The first thing I noticed when I woke up was a lemon-like scent.

The next was the soft feeling of something touching my lips.

“Mm...”

Shion was leaning over me, kissing me.

When our eyes met at close range, she smiled at me in a sultry way.

Without pulling away, she tangled her tongue with mine, and I responded while wrapping my arms around her waist.

It went on for a little while, but then—

Bang!

At the sudden noise, both of us froze.

It sounded like someone had come out of a room into the hallway.

After that, things stayed noisy for a bit, but no one came to my room.

“W-what was that?”

“Hehe, I’m not sure... Good morning, Sousuke.”

“Yeah. Morning.”

With obvious reluctance, Shion gave me one last quick kiss before sitting up.

“It makes me happy, waking up and finding the person I love right beside me.”

Hearing her say something like that with a shy smile made my heart jump.

“Honestly, it was the best way I could’ve woken up too.”

“Ahaha. Then can I do it again next time?”

“Of course. Actually, I’m asking you to.”

“Request accepted.”

Shion took the job happily.

I got out of bed and opened the window.

Cool air came in with the morning sunlight.

My room was next to Shouko’s, so from this window too I could see the Fenrir hut below.

“Huh... Mashiro’s not there.”

“A walk...? Maybe he’s doing patrols for us.”

“Maybe...”

“Sousuke, do you have a minute?”

Shion, sitting on the edge of the bed, called out to me.

“Of course. What is it?”

“It’s about the dream.”

Her expression had turned serious.

“The event?”

“Yeah. We’re going to go for it too, right?”

“I was planning to talk it over with everyone later, but I do want to take part. From what we’ve heard, there’s no downside to securing a Right to Return.”

I didn’t really want to think about it, but there was no guarantee there would be enough Rights to Return for the whole class.

Part of me also wanted to make sure our own people got them first.

“Yeah. I agree with that too. But... um, I have a favor to ask.”

“Sure.”

“I... I really don’t want to forget what happened here. So until I’m able to take my memories back with me, I want you to wait before going home.”

...Was that all?

“Of course I will. I mean, we already talked about that before, didn’t we?”

Shouko desperately wanted to take Mashiro back with her, and everyone else probably wanted to bring back their abilities and memories too.

“That’s true, but... becoming close with everyone, and... meeting someone like you, Sousuke, someone I can truly trust from the bottom of my heart... I don’t want to lose that. Those feelings just keep getting stronger and stronger.”

Looking at the anxiety in her face, I realized just how frightened she was of losing her memories.

I sat down beside her.

“I don’t want to forget becoming close with you either, Shion. We don’t know the conditions for bringing things back yet, but let’s work together and definitely clear them. Let’s remember everything, and if anyone wants to, let’s bring our abilities back too. Then we’ll go home to Japan.”

Shion looked at me with moist eyes and a happy smile.

“Yeah. Definitely.”

Then she threw her arms around me.

I hugged her back gently, but... this was bad.

I suddenly remembered that Shion wasn’t wearing a bra.

The softness pressing against my chest, her scent, and everything from last night came rushing back, and blood immediately started heading south.

She’d just opened up to me seriously about something important, so calm down, calm down...!

But no matter how hard I told myself that, morning made things even worse, and I wanted to bury my face in my hands.

And unfortunately, Shion noticed.

“Hehe, after letting out that much yesterday, you’re already this big again.”

“S-sorry. Right in the middle of a serious conversation too.”

“Why? We already finished talking... and honestly, I’m just happy you react to me.”

A dangerous gleam lit up in her eyes as she slowly stroked my thigh.

“I have to make breakfast, so... I can only stay with you once. Is that okay?”

“We already caused everyone trouble yesterday because of that. I should really control myself...”

“It’s okay. Just once. And if that’s not enough, we can make time again after breakfast.”

Then Shion lay back on the bed again without any hesitation and lifted her clothes.

Her large chest slipped free at once.

“At least let me help with your morning properly.”

There was no way I could refuse an invitation like that.

So I climbed over her, and the two of us lost ourselves in each other again for a while.

This time, I somehow managed to stop after one round so I wouldn’t repeat yesterday morning’s mistake...

But like Shion said, it looked like I’d probably need her to make time for me again after breakfast.

◇

Afterward—

“Shion, are you okay not taking a bath?”

