it hadn't rained today.
I had come to this room to retrieve laundry detergent and noticed the items stuffed into my storage box—The first thing that stood out was the fancy handcuff that previously served as a link between Nawagami-san and me.
There was also an item like a holey ball gag, tattoo stickers, and more... It’s almost frightening how accustomed I’ve become to assuming Nawagami-san must own this sort of thing.
“She’s so hesitant to try them herself, despite her collection hobby...”
It seems she has certain boundaries she won't cross, which is somewhat endearing.
And so, well.
This was simply a whim, truly, just an impulse.
I picked up a red collar with my gloved hand. It was made of leather, presumably genuine, with a smooth texture. It looked quite authentic. I don't know the market price for a collar, but it seemed expensive.
Then. I pulled the long leash attached to it, and the tangled dog ears and tail were lifted out, like retrieving an item from a crane game. Ignoring the ears, I wondered how one was supposed to wear the tail.
As I looked, a vague thought crossed my mind. This was irrelevant, but...
That... would actually look pretty good on Nawagami-san, I think.
Both the ears and tail were stark white, and given her fair complexion, yeah, it would match well.
That would make the red collar pop even more, and with those on, she'd surely turn into a docile little doggy for me, lending a whole different meaning to the title of Master she always uses...
“...Hah!?”
The thought brought me back to reality. Hey, me, what the hell are you thinking?!
Because, Nawagami-san aside, if I start imagining things like that, it really is the end. Unlike when she begs for it, if I initiate and push it, that feels like a terrifying final step.
After all, I never thought about things like this back when our relationship was starting out.
I was her Sadist, her Master, for her sake. Essentially, I was the one being manipulated.
..................
But, perhaps.
It only means her presence is growing that much larger in my life.
In fact, the other day, I was the one who spontaneously suggested we go out since it was a day off. And when I was down about Ritsu rejecting me, she was the one who comforted me. That made me intensely happy.
It’s undeniable that she is the only person I can reveal certain parts of myself to—
Ah, that’s it.
As soon as I grasped the source of my anxiety, I returned the pet transformation kit to the box.
From an outside perspective, it might seem like I was simply being corrupted into the 'pervert side.'
But even if that were the case, I didn’t feel the urge to deny it vehemently right now.
If I’m with Nawagami-san, it’s fine if I become a pervert, I guess...
Well, it’s not fine at all, but we’re both in this degenerate mess together. Yeah!
That was what I was thinking just recently.
There was no way I could have known that this would all be collected as a setup later...
Besides our usual work, the Student Council often had to consult with students and step in to help.
Things like safely finding Wasabi after he escaped, or playing a practice soccer game.
With all sorts of requests flying around daily, the current one was no exception.
However... this was the first time I was dealing with something with such an unstable state of mind.
“How about, at this point, the heroine suddenly addresses the audience in the stands, hmm?”
“You mean break the fourth wall? No, no, that’s an entirely too ridiculous turn of events.”
“But, but, if the script remains as it is, it’s far too dull and... y’know, not that exciting, maybe.”
“Ugh! Thanks for the honesty... But Hatchii is right; it’s a fact that the play lacks drama.”
Inside the Tōrin Academy Auditorium, the location frequently used for events like the entrance ceremony.
Miran's voice was echoing from the audience seats, as was that of Katsuragi-san, the Vice-President of the Drama Club.
He was the client for today’s request. Apparently, he wanted to visualize the flow of the script he’d written by having someone actually act out the parts. That much, I can understand.
The issue lies in the roles assigned to Yuika and me.
“'I, the Cursed Beastman, Turn Out to be the King's Daughter. I Was Persecuted But Over-Loved By a High-Spec Butler—’ That title is too long. Doesn't it sound like those nasty stories Miran reads sometimes?”
“Ah, that’s why Miran is so incredibly motivated as the assistant director... Haaah.”
“Ah, watch it! This is happening because Seishirou eagerly accepted the request! Stop sighing!”
On the stage of the auditorium. Along with Yuika’s justifiable scolding, my eyes registered her outfit.
She was in a fantastical aristocratic dress and gown, complete with animal ears sewn into the headwear.
I, on the other hand, was clad in a suit that hinted at fantasy elements while maintaining the feel of a butler. I had a prop sword hanging from my hip. In this world where butlers carry swords, it looked perfectly natural.
