Chapter 198 - I Think She's a Lovely Woman

I was feeling a bit gloomy, but that was resolved after my stroll with Sieg-san, and I thought all I had to do now was get a good night's sleep and get ready for tomorrow, but at that moment, a troubling situation arose.

[Kaito-san! How many times do I have to tell you to make you understand!!!?]

[That's my line!]

[...You're really stubborn, aren't you...]

[...I return those words back to you.]

...Sieg-san and I were currently having what you would call an argument for the first time since we met.

However, it isn't that we're speaking ill of each other or that we're displeased. It's simply because we held opinions that clashed with each other.

[...Like I said, I'll go sleep on the floor! Sieg-san, you go sleep on the bed!]

[That's no good! Kaito-san is our guest! I'll be sleeping on the floor!]

[If you're saying it like that, there's no way I would let a woman sleep on the floor either! I won't budge on this one!]

Yes, Sieg-san and I are arguing about the one and only bed.

Even though two people could sleep on it if they wanted to because of its size, Sieg-san wouldn't want to sleep with a man like me on the same futon, so I told her that I was originally planning to sleep on the floor... But Sieg-san just wouldn't stop insisting that she couldn't let me, as her guest, sleep on the floor.

And now, we are arguing about giving each other the bed.

[I'm stronger than you. I used to sleep outdoors a lot, so I'm fine on the floor.]

[In the world where I was in, it was common to sleep on the floor with a futon laid out on the floor. It's fine if I just sleep on the floor.]

[...…]

[...…]

Lilia-san once described me and Sieg-san as being similar to each other, and I think that might actually be true.

[Anyway, I have my pride as a man too! I can't let a woman sleep on the floor!]

[You don't have to treat me like a woman! I'm not sexy or feminine at all!]

[That's not true! Sieg-san is a very charming, lovely woman!!!]

[Hweh!? T- T- T- Thank you...]

[Eh? Ah, no...]

I just reflexively said something outrageous!?

Hearing the words I shouted at her, Sieg-san's face turns red as she looks down. I can't continue to speak anymore either.

Unable to speak to each other, seeing Sieg-san looking down and fidgeting made me feel embarrassed and I looked away.

However, the conversation wouldn't go on if we just stay silent like this, so after a moment of silence, I slowly opened my mouth.

[...B- But, you see... If the both of us won't budge at all, we'll have no choice but to sleep in the same bed though?]

[...I- It's not... l- like I... mind it that much anyway.]

[...Ehh?]

If we both won't allow the other person to sleep on the floor, we'll have to sleep together in the same bed... When I told her that, to my surprise, Sieg-san said she was fine with it.

I know she's just looking out for me but...

[...A- Are you really sure you're okay with that?]

[...Yes... I- I guess Kaito-san really wouldn't want to be in the same bed as a large woman like me, right?]

[N- No, I don't think of such things at all... Also, Sieg-san is a really lovely woman. Your height is also part of your charm.]

[ ~ ~!?!? ]

Sieg-san is about the same height... or maybe a bit taller than me, and she seems to be pretty conscious about that.

She has already asked it multiple times before, to which I told her I wasn't intimidated by her features.

It's true that Sieg-san is tall, and with her extremely beautiful face, at first glance, she gave a cool impression.

But after talking with her, I realized she's very gentle and her height, coupled with her slender figure and beautiful proportions, is just one of the things that makes her so attractive.

[...P- Please don't flatter too much... I- It's making me feel embarrassed.]

[Ah, I- I'm sorry.]

Back then, Sieg-san couldn't speak, so even now, I know what she wants to say even if she doesn't say much, and in fact, the opposite was also true, and she seems to know what I'm thinking to a certain extent too.

She could tell that I find Sieg-san attractive, and as she tried hiding her long ears that had turned red, she looked very cute... and thinking about what's about to come, I felt my nervousness tremendously rise.

...It's quiet… Too quiet.

The ticking of the clock is extremely loud, and I'm currently keeping my eyelids shut, surrounded by a crystal-clear silence in the darkness of the night.

My body was considerably tired. I took a long trip on the Flying Dragon Services, a lot of things have happened since we got here, and I took a night stroll... But even with all the things I've done and how tired my body is, I don't feel like I can sleep at all.

I'm lying on my side on the edge of the bed, and behind me is Sieg-san, who is lying down and should be facing the opposite direction.

[...Kaito-san... Are you still awake?]

[...Yes.]

As I'm savoring the feeling of time slipping away without feeling like I can sleep at all, I heard a small voice call out from behind me.

[...Don't you think we're wasting a little too much space?]

[...I was also thinking the same thing.]

Currently, Sieg-san and I are lying back to back, as far away from each other as possible.

