"At this rate, I should be able to go back to Starry soon," Chisato muttered to himself.
After a moment of thought, he shook his head.
No, not yet. He would push it back a little longer.
Kazusa's piano competition was just around the corner, and he wanted to be there to cheer her on. At the very least, he would wait until that was over.
After finishing his meal and washing the dishes, Chisato returned to his room. He pressed his slightly cold palm against the neck of the sleeping Utaha.
"Ah—!"
Hmm, not a bad reaction, and quite a nice voice too.
Utaha, startled awake by the sudden cold sensation, turned around with an expression full of anger.
However, before she could even open her mouth to speak, Chisato silenced her once more.
Her lips were sealed, her hands pinned down. The strength of her resistance gradually weakened, turning into a reluctant yet yielding acceptance.
They had already gone through this last night, so while he was still interested, it wasn't as intense—well within the bounds of his self-control.
"I'm heading out."
Chisato lifted his head, smoothing the disheveled strands of Utaha's hair as she caught her breath.
"Just go already, go."
Utaha swatted his hand away, turning over with an unhappy expression and speaking in a voice filled with grievance.
"After all, I'm just someone's bedside companion, only useful at night, someone who can be discarded without hesitation the moment morning arrives.
It's fine, really. Just keep treating me like this. Go to that piano prodigy, Kazusa. Spend more time with her. Don't worry about me."
Chisato chuckled, lightly patting her small backside before leaning in closer.
"What are you saying? We complement each other, don't we?
Utaha, you were quite happy last night too, weren't you? Clinging to me, refusing to let go, calling my name over and over…"
"You are absolutely not allowed to continue that sentence!"
Utaha turned around and pinched Chisato's cheeks.
"Then you're not allowed to sulk."
"I'm not sulking. I was just casually complaining about my unfortunate life."
"Living in a high-end apartment in the city center, wearing top-quality branded sleepwear, sleeping on such a spacious and soft bed—how is this in any way unfortunate?"
"Chisato-kun, your view on life is really simple and straightforward. All you see is material things."
"Material things are the foundation of life. That's just reality."
"I don't want to discuss such exhausting topics with you first thing in the morning. If you're leaving, then leave already. Stop bothering me."
Utaha pouted, wrapping herself up in the blanket and turning her back to him again.
Chisato smiled and gently ran his hand over her body through the blanket.
"Kazusa is practicing piano alone at home. There's no one around to take care of her. She can't cook, she can't do laundry—someone has to look after her."
"Oh, yes, yes. Being incapable of taking care of herself really is a useful trait, huh? Meanwhile, Eriri and I were stupid enough to reveal that we're completely self-sufficient."
"Hey~"
Chisato poked her.
Perhaps realizing that her words had gone a bit too far, Utaha sighed softly and didn't say anything more. Instead, she simply asked,
"What time will you be back tonight? I'll prepare dinner."
"I might be late. Or maybe…"
"You'll just spend the night over there, right?"
"Mm."
"You… sometimes you are just so infuriating… Whatever. Go on then. Be careful on your way."
Utaha sat up mid-sentence, but upon seeing Chisato's face, she sighed helplessly and lay back down.
"Thanks, Utaha. I left breakfast for you on the table. Heat it up in the microwave before eating."
"Got it."
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead before getting up to leave.
But just as he stood, Utaha pulled him back.
"Not the forehead. Kiss me where you kissed me just now."
"It's rare to see you acting spoiled, Utaha."
"Just answer me—are you going to do it or not?!"
"Mmph…"
…
Descending the stairs, pushing open the door to the practice room, Chisato used the light from his phone to navigate his way to the piano, where his gaze fell upon a mysterious creature curled up on the floor, wrapped in a blanket.
Chisato sighed.
As expected, Kazusa was still the same as always.
No mattress, no bedding, and yet she could still sleep so soundly.
Crouching down, Chisato pulled back the blanket, revealing Kazusa's delicate sleeping face beneath it.
Sensing the movement, she groggily woke up, but the moment she opened her eyes, she turned her face away, squinting against the harsh glare of the phone light.
"How many times have I told you? Go sleep in your room after you finish practicing.
Right now, you're still young, but in a few years, if you keep sleeping like this, you'll wake up one day and find you can't even straighten your back."
Chisato poked her cheek as he repeated the same warning he had given countless times before.
But as always, the person in question didn't take it seriously.
"Carry me."
Without any shame, she stretched out her arms, making her demand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Well, that was just her personality.
"Yes, yes, Princess Kazusa."
Chisato scooped her up from the blanket and carried her out of the practice room.
"What time did you go to bed last night?"
"I don't know… Just when I was about to fall asleep, you showed up."
Kazusa rested her head against Chisato's chest, breathing in small, greedy gulps of his scent.
"So you stayed up all night again? Is your body really going to be okay like this?"
Chisato's tone carried a hint of concern.
"I did rest a bit during the day."
Kazusa's eyes remained closed, her voice lazy and indifferent.
"That may be true, but you barely slept."
"I was just sitting, so I didn't use much energy. That means I didn't need much sleep."
"That's the first time I've heard such a theory."
After placing Kazusa on her bed, Chisato turned to leave.
"Get some proper rest."
"Wait. Where are you going?"
"Nowhere. I'm just making you some food. Take a nap first, and I'll bring it to you later. At least eat something before you sleep."
"No need. I'm not hungry at all. Stay here. Come here."
Chisato looked at the unusually bold Kazusa, hesitating before walking back to her side and pressing his hand against her forehead.
"I knew it. You're sick from overworking yourself, aren't you?"
"Stop talking. Just lie down already."
"Oh…"
"It's a bit cold, so… hold me for a while. Wait until I fall asleep before you leave."
"…"
Chisato obediently complied.
Lately, Kazusa has been getting more and more clingy. And bolder, too.
But if she wanted him to wait until she fell asleep before he left…
The way she was clinging to him like an octopus now, even if he wanted to leave later, would he even be able to?
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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