I turned my head in a daze, looking at the faint white light filtering through the curtains. Glancing at my phone, I was shocked to realize that the morning sunrise was almost here.
Feeling it carefully, I could sense my waist and back aching, my arms and legs tired, my head dizzy… yet the girls beside me were still brimming with energy.
"The movie directed by Shiba Inu Wanzou is really amazing! No matter how many times I watch it, I feel the same excitement!"
"Woah! The fusion of ninjas and chivalry… the clash of righteousness and loyalty! It's getting me fired up!"
"What do you think of this period drama, Aruji-dono?" The girl on my right, her fox ears twitching, looked at me expectantly. Her large tail swept across my arm, its soft fur tickling me a little.
"Boss, isn't it really fun?" The girl on my left pressed half her body against me, her fiery enthusiasm almost tangible.
Pulled along by Izuna and Pina, watching over a dozen movies at Izuna's house using their treasured discs, I nodded numbingly and replied dryly,
"Yes, this movie is very good too. The chivalrous ninja is incredibly cool."
…But still, one thing is one thing. I really don't understand how the two elements were combined.
The two girls, who had stayed up all night yet still full of energy, exchanged delighted glances and said in unison, "Then let's move on to the next one!"
Again!?
I couldn't help but glance back at the soft, fragrant-looking bed. My lips moved for a long moment, but I still couldn't bring myself to say no.
After all, one of them had been busy with ninja training lately, mainly helping the club film vlogs, and the other works at Momoyo Hall. I hadn't seen them in days.
Yesterday, we finally met, but only because I had come on a sudden business trip for Hyakkiyako, needing their assistance.
Ever since the GSC president went missing, countless delinquents had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain, causing trouble across Kivotos.
Some of the bolder ones even dared to steal or outright rob the General Student Council's confidential documents, openly setting up websites to raise funds.
Among them, there was a gang I had been dealing with recently on behalf of the Transport Office, the "Infinite Sushi Sentai Kaitenzer."
Five students in total, self-proclaimed as defenders of justice, wearing tight-fitting uniforms like a tokusatsu squad, with the classic colors of red, pink, black, yellow, and green, and their heads representing tuna, shrimp, eel, egg, and avocado.
In terms of strength, they weren't particularly formidable. Today, I only brought these two external reinforcements along with a few other students from the Defense Office who seemed like filler, and we successfully suppressed the incident.
But the sushi squad caused trouble almost constantly, every few days, giving the General Student Council plenty of headaches. Perhaps Momoka, feeling mischievous, didn't hesitate to shift all the trouble onto Schale.
For example, yesterday, I had just climbed out of bed and hadn't even managed to greet Gehenna, who had been working all night, before I had to rush to another battlefield. I felt completely exploited.
In short, for Izuna and Fina, who had left their own affairs to help me, I felt I owed it to them as thanks or compensation to accompany them until they were satisfied…
That was what I had intended.
When I made that decision, I never imagined they would drag me from the afternoon all the way to dawn.
Did they want to wear me down until I passed out and then do something strange to me?
Then why not learn from some far-off tea party host (Nagisa) and slip something into the tea they offered me? That would've been good for everyone!
I had to admit with some regret that these pure-hearted girls probably just wanted to watch movies with me.
Honestly, the movies were indeed interesting, but the similarity of the themes was overwhelming.
Watching nearly twenty films of the same type in a row, with Izuna and Pina gasping and checking in with me at every exciting scene, left me no chance to rest even for a moment.
I did try to suggest a break, but the moment I opened my mouth, I was met with pitiful eyes and voices full of grievance.
Relying on my ability to recover quickly just by falling asleep, I decided to see who would reach their limit first. Them enjoying themselves, or me reaching exhaustion.
But looking at the situation now…
I'm truly sorry I couldn't let Izuna and Pina fully enjoy themselves.
With that final thought, my fighting eyelids finally closed completely, and the sound of the movies gradually faded into another world.
When I regained consciousness, I realized a soft sensation beneath me. I had, as I had hoped, lain down on a bed.
I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up, but the movement startled the girls lying beside me, who hadn't fully fallen asleep.
After the initial confusion, Izuna's eyes quickly filled with tears as she threw herself into my arms.
"Aruji-dono, Aruji-dono, I'm sorry!"
The loyal little fox sobbed. "It's all Izuna's fault for being so clingy, not realizing that Aruji-dono has been holding on this whole time. Izuna… Izuna… I no longer have the qualifications to be your ninja…"
Pina, who wasn't as close to me, didn't throw herself at me directly, but bit her lip in guilt.
"Sensei… I-I'm really sorry. I didn't think it would come to this… I have a habit of watching chivalry movies for days straight, so I assumed sensei would be fine… I-I won't ask to watch movies with you again… sob sob…"
Their excitement made it obvious, they were both secretly in love with me.
My spirits lifted, realizing this might be a good chance to win over Pina as well.
"It's alright." I cleared my throat, patting Izuna's head while looking sincerely at Pina. "I just took a little nap. You don't need to worry."
"B-but, sensei, you just now looked like—"
I deliberately put on a serious expression, adapting a common line from the movies: "Pina, I am the boss. Are you trying to talk back to me?"
Pina froze, quickly adjusted her sitting posture, and lowered her head. "N-no! How could I ever speak to the boss like that? Excuse me! I was wrong, I'm truly sorry!"
"Hmph, good that you understand." At this point, I couldn't keep a straight face, a smile creeping into my tone. "Izuna, listen carefully. As your lord, and as Pina's boss, I don't fall that easily!"
"But I…" Pina wanted to object, but my mood infected her, and she couldn't help laughing. "…Pfft! Ahahaha!"
The blonde girl laughed heartily, even crying from laughter, and Izuna, releasing her hold on my waist, also laughed through her tears.
"…Phew, sensei, really…" Pina wiped the corner of her eye. "Thank you so much, sensei. I really appreciate it. I also felt chivalry from you, but it's different from mine… especially warm and gentle…"
She closed her eyes, murmuring, "It feels like it wants to embrace Pina… that kind of righteousness…"
Izuna blinked. "So that means actually hugging is fine, right?"
The air seemed to still for a moment.
I looked in surprise at Izuna, whose eyes were still a little red, and received a glance that seemed to say, "Leave it to Izuna, boss." I couldn't help wondering, where did she learn to assist like that?
Did she pick it up from period dramas, from the "good wife" mode taught by Wakamo, or from that adorable kid in the ninja club who spoke like singing?
"Eh?" Pina looked hesitant. "I-is that… okay?"
"Mm!" Izuna nodded firmly, patting her chest and answering for me. "With our Aruji-dono's generosity, it would never be refused!"
Pina then looked at me, already smiling and opening my arms, and hesitated slightly. "B-boss, Pina's coming…"
Before I could respond, she carefully hugged me.
And so, the warmth I had been anticipating arrived—
But it was only from a girl whose body temperature seemed unusually high.
Was it still a little lacking?
Stroking Pina's hair as she giggled foolishly, I fell into thought.