...No, there was an incongruity! Why do I have to wear this suit at school?!
The worst thing is, even if it’s fine that I’m wearing it, if she finds out, it’ll definitely be an even bigger headache...!
‘Hey. Imashino-kun is my exclusive butler. What the hell is this? Can I be angry now?’
‘P-Please calm down, Ojou-sama. This is a delicate situation; let me explain first—’
‘Never mind that! As punishment... I request even harsher torment than before, please!♥’
“Whose punishment is that, exactly?!”
“W-Why are you suddenly ranting and responding to empty air?”
Yuika, pulling back slightly, watched me intently while nibbling on her cream puffs.
“Besides talking to yourself, you've been so restless. It’s not like it looks bad on you, right?”
She complimented me. Thanks. But since I wear a similar suit every day, I’m just used to it, I think.
“If only I could have found some other male student to play the butler role...”
“There’s absolutely no other spare male student besides Seishirou who can fit into that perfectly.”
That was true, and painfully so. It's the ultimate 'reverse Cinderella.' I wish I could just go home before midnight.
“Besides, why are you so enthusiastic about this, Yuika? You look like the type to hate being bothered.”
I asked after finally giving up on my situation. Yuika immediately replied.
“Fufun. Sanna (Katsuragi-san’s given name) is going to treat me to yakiniku BBQ if I help.”
“So you were baited with food, and wait, I didn’t get an offer like that.”
“...Seishirou. You shouldn't seek a reward for helping others, right?”
“Says who?!”
“Both of you, listen! The heroine can now perceive the fourth wall!”
The director cut into our conversation. Taken out of context, that subject had grown too large in scope.
“The main plot of the original script hasn't changed, so the burden won't increase much. Please rest assured!”
Following his overly honeyed voice, the main scriptwriter added an addendum.
“Furthermore, I've decided to add one more main heroine. We'll simply elevate a sub-heroine who already exists in the original script. —And about that, I have one more consultation to make.”
Katsuragi-san held up a pointed index finger.
“Is there any other female acquaintance among your friends that you could reach out to?”
...Miran and my eyes met suddenly, and she asked the question we both had in mind.
“It's a genuine question. Why aren't you asking someone else from the Drama Club?”
“Because I'd be embarrassed to show an unfinished script to the others, naturally!”
“Understood.” (Her genuine, silent thought was: How did you even dare write a script with that mindset?).
“...Hello? Are you still at school? You’re free, right? Just come to the auditorium now!”
And unlike Miran and me, Yuika immediately put her smartphone to her ear. Her obsession with the BBQ must be intense.
And the call was hung up almost immediately. Intrigued, I asked plainly.
“You seemed to have gotten an answer so quickly. Who did you invite?”
“Eh? Seren.”
It's over.
'Ojou-sama Lil’mea. I hold you—your ears, your tail, and most of all, your noble heart—in the highest regard.'
'Hold me in high regard... Stop, Claude. Because my body holds a curse that attracts misfortune!'
In the gap between lines, while checking the script in my hand, I glanced at the audience seats.
Miran was subtly yawning, exposing her true personality, and Katsuragi-san wore the pained expression of a master artist.
And the girl who was hastily summoned and now forced to watch the entire spectacle.
Nawagami-san—even from this distance, her eyes were wide open with utter shock.
The script revision ended around 7 PM. The evening sky, despite the time of year, wasn't overly gloomy.
“First, I understand that you have various thoughts about this, honestly.”
“Hmph... I'll listen to your excuse, for the sake of listening, anyway.”
On the way to the station. She walked beside me, wearing her trademark sulky expression.
“Because it must have been inconvenient enough just waiting for my Student Council duties to end, let alone being suddenly summoned.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“And what’s worse is that my role is a butler, and in a play, I have to serve someone other than Nawagami-san.”
“That is precisely correct.”
“Yes. So, I am truly sorry, forgive me!”
“...”
I stopped abruptly and loudly clapped my hands together, bowing towards her.
Nawagami-san bit into the mandarin orange ice cream she’d just bought from the convenience store before speaking.
“This was unavoidable due to circumstances, I suppose. It’s fine; I’m not mad.”
“N-Nawagami-san...!”
