The clock on the wall ticked past 1 in the morning and I knew I'd have to drag myself upstairs soon. The girls were probably waiting, ready to pile into bed and turn it into another round of teasing or cuddling… or both. But for now, I let myself linger with Miwa-nee, soaking in the quiet intimacy of the moment.
Of course, it also couldn't last for long.
Eventually, she sat up, tugging her negligee back into place with a playful smirk. "Go on, Ruki. Akane and the others are waiting. Don't keep them up all night, okay? Minoru might also wake up."
I nodded and let her pull me up from the sofa. I then stood up and stretched a bit, feeling my muscles pleasantly sore from the night's activities.
"Yes, ma'am. But don't think you're escaping me tomorrow. I'm going to prepare our breakfast tomorrow!"
Her eyes smiled. "Really? I want pancakes. With extra syrup, Ruki. One you made yourself."
A homemade syrup? I don't know how to do that. I'll have to look that up tomorrow morning. It should be easy, right? Just brown sugar melted and thickened with water, maybe?
"You got it." I pulled her close, stealing one last kiss before heading for the stairs, her laughter following me like a warm echo.
Yep. She's going to stay downstairs for a bit longer. Most likely to deal with the teacups and teapot we used.
As I reached the door to our bedroom, the girls' voices grew clearer. They're still awake. There was Akane's playful whining, Ririka's infectious giggle and Yae's sly teasing.
I paused as I pushed the door open, taking in the sight of them sprawled across the bed, already in their nightwear.
Akane spotted me first, her eyes lighting up as she patted the space they opened up in the middle. "Husband! Took you long enough. Did Miwa-nee wear you out?"
Ririka propped herself up on her elbows, her hair cascading down, making her look more gorgeous. "Do you even need to ask, Akane? Miwa-nee is like us. Of course, Ruki will pamper her as much as he pampered us."
Yae, curled up with a pillow, smirked. "Sweetie, come and join us quickly. We're sleepy but we can't sleep without you here."
I shook my head, grinning as I climbed onto the bed, letting Akane pull me down into the middle of their chaos. "You three are insatiable. And nosy. Miwa-nee's fine, I'm fine, and you're all getting no details. Use your imagination."
Akane pouted, yet her arms wrapped around me, occupying almost all of my body again from my left side. "Fine, but you're cuddling me first."
Ririka snuggled in on my other side, her head resting on my shoulder. "Nuh-uh, I'm claiming this spot. Maid's privilege."
Yae then moved to place herself on top of me, pushing Akane's slightly as she occupied my chest. "We're all going to be cuddled by him. What are you competing for?"
I laughed, my arms wrapping around them as best I could, pulling them closer. "Alright, you three. Did I get you exhausted earlier? I thought we were going for another round."
As I said that, the three girls narrowed their eyes at me before collectively saying, "Pervert!"
"Obviously, we wanted more, husband. But after all that, you're the one who needs rest the most. Don't chalk it up by saying the tea will still give you a complete recovery. Best to be cautious than push your body past its limits."
With Akane's lead, the other two also scolded me like that. And once they're done, they kissed me goodnight as the three of them squeezed in further, enjoying the warmth of my body.
The room quieted, their teasing fading into soft murmurs and the occasional satisfied giggles. Before long, their breathing softened as they started dozing off one by one.
As I lay there, surrounded by their warmth, I couldn't help but think about the night. Fuyu's quiet intensity, Miwa-nee's fierce affection, the chaotic joy of these three. I'll keep saying this. My life was a juggling act, sure, but moments made it all worth it.
The last thought that crossed my mind before sleep tugged at me was Aya's birthday tomorrow. Since I couldn't be with her after school, I'd make sure to make her day special throughout the school hours. And then there was Hina's plan to contribute, Nao's sleepover plans, my date with Juri and maybe Setsuna-nee too… Also lastly, the sleepover with Chii and the two gyaru. An-rin's house, right? I should expect some craziness coming from that girl.
Mhm, tomorrow was gonna be another wild ride.
