A Morning Full of Surprises
Wrapped in a fluffy blanket, I woke up from a pleasant late sleep… but for some reason, there was a strange sense of unease. With my mind only half-awake, I blinked slowly and reached out to pull the blinds up at a leisurely pace. Brilliant sunlight poured down over my face. Thanks to that, my head gradually clearing, I soon realized the source of the unease.
What was that smell?
"…This is…"
It was definitely a familiar scent. From my hometown… in other words, it was Mother's…
"No, it's just the smell of doenjang jjigae."
That savory aroma could only be one thing, but since no one in this house should have been cooking breakfast this morning, my mind snapped into focus. Unless I'd sleepwalked and prepared it like usual, who on earth—?
Thud. Thud. Thud…
"…!"
As if refusing to give me any more time to think, the mysterious footsteps approaching the door soon flung it wide open without even knocking.
"You're up?"
"Eek…?"
The voice that reached me belonged to a woman, so I instinctively yanked the blanket up to my chin and let out a pathetic yelp.
"…Hnn."
Standing in the doorway was a woman with long black hair, wearing an apron I'd bought long ago and never once used—now stuffed somewhere in the back of a closet—and holding a ladle in one hand like it was part of the deal. Her striking teardrop mole was the first thing that caught my eye, and her beautiful black hair framed pale, flawless skin that only made her look more radiant. The slightly upturned eyes and haughty impression… if there was such a thing as a mature, seductive cat-like beauty, she embodied it perfectly with nothing but her face.
…Of course, the ladle and apron didn't match that image at all. Her well-maintained, glossy black hair, and above all, the jet-black side-slit dress she wore beneath the apron—something you'd expect on a sexy witch from fiction—made it hard to tell whether she was trying to appeal as a domestic woman or a seductive one. Still, with that overwhelmingly beautiful face, she pulled it off shamelessly.
"What's with that reaction? Suddenly my mood's ruined."
Ah… so this was the bodyguard the President mentioned? Then when exactly did she come through the front door, and why had she prepared breakfast? The confusion only grew.
…And if Nero saw me like this—
"More importantly, no compliments? This body is exactly your type, isn't it?"
Well… the black dress clung to her like the party dresses you see at entertainment award shows, earnestly emphasizing her voluptuous figure. Her breasts were full enough to create folds and shadows against the apron, her waist was slender where the apron strings cinched it, and though the apron covered her hips adequately, the wide pelvis that made the apron's coverage seem insufficient… even I had to admit it wasn't the kind of body anyone would dislike. And those pale thighs peeking through the side slit had been drawing my gaze for a while now.
"Master, I want your thoughts. Say something."
And this voice was definitely from somewhere…
"…?"
"Master?!"
"Yeah, Master."
Huh, her lips were close…? Because she'd suddenly leaned in, those lips were now right in front of me—ripe and red like a tempting fruit. Ah, only then did I belatedly realize she'd come right up to me, and at the same time I instantly recognized that this was Nero's voice—the one I'd always thought was too good to waste on just me.
Definitely… whenever I heard Nero's cat-like, seductive, sweet voice, I'd imagined this exact appearance. But that had only been my imagination; reality was never supposed to—
"I made breakfast, so I'd like you to come out soon."
"Uh, um… so… Nero?"
"Who else would it be?"
When I asked again, still stunned, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly, apparently pleased with my reaction. That charming eye-smile was exactly like her cat form. Drawn like a child to a flute, I started to get out of bed to follow her—
"Huh…?"
Only then did I remember that my lower body still wouldn't move the way I wanted, and that the source of yet another unease remained unidentified.
Rustle… rustle…
This… something under the blanket?
"What are you doing? Don't tell me you've already fallen head over heels for my charming appearance?"
'Ehehe… As expected, this is easy. If I just keep going like this…'
No, no no… Well, I had been on the verge of falling for her. If it weren't for the unfamiliar weight and unease pressing down on my lower body beneath the blanket, that is.
Whoosh…!
Flutter.
"…!"
"…?!"
After steeling myself, I yanked the blanket up in one go and saw—
"Mnya… Umm…"
Sluuurp…
For some reason, a beautiful girl with equally long black hair in a black dress—hair so long it spilled over the edge of the bed—was hugging me at an awkwardly low position and sleeping soundly. At the same time, Nero's gradually softening expression twisted in an instant.