“And, I’m not strangely jealous either. After all, unlike the case with your sister the other day, if I got sulky over something like this now, I’d just become a tedious woman, wouldn't I? ...There are heroines like that—the type who never explicitly says anything but expects you to read their minds. But I, on the other hand, am what you might call a straightforward ‘cool woman,’ aren't I? Clearly, my class is simply leagues above that.”
“...Y-Yeah. I agree. Nawagami-san, you're a great woman. Totally, totally.”
“Hah! Why are you being so evasive and agreeable? Say what you mean to my face!”
That statement alone just made you the 'tedious woman' you said you didn't want to be!
“Haaah. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about this issue, Imashino-kun... and also!”
Nawagami-san pointed the remaining wooden stick of the ice cream at me.
“The only person who is the Master's partner is, has been, and always will be me. That’s right, isn’t it?”
—Partner.
That was an incredibly blushing-worthy term to use, especially when spoken aloud now.
Yet, I was able to accept the fact surprisingly easily.
“...Ah. It figures a pervert like you would be only manageable by me.”
“...U-Uyuuu////”
She melted slightly into her response, and after briefly savoring the moment, Nawagami-san snapped back to her usual self.
I involuntarily tracked the entire ebb and flow of her emotions with my eyes.
“By the way. Aside from that, what the hell was that script? It’s as messy as a chop suey stir-fry. Up until the middle, the story was driven by the catharsis of unconditional love, and then suddenly, the heroine awakens meta-cognition... What even is that?”
“Well, I was kind of watching you while I did it.”
“H-Huh? What is that, that cheap, tossed-out mockery...!”
The sight of Nawagami-san complaining about my stare caused my feelings to well up even more.
The exchange with her is, after all, simply interesting. And serving her is enjoyable.
The fact that she reveals her perverse side only to me is something that makes me truly happy.
I reorganized these newly re-recognized emotions, and then I asked—
“So, can I ask you to keep joining us after tomorrow?”
I managed to communicate the issue I had been avoiding talking about until now.
“Huh? ...Isn't the drama collaboration just a one-day thing?”
“Sorry. Nawagami-san left the auditorium early, so you didn't hear. Based on the feedback from today’s rehearsal, Katsuragi-san is revising the script, and we’ll be doing the same thing again tomorrow and the day after.”
“Does that mean I have to endure watching that for at least two more days?”
“Y-Yeah, that’s what it looks like.”
“So you expect me to sit there, gnashing my teeth while you and Atori-san flirt under the excuse of a role, hmm?”
“I won't comment on your specific choice of words, but your cooperation would be greatly appreciated... Nawagami-san?”
She abruptly stopped walking and, taking out her phone, immediately started dialing.
The ringing tone echoed over the speaker. A moment later, Yuika’s voice was audible.
'Mmm, hello, Seren? An emergency? I’m having dinner with Mom and Dad right now—’
“You listen well, you crass half-twintailed whore! You will regret this when you come to school tomorrow!”
The term 'reached her breaking point' is likely the most accurate description here.
Nawagami-san’s shout perfectly resonated across the station street where we were standing.
The next day, Script Revision Day 2
“Alright, gentlemen. Thanks to yesterday’s discussion, we have grasped what the current script lacks.”
“Logically speaking, the problem is a lack of staff... (My silent, honest thought: Is that so? Hehe, well, that’s great, then!).”
“W-Well, I could be mistaken, but it felt like my true intentions and my spoken word were reversed for a second there... Anyway, the final piece we need is a ‘stronger romance.’ To emphasize the final twist, we must strengthen the bond between the heroine and the butler that precedes it.”
“That's fine, but what should we do to specifically strengthen the bond?”
“Simple. Yuika playing Lil’mea and the Student Council President playing Claude will need to be more lovey-dovey. For example, a hug and a pretend kiss, well, just about that much—Nawagami-san, is everything alright?”
“Stop feigning ignorance, you perverted director!... That was already too much blatant flirting yesterday, and you want more? That's ridiculous! What do you take us in the Student Council for?!”
“Hey, Hatchii, is Nawagami-san actually in the Student Council?”
“No, she isn’t.” (Miran’s completely honest, immediate reply).
“And more importantly, are the people actually doing this agreeable with the change? ...Atori-san, say something!”
“Hey, you know what? My dad is looking for a hair-cut model, so Seishirou, you interested?”
“Ah, I was thinking about getting a trim soon. I’ll take you up on that offer.”
“THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR SMALL TALK!”
