Chapter 117: 117

“Aoi, over here.”

“Huh?”

Aoi, looked over with a dumb expression dropped the blanket she had prepared from her hand.

I call out to Aoi, feigning composure.

I sat crossed legged, patted my leg and told her to come here.

”K-Kunpei-san?”

“Come on, sit down.”

“E-eh?”

Aoi looked around in confusion, unsure of what to do.

“Don’t worry, there’s no one around.”

Shouhei, my dad, Rouge and Yuri-san smartly made their way to the lobby of the shelter.

Now we’re going to do our daily routine, the breastfeeding.

The shelter has set up separate nursery rooms for babies and their mothers, but as a man, it would be taboo for me to go in there.

Because both Jaja and Nana’s nursing requires me and Aoi to take off our undergarments, and I can’t answer when they ask me why we’re so close together.

So we use the space allotted to us as a family for night feeding, but it’s just too small.

It’s extremely awkward to have my father and Shouhei around, no matter how you put it.

So I’m sorry to say, but I’ve asked them to wait elsewhere when we’re feeding at night.

“W-what’s wrong?… Kunpei-san is somehow acting strange today?”

Confused by the different nursing posture, Aoi sat on my lap hesitatingly.

“I don’t think so?”

It’s time to use the excuse that I prepared!

“We don’t have to have our backs to each other, we just need to be physically touching, so this isn’t so strange. Look, Jaja and Nana are getting older, so it’s going to be hard to nurse them sitting up, right? Nana wouldn’t like it if we tried to feed them one at a time.”

Nana, you know. She gets cranky when she’s not with Jaja.

To begin with, she couldn’t breastfeed both of them at the same time without straining herself with our set-up.

Jaja and Nana were born a little bigger than human infants because they were born a little more grown-up.

Just carrying one of those twins is a lot of work, but with two of them, you have to work pretty hard.

If that’s the case.

“In this position, you can lean on me and breastfeed them in a bit of a lying position, right? My arms are free, too, so I can help you hold them.”

How’s that for an excuse.

“… Yes, that’s true, but…”

While still being dubious, Aoi squirmed around adjusting her position.

“Dah?”

“Au?”

Jaja and Nana, who were playing on the futon, noticed us.

“Uuh!”

Mom and Dad are playing!

That’s not fair! Jaja too!

“Dah!”

What about Nana? Nana’s good too, right? Right?

Nana’s going to play, too!

I can almost hear their voices.

The twins used their tails to crawl over.

Even when they are at home, they charge at me and Aoi when we are together.

There’s no way they could miss this opportunity.

“Look Aoi, they’re coming. We need to get ready.”

“Y-yes.”

Getting ready means getting half naked.

I’m already not wearing anything on my upper body.

In this position, the back of Aoi’s head is right in front of me. I’m staring at the top of her head in single-minded concentration.

What a premature thought.

Since Aoi was so happy with the physical contact in the shower room, I’ve gotten carried away.

The strategy to improve the image of the Kazamchi young couple is useless if people don’t see it.

Keep calm, calm Kunpei.

This is thanks for Aoi.

It’s just a small reward for Aoi, who regularly seeks physical contact with me.

It’s a small price to pay if Aoi, who’s trying her best, is happy just because I’m suppressing my reasoning and giving her a little excessive skin-to-skin contact.

Yes, it’s my reasoning that’s the problem.

“Let’s take it off, shall we?”

Aoi unbuttoned her pajamas and skilfully removed them so she didn’t bump into me.

Feeling the beating of my mischievous heart, I focused on Aoi’s hair whorl.

It’s impossible!

I’m going to see it!

I’m going to get a glimpse! Because Kunpei is a boy!

“There we go.”

She’s started wearing a nursing bra recently because she’s started to get a little sore from being sucked on so much.

Especially Jaja, who has a habit of biting. It seems to sting just by rubbing against her clothes, so she’s been using this underwear for mom’s, which is gentle on her skin.

Aoi, who has a rather modest chest, said she never wore a bra until she had the twins.

I didn’t even ask her about it, but she came and self-reported it.

I’m really troubled by that sort of thing.

She unhooked the back of that mama bra and folded it neatly.

I drape the futon, which I had grabbed in my right hand beforehand, over Aoi’s legs.

Even though it’s covered with a blue sheet, this is an open space.

Just in case, once Jaja and Nana start drinking breast milk, I’ll wrap us all up in this futon.

Mikuma and Saeki gave me a lot of flack at the ranch, so I’m learning some things.

“Are you ready?”

“Anytime.”

“Come here, Jaja.”

“Dah! Uu?”

Are you going to play with me?

Jaja, who was climbing up into my lap while making such a nuanced sound, was picked up by Aoi.

”Mu. Dah!”

I see, booby time! Nana too!

Nana, who was the first to notice, clung to Aoi’s legs, telling her to hold her too.

“Nana will have to wait a bit. I’ll start with your sister… Okay, thanks for waiting.”

She held Jaja, who was picked up earlier, at her usual spot by her left chest, then Aoi grabbed Nana’s arm with one hand and pulled her up.

