“Lord Ouga. You’ll catch cold; this.”
“Thanks, Alice.”
Alice draped a blanket over my shoulders to hide my right arm.
After training with Mashiro, Mashiro went to shower; I’d just wiped down with a towel since Yueli needed me.
Compared to the beginning, Alice has become very maid-like.
“What is it, Lord Ouga?”
“No…… reflecting on Alice’s growth. Choosing you that day wasn’t wrong.”
“I’m still inexperienced…… but having my actions, born of feelings for you, evaluated thus brings me great joy. …… It’s thanks to love……”
“Alice……”
“Lord Ouga……”
”…… Ahh, hot, hot. Do that elsewhere, hot.”
Yueli’s snark passed me by. Doesn’t bother me.
“Kid. Want to take a bath first?”
”…… Jealous?”
“No. Sweating constantly is gross, right? Onee-san’s care.”
”…… You have such feelings too, Yueli.”
“What do you take me for……? Beyond discomfort, machine-tinkering is fun so I tolerate it; sweating less is better.”
To cool, she tugged the tank top’s chest open.
In an instant, my vision was blocked by a hand.
Alice did it.
A weight on my back — her certain part — confirmed.
“Lady Yueli. Refrain from indecent acts. As Veret’s exclusive engineer, please mind that……”
“Ah, sorry. Habit from dad’s workshop…… don’t worry, the kid won’t snap.”
“That’s not the reason for the caution. And absolutely don’t do this in front of Miss Liche — remember.”
“Mashiro? Why?”
”…… Lady Yueli, you’ve been here briefly so you don’t know yet…… you’ll understand someday. Don’t forget my warning.”
“O-okay. Won’t do it next time.”
Pressed by Alice, or her words…… Yueli got it.
Before I could chime in, lucky-pervy possibility vanished — regret? Or just as well?
Also Alice naming Mashiro…… she’s jealous, but in cute range——
“He~y, Ouga. Come back to reality.”
“Ouga? Are you ignoring us because you’re absorbed in Alice?”
”…… Huh? Why does Alice smell so much like you, Ouga……?”
—— Past cute jealousy scenes and the pain my body remembered.
…… Yeah, listen to Alice.
Damage would hit me, not Yueli…… ah, that’s why she warned……
“Aaah!!!”
Speak of the devil.
Mashiro’s voice from behind.
…… That shoulder-jerk wasn’t fear.
The timing coincidentally landed; that’s the surprise.
I’d never think of cute Mashiro that way, ha ha.
…… But from Mashiro’s view, I look like Alice is back-hugging me……
“Alice-san only, so unfair…… so nice……”
A clingy tone with no usual brightness.
A gulp — probably Yueli.
She, too, witnessed live the truth of Alice’s warning.
Alice’s grip on my face tightened — I felt it.
“I want to hug Ouga too…… Alice-san, swap——”
“NO!”
“——Eh!? Stingy Alice…… wait, that voice now……?”
I caught only Mashiro’s puzzlement; details unclear.
She’d been covering my eyes, but with Mashiro’s arrival, now my head was clutched, back of head buried in Alice’s cleavage.
…… Mm, this is fine for a while.
But then warmth left; Alice’s breath at my ear tickled.
“Lord Ouga, a cute guest has arrived.”
I almost tripped on the tickle, but guest word snapped me back.
“Guest? No plans for one…… know who?”
“Yes, almost here.”
“Wha——?”
Who’s allowed to approach Alice this close…… I wondered, when impact hit my back.
I turned — a girl I hadn’t seen in long.
I scooped her up by the armpits.
Letter had said she’d return, but not this soon.
”…… You’ve grown, Cerecia.”
“Yes! It’s been a while, Onii-sama!”
The cute guest Alice referred to was my eye-of-the-needle-precious sister — Cerecia Veret.