During the Script Revision: Seren and Miran in the Audience Seats.
“Katsuragi-san kept rambling on about how 'the height difference between those two is visually melodious' but...”
'—Ojou-sama. Please forgive my rudeness, just for this evening.'
'W-Wait, Claude, I haven't told you the truth yet—'
“A-Ah! He’s going to do a fake kiss now... T-This is painful. I can't bear this! Eh, maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved at all, since it was only going to lead to this much pain...?”
“Stop mumbling a time-travel movie’s plot summary to yourself.”
“...I'm done. I'm going to bribe Atori-san with even stronger financial incentives and snatch that role.”
“That's impossible. For one, Nawagami-Senpai, you wouldn't fit into the Lil’mea costume, would you?”
“Ngh... Why do you even have costumes when the scenario isn’t even finished?!”
“From my perspective, the fact that Nawagami-Senpai is even cooperating at all is the biggest mystery.”
“That is... Hmph! Something Hachisuka-san wouldn't understand. My feelings are far too complicated!”
“...Oh, I wonder. I might just understand you a little, you know?”
“Eh.”
“Well, besides, since the target of his flirting is Atori-Senpai, you don't need to worry about that anyway.”
After days of relentless struggle, the script was finally completed.
“I am truly grateful! I will definitely stage this script properly in the appropriate venue!”
Katsuragi-san offered us profuse thanks, and hearing it, I felt a familiar sense of relief at having helped. I knew I was too easily swayed, yes.
Now, more importantly.
It seemed that trouble was far from over; another problem had erupted between Nawagami-san and me.
“Ojou-sama. Dinner will be a spiced curry, so may I please have some time to prepare?”
Evening. There was no reply when I mentioned the menu, so I walked from the kitchen to the living room.
“……………………Haaah.” (The sigh indicated a level of despair that couldn't possibly be exceeded.)
I saw Nawagami-san wearing an expression of complete indifference. She was repeatedly zapping the TV aimlessly with the remote control in her hand, and then she suddenly picked up a tablet.
I gently approached her from behind, and it seemed she had started reading a manga on a digital book app.
...And not just any manga. Although it was technically a 'general audience' book, the content was clearly quite smutty.
I could see a woman on the screen whose face was bright red and who was virtually naked. As she swiped the viewer, a man, who looked like the woman’s lover, appeared. The story development, well, was naturally heading in that direction.
Pages kept flipping quickly. After those two hooked up, a different manga was displayed.
In that one, the couple also ended up hooking up. And the next one, and the one after that, and the one after that...
What was with this relentless succession of explicit bedroom scenes and happy endings?
“Ojou-sama. I would prefer that you read that kind of manga in your room, not in the living area.”
When I spoke, her neck snapped back instantly to look at me. P-Please stop that spooky movement!
“Do you think I started doing this simply to indulge in lewd content? ...Wrong. This is a perfectly legitimate medical treatment to restore my brain, which you two damaged.”
As she pushed the tablet towards me, I offered another heartfelt apology.
“I sincerely regret the immense trouble and suffering I caused you regarding that situation.”
“See? You still don’t get it at all! Cooperating with the play itself wasn’t the problem!”
Nawagami-san vented her frustration by slamming buttons randomly on the TV remote.
The frantic flashing of news, comedy, and weather information perfectly mirrored Nawagami-san’s agitated inner state.
“The problem is! You were performing a love story involving a master/subordinate relationship, right in front of my face! ...I told you what I hate most, didn’t I? The thought of cheating!”
I chose not to ask her if she’d slept. I felt like she might reply with a "Want to try?" or something worse.
“That was merely the script. But, as a matter of course, that was just fiction.”
“I know that, but!”
“In reality, I am Ojou-sama's exclusive butler.”
“...H-Hmph?”
When I reiterated this, she softened a bit, letting a faint, pleased smile escape, but.
“But, I wonder if that’s the honest truth... Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only one here whose emotions are going wild.”
Gradually, Nawagami-san sank into dejection. Oh, a new pattern of anxiety has emerged...
“I don't want to be an annoying woman, so I really want to just compartmentalize this. But, even though I know it was just a play, the small things stick out: 'Ah, those two look suspiciously comfortable together,' or 'I wonder if they hug like that in real life, too,' I can vividly imagine all that...”
Her insight had an unpleasant stickiness.