However, although it's bigger than a normal bed, it's not as big as a king-size bed. When we are laying down while trying to keep some distance away from each other, we can't help but be at the edge of the bed.

This may be partly due to our personalities, but at any rate, the space in the middle of us is quite empty.

[...Should we get a bit closer?]

[...Yes.]

I had been thinking about it, but I couldn't just carelessly say it as it might be impolite, but thanks to Sieg-san opening up that topic herself, despite my nervousness, I was able to agree to it.

Wriggling my body to avoid looking back at her, I slightly moved towards the center of the bed.

I can hear the sound of clothing rubbing with clothes from her side. It seems like Sieg-san is moving in the same way as mine...

[ [!?] ]

However, there is no way we can make fine adjustments by moving with just our senses without looking back, and after I feel Sieg-san's back touching with mine, both of us simultaneously flinched.

I felt my senses being awfully keen because I'm nervous, and my back feels hot even though we only slightly touched each other.

I could hear my own heart thumping loudly, and I was about to speak to distract myself from the nervousness that was boiling my body... Before I could speak though, Sieg-san spoke.

[...Kaito-san, can I ask you something weird?]

[...Something weird? Y- Yes, I don't mind.]

Hearing Sieg-san's ask me in a slightly raised voice, I nod my head and replied that I don't mind.

Thereupon, Sieg-san stayed silent for a moment before she slowly spoke.

[...Today, you were talking about it with Father... ummm, about my underwear...]

[Ehh? Ah, no, that was just Rei-san's joke, okay!?]

[Fufu, I know. No, you would probably just rampage like you usually do...]

[Unnn?]

Hearing Sieg-san suddenly saying something outrageous, but it's not like I would do anything like that, so I hurriedly explained to her.

After laughing at my reaction, which could be described as excessive, Sieg-san spoke more outrageous words.

[I don't really understand though... for example... Would Kaito-san want to see me... while I'm just wearing my underwear?]

[Wha!? S- S- Sieg-san!? W- W- What the heck are you saying!?]

[No, I was just simply wondering... what would you feel when you see... a woman whose chest is small and doesn't have any glamor... And you see, I've heard that men like women with big breasts...]

[...]

Eh? What's with these questions? Ummm, do I have to respond to this? I'm feeling so embarrassed just hearing about this...

H- Hmmm. It's just my guess, but I think based on what she usually says and does, I think Sieg-san doesn't have a lot of confidence in herself as a woman. So, being a man, she wanted to hear my opinion... If that's the case, then I should properly answer her.

[...Don't every person have their own preferences? Of course, there are a certain number of people who like women with large breasts but... I personally think they are attractive enough even without them being large.]

[...For instance, what do you think about me? If Kaito-san saw me only wearing that... w- would you, ummm, be a- aroused?]

[...I definitely would be... I've said this many times, Sieg-san is an incredibly attractive woman and...to be honest, I'm still very nervous even now.]

[...Is that the truth?]

My face was burning hot, but I honestly told her my thoughts.

Thereupon, Sieg-san tried confirming it again, sounding a bit anxious.

[Yes. I think Sieg-san should have more confidence to yourself.]

[...Being told that I have a low estimation of myself, I don't want to be told that by Kaito-san...]

[Ugghhh!?]

That's a very strong counter, that I even let out a groan.

I certainly don't have that much confidence in myself either. How should I say this… I guess you could say I'm a cowardly person at heart, and that everytime people think highly of me, I'm afraid that such compliments aren't fitting for someone like me... This is the only thing that I feel isn't going to change anytime soon.

[Fufufu, but thank you. I got a bit more confident of myself.]

[I- Is that so... That's good to hear.]

[...Ahh, but, please don't steal my underwear.]

[I won't steal it!!!]

I strongly refuted the words that she teasingly said.

I mean, even though I know she's just joking, but I didn't expect that she would really warn me of that... What kind of person do I look like in Sieg-san's mind...

[...I think you're a man more fantastic than any others.]

[Ehh? Ah, errr, t- thank you.]

The words were spoken as if she could see through the thoughts in my mind, and I felt the heat that was supposed to have cooled down, suddenly returned back to my face... Unnn, as expected, I don't think I'll be able to sleep today.

Dear Mom, Dad—— Sieg-san is a wonderful, mature woman who is kind, family-oriented, and very reliable. However, she isn't perfect in everything, she sometimes feels anxious, unsure of herself, and has lots of traits that show she's a human like me. And with all of these qualities she has —— I think she's a very lovely woman.

**********

{Author's Notes}

The sweetness level is slowly rising.

Even so, Kaito's reasoning is as tough as orichalcum... Even though she was completely pushing herself and the flow of the atmosphere even looks like she would accept him...

Serious-senpai: [...One extremely spicy mapo tofu ramen please.]