Courage

I woke up. A throbbing pain was pounding in my head.

What happened? Im sure I was huh? Im in a room at the inn? And the suite room at that.

I was trying to be sure about something to do with Leona, but didnt I get caught in a trap?

Why am I here? Did I lose my memory? Or maybe Im in a dream?

I heard a knock at the door.

Who is it?

Meat.

It was Meats voice. I started to give her permission to enter the roombut then I noticed what I was wearing.

That is, nothing at all.

Moreover, this futon. Its the Godly Comforter for some reason. The suite room shouldve had a down-filled mattress.

Moreover moreover, I felt a weight on my body. When I looked to see what it was, it was Rokuko clinging to my body, still asleep.

Sh-shes wearing her pajamas. Am I safe?

Hold up a moment, Meat. Id like to check over something, but could you please answer me through the door?

Yes.

How many days ago did Leona leave? The day I held the Dungeon Battle with Ontentoo, that is.

Yes, that was day before yesterday, so two days ago.

What? Theres a days worth of memories missing.

This is scary. Not only did I lose consciousness, which I might be fine with by itself, Leona almost definitely did something to me.

I decided to wake Rokuko up. I feel sorry for doing it since she looks happy with some drool coming from her mouth on to my belly, it had to be dome.

Hey, Rokuko, get up. Oi.

Kehmaaa mnmnn, nmmm.

Uoooh, stop licking my bellybutton, its ticklish! And stop squirming about please, its starting to make me feel weird! Please, get up, please!

Heeaah!? Ah, Kehma! Youre back to yourself!?

Judging by the first thing Rokuko said as she woke up, Im starting to feel uneasy.

What the heck did I do yesterday!?

Yesterday was dangerous. You definitely lost your mind. Only Meat and I noticed it though.

Uhh, what do you mean by that, exactly?

You suddenly hugged me and whispered to me that you love me. Umm, no, I mean I was happy that you were so passionate about it, but it didnt feel like Kehma. So I brought you to the Godly Comforter and had you go to sleep.

So to put it another way, she used the therapeutic effect of the Godly Comforter it cured abnormal statuses as well?

Huh? Wait a sec. Nows not the time to be calm. Dont we have to be a married couple to prevent having divine punishment fall down on me for using the Godly Comforter? What happened to the divine punishment? Is that it? Did we get deemed as a couple? Eh, oi. Did god just officially recognize Rokuko and I as a couple?

Hey, Rokuko.

Whats up?

You and I, are wewait, first off, why am I naked? Also, please let me put on some clothes.

Ah, un. Good, youre back to being you And youre naked because you took off your clothes when we got into the Godly Comforter. They should be on the floor now.

Just as Rokuko said, my clothes were strewn about the floor I quickly put them on.

Umm, please stop staring at me like that. Its embarrassing to dress with someone watching.

A short moment later, Id finished changing my clothes with Rokuko staring at me the whole time.

Should I ask it now then?

Ah, umm, right. Rokuko. I need to ask you something.

Sure, what?

You and I, are we a couple?

Eh?

Rokuko responded in a blank voice Wait, whats that Eh? supposed to mean?

Ehhh!?

Please, Rokuko. Please answer me clearly.

Ah, um, that were partners?

Dont dodge the question, Rokuko.

Well, were

Were? Were what!?

. Not a couple, right?

Not a couple, yeah

Rokuko hung her head with a serious look on her face. Yeah, now its come to this.

Crap. This is the Godly Comforter, I might get hit by that god-paling divine retribution! What should I do, Rokuko?

Eh!? Ah, th-that? Umm. Well, if thats it, its ok. Its set up so that its alright when I give the permission.

Eh, really? Exclusive-use items can get set up with things like that?

Uhhh yeah. Definitely.

Seriously? Tell me sooner if you can make adjustments like that to it!

Thats good then Man, now that I know its fine, Im tired. Can I borrow it?

Eh? Mm, well

Oh, right. Meats still waiting outside, huh. Meat, is anything wrong?

No, I just came to see how you were doing. If youre safe and back to yourself, thats good.

Finished saying that, Meat left.

Alright, lets go back to sleep.

Hey, Kehma? What kind of, err, what kind of relationship do* we have? Were not a couple, right?

Yeah. Were not a couple. We havent really went through a marriage or the formalities, after all.

Is that why? Kehma, do you not want us to be a couple?

Rokuko looked at me with an expression that seemed like she was about to cry.

Its not like I dont want to. I mean, I definitely dont dislike her. Rather, I couldnt think about anyone else in this world being my parter other than Rokuko. Ah, maybe Meat? But shes a serious hug pillow girl Which means Rokuko really is the only one.

But if I say that were married or something like that right now, Haku-san would kill me. Twice. Once to remove [Super Transformation] and once after the extra life was gone. In other words, she wouldnt stop killing me until Im dead.

It doesnt feel like were lovers, so isnt it alright to stick with being partners?

Even if I said were lovers this far into our relationship, I think Id still get killed by Haku-san. I dont exactly want to be killed, so I feel like my best bet is to bulldoze forward with our [Partner] set-up and not step on the landmines that are lover and married. Weve been like that this whole time, after all.

Then if you make someone else your lover, Ill, Ill Ill pout!

Youll pout? Not oppose it?

Kehma, I dont think youd do something like that without a reason, so its alright. But you do know that Ill definitely pout about it, right? Id need at least three servings of fresh melon bread.

I dont really think itll happen, but you should be really angry if it does.

Ill forgive you if it does! Nehee~

I rubbed Rokuko on the head.

She smiled. Shes even in her loli form, such a warming sight.

Oh, umm. Should I stop sleeping with Meat?

Eh? Meats a hug pillow, why would you stop?

I just dont get Rokuko sometimes. Well, Im accustomed to using Meat as a hug pillow nowadays, so itd be a bit hard on me if I suddenly had to stop using her.

Right Meat is your exclusive hug pillow, isnt she? Could you lend her to me too? Ive been wanting to try using her for a while now. Ill let you use the Godly Comforter in exchange.

Sure, why not.

Our negotiations concluded. Now that I know there wont be a divine retribution, theres no reason for me to hesitate about the Godly Comforter anymore.

But well, theres a risk that I might be addicted to it. That isnt a reason to hesitate from enjoying it, though.

We could also all three of us sleep together in the Godly comforter.

Oooh! That sound great, let me call Meat back so we can get back to sleep.

Wait, Meat has a shift and theres only the two of them right now. Meat joining in can wait till later How about we sleep till lunch?

Sure~

Rokuko and I somehow arrived at a compromise about our relationship.

I should probably give my thanks to Leona for it, seeing as how she was the main culprit behind us two sleeping in the Godly Comforter. Not, lets not. Its Leona, after all.

Still though, pushing forward with our relationship as partners I dont think the old me wouldve done that.

Rokuko and I wereno, I think I was caring about the typical concept of lovers and couples too much.

How should I say it oh.

Like I got some courage?