Independence

“…People who are close sometimes lightly kiss, right? Like… a greeting…”

That was the best excuse I could come up with. Fortunately, Cecil didn’t put her tongue in… so it seemed to have worked somehow.

While I was whispering an explanation to Cecil, who was tilting her head beside me and asking, “Is that so?”, that merely touching lips had such a meaning, Veronica had approached close.

Unable to deliver the explanation that should have followed, I awkwardly smiled and looked at Veronica.

She seemed not fully awake, her eyes half-closed. Her hair was a bit messy, as if she’d tossed and turned all night. Veronica, who had approached, tapped her own lips and said.

“…Do it with me too. It’s a greeting, isn’t it?”

“…What?”

“Quickly…”

Veronica began to whine. She grumbled in a sleepy voice, demanding a kiss. Veronica’s reddish lips unnecessarily caught my eye. Beside me, Cecil was looking as if asking why I wasn’t doing it.

…Right, what’s there to be embarrassed about now? I’ve done worse things, so a simple lip bump is nothing.

Like a man.

I lightly… kissed Veronica’s approaching lips. They were a bit rough, perhaps because she had just woken up, but I felt softness. There was no need to recall things like the effects of a kiss, or song lyrics…

After all, there was no friend who would get hard.

Even so… I couldn’t help my face getting a little hot. I didn’t mention it, but Veronica was… quite pretty. To the extent that I wondered if her looks played a part in why she came to the Academy.

As our touching lips parted, Veronica let out a 프흐흐 laugh. Then she suddenly blinked… and her face turned red.

“W-what, what is it!?”

…Was she sleep-talking? I barely managed to calm Veronica, who was suddenly angry, then went down to the Kitchen and made breakfast with Cecil.

Because I felt hungry, I made more than usual, but… we could eat it all. Veronica’s face was still red, as if she hadn’t gotten over her anger yet. I figured adding anything more would only provoke her, so I quietly cleaned up and washed.

Then I went down to the Workshop and put on equipment to protect my body.

I firmly covered my mouth and nose, and tightly fastened my gown in case anything splashed. Just as I finished preparations and was about to begin the experiment.

A signal indicated that a visitor had arrived. I took off the equipment wrapped around my body again and went out to the entrance. A person I had never seen before was standing there, along with a cart heavily loaded with something.

When I answered yes to the Male who asked if this was the Astarotte Workshop, he handed me a letter. Unable to resist the Male’s urging gestures, as if telling me to read it quickly, I checked the contents.

…It was Master-nim.

The content was that she would be coming down again soon, so I should keep these things well. Given that it said I could use them as I pleased… I thought they might be tools or materials.

“Where should I move them?”

The Male, who had been waiting for me to read, began to rush me. He didn’t explicitly say anything, but it seemed that way from how he kept checking the time.

Since I didn’t know the contents, I asked him to pile them up at the Workshop entrance for now.

Once piled up, the quantity was quite large. Why would Master-nim send so much when she wasn’t even coming herself?

“What is all this?”

Veronica, whose face had returned to normal, approached in astonishment. Cecil, who was inside the Workshop, also came out due to the commotion and widened her eyes.

“Master-nim sent them… I’m not sure what she’s thinking.”

“Ariel-nim?”

When I nodded, Veronica began to look at the piles of luggage with an intrigued expression.

“Is it okay if I open them?”

“Anyway… we have to check the contents and organize them, so it doesn’t matter.”

Oh dear… how did she know I had cleaned the house and send things to fill it? Recalling the rooms that would soon turn into storage, I also followed Veronica and opened a box.

“Asha-nim! Is it okay if Cecil opens one too?”

“There’s no reason not to…? Be careful with your hands.”

“Yes!”

As the three of us opened the boxes, checking the contents was quickly done. What came out of the boxes was as I expected, but there were also parts that weren’t. I thought they were tools Master-nim used, but they were new… and if there was anything else unexpected….

“This is pretty.”

Veronica let out a chuckle and held a collection of fabrics up to me.

“….”

Most of the clothes seemed too small to be Master-nim’s. In fact, most of the boxes were filled with clothes. Enough to turn one room into a dressing room… no, a clothes storage.

I was hesitant to get angry because Cecil was looking at the clothes beside me, saying they were pretty… so I was careful.

Right, couldn’t I just have Cecil wear them all? I decided to think of it as Master-nim sending a gift to Cecil, not to me.

…By the way, judging by the quantity and quality, they look quite expensive, so where did this money come from? No, Master-nim probably isn’t short on money, but this kind of gift was a bit sudden.

Anyway.

Since she’s coming soon, I decided to ask her then, and moved the experimental tools and materials to the Workshop. The clothes were hastily shoved into one room. Come to think of it, I should have gone out to buy furniture, but I had forgotten.

