The morning sun bathed the room in golden rays, its warmth a stark contrast to the muddled thoughts swirling in my mind. Honestly, I never thought I'd say this, but having playful moments with a robot was surprisingly exhausting—and yet, oddly enjoyable.
"Guess she enjoyed it too," I murmured to myself, smiling gently as I ruffled Noira's hair, which stirred her awake.
"Master?" she mumbled sleepily, blinking up at me. Then, without warning, she leaned in and gave me a playful peck on the lips. "Hope you liked my lips~" she giggled, the cuteness almost overwhelming.
I coughed, taken by surprise. "Ah... Yes, they were very soft." My face heated up, a blush creeping onto my cheeks.
"Vel, I didn't know you made that face." Ruka, still groggy, shot me a teasing look as she awoke.
"Don't worry, your lips are soft too, and that's one of the things I like about you," I said, chuckling to diffuse the situation.
"That's embarrassing!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing as she threw a pillow at me.
Just when I thought things were calming down, Poru pounced on me, giving me an unexpected kiss that left me breathless.
"Gah!" I exclaimed, falling back onto the bed.
In no time, Ariel and Ruka joined in, showering me with playful kisses as I lay flat, their laughter filling the room. I considered what we could do today since it was a day off for all of us. "So, you girls want to go anywhere in particular?"
They exchanged glances, shaking their heads in agreement, which left me even more puzzled. Finally, one of them piped up, "How about we go to the festival that's starting tonight?"
"A festival, you say? Sure, I'm all for it!" I agreed, excitement bubbling within me.
A few hours later, we set off in our casual clothes, strolling through the breezy town.
"Ah, don't you love the warmth paired with the chilly wind?" Ariel relished the sensation, arms outstretched.
"Yeah, it's pretty nice," I replied, trying to match her enthusiasm.
We stopped at a nearby inn known for its colossal portions. The moment the food arrived, I dove right in. "What is this taste?" I mumbled with my mouth full. "This is amazing! Why didn't anyone tell me such a place exists? This palate resonates with my body, and I feel so much calmer! Is this magic?" I exclaimed, finishing off a plate loaded with biscuits, sausages, and my favorite—pancakes.
"Ugh... I'm full," Ariel groaned, laying her head on the table.
The other girls nodded in agreement, their plates empty. After a brief wait for digestion, Ruka took my hand and declared it was time for the festival.
We hurried over to the festival grounds, but I felt my stomach knot at the sight of the crowd. I wasn't great with large gatherings, and my notoriety made it even more overwhelming. But the girls were so excited that I pushed my hesitation aside, even if it meant forcing a smile with tears threatening to spill.
"Are you sure about this?" a voice echoed in my mind.
"What? Who's infiltrating my head?!" I panicked before calming down enough to address the voice.
"Tell me, who's using telepathy on me?" I asked, curious yet wary.
"Oh, wrong person," the voice replied sheepishly before a buzzing sensation faded from my mind.
"Are you kidding me?"
I shook off the confusion as we ventured further into the festival. The girls were having a blast, especially at the ping-pong table. The prize for winning against the owner was a real cat. They took turns trying and failed spectacularly each time. Watching them, I felt a mix of pride and concern.
Finally, I snapped. "I'll show you the power of coordination!" I shouted, taking my position with a paddle in hand.
The owner served a fast ball, but I was ready. I put all my strength into my swing, sending the ball zipping past him in a stroke of pure luck. "Yes! I did it!" I cheered as he complimented me and handed over the prize.
The girls cheered, their faces lighting up with joy. "You looked so strong out there!" they said, their excitement contagious.
With our new furry friend in tow, a cat who introduced himself as Meowtorious, we found ourselves taking a spin on the merry-go-round.
"Hey! Don't suddenly hold me!" Meowtorious protested, leaving us all surprised.
"The cat... speaks?!" I shouted, quickly apologizing to the surrounding festival-goers.
"Well, of course! Don't you know who I am? I'm Meowtorious, the hero of this town!" the cat declared, tail flicking indignantly.
"Hero, you say?" I was intrigued, even if I didn't quite understand.
"People forgot about me, okay? It's not easy when someone takes you by force and makes you a prize for humans," Meowtorious lamented.
"That's a sad story, but don't worry; the girls will take good care of you," I assured him, earning an affectionate rub from the girls.
"Aw, so cute!" they exclaimed, their hands petting Meowtorious as he looked more annoyed than pleased.
Noira, still new to the festival scene, computed the joyful atmosphere, her expression shifting into a smile as she laughed along.
"Ugh... no more..." the cat groaned, clearly dizzy from the ride.
After our fill of fun, I suggested, "Shall we head home?"
"No! Look up at the sky!" the girls insisted, guiding me to a perfect spot.
As we counted down together, vibrant fireworks erupted in the sky. The bursts of color were stunning, and I couldn't help but praise the girls for picking such a beautiful spot to watch the display.
"Vel…" Ariel stood in front of me, fidgeting nervously. "Will you take Ruka and me as your brides too?"
I stared at them, unsure how to respond. "Are you sure?" I blurted out, not knowing if that was the right thing to say.
They pouted at me, then kissed me while the fireworks lit up the sky. "We're certain! We want to be with you because we love you!" they declared, their voices filled with sincerity.
Caught in a tough spot, I finally relented. "Okay, I accept!" I said, earning joyful laughter from both of them.
"Take good care of us, okay, Vel?" they hugged me tightly.
"Yes, I'll make you both happy," I promised, sweating slightly under their affectionate grip.
As the night drew to a close, Meowtorious, still with us, glanced my way and reminded us it was late.
And so, we headed home, the cat trailing behind us, somehow fitting right into our unusual little family.