Ch.308308. Sirah Relocation War (2)

Monitoring me from the moment I eat.

Following me around for document preparation, inspections, and checks.

She even warmed up coffee for me, watching closely from right beside me, probably worried I might try some strange method to stay awake.

“Uheuum…”

She ended up falling asleep first, breaking her promise.

Watching her mumble strange alien-like words in her sleep, Junon smiled, brought a pillow and blanket, and laid Renias down on the sofa.

It was probably too much to ask. Renias tends to sleep heavily at night, so it must have been difficult for her to stay awake.

Just moments ago, she had been shaking her head trying to fight off sleep, but as you can see, the result was a quick trip to dreamland.

As an aside, I actually felt relieved that Renias fell asleep. I had been secretly worried she might stay up all night.

She’s already prone to bad dreams. Huh? Saying she wouldn’t sleep because she was worried about someone else—really.

How could I not be concerned?

But thinking about it carefully…

The real reason for her concern was whether I was eating properly or if I was engaging in the strange behaviors Senia had warned her about.

‘I’ve always tried to change everything by myself.’

I had firmly believed no one would understand my situation. Even though perceptions had improved and conditions had gotten better with help from those around me, there was still no one I could confide in or consult with.

So as always, I was alone.

I tried to shoulder everything alone and had to forge through a difficult future by myself. I knew better than anyone how exhausting it was for both body and mind.

But today, somehow, it wasn’t so hard.

Maybe it’s because I ate properly. Maybe it’s because I drank fragrant coffee instead of bitter herbs.

Yes. The reduced physical fatigue probably has material reasons.

But what truly made today feel less arduous was having someone beside me who made sure I ate and prepared coffee for me.

That’s why it didn’t feel so difficult.

Thanks to Renias.

“Thank you.”

“Hehehe.”

When I gently patted her head, she smiled broadly, clearly pleased.

Renias truly looks most beautiful when she smiles. Having someone like her worry about me, follow me, and cheer me on was a tremendous blessing.

“Hmm?”

But at this moment, Junon made a mistake.

“Ah…”

“Oops. I forgot.”

The fact that when my hand touches Renias, she grabs my arm and won’t let go.

Despite having experienced this not once but several times, I made this mistake again. Me, who rarely makes even small errors.

“Hmm… what to do.”

It’s obvious that even if I put Renias to bed, she won’t let go of my hand.

And I still need to finish the work I was doing.

“No choice, I guess.”

There’s only one option available.

I’ll have to move my workspace.

Since I don’t want to wake Renias who’s sleeping soundly, I’ll have to bring all my work here to the sofa instead of working at the table.

After bringing over my coffee as well, I can’t help but laugh.

“Haha, this wasn’t what I intended.”

Moving stacks of documents with one hand, trying to make space on the sofa, I found there was no room left.

In the end, I had to gently lift Renias’s head, remove the pillow, and use my thigh as a substitute while I worked.

How did it end up like this? Still.

“Mmm, hehe.”

At least I can probably help ward off one of those nightmares she always has.

The coffee aroma I just sipped feels especially fragrant. Is it because the person who made it is wearing such a happy expression?

Whatever the reason, it was fine.

***

“Hehe, cooking and dishes are my responsibility, okay?”

“Haha… really.”

“Just go back and rest. I won’t let you touch anything.”

This is the one thing I must not surrender. This is the one thing I must not lose to this capable man who can do everything!

‘Yes! Cooking is a woman’s pride!’

Mom, you were right!

I didn’t understand at all at first, but now I think I do!

That was Renias’s principle. And just like always, today too she absolutely wouldn’t allow any interference with cooking.

Whenever she gave that look that said “just try to get your hands wet,” he would always take a step back.

“Good job, Renias.”

“Hehehe.”

And after finishing the dishes, when mealtime was completely over, she would always scurry away.

Running to the one bed in this small house, she would snuggle up beside him, and he would pleasantly stroke her head or pat her back.

“Since it was especially delicious today, shall I give you a different reward?”

“Huh? A different reward?”

“Here.”

“Ah! Hehe. This kind of reward.”

Renias smiles happily at the pleasant touch.

The world might seem tilted, but such a reward is wonderful. How could she not be happy, resting her head on Junon’s thigh?

She almost wished this sweet time on his lap would never end.

But suddenly her eyes began to close.