“I can’t. I really can’t recover... What’s truly painful is that I don’t particularly dislike Atori-san. She’s so sunny and easy to interact with... If the co-star was just some universally hateful woman, I could just hate her wholeheartedly... Aaaahhh, WAAAAAAAAAHHH~”
Watching Nawagami-san sulk and clutch her head, I made a decision.
I’ll wait for time to heal this.
“In that case, I shall return to the kitchen. My spices are waiting for me to prepare them, after all.”
“T-That's dirty pool! Don't run off to your cooking! Which one is more important to you—the curry or me?!”
“............That would, of course, be Ojou-sama.”
“That wasn’t the speed of 'of course' at all! That's implying I’m less important than the curry! That’s cruel!”
Nawagami-san exhibited astonishing persistence this time.
And what's worse, overwhelmed by her grief, she blurted out something outrageous.
“Ah, I wish I could just become an animal, or... no, become someone’s pet...”
Huh?
“This unbearable heartache is proof that I am a human being... But right now, that is painful... If I could, I'd rather just be an existence that gets food, sleeps, and is unconditionally affirmed without having to think about anything—like a cat... No, wrong. A dog is better. Dogs can go for walks, they get to wear collars, and they’re subjected to strictness through training... Ah, I'm so jealous of Wasabi...!”
I couldn’t even start preparing the curry due to this utterly ridiculous proposition.
“Look, even that doggy right here...”
She then pointed at the television screen, which had been set to a nature documentary after all her random zapping.
It was an international animal show with voiceovers. A bearded foreign man was on screen with a huge wolf he’d rescued—
That's not even a dog!
'Seriously, it took a lot of effort to take care of this guy, you know? See? I have a bite mark on my arm. He got me the first time we met. Honestly, some greeting that was.'
'When we first met, he looked like he hated everything. He looked at me and said, Touch me and I'll beat you up. I guess that's why he was cast out from his pack—But I just couldn't give up on him. Even if it had to be a master/subordinate dynamic, I just didn't want him to be alone.'
'How is he now? Well, you can see. We became a family, connected heart to heart—Just kidding, just kidding. He probably still sees me as an annoying Master, I guess? An annoying idiot who tries to tame him persistently, no matter how many times he tries to bite or tear me apart. Well, that's just the way it goes. Once I've set my sights on something, he has no choice but to give up—HAHA!'
Without realizing it, both Nawagami-san and I were completely absorbed in the program. It was genuinely engaging.
Noting the fast-scrolling credits, I spoke up again.
“I believe this show has effectively demonstrated that animals also face their own challenges. Perhaps we can restore your human dignity now?”
...Perhaps because my ability to sense impending danger had greatly improved, I had a nasty premonition, even then.
“That wolf was rebellious but somehow looked happy, didn’t he... Oh, my! Now that I think about it, didn't I buy an entire set of accessories for pet play a while back...?”
Her subtle, suggestive side-eye clearly indicated she was already fully prepared.
“Ojou-sama, I have inferred what you are planning, but that is far too difficult a request.”
“...You're right. Imashino-kun didn't do anything wrong, and yet I am complaining like this. I am truly a pitiful, foolish, and embarrassing woman, aren’t I?”
“I didn't say that much.”
“I really wouldn't mind if you did say that much...”
What is this, an invisible shield?
“It would be too selfish for me to ask for something in return for fulfilling your wish when you were depressed about your relationship with your sister. It would be excessive, wouldn’t it? Yes, I'll give up on it...”
“............”
“However, if you harbor even a tiny bit of pity for me... It’s okay for me, I've told you that before, haven’t I? I can show Imashino-kun even my most shameful forms.”
She skillfully cornered me with her sweet words, forcing me to choose between 'yes' or 'absolutely yes.'
One should never think idle thoughts, I thought, recalling my trip to get the detergent.
Because of that very thought—here I am again, tempted to become the Sadist she desired.
“Alright. If you insist on abandoning your humanity, then I shall indulge your desire—”
I fixed her with a cold, sharp stare, and Nawagami-san returned an eagerly expectant gaze.
Everything followed the established protocol. No more words were necessary.
A few minutes later, the living room. Nawagami-san, in her uniform, was adopting a four-legged stance on the floor.
“Fu-Funyu, fwowah...♥♥♥”
Her palms and knees were on the flooring. Her expression looked delighted. Ah, no, that’s not right.