Because I hadn’t separated the rooms, I suffered humiliation again this morning. Rather than humiliation… *ahem*, for now, the time is awkward today, so I’ll have to go out tomorrow.

I unnecessarily cleared my throat and went down to the Workshop again, putting on my equipment, when another signal for a visitor came in. This time too, I felt a commotion.

“…What is it now?”

I roughly took off the equipment I had just put on again and opened the door, and this time, a familiar face appeared.

Claudia was smiling brightly and waving her hand. Behind her… things presumed to be furniture were piled high.

“…What is all this?”

Claudia replied with a bright smile.

“What do you mean? They’re furniture to fill the empty rooms.”

“So why did Dia…?”

“I thought you’d like it… Was it not good?”

“Ah, no, that… It’s good. It is good.”

…Of course, if it’s free, it’s naturally good, right? But no matter how free it was, I wasn’t the kind of person who would drink lye, to borrow a phrase from my previous life, so something felt unsettling.

As if she read my expression, Claudia chuckled. Beyond her shoulder, I saw people standing in front of the items, sweating profusely.

Although I was a bit distrustful, considering the effort of the people who carried them all the way here, I stepped aside for now.

It was absolutely not to save money.

The empty rooms were instantly filled with furniture for basic living, including beds. They fit perfectly, as if they had been custom-made.

But… contrary to my plan of filling two rooms, an unexpected extra room appeared. It was as if I had no choice but to put in the remaining furniture, and *poof*! there it was.

How could that be? There were three more beds to begin with!

I spoke to Claudia, who was left alone in the space where the people had departed.

“…I’m telling you in advance, living here isn’t allowed. M-Master-nim’s permission will be needed.”

“Huh? I wasn’t planning on it? I might impose sometimes, but did you… perhaps want to live together?”

“…Of course not.”

Leaving Claudia, who was smiling slyly, behind, I came out of the newly created room. Veronica and Cecil were looking around. 

Since things turned out this way, it wouldn’t be bad to decide on rooms now.

As I approached the two with Claudia, who had followed me out, Veronica said with a curious expression.

“What day is it today?”

“…Indeed…”

Agreeing with Veronica’s words, I called Cecil. A vigorous reply was heard.

“Shaa-nim!”

“Cecil…”

To Cecil, who had enjoyed the noisy house without knowing anything.

“From today, you have to sleep alone.”

I declared independence.

“What? Sh-Shaa-nim, C-Cecil didn’t hear that right?”

Cecil’s pupils trembled with a tone that was somehow nostalgic… but not really. Her face looked as if she had heard something shocking.

It pained my heart to see her looking at me with a face like an abandoned puppy, but it was an unavoidable choice for my own well-being. 

But this was a bit… awkward.

If I were to explain the reason, telling her that I couldn’t sleep with her because I was getting aroused by her affection would be a bit… much, wouldn’t it? I had no history of raising a child and this was the first time I faced such a situation, so it was difficult to come up with an excuse.

Claudia merely nodded as if agreeing with my words, but didn’t particularly intervene. It was Veronica who helped me in that situation.

“Cecil, it’s actually proper for people to use separate rooms.”

“Is that… so?”

“Of course. Both I and Shaa had our own rooms when we were your age, Cecil.”

…Although our heights were all pretty much the same, I didn’t make the mistake of pointing that out.

While Veronica was persuading Cecil, Claudia, who was behind me, whispered softly.

“I’ve been thinking this for a while, but… how did you end up bringing her here? Her common sense seems a bit… lacking.”

…I do agree with that. Cecil, outwardly, did lack a bit of the common sense she should have. It was also a part I hadn’t particularly worried about because she learned quickly.

“…There are some personal circumstances…”

“Oh, really?”

When I said that, Claudia quietly backed away, seemingly having no intention of digging further.

Persuading Cecil was quickly done. She was shocked by the fact that she couldn’t sleep together in the first place, but she wasn’t a disobedient child.

After Veronica and Cecil’s rooms were decided… Cecil’s still gloomy face was visible. At that sight, I unconsciously opened my mouth.

“…On scary nights, it’s okay to sleep together.”

Cecil’s face brightened. Rather than being scared… she seemed happy about the fact that she could sleep together.

“Yes!”

I felt a stinging gaze on the back of my head. But what could I do? My heart wasn’t at ease. One day should be fine.

And so, another day came to an end. In the end, thanks to the sudden arrival of all those items, today too… I spent the day without any progress.

Though to say there was no progress, many items did fill the house.

…Starting tomorrow, I’ll really do it.

Really.

Claudia, who had made dinner, obediently returned home. She said she had come in a hurry today because she had to go far away tomorrow. After seeing her off and finishing the tidying up, I lay down on the soft bed… and somehow, the room felt a little chilly.

In fact… it really was chilly.

Because neither Cecil, who used to sleep with me due to lack of rooms, nor Veronica was there.

Just then, a knock on the door was heard.