That way of holding is easy once you get used to it.

At first, I couldn’t do it with one arm like that because it looked painful.

“Uu”

Nana landed on Aoi’s chest with a thud, and she clapped her chest with a happy smile.

“Ow, ouch, ouch. Nana, it hurts when you slap mommy’s boobs!”

I am a gentleman.

Gentle Kunpei.

In the first place, I am used to seeing Aoi naked after all this time.

You see, I’m not even remotely excited about seeing a small hill.

“There you go. Hnn”

How could I not?

I am.

I’m regularly conscious of it.

It’s just that I’m suppressing it with reason, and if given the chance, this sleeping beast would easily wake.

Like that seductive moan I just heard.

What the hell. Wasn’t that just because Jaja bit a little too strongly?

I just heard a voice that she made reacting to a bite.

“Meh! Me, damn it!”

“Wah! K-Kunpei-san?”

The gentleman in me is desperately trying to whip the beast. You were an animal trainer, gentleman.

The beast flinched at the whip and went back to its cage. That’s a relief.

When Aoi heard my cry, she turned around, startled.

‘It’s all right. The gentleman is a veteran.”

“What?”

It was expertly handled. That was impressive.

That’s not what I’m talking about.

“Nothing, sorry if I freaked you out.”

”Haah, you’re really strange today, Kunpei-san? You don’t have a fever or anything, do you?”

“No, no. I’m the picture of health. In fact, I’m troubled because of my health.”

“Ehh…?”

Aoi, who was just confused, was still staring at me doubtfully.

“More importantly, how’s the set-up? If you’re okay, I’ll pull the futon over you.”

“Ah, yes. It’s much easier than it has been. And Jaja and Nana aren’t hitting heads.”

Aoi showed a slightly sad expression.

Ah, she said something about it.

Her breasts are so small that it’s hard to get enough room for two little heads.

“Ah, is that so, then I’ll be covering you with the futon.”

“Please.”

With her ok, I wrapped us in a thin futon.

I tucked my hands under the covers and supported Jaja and Nana on either side.

“Ah, this is so much easier.”

“That’s good.”

Those words help a little.

The gentleman’s efforts were not in vain.

The twins started drinking their mother’s milk.

I watched them drink adorably from over Aoi’s back.

At first they sucked hard and then they slowed down.

Next thing you know, those little eyelids gradually started to close, and eventually Nana was the first to fall asleep.

Ah, I knew it.

Just with the twins being there, the guilt already faded away.

Aoi’s profile was slightly visible, and there was a gentle smile on her face.

Aoi and the twins seemed happy, making no attempt to hide their affection.

There was nothing but a warm atmosphere.

There was not an ounce of sexuality in the air, but rather, it exuded a sense of divinity.

That kind of atmosphere.

“… It’s nice, something like this.”

“Hmm?”

Aoi whispered.

“Jaja and Nana in front, and Kunpei-san behind me. There’s an amazing sense of security to be sandwiched between the people I love.”

“Ah…”

Yup.

In my current position, the twins and Aoi were completely in my arms.

They weren’t even touching the ground, and were completely wrapped up in my arms.

I have them all to myself.

This is quite luxurious, isn’t it?

I understand what Aoi is saying, but it’s a little different for me.

Everything I have to protect is right here.

It’s that sense of security.

It’s probably the same kind of relief as Aoi’s, but at the same time, it’s different.

“I don’t know if… it’s okay for me to be this happy.”

“What are you talking about?”

Aoi bitterly smiled as she rubbed her cheek against Jaja’s head as she began to doze off.

“… I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I’m so grateful that these children were born, and every day is shining brightly. Originally it was my spoiled mind that was forcing everything on Kunepi-san.”

Aoi cast her eyes downwards and looked up at the ceiling.

“I selfishly fell in love with Kunpei-san, I selfishly gave birth to children, and my selfishness is forcing Kunpei-san, Shouhei-san, and father-in-law to work hard. That’s the truth.”

“… You’re still going on about that.”

“I even made my mother cry.”

Aoi’s expression blurred in the dim night light.

”A no-good daughter. A lack of filial piety. I made my mother, who I love, love, really love, make an expression like that.”

I didn’t see Yule leave.

The only people who saw her off were Alba and Aoi.

So I don’t know what kind of expression Yule had on her face and what she was thinking about when she took off.

But even though she was tired, she was still worried about Aoi to the point of being so distraught.

“Yes, I want my mother to understand that some day. Contrary to that thought, I’m hating myself that’s enjoying this life.”

“It’s good. If you’re not smiling, I would feel sorry for Jaja and Nana too.”

That’s right.

Aoi is mama. She’s a mother.

When a mother isn’t smiling, a child can’t smile from the bottom of their heart.

“Are you sure it’s okay… I’m just taking advantage of the favors of many people. Shouhei-san should still want to be spoiled by his brother. I’m sure father-in-law is also burdened with all the money. Yunno-san also had someone she likes taken from her. The other people in this shelter are also very kind, and I feel like an idiot for wasting my time alone on that rock, watching TV and reading books.”