That was no longer Nawagami-san; it was Seren-chan the pet.
A red collar was on her neck instead of a choker. A long leash extended from it, held in my hand as I stood nearby. A white dog-eared hairband was on her head, and a tail, affixed with a safety pin, sprouted from the back of her skirt.
Yes, she was, in every possible way, a female puppy named Seren-chan.
“I’ve finally been allowed to do this! T-This is too happy for me!♥♥”
My self-hypnosis was complete, yet—Huh, that’s strange.
I was the only human here, but I could hear words being spoken.
“You want to be a pet, don’t you.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then it's strange for you to speak like a human, isn’t it?”
I began cheerfully toward her blissful face, then abruptly became strict.
Using a shift in pace, I applied my final confirmation.
“You are Seren, my pet. Your answer?”
“Wo... Woof///”
“Good girl.”
Ah, that was a relief. I genuinely wondered what I would do if this one were a D.M. pervert.
The confirmation was complete. I immediately commanded Seren-chan.
“Alright, Seren, sit.”
“! W-Woof!?”
“I think you can do it. Can’t you?”
I felt, intuitively, that she was an incredibly smart animal.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she could ace all her tests, and had experience studying abroad in various countries.
In that case, surely she could sit down without being taught, right?
“...Uugh, woof/////”
Seren-chan managed to skillfully crouch down, mostly standing on her tiptoes.
I noticed she was subtly trying to keep me from seeing her lower back for some reason, but judging an animal based on clothing or skirts wouldn’t be fair play.
“! You sat down! You're amazing, Seren, you are such a smart, good girl!”
“! Kuuuuuun♥ I want to have my head patted!... Ah!”
Hearing her comment, I instantly moved my hand from her head to the back of her neck.
“I’m telling you now, there will be no next time. The pleasure ends there.”
“Woof...” (Intense, internal repentance.)
—...Now, Seren-chan’s cries had suddenly gone quiet.
“Oh well, shall we go for a walk next?”
“...GYAH! WOOF WOOF!”
I motioned toward the dining room from the living room. Seren-chan trotted along ahead of me. —Since the leash was quite long, it would be dangerous if it snagged somewhere. But pulling too hard was also not good. Hmm, walking her is more difficult than I thought.
“Are you alright? Is the collar too tight around your neck?”
“Woof, Kyahnn!♥♥”
“Good, that’s fine then.”
Since she seemed okay, we went out into the hallway.
From there, we circled the living spaces where I spent my days with Nawagami-san: my bedroom, Nawagami-san's room, and the bathroom. Slowly, maintaining a pace that Seren-chan was comfortable with.
When we arrived at the front door, I offered one thought.
“A walk should normally mean going outside, but.”
“! Eh... (An expression that clearly communicated: Even I am still hesitant about going outside.)”
“I know. It looks like it's raining slightly outside anyway. Let’s do it another time.”
I sensed a subtle look of ‘That’s not what I meant’ from her, but, did I really say something so strange?
In any case. After reaching the door, the person and the pet headed straight back to the living room.
“Now, the walk is over, Seren—I think it’s time to teach you one more trick.”
“Woof, woof, woof!”
“Oh, you're enthusiastic... Then I'm going to cover your eyes for a bit.”
“!?”
I knelt down beside Seren-chan and covered both her eyes with my palms.
“W-Wahhh, wahfhoooo♥♥ Kyahnnn, kyahhhnnn...♥♥”
“Wow, you're vocalizing well... Now, I figured you could easily catch a frisbee or jump a fence. I wanted to teach you a unique trick just for you. —Alright, now, open your mouth.”
“Gnnnnghhhh~♥ H-Haf... Mh! Nggnggh... Nyubooooo............!”
While walking, I had stopped by the kitchen to retrieve two ice cream sticks from the freezer.
One was an ordinary store-bought flavor, and the other was a batch I had made myself.
I covered her eyes so she could guess which was which.
...I couldn't feed this to a normal pet, but it was fine for Seren-chan.
“Finished the first stick? Here's the second one... Ah, before you eat this. One of them is the homemade one. Can you guess which one it is? —Good luck, Seren!”
“Nngm... Woof, woof............ Lick, lick♥♥”
Seren-chan, using quite a refined technique, thoroughly savored the second ice cream stick. She ate about half by melting it with her tongue and devoured the rest enthusiastically.
