"I'm back, Ogiwara-san."
Nanami jogged over to the sofa and looked at Akira, who was lying there gently breathing. She asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Since you were here today, Yuuko didn't go crazy drunk. At least she could stand after drinking."
Akira yawned, then opened his eyes and smiled. "From now on, can I call you Little Nanami?"
"Mm... mm!"
Nanami hesitated, clearly from shyness, but then nodded firmly, accepting the affectionate nickname.
Someone had used this nickname before—Misaki-senpai, who also lived at Sakurasou—but the way the rough and bold Misaki said it and the way Akira did were clearly two entirely different concepts, and gave two entirely different feelings.
So Akira moved on to the next topic. "You did well today. So, how do you want to be spoiled? Tell me."
Nanami's face turned red at lightning speed, and her cute Kansai dialect slipped out.
"No! No need! That's all stuff I should do!"
Akira showed a slightly teasing smile, but his tone was serious.
"Then how about a bonus? Hm, that could work too. How much do you think is appropriate?"
Of course, this was a calculated move—Akira knew Nanami was unlikely to want more money, especially if she had to name an amount herself.
Faced with a choice between two options, she would naturally lean toward the one she actually wanted but felt too embarrassed to ask for, even if it embarrassed her.
Nanami opened her mouth but said nothing, tightly shutting it again. Her frustrated expression made Akira worried she might actually pass out.
But before he could guide her further, she suddenly said, "Give me a moment, Ogiwara-san."
With that, she ran back to her room.
She didn't keep Akira waiting long. A few minutes later, she returned dressed as a maid.
Because she was Akira-san's maid, she didn't feel flustered or shy. Because she was his maid, she could rightfully accept a reward.
She pushed the coffee table aside a little, then sat down on the floor.
Imagine this:
You're lying on the sofa, and a girl in a beautiful maid outfit, which symbolizes submission, sits on the floor before you in a cute duck-style sitting posture.
She grips the edge of the sofa with her hands like an obedient puppy, looking at you with eyes full of longing and anticipation, misted over from shyness, a look that only appears when she gazes at you.
Could you resist?
No. Not even a god could. Let alone a mere mortal.
Already a bit tipsy, Akira almost lost control.
He pressed his forehead to relieve the pain from a sudden spike in blood pressure and asked in a hoarser voice than usual, "What… do you want?"
"Earlier, when Miss Yuuko touched my chin with her hand, I actually wanted to resist... but since she's an important friend of yours, and a woman, I held back and didn't... move. Did that... make you angry...?"
First came an explanation that felt like a confession.
She was clearly afraid of making her master angry—so timid—but she still confessed and sought his forgiveness.
Akira really wanted a drink of water, but he didn't have the energy to move, so he answered in his dry voice,
"Of course not. I wasn't angry. Just felt a bit regretful. After all... I haven't even dared tease you yet, right?"
"You can, too. Um... you can tease me."
Nanami slightly tilted her chin up, then closed her eyes, waiting.
Akira inhaled deeply, then exhaled sharply, trying hard to keep his breathing steady and not turn it into something suggestive.
Did this puppy even realize what she was doing?
Though she clearly intended to make it easier for him to lift her chin and tease her, the pose—especially from his perspective on the couch—was basically indistinguishable from offering a kiss.
And with her chin tilted up like that, the black ribbon around her neck—like a collar—was fully exposed to his eyes.
Alcohol often awakens a man's primal instincts, and Akira's tastes did include a slight tendency toward domination.
In his drunken state, looking at that delicate, fair, and dangerously beautiful neck presented so defenselessly, he even felt the urge to bite.
Of course, even if he gave in to those urges, he'd never really hurt her.
His tastes were mild—just a bit of spice.
But wanting to stay a decent human being, he only acted when the woman was willing or similarly interested. He found mutual enjoyment the most satisfying.
Clearly, though, neither the timing nor the person was right for that.
"Don't open your eyes."
Akira gave a command-like order, turned to lie on his side so she wouldn't see his reaction, and raised his hand.
First, he hooked the black ribbon on her neck—like a choker—with his middle finger.
Pulled by this light touch, Nanami's body leaned forward slightly.
Then he gently used his index finger to hook her smooth chin, slowly and tenderly.
Nanami didn't react much to the pull on her neck—just thought she was a little far.
Most of her attention focused on the gentle scratching of her chin, and she let out a soft, content hum.
"Ogiwara-san, this is how you pet a cat..."
"Hm? Not allowed?"
"Of course it's allowed, it feels great... but..."
The word "but" made Akira's hand pause. "What is it?"
"Earlier, at the door, Miss Yuuko also patted my head and told me to tell you that she took my first head pat too."
Nanami kept her eyes closed and shyly bit her lip.
"But it's not the same. That barely counts—just my first head pat from another woman besides my parents. The first one from a guy... I want it to be from you, Ogiwara-san..."
