New Forces

I was asleep.

Someone pressed something against my lips. Since I was exhausted, I stayed in a half-asleep daze, but it felt like someone was kissing me. The scent wafting over me smelled like Marie-san’s, so thinking it was her, I returned the gesture by sliding my tongue in.

“Hya… nnn, fuaa…”

Marie (?) seemed to hesitate for a moment, but she returned the kiss, sliding her tongue into mine. We shared a deep, passionate kiss. Suddenly, I felt a longing for Marie-san’s body and reached out to grasp her breast. However, my hand didn’t find Marie-san’s voluptuous curves; instead, it gripped a modest, slight swelling.

“Kyan! That tickles.”

(Marie-san’s voice sounds cuter than usual.)

Thinking that, I pulled Marie (?) closer.

(Wait… was Marie-san always this small?)

Feeling puzzled, my consciousness gradually returned. The person I was holding wasn’t Marie-san; it was Catherine.

“Kent-san, that was way too intense. You startled me.”

Catherine spoke as she confirmed I had opened my eyes.

“S-sorry. I think I was half-asleep.”

I apologized to Catherine.

“It’s okay, Kent-san. I was happy too. I want you to touch me a little more.”

Suddenly curious, I looked over at Marie-san. She was sleeping spread-eagle with her stomach exposed, snoring away.

“Don’t worry about Mother; just look at me for now.”

With that, Catherine clung to me. Resigning myself to the fact that what was done was done, I held Catherine close, and the two of us drifted back to sleep.

“Kent-san, it’s morning. It’s time to get up. Chu.”

“Ah, good morning, Catherine. Sorry for doing something bad last night while I was half-asleep.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all.”

Catherine said with a smile.

“Mother, it’s morning. The shop opens again today.”

Catherine tried to wake Marie-san, who was sleeping beside her. Marie-san was in the same position as last night… except her lower body was exposed. Her panties and jersey bottoms had been kicked outside the futon. I reflexively ended up observing Marie-san’s wide-open lower half.

“I’ve never looked closely before, but so that’s what it looks like.”

“Kent-san, your eyes look lewd. If you want to see that badly, I can show you mine too?”

“No, Catherine, you don’t have to go that far.”

I hurriedly stopped Catherine as she reached for the waistband of her own jersey pants.

“Marie-san, it’s morning. Let’s wake up.”

I spoke gently.

“…Nn, fuaaaa. Good morning, Kent-san. Oh? It feels drafty down there.”

Marie-san woke up and seemed to notice the odd sensation in her lower half.

“Huh? Was I not wearing panties? I don’t remember doing anything with Kent-san last night, though…”

With a puzzled face, Marie-san picked up her panties and jersey pants and put them back on.

“Well then, Kent-san, could you go check on the person you brought home yesterday? It’s still early, so if she’s sleeping, let’s let her rest.”

Prompted by Marie-san, I quietly entered my room. Elnette was sleeping soundly on my bed. Just as I leaned in to peek at her face, Elnette grabbed me and dragged me onto the bed.

“Whoa!”

I tried to pull away in a hurry, but my freedom was stolen by her ridiculous strength. She pulled me close and kissed me just like that.

“Kent, I love you~.”

I thought she was awake, but it was just Elnette talking in her sleep. Marie-san and Catherine heard the noise and rushed into the room in surprise.

“Kent-san, what happened?”

“Kent-san, is something wrong?”

With Marie-san and Catherine’s help, I managed to escape somehow.

“Thanks, Marie-san, Catherine.”

The three of us ate breakfast and, leaving Elnette to sleep, headed off to prepare the shop for opening.

“Big Brother, thanks for yesterday. You really saved me.”

“Morning, Akane. Did you suddenly get the urge to make cosplay outfits or something?”

“Something like that. After I made the patterns for Marie-san’s work clothes the other day, my creative drive just sparked.”

Rachel spoke with a lively expression, having found a goal. In our previous world, my younger sister used to craft cosplay outfits for fan conventions and often participated as a cosplayer herself. Her garment-making skills were quite high, and her sewing techniques were highly regarded by others at the conventions.

“Alright, everyone. I’m counting on you again today.”

The preparations were finished, and Marie’s bakery opened. As soon as the doors opened, the customers who had been lining up flooded into the shop. It looked like today would be busy too.

“Big Brother, it’s almost time for school.”

“Right, time to get ready.”

Rachel and I prepared for school. I checked on Elnette just in case, but since she still seemed to be asleep, I left her be. School started, and I entered the classroom.

“Morning, Kent-kun. Did you get some rest over the weekend?”

Patty, who sat in the next seat, struck up a conversation.

“Good morning. Actually, I was out in the town of Sampto over the weekend. So I might not be very rested.”

