The clock chimed, signaling 11 p.m., marking the end of our intense study session for the upcoming math quiz on quadratic equations. We retreated to our shared room, a single spacious room with a bed meant for three people.
I had expected individual beds, but it seemed Luna and Kaori had something else in mind.
Luna reached for my left hand, while Kaori delicately held onto my right, their eyes silently pleading for my company.
"Ced, let's sleep together. Don't turn to Kaori, and hold me tightly as we sleep."
"Ced, if you do that to Luna, sometimes she gets restless in her sleep. It might disturb you," Kaori added.
"I don't get restless in my sleep, Kaori!"
"Yes, you do, Luna. You've been doing it for the past six years since I visited your mansion and slept together. It's history."
"I don't do that anymore!" Luna retorted.
"Ced, it might be better if it's me. Hold me tightly, as if you'll never let me go," Kaori softly said, her fingertips gently tracing patterns on my right hand. "Your hands make me feel safe."
The decision weighed heavily on me. It was far more complicated than I had imagined. I had no desire to become entangled in their schemes; it was supposed to be a simple night's sleep.
Yet, both of them vied for my attention. If I chose Luna, jealousy would consume Kaori, and vice versa. I felt trapped, with no clear way out. In the end, my decision remained unchanged.
With unwavering resolve, I gently extricated myself from their grasp, eliciting gasps of shock from both.
I opened the window, allowing the cool night air to permeate the room, and then settled on the edge of the bed. I stretched out, positioning myself on the left side, leaving ample space on the right due to the bed's generous size. I turned my head to gauge their reactions; they still appeared bewildered.
"Sleep beside me, both Kaori and Luna."
Their faces flushed with embarrassment, but they complied, with Luna taking the lead and Kaori following suit.
I enfolded the two popular girls, savoring the softness and warmth of their bodies against mine.
Luna, with her silken silver hair, lay closest. Her scent was intoxicating, and while other boys might have seized the opportunity, I refused to cross that line.
Luna seemed ill at ease, her body tense. Kaori, too, appeared anxious and eager for sleep, perhaps hoping to wake up to a normal morning.
"Does this feel more comfortable, being in my arms?" I asked as I held them close.
"Ced, it's not that we're uncomfortable," Luna replied, her cheeks flushed. "But it's just that this is our first time sleeping with a boy."
Kaori nodded in agreement, her expression betraying her nervousness. "Yes, it's our first time, so we're a bit anxious."
Respecting their discomfort, I released my embrace and sat up, studying their reactions.
"If you're uncomfortable, I can sleep on the sofa. Don't force yourselves," I suggested.
But before I could move, both Kaori and Luna reached out, grasping my hands, their faces imploring.
"Ced, please stay with us," Luna implored, her expression tinged with self-blame.
"It was our idea to sleep together. So, please, Ced, stay with us and hold us tightly, as if you'll never let us go," Kaori pleaded, her face flushed.
I couldn't believe it. The tables had turned, and now they were the ones beseeching me. It felt as if I, a mere background character, had suddenly ascended to a higher status in their eyes.
How had I, a mere background character, ended up in a situation where the named characters were pleading with me to stay and sleep with them?
"Alright, lay your heads back down, Kaori and Luna," I relented.
"Thank you, Ced," they both chimed in, their cheeks still tinged with a blush.
As they lay back down, I positioned myself behind them, hugging them tightly as they had requested.
I could see Luna's content smile, our faces so close that it seemed like our lips were about to meet.
I resisted that temptation and turned my attention to Kaori, checking to ensure she was comfortable as well.
"Are you both okay now?" I asked softly.
They nodded in unison, their voices harmonizing, "Yes, Ced, thank you."
I smiled at their response, even though it was just the reaction of a background character.
Background characters were meant to inquire about the well-being of named characters who propelled the story forward.
With Kaori and Luna now at ease, they soon drifted off to sleep. I carefully withdrew my arms from around them, returning to my original position on the right side of the bed.
I glanced at my hands, the same hands that had held and comforted them. It felt as though they were children in need of a parent's embrace and a soothing bedtime story.
Then it hit me—I needed to sleep too. Tomorrow would usher in another day of classes, and I couldn't help but wonder how Renjiro and Kenta would react if they discovered I was sharing a room with these two popular girls.