Even though we’d wiped down with wet towels, wasn’t it still going to bother her?

“Mmm. Breakfast comes first, I think. And if Chiyu uses Purify on me, hygiene-wise it should be fine.”

“I-I see.”

“And besides, Sousuke, you probably still haven’t had enough, right? I was thinking I’d save the bath for after I’d helped you feel fully satisfied.”

“Ugh...”

She’d seen right through me.

“Hehe. Then should we head downstairs?”

“Yeah.”

When I stood up, Shion casually reached over and took my hand.

“...Not allowed?”

“It’s allowed.”

“Good. I heard about it from Minori, and I thought, I want to do that too!”

“I see.”

She was right—yesterday, I had walked back holding Minori’s hand.

We went downstairs together.

“Want me to help with anything?”

“Nope, leave it to me.”

“Got it. I’m counting on you. Oh, should we find Chiyu first?”

“Hehe, yeah. Good point.”

The two of us headed to the living room.

“Ah... good morning, Sousuke, Shion.”

Minori noticed us, froze for a second at our joined hands, and then spoke.

“Good morning, Minori. I got jealous, so I copied you.”

After saying that, Shion let go of my hand.

“Sousuke doesn’t belong only to me, so I don’t mind.”

“And you can have him do it with you again as many times as you want, Minori.”

“Y-yes. Of course, that is... if Sousuke doesn’t mind.”

“Morning, Minori. Why would I mind?”

“Th-then I think I’ll ask again sometime.”

“Yeah.”

Minori was the only one at the table.

She was drinking water from a glass.

I’d made the pitcher along with the glasses and left them there so anyone could drink whenever they wanted.

“Just you, Minori?”

Shion poured a glass for me from the pitcher, then one for herself.

“Yes. I did hear some kind of noise earlier, though.”

“Ah, I heard that too. ...Come to think of it, Mashiro wasn’t there either...”

“Do Fenrirs need walks, I wonder? Even so, Chiyu’s whereabouts are still a mystery.”

“Yeah.”

And while we were talking—

we heard a cock-a-doodle-doo from outside.

“...Now I understand.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“We haven’t known each other for very long, but I feel like I’ve learned how Chiyu moves.”

The three of us looked at each other and nodded at the same time.

“Waaah, I’m tired. Sousuke, Chiyu wants you outside.”

Shouko came into the living room, then collapsed flat onto the rug.

“O-okay. I can pretty much guess, but... good work.”

After thanking her for her efforts, I stepped outside.

The morning sun and my childhood friend greeted me.

Behind her, Mashiro walked past with a yawn.

“Morning, So-kun. Build a chicken coop.”

“I thought so.”

Outside, there were two vine-woven baskets making rustling noises.

She’d apparently gone and pulled them out of the storage room.

“There are five of them. Chickens lay one egg a day, apparently.”

She must have gone out first thing after waking up, motivated entirely by wanting to make me something with eggs.

“Thanks, Chiyu.”

“You’re allowed to fall for your childhood friend’s love all over again.”

“Yeah.”

When I nodded honestly, Chiyu smiled—just barely, and with a hint of embarrassment.

“............Hehe.”

I walked a little way off and generated a chicken coop.

I pictured a slightly oversized doghouse, but instead of using boards, I supported the roof with posts.

For some reason, I just had the image of a chicken coop being made of mesh.

For the netting, I used fibers made from vines.

Then I immediately placed the finished coop.

“Ooh. As expected of you, So-kun.”

She picked up one of the baskets, so I picked up the other, and we transferred the chickens into the coop.

One of them escaped, and I had to chase it down, but somehow we managed to get all five inside.

“What do chickens eat, anyway?”

“Grain...? Bugs?”

“We don’t have either... Let’s ask Minori later if there’s anything else. For now, I guess the eggs will be tomorrow.”

“So-kun.”

When I turned toward Chiyu at her call, I saw—

an egg in her hand.

“I found it near where I found the chickens. There’s enough for everyone.”

Apparently she had the rest in her uniform pockets.

“You were really fired up.”

“Your stomach belongs to me, So-kun.”

“My stomach belongs to me.”

Smiling wryly, I went back inside with my childhood friend.

“I’m looking forward to it, Chiyu.”

“Get ready for your ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) cheeks to fall off.”

After casting Purify on herself, Chiyu joined up with Shion and headed to the kitchen with her.