“Yaaawn… why am I suddenly getting sleepy…?”

She thought she had slept plenty today. Why did her body feel so tired?

This isn’t good. If she falls asleep right after eating, her brother will tease her.

But her eyes keep closing. Why is this happening?

‘If I fall asleep now, brother’s thigh will hurt…’

Though the will to stay awake flickered in Renias’s mind, her body was honestly on the verge of passing out.

Then suddenly Renias remembered.

She had thought before that she shouldn’t fall asleep like this.

“…That’s right. I shouldn’t fall asleep like this?”

Her body shouldn’t have been lying down like this. Even though sleep was overwhelming her, she should have been keeping her eyes wide open somehow.

“Gasp!”

At that moment, Renias’s eyes flashed open. She was finally able to wake up from her sleep.

‘It, it was a dream.’

A dream about falling asleep with her head on Junon’s thigh. Still, it was an incredibly sweet dream.

But why was the table tilted 90 degrees? The ground looked bent.

This angle seemed very familiar, just like what she saw in her dream earlier.

“N-no way…”

Her head felt very warm. The pillow under her head was not only soft but radiating a warm heat.

Such a pillow? It might exist somewhere in the world, but a normal pillow wouldn’t emit mana.

The tilted view. The warmth felt on her skin. And the faint sense of mana.

It seemed she had fallen asleep on this sofa. Using a warm, clean mana-filled pillow.

There was no need to lift her head to check. Her body lying on the sofa, the blanket covering her, and something pillow-like emitting mana couldn’t possibly exist—it must be Junon’s thigh.

‘Renias, you idiot!’

She was supposed to make sure he wasn’t trying strange methods to stay awake all night as Senior Senia had warned, but instead she fell asleep?

‘This makes everything pointless!’

Where did all that confidence about watching over him all night go?

The sun is already up, and during all that time, she just slept soundly using her brother’s thigh as a pillow? You fool!

Blaming herself for weakly falling asleep, Renias inwardly whined.

‘I need to at least find out what he did!’

Since she couldn’t watch him the whole time, he must have done something!

As she removed the blanket and sat up, Renias saw Junon sleeping while leaning against the sofa, having finished his work.

“Huh…?”

He’s asleep? According to Senior Senia, he should have stayed up all night.

Wondering if there might be other traces left on the table, she looked around but found only neatly organized documents, a folded map, and the coffee cup she had brought him.

As she reached for the coffee cup in confusion, looking back and forth between the table and Junon, the cup slipped and fell below the table.

Thud- clatter-clatter-

“Oh no…”

The coffee cup, being quite light, bounced on the floor with a crisp sound.

With his keen senses, if he heard such a loud noise…

“Mmm…?”

It was inevitable! You stupid Renias!!

“Ah, ahaha… did you sleep well…?”

For a moment, she was dumbfounded by her own words.

‘You woke up someone who was sleeping soundly! Why did you do that! Why did you touch the innocent coffee cup and wake brother up!! And what? “Did you sleep well?” Is that what you say after waking someone up?!’

Renias found herself regretting her actions for the second time that day.

Still, to this confused silver-haired rabbit girl, Junon smiled and stretched.

“Hmmph- wow, I feel refreshed. Thanks to you, Renias, I slept well.”

“Um… I just knocked over the coffee cup and woke you up…”

“I probably would have woken up soon anyway.”

“…But there’s still plenty of time before the meeting.”

“That’s true.”

“Then you didn’t sleep well, did you…?”

It wasn’t sleeping well but more like being woken up when he could have slept longer.

But Junon shook his head.

“I slept about the same amount as usual, but my body feels much more refreshed. So I’d say I slept well.”

“What?”

“I think it might be because someone brought me a gift yesterday.”

Isn’t coffee supposed to keep you awake rather than help you sleep?

Whether it was just his mood or not, could the gift of coffee have had an effect?

‘I’m not sure.’

But what seemed clear was that he wasn’t lying at all.

She could tell without observing too closely. Just looking at him stretching after waking up, he didn’t seem to have had a restless night.

“Th-then… can I bring you coffee tomorrow too?”

If a small gift like coffee could help him sleep soundly, she could make it anytime.

Plus, she could check if he was skipping meals.

“Sure, except for meeting days and operation days. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand!”

Even just this much was actually more than she could have hoped for.