“Is that your cue that you’re done? Now, try to guess which one was store-bought.”
“Uummmh. Woof woof, gaurgh...♥♥ Ngh! Woof!”
Seren-chan pretended to think for a bit but immediately acted like she’d had a realization.
“Eh, wait, what is it, Seren-chan... You want to borrow my phone? Okay...”
I handed it over. She skillfully opened the notes app and began tapping with her front paw (hand).
Being able to use a phone is a major party trick, worthy of a TV show, but then.
Both ice creams were made by Master.
The first one was made about a month ago.
The second one was made recently.
Both were delicious, but the recent one was slightly creamier. —Seren.
“............”
“Woof, woof...?”
I had already taken my palms off her eyes, and Seren-chan waited for my answer with nervous eyes.
Ah. My pet is incredibly intelligent!
“That's amazing, Seren, truly amazing! You got the trick question right so easily!”
“! Kuuuuun, woof, woof~♥♥”
I patted her head again, and this time, she eagerly shook her whole body.
And then—This is dangerous. I felt a strange emotion welling up.
With a complex emotion, I overwhelmingly wanted to give Seren-chan another reward.
“In that case, not just your head—how about I rub your belly?”
“...Kyahnn!?”
I suddenly remembered Wasabi—a belly rub. That was the maximum level of physical affection, and he would happily grunt and pant when I roughly rubbed his stomach with both hands. He would even swing his front paws to demand more if I stopped.
“How about you, Seren-chan? Do you want one?”
“...................”
“I see, you don't like it? That's fine. I’ll do something else for you instead—”
Before I could make an alternative suggestion, Seren-chan immediately flopped onto her back.
A pose that practically screamed, Rub me now, please.
“...Woof-unn... U-Ughh, Uuuuuuhhh~/////”
However, her expression was incredibly embarrassed, her face a furious red.
“Are you truly okay with this?”
“~NGHHH! ...B-Bow, WOOF! GAURGH! (Giving in.)”
When I looked into her eyes for confirmation, Seren-chan—finally accepted her fate and closed both her eyes. A reaction similar to when someone washes your hair at the salon.
“Don’t worry. I would never touch you roughly or without care—”
“...Eh. W-Wait, you’re not going to do this with my uniform on, right? E-Eh...”
“I told you there’d be no second chance, but—That was a freebie. Pretend you didn't hear that.”
I picked Seren-chan up from the floor in a princess carry and then carried her to the sofa. I placed her on my lap, holding her against my legs.
Then, I rested both hands on her abdomen, over her blazer.
“~NnnnnNGHH! Wo-Woof! K-Kuu...♥ ...Mnn, Hnnnngh♥♥”
“Good girl, Seren. Thank you for always being obedient to my commands.”
“Ah, ah, ah—U-Uuugh, Uuuuh~............♥♥”
I gently massaged Seren-chan’s stomach, over her blouse. Carefully, above her uniform. I shared the moment with her, rubbing back and forth with tenderness.
“I-I can’t anymore! My senses are sharper than most people already!/////”
Seren-chan muttered something. I ignored it and made a slightly teasing suggestion.
“Seren-chan. Instead of just rubbing, how about I try pushing down on your belly a little?”
“!?!?!!? O-Pussshhhing, Waaaiiitt, no, absolutely not, nooo!”
“I see. So, no, then. I’ll drop the idea.”
“NGH! ~~~~~~...Fi-Fine, then... But really lightly, only for a moment.”
“Really? I’m going to push now, then.”
“Y-You decided that fast! —XXXXXXXX!! ……………………~♥♥♥”
An inarticulate sound escaped through her fingers. Every time I pressed her stomach, the sound grew higher, stronger, or sweeter. It even sounded like a genuine animal cry.
“Seren-chan—I wanted to ask you something. This is strictly a self-reflection, by the way.”
As I kept gently rubbing and pressing her belly to a rhythmic pulse, I spoke.
“I don’t hate your difficult side. I don't mean just your perverted aspects. I'm actually relieved when you show those other aspects of yourself to me. It reassures me that you trust me.”
And I gave her a soft push on the belly.
“The fact that we can even reverse our master-servant dynamic like this, well, that's proof, isn't it? Hey. You feel that way, too, right?”