Hearing the first half made Akira almost explode with frustration at Yuuko's mischief. But after the second half, he couldn't stay angry—in fact, he even felt a little grateful.
If not for that, Nanami probably wouldn't have found an excuse to offer him her "first."
Akira reached out with his other hand and gently patted the headband on her maid headdress.
Finding it in the way, he simply took it off and tossed it aside, then freely enjoyed stroking her soft, fluffy hair.
Of course, a girl's ideal head pat follows the direction of her bangs and hair.
That "messing it up" style might look sweet or fun, but it's like petting a cat or dog the wrong way—very unpleasant and likely to make the girl angry.
Unless you've got a masochistic death wish, are ready to be disliked, or have maxed out her affection for you, it's not recommended.
Even if her affection is maxed out, whether she lets you pat her again is another story.
After a session of tender petting, Akira's near-exploding blood pressure finally eased, and his stray thoughts were gradually pulled back to center by Nanami's obedient and blissful demeanor.
"Does this count as being spoiled?" Akira asked with a smile.
"...Mm!" Nanami opened her misty eyes, then quickly shut them again.
"Ah! Sorry. Can I open my eyes now, Ogiwara-san?"
"Mm, you can."
Akira gave her one last pat on the head, scratched her chin again, then contentedly withdrew his hand.
Nanami opened her eyes again.
Her eyes, once hazy, cleared up after a few blinks. Then, noticing the leftover snacks and drinks on the coffee table, she quickly returned to work mode.
Akira used this moment to rest a bit and settle his overexcited nerves.
Once the cleanup noises stopped and approaching footsteps could be heard, he saw Nanami already changed into her usual clothes, ready to head home.
"Heading out?"
"Yes. Ogiwara-san, you've had some alcohol tonight, so head to bed early."
"No rush. I'll lie here a bit longer. Don't feel like moving yet."
Hearing that, Nanami pulled the thin blanket from the sofa and draped it over Akira.
Akira let her cover him up.
Half-squinting his eyes, seemingly sleepy, he said, "Say, Little Nanami, don't you think it's too tiring to be running back and forth every day?
I did include room and board in your contract. Want to move in?"
"Mm?" Nanami hesitated. "But I still need to take care of Mashiro at night..."
That made Akira blink. "You're still doing that?"
"Because Sensei and Misaki-senpai are totally unreliable, and the rest are all boys.
During the day, I really don't have time because of training, but at night, of course it's my job to take care of her."
Nanami answered as if it were obvious.
This completely unexpected situation left Akira briefly stunned. Thinking more carefully, he pieced things together.
In the original story, Nanami got sick and realized she couldn't handle all her responsibilities, so she left Mashiro's care to Sorata.
But now, with a well-paying, relatively easy job, regular breaks thanks to Hayasaka Ai's training schedule, and enough food to stay healthy, Nanami had the stamina and energy to keep taking care of the burdens she already shouldered.
Once he realized this, Akira fell silent.
He had so confidently tossed out a letter before, saying he wasn't so down-and-out that he needed to compete with a little girl for a maid.
And now? He was about to fight another little girl for custody?
Wasn't this just slapping himself in the face…
After a long silence, Akira raised his hand and gave a small wave.
"I get it. Go home. And turn off the living room lights on your way."
Nanami hesitated a moment, but then walked over and switched off the light.
The living room instantly plunged into darkness.
Lit only by the entranceway, Nanami changed her shoes at the door, opened it, and couldn't help but glance back.
Usually when she left, Akira would be playing games, and the lights would still be on, so she didn't feel much.
But now, with the lights off and that dark, empty living room behind her, she suddenly felt a strong sense of loneliness.
She finally understood Akira's self-mocking "empty-nest old man" joke.
And seeing him lying there, exhausted from drinking, made her worry too…
Nanami hesitated at the door.
Meanwhile, in the dark living room, Akira, hearing no door slam for a long time, smiled to himself like a man with a plan.
Then came a bang—the sound of the door closing.
Akira tilted his head and listened carefully.
Once he was sure that sound meant she had left, not returned, he slowly wore the same expression Yuuko had used earlier today.
Yes. That existential doubt looks.
He threw off the blanket, sat up, and decided he needed some emotional comfort.
So he pulled out his phone and messaged Hayasaka Ai on LINE, saying he was coming over, and specifically noted it was just for a wholesome night's sleep.
They had agreed to meet once a week, and they'd just had a session last night. Plus, she had work tomorrow, and he didn't want to overwork her.
Having a sweet, soft, life-sized body pillow was enough for emotional comfort.
After Hayasaka Ai replied, Akira headed out.
What he didn't know was that a few hours later, Nanami returned, dragging big bags. She dropped them by the entrance and hurried into the living room.
Finding the sofa empty and the blanket tossed aside, she went upstairs—only to discover Akira wasn't in his bedroom either.
"Ogiwara-san? I'm home."
She called out to the pitch-black house, but no reply ever came.
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NAAAH BROOO
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