Second day.

　In the afternoon, I was to go out with Arkwright's mother and daughter.
　They're going to do some shopping and eating in town.
　After the meal, the schedule for this sleepover will end.

''Fufu, you can stay here for the rest of the night, right?　I'd be delighted to welcome you.

　Mr. Cecily made such a joke--a joke, right? -- said, but I still can't stay at the Arkwright house all the time.
　It's not without a doubt that our familiar home is more comfortable.

　I was just waiting in front of the carriage for Cecily to get ready to go out.
　It was past noon.
　But I was already feeling quite tired.

　I had been through a lot to get to this point.

　I woke up early in the morning, and first of all, I borrowed the Arkwright family's large garden and training weapons to train.
　Training is my daily routine.
　I didn't want to skip it, even if it was a sleepover.

　And well, so far, so good.
　The conversation with Mr. Bunton, who was tending to the garden, was really calm and fun.

　The problem started here.

　After the training, I went to the bathhouse to work out, but for some reason, Société, who didn't seem to know I was there, came into the bathhouse.

　I was determined to get out of the bathhouse without being noticed.
　But due to various mishaps, my clothes were gone.
　In the end, I had to take on the mission of going back to my room, where I had a spare change of clothes, completely naked.
　.............
　Needless to say, I had a lot of work to do.

　Furthermore, at the breakfast table afterwards, there was a moment when the Arkwright mother and daughter gave me a double "ahhh" attack and gave me a sweet pincer attack, which made me feel tense.

　
　However, contrary to my expectations, she seemed to have serious feelings.
　

　That's why I'm a bit slack-jawed right now.

"Thank you, Kurohiko-san.

　Société, standing next to her, suddenly uttered a thank you.

''Well, thank you for what?　Oh, the training you just did...?
''Ufufu, there's that too. Kurohiko-san, since we've been in such close contact so many times.......you must have learned the lines of my body by now, right?
..........
Are you embarrassed?　Hmmm, cute - is, anyway.

　Societé's eyes softened in a natural way.

'I haven't seen Cecily frolicking like that in the mansion in a long time.
Haha well, he was fine, wasn't he?

　However, it didn't seem that different from Cecily-san on a regular basis.......
　Is it not so much when she's usually in the mansion?

'I think she's changed since I met Kurohiko-san. She seemed a bit lonely during the Seibutsu Festival, though.

　I was very close to Ira-san during the Holy War Festival.
　We had a rivalry in the ungraded class.
　So I can't deny that there was a certain amount of distance between us.
　I can't say that I didn't feel a certain amount of loneliness because I also felt a sense of distance.
　..........
　Ah, I see.
　The fact that Cecily-san was in no good spirits during her stay may have been a reaction to the Holy War Festival.......

''Diares was also surprised. He said that today's sister looked like she was possessed by someone else.

　By the way, Diares-san has already left the mansion in the morning to go to the Knights' headquarters.
　He called out to me while I was training in the garden.
　So I was able to greet him.

''Oh, and!

　Ms. Sosier came up to me.
　She whispered in a whispering voice.

''So, since Diares has a rather black side to his stomach, you might want to keep that in mind.

　Isn't the Arkwright clan full of people like that...?
　Could it be that this pattern of unconsciousness is widespread among the people in question...?

Sorry for the wait.

　It looks like Cecily is done getting ready.
　She was dressed differently today than she was yesterday.
　She wore a bracelet and necklace.
　A stylish hair band on her head.
　Cute to the point of being cute.

　But it's just that I feel....
　What is this feeling?
　Compared to the usual, it's hard to deny that he's overdressed.
　That's how enthusiastic he is.

Well then, have a good day.

　Hana, who had accompanied Cecily to the house, bowed her head.

''Thank you, Hana-san, for everything you did yesterday and today.
No, no, no, it's no way to thank me. Kurohiko-sama has been ungrateful to me.

　Hmm.
　I might not be suitable for the so-called "Use others".
　Or rather, I'm kind of bad at asking someone to do something that I can do well on my own.

''Also, Guyden-sama has a message for Cecily-sama and Kurohiko-sama.

　Mr. Gaiden had returned to the castle in his carriage last night.
　He really only came back yesterday for dinner, apparently.
　Just before I said the message, Hana-san glanced at me and Cecily.
　Then, a little embarrassed, she said.

''Personally, the sooner the better, the happier I am, but it would be better for me to make a child after I graduate from the school.''
I won't!
Grandfather!

　At about the same time, Cecily and I turned bright red and shouted.
　Société, who was already in the carriage, stepped out of the carriage, put her hand over her mouth and smiled.

'Oh dear,'


　　　　　*


　After finishing the second day of shopping and eating with the Arkwright mother and daughter, I was dropped off at the main gate of the school by carriage.

　As we said goodbye, I realized that I hadn't been able to practice the married couple game that Societé had instructed me to play.
　However, she said.

'No, no, I've managed to catch enough of their marital image in the last two days, haven't I?

　And for some reason, he was satisfied.

　Before she followed her daughter into the carriage, Socie turned around.

''Uh-huh, if you want to spoil your mother, you can always come visit me, right?　Especially when Cecily isn't around, there's plenty of--
Mother.
Oh, my goodness, that girl has some ears.

　She was being firmly chided by her daughter, who had heard her exactly.

'So, Kurohiko, I'll see you later.
'Yes, sir. I had a great time yesterday and today, Cecily. Thank you very much.
Well, I'm the one who should thank you.

　After leaving Cecily like that, I saw the carriage off and went straight home.

　The familiar way home.
　I felt as if I had been dreaming while I was at the Arclight house.
　Gazing at the approaching dusk sky.
　The shredded clouds were slowly swimming in the sky.

'It's so nice to be a family.'

　Suddenly, such words escaped my mouth.

　The Arkwright family, well, it might not be a common family in this country either.
　But I felt jealous of their relationship with my mother, brother and grandfather.
　They said a lot of things to each other, but I could tell that they were properly close to each other.
　Surprisingly, the days spent as a family member in that mansion might not be so bad.
　They were nice enough to think so.

''But well... it might be a bit tiring.

　With a wry smile, I open the door of the house.

"I'm home........but there's no one there--

Welcome back, Kuromi-Sama.

　No, there was.
　The voices came from the bathroom.
　Mia, with her arms rolled up, emerges from the changing room.

''I'm sorry, too!　I was cleaning the bathhouse, but I can't finish it before Kurohiko-sama comes home........

　My mouth naturally breaks into a smile.
　I don't have a family like the Arkwrights, but if they're close, I have one too.

　I rolled up my arms, happy and grateful.

''Ku, Kurohiko-sama?''
I'll help you clean up.