Aoi lowered her head and leaned back onto my shoulder.

She looks at me with a sideways glance and smiles weakly again.

“Are you sure it’s okay to feel happy when I’m being helped me so much?”

That should be pretty obvious.

“As for Shouhei, well, it’s been a bit difficult lately. Don’t worry, he’s a solid guy. I’m also thinking about my father. I can’t say for sure about Mikuma…”

As one would expect, that’s hard to comment on.

“Other people are nice to you because you’re doing your best. So you’re fine the way you are. How can it not be okay?”

“… As expected, Kunpei-san is kinder than usual today.”

Huh?

“Kunpei-san’s face just now had an incredibly gentle expression. I fell in love with you again. I love you.”

“Really, you…”

“Fu fu.”

Aoi laughed like she was poking fun of me, as she closed her eyes and buried her face in my neck.

“… I love Kunpei-san’s smell. It’s very reassuring, my precious smell.”

“Don’t say something so embarrassing.”

“Fu fu…”

Aoi laughed as she pressed her forehead against my chin.

I had sensed that Aoi was having a lot of worries.

Normally, the girl named Aoinoun Dragoline is very bright and smiles a lot.

She is honest, pure, and single-minded.

But she is a very lonely girl.

She had cried in the past because she was afraid of being alone.

She had cried in the past because it was difficult to part with her mother.

She had trembled with loneliness in the past because she yearned for family.

That’s why right now, Aoi was surely living in her ideal world.

She has a family to welcome her home when she returns.

They would say welcome home, and she would respond with I’m home.

They would say good night, and she would respond with good night.

And when the sun rises, we would say good morning to each other.

That kind of happiness.

That’s the kind of happiness that Aoi wanted, desired, and longed for.

The fact that she’s happy now means that she’s afraid of losing it.

That’s why Aoi is terrified of her current situation.

She can’t bear the thought of losing any of it.

Each and every little happiness has already become a part of Aoi.

It’s a painful feeling for our family, who lost my mom seven years ago.

I thought she would stay with us forever.

It was natural that she would greet me with a smile when I returned home.

Making a delicious meal, pleased with trifling chatter, and got angry when we did something wrong.

You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

It’s a cliché phrase, but that’s it.

My family and I have a past of being devastated by the magnitude of what we’ve lost.

My dad was probably the one who loved my mom the most.

Even as kids, we could tell that he was crazy in love with her.

He should have been the one who suffered the most, but he gritted his teeth and continued to stand up, so Shouhei and I were able to get over our grief.

The feelings that Aoi has for us is similar to the feelings that Shouhei and I have for our father.

Especially me.

I’m a pain in the ass.

All I do is disappoint.

I’m not doing anything useful.

But he hasn’t given up on me, and he’s been watching over me.

That’s why I’m not giving up on you either.

No one gives up on their family.

That’s what family is.

That’s who we are.

“Aoi.”

“…Yes?”

It seems she was nodding off.

She had worked much harder than anyone else today, so he must be tired. Not physically, but mentally.

Aoi’s bare body, stuck close to my chest, was slightly hot.

Jaja and Nana were already fully asleep.

I can’t tell you how much I love the way their bodies rise and fall regularly.

“…Did you call? Kunpei-san.”

Aoi looked up when she was called with her sleepy eyes.

Seeing that face, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

And then I unconsciously.

”…n.”

Kissed her forehead, gently.

“Ah…”

I could hear the bewilderment, like a sigh, coming from her small, light pink lips.

About five seconds in time.

My body, completely separate from my consciousness, refused to remove its mouth from Aoi’s forehead.

“… eh?”

Aoi’s small, questioning voice brought my body back to consciousness.

Then, finally, I let go.

“… Huh?”

What am I doing?

What did I just do?

“Ah, no, huh?”

I’m trying to say something and I’m disconcerted because I don’t know what to say.

I look at Aoi’s face and she’s frozen with her eyes wide open.

“Ah, Aoi?”

I try calling out to her.

“You gave me… from…”

“Huh?”

It was hard to hear her voice even at this distance, face to face.

I can’t understand what she’s saying.

“Aoi? What’s wrong?”

I called out again.

This time, Aoi blinked and looked at me.

“Kunpei-san gave me a kiss…”

Aoi replied in a voice that was easier to hear than before, but still quiet.

“Ki-… I mean, it’s not really a kiss, it’s just…”

“Uuh… Kunpei-san kissed me…”

With teary eyes, Aoi buried her face in my neck again.

“I’m sorry! Well, I don’t know! Momentum, I mean, um! That!”

“Ah, please don’t apologize. I’m so happy, but I can’t say it out loud.”

She’s taking into account the fact that this is a shelter and it’s nighttime.

“I’m so happy.”

“Is that so. That’s good.”

That’s all I can say.

“I’ll be even happier if you used my mouth…”

“What! No, that’s…”

“I’m so happy.”

Aoi attacked my throat with her head.

“I’ll think about it. Hm?”

I make an effort to calm Aoi down by uttering careless words.

In the end, Aoi didn’t leave me until my dad came back.