After 15 minutes of sleeping on Illness-san's lap, she gently shook me awake as she had first declared.
After that, I went back to my room, but my eyes were a little clearer from the short time I had slept, so I didn't feel like going to bed right away.
Though I say that, it was already quite late, and I wasn't sure what I was going to do at this time of the day.
If I had to name one, I would have liked to have had a little more time to chat with Illness-san, but we couldn't just talk for too long while we're in that state, having just come out of the bath, so that was a little disappointing.
Anyhow, I'm a little bored, but I don't know what to do... Hmmm, thanks to Illness-san, I'm feeling relaxed, so while I'm in this calm state, it might not be a bad idea to have a light evening drink.
I'm not particularly fond of alcohol, so I rarely drink alone... but it's okay once in a while. There's also the option of going to Iris-san's bar, but I really plan on just having a few... 1 or two drinks before going to bed, so I don't really need to go all the way to the bar.
With this in mind, I was just about to take a bottle of alcohol out of my magic box when I heard a discreet knock on the door.
[Yes, come in.]
[Excuse my intrusioooon.]
[Arehh? Illness-san?]
It was Illness-san, dressed in her maid uniform, who came in pushing a cart. On the cart was a bottle of what looked like liquor and a few bite-sized snacks...
[...Perhaps you had an inkling of what I was thinking?]
[No~~ It's a beautiful moonlit night toniiiiiight, so I thought it might be a good idea to have an evening driiiiink, so I just brought it here to suggest it to Kaito-samaaaa.]
[I see... I was just thinking of having an evening drink, so your timing was so perfect.]
[Oyaaa, that's just great, isn't iiiiit?]
Well, maybe Illness-san really knows what I'm thinking, but be that as it may, her timing really is just right.
I was going to have a drink, and I was also thinking that I would have liked to talk a little more with Illness-san so...
[Illness-san, since we're at it, why don't we drink together?]
[In that caaaaase, I'd be happy to join youuuu.]
[Yes. The seat by the window should be good. We can see the moon well there... It's also the same seat we had before we went to the bath.]
[That's riiiiight.]
I sat down at the window seat I was sitting on before I went to the bath, and after Illness-san poured two glasses of alcohol and put the snacks on the table, she took the seat across mine.
[Well then, how about we have a toast?]
[Yeeeees.]
The clinking of glasses echoes in the quiet space as we make a light toast. The alcohol Illness-san brought wasn't wine, but a champagne-like drink with a light, refreshing taste that fits the atmosphere of the moment.
With the moonlight shining in the window, Illness-san was looking my way with a gentle smile on her lips... How should I say this... It's a very nice atmosphere.
[Speaking of which, I remember we drank wine together when this house was first built.]
[Yeeees. It was a veryyyyyy enjoyable tiiiiiime.]
[It's a good memory for me too. How should I say this... I feel naturally relaxed when I talk with Illness-san... I wonder why? I don't have a basis or reason for this, but I somehow feel relaxed when I'm with you.]
[It also feels veryyyyy comfortable for meeeee. Howeveeeeer, if you ask me if my heart is relaaaaaxed, such a question might make me tilt my head a biiiiiit.]
[Eh?]
Saying that, Illness-san suddenly smiled, not her usual mature one, but a slightly mischievous smile.
[Facing Kaito-sama like thiiiiiis somehow makes me feel a little embarrassed.
[Eh? Is that so? It somehow doesn't feel like that at all... You seem as calm as usual...]
[Kaito-sama is fantastic after aaaaaaall. Facing each other like thiiiiis, I couldn't help but feel a little conscious about our current situatiooooon.]
[C- Could it be, are you teasing me?]
[Kuhihi, oh my, I wonder about thaaaat? It's not that I mean to speak any lie thouuuugh. It's just thaaaaaat, I don't know all of my feelings myseeeeelf, so it's a bit difficult for me to describe.]
I was a little flustered by the words I didn't expect, but Illness-san replied calmly in a gentle voice. How should I say this... I guess she seems to be more relaxed than me.
At least, I don't feel that she's embarrassed, but I also understand that she isn't the kind of person who lies and teases. In that case, were these her true feelings? Hmmm, I can't read that much detail with my Sympathy Magic, so I'm not really sure.
[But indeeeeeed... There's ooooone thing I can say with certaintyyyyy.]
[What is it?]
[I'm sure that the time I spend with you now, Kaito-samaaaa, is a time filled with happiness for meeeeeee.]
[...Illness-san. Yes, you're right. I'm very happy to spend peaceful time like this with Illness-san, and that's enough for me.]
[Yeeeees.]
I somehow feel this is something related to her self-interest, but when Illness-san said that she was happy to spend time with me, I'm aware of how high her tension was.
Well, I was really happy that Illness-san thought so... so I guess it can't be helped.