"Y-you! Who the hell is this?!"
"W-wait! I don't know what's going on either…!"
Realizing how incriminating the scene looked, my heart raced and the words tumbled out faster. I really didn't know. Why was Founder here?! I'd heard she'd come once before to reinforce the house's durability, but…!
"You're saying you don't know while sporting something that stiff right next to her face?!"
"No, this is because I just woke up…!"
What on earth was happening…? I woke up to find my pet cat had turned into a person, prepared breakfast, and come to wake me wearing an apron. Then when I tried to get up, an unidentified mysterious girl who even the Field Team Leader couldn't handle was clinging to my lower body under the blanket, fast asleep.
…At least it was something that could be explained in words.
"Hey, big brother… Morning."
Ah, she woke up.
"Morning… No, Founder, why are you here?"
"Umm… It was warm under the blanket…"
I really wished she'd stop rubbing her face against my lower body with that bright, innocent expression. Nero's gaze… that cold look like she was staring at some pathetic human was too painful.
"That's not what I meant. Why are you in our house…"
"…Because big brother was being noisy, so I woke you up."
"No, this is…"
Ah… so this was the bodyguard the President mentioned after all.
"Hehe… Since you're up, pet my head."
"Wait, I don't know who you are, but that's a privilege only I get to enjoy…!"
Whether my brain was functioning through the chaos or not, Founder just said what she wanted and now pushed her head forward demanding headpats. On top of that, Nero had joined the fray. And yet she was the one complaining…?
"You're noisy too, jealous cat. Want me to erase those red lips?"
"…!"
Thud…!
Clang!
With a single annoyed glance from the girl as she turned her head, Nero's face went deathly pale in an instant. She dropped the ladle and collapsed onto the floor.
Seeing that, I probably couldn't think of anything else.
"Nero!"
"Ow…?"
Without thinking, I shoved the girl off me and onto the side of the bed, then wrapped my arms around Nero's shoulders as she sat silently, cold sweat dripping down her face.
"Haa… haa…"
'That child… what exactly is she?'
"She's probably extremely dangerous, but she's definitely a good kid. So never provoke her carelessly. If she wants to be spoiled, I'll handle it all, okay?"
"…Uuu…"
Pat.
It wasn't a full explanation, but Nero obediently buried her face in my shoulder. After a little while, she finally caught her breath. Of course, she still looked uncomfortable around the girl.
"Puu…"
"…!"
A cute sound completely at odds with the situation came from behind me. When I turned around belatedly, I saw Founder with her lips pursed and cheeks puffed out in a sulky expression.
Really, what was going on here…? Was I done for? Would my arms disappear like the Team Leader warned, just for touching her carelessly…?
"Hmph. I came all this way to protect you, and this is how you treat me?"
"No! I mean, I'm sorry about earlier. But… Nero is like family to me. If you're going to protect me, Founder, I'd like you to treasure Nero as well."
"…Is that so?"
She looked like she was thinking "Well, can't be helped," and her sulky expression brightened far more easily than I'd expected. I was glad I'd managed to speak properly.
"Sorry! I didn't think you'd collapse just from a little glare, even if I don't know who you are."
"Hmm… I see."
"Yeah, you're really weak. Big brother is too, and the jealous cat is completely hopeless."
"…"
She was honest to a fault. 'That tiny thing that hasn't even grown yet…' I could almost hear Nero grinding her teeth. It seemed scary and annoying were two different things for her—very cat-like. Still, if she tried to voice those thoughts, I'd have to stop her no matter what. For now she seemed to be holding back as I'd asked, but if I had to take all her spoiled behavior later as promised, would my body even survive?
"More importantly, pet my head already. I came all the way here after separating from my lovely little sister, so big brother's only reason for existing is this much."
She said something so outrageous with such a bright smile.
"…"
Still, it probably wasn't entirely serious. I waited a moment, half-hoping, but it seemed my ability didn't work on this girl the way it did on the Team Leader. She always said exactly what she was thinking, so even if she could hear my thoughts, it wouldn't matter. Still, I should be grateful she found at least one reason for my existence.
"Haha…"
Even though I'd clearly slept in, it hadn't been long since waking up, yet this already felt like the most exhausting and chaotic morning of my life. And just as I was pointlessly worrying about what to do next, another problem wafted straight into my nose.
"By the way… doesn't anyone else smell something burning?"