"A-Are we really going to sleep together in this bed?"
Margrethe stood at the foot of my bed, wearing a frilly nightgown that looked way too cute for this kind of situation. Her eyes were wide, and her voice trembled with uncertainty.
"Yeah, MarMar," Ran replied casually.
"B-But there's a guy... and I'm a girl," she said, glancing between the two of us, clearly flustered.
"It's not weird, right?" Ran grinned. "Right, Mobu?"
"Yeah, that's right."
It was already late. Tomorrow was Sunday, so we could take it easy. But we still needed to sleep soon. Compared to my old life as a wage slave, this peaceful bedtime felt like pure heaven.
"I-I'll pass, thank you," Margrethe said, quickly trying to step back.
But Ran caught her by the arm before she could move away.
"All the other beds in the other rooms are broken, remember?"
"Then I'll just head back to my room..."
"It's fine, MarMar," Ran said, taking her hand gently. "Come on, let's sleep together."
"...O-Okay."
Led by Ran, Margrethe hesitated only a little before crawling into the bed beside her.
"Hehe. It's the first time I've shared a bed with someone besides Mobu. This is kind of fun," Ran said, her voice light.
"...Now that you mention it, it's my first time too," Margrethe replied quietly.
"You didn't sleep in the same bed as your mom when you were little?" Ran tilted her head.
"The Erik family doesn't do that. We're taught to be independent from a young age. Children are raised to rely on themselves."
Ah. That explained a lot. She always seemed calm and composed, but there was a loneliness beneath it. She even agreed to bathe with us and share the bath. Deep down, she was probably longing for warmth.
"You must've felt lonely, huh, MarMar?" Ran asked softly.
"...Yeah. There were times I cried," Margrethe admitted, lying down and staring at the ceiling with a faraway look.
I figured as much. She probably didn't get much affection as a child.
"Well, that makes you just like me and Mobu."
Ran turned on her side and reached for Margrethe's hand.
"I see... You're both orphans, right?"
"Yeah," Ran nodded.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up anything painful."
"It's okay. Honestly, I don't have any bad memories. Back then, all of us kids would huddle together like puppies when we slept. We played in the mountains every day. It was fun, right, Mobu?"
"Yeah."
While Ran was playing, I was probably getting my soul crushed by a spreadsheet back in the corporate world. Still... I hoped the Mobu from this game world had happy memories. That was enough for me now.
"Come on, Mobu! Hurry up and get in here."
"Yeah."
As I got into bed, Margrethe tensed slightly.
"S-Sorry for making you wait, Ran."
"A-Are we really going to sleep like this...?" she asked nervously.
"Yeah, MarMar."
"T-then, I'll move to the edge..."
She tried to scoot away, but—
"That side of the bed is kinda falling apart. It's dangerous," I said. "Don't hold back. Stay here."
"...Ah."
I gently reached out and pulled her shoulder back toward us.
"Ran too."
"Mm!"
Ran snuggled up beside me, using my arm as a pillow and resting her cheek against my chest.
"Mobu's the best body pillow. Strong, warm, and you smell nice."
"You too, Ran──Don't squirm, Margrethe."
"B-But..."
She tried to push herself away with her hands, but I caught her softly.
"Just relax. Like this."
"...Ah."
I gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her into the same cozy position as Ran.
"See? It's warm, right, MarMar?" Ran asked.
"...Y-Yeah."
Her cheeks were a little red. She was clearly flustered.
"If this works..."
Her voice came out in a whisper, muffled against my chest.
"Promise me, Mobu. Don't move too much."
"Alright. I'll stay still. Just think of me as a human plush toy. Hug me whenever you feel lonely."
"You're... really strong."
She mumbled that softly and rested her cheek against mine.
"If you don't move... then it won't go against Father's teachings. So it's okay, right?"
"It's okay. Go to sleep. Ran's already out."
"Huh?"
Margrethe looked up at Ran—and sure enough, she was fast asleep. Her breathing was calm, and she looked completely at peace.
"She's really cute when she sleeps."
Margrethe's voice had softened.
"Ran's such a kind girl."
"You're just as cute, you know," I said, gently hugging her tighter.
"...Yeah. Hug me tighter, Mobu."
She shifted, lifting her leg over mine and pulling herself into a full cuddle.
"Ran was right. You're the perfect body pillow... You smell nice... you feel dependable. It's like my tamer instincts are activating."
Well, I'm not exactly a pet... But I guess I am a different species from her.
"I'll rub your back. Try to sleep."
"Please..."
I gently stroked her back. She let out a quiet breath and soon, her breathing grew slower and steadier. She must've really needed this kind of warmth. Maybe she was craving something she missed as a child—simple affection.
Back in my corporate days, my life was lonely. But when I was little, I lived in a tiny apartment with my parents. There wasn't any space to be lonely. I had to sleep in the same room as them, so I never felt alone. Not even once.
Because my parents stayed up watching late-night movies, I ended up becoming a night owl. I even got weirdly familiar with old samurai dramas.
Well... I guess it's time to sleep. Today turned out to be more eventful than expected. I probably just triggered a new flag.
Hopefully, that means I'll have a good dream tonight.
Notes:
• Margrethe - Female. A new student and sub-heroine character in the game. She is a Mage class with low physical strength. Her appearance is not described in detail, but she is noted to have a pleasant scent. She initially comes off as hostile but warms up to the protagonist, Blaze, over time. She is proud and insists on being addressed with honorifics, reflecting her noble upbringing. She has a strong dislike for men, considering them weak and arrogant. Her relationship with Mobu starts on a tense note, but she eventually shows a more vulnerable side, acknowledging her need to improve her physical strength.
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has long, dark hair and a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.