A Case in Which My House Is a Gathering Place for Girls

The date has already been changed, and the current time is three o’clock in the morning. My eyes were gingerly clear even though I didn’t take caffeine.

“Suu… suu… nngh, Jinpei-kun…”

“No, Itsuki. Everyone is here… Ah, if you touch that place…”

I can hear Kanna breathing softly and cutely on a futon that I don’t know when she brought in, and Asakura’s sleeping talk, making me wonder what kind of dream she was having.

It’s so dark and still that I can hear it clearly. There was no way I could sleep in this space with nerves as thick as steel.

“Are you still awake, Itsuki?”

Sasazuki, who I thought was sleeping next to me, spoke in a low voice.

In the end, I ended up sleeping on the same futon as Sasazuki because of what she said earlier. Moreover, since we have a bed for one person, which means there was barely any distance between us.”

“…I’m awake. What’s the matter? You wouldn’t ask me to come to the bathroom with you because you’re scared, would you?”

“Hmph. I’m not a child, I wouldn’t say something like that. What does Itsuki think I am?”

“Hmm… if I had to say so, you’re like a needy little puppy.”

“I see. Then it’s normal for a puppy to depend on its owner.”

Sasazuki moved slowly as she spoke. Then, with movements so fast they could impress a grappling master, she suddenly hugged my waist tightly.

As if that wasn’t enough, she wrapped her legs around me and locked me in place so I couldn’t move.

“Yes, I feel as good as I expected. This is perfect. I think I’ll have a good dream.”

Sasazuki muttered in a satisfied voice. I’d like to say, “Good for you,” but my true feelings were that I wanted to peel her off me immediately.

“Itsuki were the ones who called me a puppy. You wouldn’t tell me to leave, would you?”

“…Fine. I’ll correct the puppy─”

“I already told you, didn’t I? I can’t sleep without a pillow.”

Sasazuki whispered mysteriously in my ear in an attempt to apologize. Apparently, she also hid her charm behind her cute back.

“I was thinking about waiting before Itsuki went to bed, but I’m almost at my limit. Can I sleep now?”

“No. Not while you’re clinging to me like this.”

“…Itsuki, thank you.”

Just as I was about to forcibly pry her off, she muttered in a voice that sounded like she was holding back tears. I can’t help but stop.

“Thank you for finding me and being my friend.”

“I didn’t do anything special.”

“No. It may not be special for Itsuki, but it’s different for me. I can’t thank you enough. How shall I repay this kindness?”

“Hmm… I’d be happy if you didn’t think about paying me back and just stayed as my friend like normal.”

All I did was reach out to her. There was no ulterior motive behind it.

Maybe, to her, it was something special.

But that didn’t mean I wanted repayment, nor did I want her to feel like she had to give me anything in return.

“You don’t need to repay me even though we just became friends. I mean, if I were to say that, just being here like this is more than enough.”

“Do you mean… that sleeping with me will pay you back?”

“Could you please be more careful with your choice of words? Will you not interrupt me when I am saying good things?”

I have forgotten what I was going to say. This does not even close the conversation.

“Hehehe, I’m just kidding. But if I were to say that, I couldn’t help it. From now on, I will be Itsuki’s best friend. You should feel honored.”

As she spoke, Sasazuki buried her face in my chest and hugged me with even more force around my waist. In addition, her legs were still wrapped around me, so I couldn’t move. It’s just a complete hugging pillow, but strangely, I can’t feel any evil feelings. Rather, I just felt like holding her gently in return.

“Yes, yes, it’s an honor, princess.”

“Mhn, you may rest easy. Thanks to Itsuki, I think I’ll have a good dream… Thank you.”

Less than a few minutes later. Perhaps Sasazuki had drifted into a deep dream, I could hear a lovely sleeping breath in my arms.

“Haah… I guess I’ll stay up all night tonight.”

I give up and make up my mind. I could have pulled her off at any moment if I really wanted to. I could have woken her up if I had decided to. But I don’t want to do that because Sasazuki’s relieved sleeping face looked like Kanna’s sleeping face, which I used to see when she was little.

More than a decade ago, I remember the day before Kanna moved in, hugging each other and sleeping together.

Kanna kept crying because she didn’t want to go or leave, and when we slept on the same futon she said she doesn’t want to leave anything to regret. I had ended up being used as a hug pillow, just like now.

It was very similar to the warmth I felt at that time─

“I can’t help it. Can I endure it till morning…?”

A few hours to dawn is nothing compared to staying overnight in the mountains. At least I’ll keep it like this until Kanna and Asakura wake up.

But my consciousness slowly sank into the deep darkness with her body temperature, peaceful breathing, and heart beating coming from Sasazuki, and the softest and most comfortable feeling of any pillow.