“I see. Speaking of which, tests start next week. You’re at the top of the class, so it shouldn’t be a problem for you, but I’m always on the verge of failing. If I get a failing grade, I’ll have to take summer makeup classes.”

“That would be a problem. I might need you to help out at the shop full-time, so why don’t we have a study session this weekend?”

“Ehh, really?! I’m so happy. If you help me, Kent-kun, I think I can avoid failing this time.”

Patty spoke joyfully at my offer to help her study.

“You two, if you’re having a study session, let me join in as well.”

Josette spoke up. Perhaps mindful of the eyes around us, her tone was somewhat overbearing. Patty gave a wry smile at that.

“Being a Duke’s daughter seems like a lot of work.”

“It is. I have to maintain a certain level of dignity, so it is quite taxing.”

Josette spoke in a voice inaudible to those around us.

In the end, it was decided we would hold a study session for Patty’s sake this weekend.

“A study session? Can I come too?”

“Oh right, tests were next week. I have to work hard so I don’t lose to Caro next time.”

It became lunch break. We used to eat behind the school building, but since the shop got busy and there was no time to prepare lunch, we moved our eating spot to the school cafeteria. Of course, we used the self-service corner again. Because Josette was with us, we drew curious stares from the surroundings, but I decided not to care. When I mentioned the tests, Caro and Rachel said they wanted to participate. The four of us here were the top and second-ranked students in the first and second-year grades. I don’t recall seeing Caro study, but Josette worked quite hard to maintain her high ranking. Incidentally, Rachel and I hadn’t studied at all. Since the content was at a simple elementary school level, we hadn’t felt the urge to study for it until now. Ultimately, it was decided that Caro and Rachel would join as well, and I felt a bit of motivation. Lunch ended, and we went our separate ways.

After school arrived.

“Kent-kun, let’s walk home together.”

Since we started working at the same part-time job and lived in the same direction, Patty had recently started walking home with me every day. Josette seemed to have business today and had left earlier. I met up with Rachel along the way, and the three of us headed to the workplace.

“W-welcome!”

A clerk greeted us with a slightly stiff voice as we entered Marie’s bakery…

“Um, Elnette, what are you doing?”

“Huh? I decided to work here starting today. Looking forward to working with you, Senior!”

“Marie-san, what’s the meaning of this?”

I asked Marie-san, who was working on the floor wearing a maid outfit.

“It was around noon, I think… she came into the shop and asked to work, so I hired her. She seemed to be an acquaintance of yours, Kent-san, so I figured it would be fine.”

“Hmm. Actually, I don’t know that much about Elnette-san. I only know she’s a swordswoman and her family is upper-class.”

“Is that so… Well, we’re short-handed, so anyone who can work full-time is welcome. That said, I’ll leave the training to you. I’m heading back to the workshop now.”

With that, Marie-san quickly retreated into the workshop. I had no choice but to spend the day training Elnette.

“Still, you’re amazing, Kent. I’ve fallen for you all over again.”

“Where did that come from?”

Elnette spoke to me during a lull in the customer flow.

“You seem to know everything about this shop, and everyone relies on you, right? Plus, you give such precise instructions. I realized I could never do that.”

“Well, I basically built this shop myself. Oh, that’s right. Elnette, you’re okay with heavy lifting, right?”

“Probably fine.”

“Then could you help me out for a bit?”

Today we had a delivery of flour requested by some other shops, so there was transport work to be done. It was quite heavy labor.

“Other bakeries are coming to pick up the flour used for bread, so I want you to help me carry it to the front of the shop.”

“That’s an easy job. Which ones should I carry?”

The two of us went around to the back warehouse. Sacks of flour prepared in advance were piled up there.

“I just need to carry these, right?”

“I’ll go grab the handcart now… eh?”

Elnette effortlessly hoisted two sacks of flour onto her shoulders and carried them to the front of the shop.

“…They’re heavy, so use the handcart…”

I was stunned by Elnette, who lightly carried two sacks that weighed 25kg each.

“Elnette-san…”

I called out to Elnette as she returned after finishing the carry.

“Oh? Was it bad that I carried them?”

“No, that’s fine, but I was going to say you should load them on this and move them all at once.”

I said, showing her the handcart I had prepared.

“Is that so? Sorry, sorry. Then I’ll stack them up real quick.”

Watching Elnette toss the flour sacks onto the handcart as if they were nothing, I was at a loss for words.

“This is kind of fun.”

Elnette looked somewhat entertained as she pulled the handcart loaded with flour. In the end, I only gave instructions, and Elnette did all the actual carrying.

(It’s good that I secured a valuable new force, but I feel like I’ve lost somehow…)

Thinking that, I handed over the flour to the other bakers who came to collect it.