“—……………………♥”
Nawagami-san didn't answer with words.
Her tense body gradually relaxed, and that silent acquiescence was enough confirmation for me.
The following Monday, lunchtime. Counting the number of equipment items in the gymnasium in preparation for the ball sports tournament.
“Ngh! TORYAAAH!”
Yuika’s sharp serve violently slammed onto the distant floor.
Miran, who was watching Yuika with me, quietly mumbled her impression.
“...Atori-Senpai is utterly, completely ‘Sunshine,' isn’t she?”
“That's a weird impression to get from watching a serve.”
“But don't you somehow understand it? She casually talks to everyone, often goes out for meals, and even plays volleyball well, like that... The 'volleyball' part is crucial. Because, even among team sports, it demands exceptional mutual trust among teammates.”
“Yeah, I guess you have a point there. But wait, did you ever play volleyball, Miran?”
“I didn't, but there was a period when I was intensely in love with a handsome senior character from a certain volleyball manga, so it's practically the same thing.”
“If we're going with that logic, Miran must be knowledgeable about tennis and baseball, too...”
“...Hehe. See? I've got more power than usual today!”
Yuika, having trotted over while we were talking, interjected with a slightly smug expression.
“Given how much you eat, that much strength should be a piece of cake.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk...”
“Stop doing that, it's annoying.”
“Wrong! It’s for a completely different reason!”
It was obvious she desperately wanted us to ask, so I wisely took a sip of barley tea and inquired.
“Did something, besides food, give you this boost of power?”
“Yes, exactly!... Actually, I have a pet at my house right now!”
“Buuuht!”
“Gyaaaaahhhhhhh!?”
The mouthful of barley tea I had just taken completely drenched Yuika's indoor shoes. No, I'm seriously sorry.
“Hey, that’s gross! What did you do so suddenly?”
“S-Sorry!”
“Ugh, watch what you're doing!”
“So, why does having a pet provide Atori-Senpai with this ‘buff,’ then?”
“Hehe. Tsk, tsk, tsk...”
“I'm serious. I will pound you if you do that again.”
Yuika, unfazed by the sinister threat, pulled out her phone and showed us a video.
“Oh, a hamster.”
“Exactly! It belongs to my cousin, and I’m looking after him for a week. The thought of this little guy being at my house just gives me so much energy... See? Isn't he cute? He's so tiny, but he stuffs so much food in his cheeks!”
“Is that a self-introduction?”
Amidst our customary chatter, an abrupt SLAMM sounded.
A serve, equally as powerful as Yuika's, slammed onto the floor a little distance away from us.
“Everyone, use your hands before you use your mouths. Or would you rather practice receiving instead?”
A fourth voice resonated in the Student Council area, which had always been just the three of us. The person was an additional help.
That extra person—was Nawagami-san.
“You told me you’d be finished by noon, yet you’re nowhere near done with the inventory check, are you? What do you think you’re doing, dallying in a situation like this?”
She strictly presented Yuika and Miran with cold, hard truths.
“Now, now, Seren, calm down. You don’t need to be so irritable, right?”
“Hah? Don't be too familiar with me. You're actually the person I'm most angry at right now.”
“Ehhh?! W-Why?! Did I do something that bad?”
“Yes, you did. You had tea thrown onto you, the tea that Imashino-kun was holding.”
“I’m the victim in that situation!”
Brushing aside the confused Yuika, Miran then spoke to Nawagami-san.
“You’ve really stopped caring about appearances, Nawagami-Senpai, haven’t you?”
“If Hachisuka-san dislikes it, I can simply stop helping now, if you want.”
“No, no. I find it far better for my mental health to have you operating in a place I can keep an eye on, rather than having you plot in secret. And since we're short-staffed, this works out perfectly.”
“Good, then. Let’s continue to get along, then.”
“Hehe. Yes, absolutely.”
As the back-and-forth ensued, I, being the one accused of throwing the tea, walked toward Nawagami-san.
“My bad, my bad. I’ll help with the counting now. How far along are you?”
“...”
But. When I spoke to her, Nawagami-san, whose prior eloquence was striking, suddenly clammed up.
She gave me a long, languid, yet incredibly ashamed look from her lower eyes.
“The pet situation is absolutely, absolutely a secret. This isn’t an invitation to tease me!”
...That's always been the rule; it goes without saying!
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