My status as a background character hung in the balance, and I had to maintain it to continue enjoying my peaceful life.
As I settled in to sleep, I hoped for a normal day ahead. I prayed that there would be no disturbances that might disrupt my life as a background character.
I awoke to a gentle light streaming into the room, likely from the sun. However, there was another scent in the air—the tantalizing aroma of food. Hotdogs, eggs, and ham—the smell was irresistible.
I opened my eyes and confirmed that it was indeed morning. To my surprise, Kaori and Luna were no longer in my bed.
I rose from my slumber and made my way to the source of that enticing scent, which led me to the kitchen.
My heart skipping a beat at the sight that greeted me. Kaori and Luna, both donning aprons, were in the kitchen.
Kaori, with her lustrous brown hair, and Luna, with her silvery tresses cascading like a moonlit waterfall, were breathtaking.
They exuded an air of domestic grace, reminiscent of wives in manga, and it left me utterly astounded. Their heads turned in unison as they heard me approach.
"Good morning, Ced," they greeted me simultaneously, clearly in high spirits.
"Good morning, Luna and Kaori," I replied. "By the way, did you two sleep well?"
They both smiled radiantly. "Yes, Ced. Thank you for being with us."
"Ced, you pulled your hands away from us while we were asleep!" Kaori pouted, still holding a grudge.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Haha! You both looked so peaceful when you two were sleeping, so I let my hands pull away," I apologized, trying to lighten the mood.
"Next time, Ced, hold me tightly," Kaori teased.
"Kaori, stop daydreaming. Ced would hold me tightly, wouldn't you, Ced?" Luna chimed in, playfully challenging Kaori.
I decided to change the topic. "Oh, is breakfast ready?"
"Yes, Ced. Please have a seat at the dining table," Luna replied.
I took my place at the table, while Kaori and Luna began to serve the meal—hotdogs, scrambled eggs, ham, and a serving of rice.
It was a simple but delicious breakfast. I couldn't help but be impressed; these seemingly spoiled girls were more capable than I had imagined.
It made me question my earlier assumption that they couldn't even crack an egg.
"Let's dig in!" Luna exclaimed, and we all started eating.
We began eating, with me savoring each bite. The hotdog and scrambled eggs were surprisingly tasty, and I appreciated their effort. As I ate, Luna decided to address an important matter.
"We've already taken our baths, Ced. You should do the same."
I blushed in embarrassment, realizing I hadn't taken a bath yet.
"I just woke up late. It's probably around 6:30 am now, and our first class is at 7:10 am."
"Jeez, you need to start waking up earlier from now on," Kaori admonished, her expression still somewhat sour from last night when I hadn't held them tightly while we slept.
"Yeah, yeah, my bad. I won't do it again," I assured her.
Luna attempted to soothe the atmosphere.
"Ced, don't mind Kaori. She's just sulking."
Kaori, flustered, denied it. "W-what? S-sulking? I-it's not like that! I'm not sulking or anything!"
"Aww, you totally are!" Luna teased her.
After we finished our meal, I drank a glass of water and then stood up, turning to Kaori, who sat to my right.
"Kaori, I'd like to make it up to you for what happened last night."
With that, I wrapped Kaori in a tight embrace. She blushed and appeared to want to pull away, still perturbed.
Her pouting expression only made her look even more adorable. I couldn't resist gently stroking her head.
"Alright, Alright... just hug me tightly when we sleep tonight, okay, Ced?"
I nodded and agreed, "Okay."
Luna's intense gaze didn't escape my notice, and I turned to her.
"L-luna? You're misunderstanding. It's just... Kaori needs a—"
"Hug me too tonight when I sleep beside Kaori, okay, Ced?" She spoke with a gleam in her eye, her message clear.
"Okay," I stammered, unable to refuse.
Kaori chimed in, "Ced, take a bath first. You're starting to smell a bit."
I apologized, "Ah, I'm sorry! I'll take a bath right away. Thanks for the meal!"
Luna then added, "Just let us know when you're done. We'll give you your Ouran Academy uniform."
I headed to the bathroom, my mind racing with thoughts of how my classmates, especially Kenta and Renjiro, would react when they found out I was sharing a room with these two popular girls.
Would it lead to trouble? Would my six years of carefully crafted background character status crumble away?