Morning soon arrived. I woke up at around a quarter before five. Refreshed thanks to the miraculous tea.
Although the side effect was glaring right away, I tucked it back momentarily as I slipped out of bed to go downstairs.
Like I promised, I was going to prepare our breakfast.
The outside was naturally still dark when I crept downstairs, the house wrapped in the peaceful silence that I had once grown used to.
I turned on the kitchen lights, keeping the glow soft to avoid waking anyone.
I pulled out the ingredients, moving quietly as I set up the mixing bowl. The rightful source is N0velFire.ɴet
Flour, eggs, milk, and a pinch of salt. Basic stuff, but I wanted these to be perfect. Nowadays, most of my girls race with me on who can come down to the kitchen first. And usually, it was either Akane and Miwa-nee. If Shio or Fuyu started staying more often, they might also join the race. Well, not like I'm complaining. I love seeing them in their aprons on top of watching them work, of course.
Anyway, the syrup was the real challenge. I'd never made it from scratch before, and Miwa-nee's "extra syrup" request echoed in my head. Brown sugar and butter, sure, but I needed something special. I rummaged through the pantry, spotting a small bottle of vanilla extract and a jar of maple syrup. A hybrid, then. Sweet, rich, with a little depth.
After around ten minutes of preparing the batter, the pan sizzled with melted butter as I poured the first batch of pancakes. Each one spread into a perfect circle. I flipped them when the edges bubbled, the sweet, savory scent filling the kitchen.
My phone buzzed on the counter. Most likely from one of my girls who was an early bird.
Sure enough, it was a message from Hifumi. She probably had just read my goodnight and good morning messages, "Ruki, good morning… I seem to have fallen asleep after that cosplay showcase."
I didn't hesitate to tap the video call button. I can spare some of my attention to her, right?
A few rings later, my screen turned dark as the connection to her was gradually established. Soon, Hifumi's sleepy face filled my screen. Her eyes were half-lidded since she got blasted by the light of her phone screen on top of the lingering drowsiness from having just woken up. She tried to reach for her glasses as she rose from the bed. As soon as she saw my face clearly, the girl's lips stretched into a beautiful smile.
"G–good morning, Ruki."
"Mhm. Good morning, sleepyhead."
She adorably pouted. "I'm not a sleepyhead… Also, I forgot to review my lessons last night."
"Well, ain't that good, Hifumi? You didn't need to burn the midnight oil last night. I'm more in favor of you resting earlier than having you stay up late for reviewing lessons."
"You know I can't do that… I can only maintain my grades because I never stop studying. But maybe if I have you tutoring me, I can retain the memory of those lessons more."
"Oh? Is that an invitation from my Hifumi?"
"Don't misunderstand!" Hifumi's cheeks puffed out, her pout deepening as she adjusted her glasses. The faint flush on her face is visible even through the dim light of her room. "I-I mean, it's not like I'm asking you to tutor me or anything! I just… thought it might be nice. You're good at explaining things, Ruki."
What a classic tsundere line. I didn't know she had it in her.
I calmly nodded as I flipped another pancake, as the kitchen filled with the warm, buttery aroma. "Relax, Hifumi. I'm just teasing you. But you know me. If you want a study session, just say the word. I'll make time for my favorite bespectacled strategist."
Her eyes widened and she covered half of her face with her blanket. Most likely to hide her reddening cheeks. "Favorite bespectacled strategist… That's a bit too much, isn't it? Saying stuff like that so early in the morning…"
"Gotta start your day right. Besides, I miss you." I said, winking at the screen as I stacked the first batch of pancakes on a plate. "Speaking of, I'm making breakfast. Pancakes. You want in? I can save you a stack and bring it to you later. I'll see you after I walk Akane to school, alright?"
Hifumi's face lit up, her shyness melting into excitement. "This guy… I can't say no now, can I?"
"Sadly, no." I put on a teasing smile before showing her my craft. "So, what do you say?"
"Make mine with extra whipped cream and maybe some strawberries if you have them." With her adorable pout still present, the girl listed her request.