CH 68

It's More Than Just Words

I heard birds chirping in the distance.

I felt dizzy, frowned, and turned over in my sleep.

Was I asleep?

Last night, I tried to spoil Alice for the first time, but she didn’t give me any answer.

I was so worried and anxious that I couldn’t sleep, but before I knew it, I must have fallen asleep.

“Good morning, onee-chan.”

I heard Alice’s voice. The next thing I knew, I felt a soft kiss on my cheek.

I was shocked and relieved at the same time.

It was the same Alice from her voice.

Maybe the reason why she didn’t answer me last night was that she’s already asleep.

I slowly opened my eyes, but my vision was blurry and I couldn’t see clearly, so I blinked a few times.

My vision is getting clearer and clearer.

“… hmm?”

I could see Alice’s smile, and then I thought that she had an odd amount of skin color, and――.

Sitting on the bed, Alice was stark naked, in other words, she had no clothes on.

What? Why? This isn’t a bathroom, is it? Why is she completely naked?

Confused, I sat up and looked around to make sure it was my room.

No doubt. This isn’t a bathroom, it’s my room.

“Huh? Where’s Kuu-chan?”

I couldn’t help but mutter to myself as I noticed Kuu-chan was not there.

“Kuu-chan went downstairs. She wants to talk to Ookwa-san.”

(TN: Ookwa = Giant Stag Beetle.)

I looked at Alice’s and hurriedly averted my gaze at the skin tone in my vision.

Why was she completely naked? Even if she was in the middle of changing her clothes, she wouldn’t normally sit on the bed completely naked. There’s no need to take off your underwear in the first place.

“Hey, onee-chan. Don’t say a word and take off your pajamas.”

“eh?”

I looked at Alice in surprise when she asked me.

She wants me to take off my pajamas…

Amid my confused thoughts, my heartbeat quickens and my breathing becomes ragged.

“Onee-chan?”

“Y-Yes.”

I responded with a jolt at the sound of Alice’s slightly stronger voice.

“You need Alice, don’t you? Then let’s listen to Alice, right?”

Alice’s voice was gentle but strong as if she was talking to a child who didn’t understand.

Last night, Alice didn’t answer anything. I thought it was because she was already asleep, but apparently, she was listening.

Then why didn’t you answer me anything? And how come you’re completely naked and how come you’re telling me to take off my pajamas…?

“Onee-chan, if you don’t listen to me, Alice will make you take them off.”

“Eh? Ah, wa-wait.”

She told me she was going to make me take them off, and I impatiently went to unbutton my pajama top.

If I’m going to be made to take them off, I might as well do it myself.

I took off my upper garment and put my hands on my pants, where I hesitated. But I felt Alice’s eyes on me, and I took off my pants.

“I-I took them off…”

I am now in my underwear, covering my breasts with my right hand and my lower abdomen with my left, and raising my voice as I turned my face away from Alice.

“All of it, onee-chan.”

“A-All of it…”

I couldn’t help but ask back at Alice’s words.

“Then, I’m going to take it off.”

“I-I’ll take it off! I’ll take it off, just wait a minute!”

I became impatient at Alice’s words and removed my bra while screaming. I covered my breasts with my right arm, and with my left hand, I pulled down my underwear.

I was being watched. She’s staring at me. I’m dying of embarrassment.

I felt my face burning hot as I stripped down to my clothes.

“Don’t cover it with your hand.”

“But…”

“No.”

She told me not to cover it with my hands, and I lowered my hands, almost in tears.

Geez, just do whatever you want.

The bed creaked and I felt Alice come closer to me, and I closed my eyes.

What the hell was Alice thinking?

I felt skin-to-skin contact, and my body shivered, and I almost backed away on its own.

But she hugged me tightly as if to say she would not let me go.

Alice’s skin is close to mine.

I felt embarrassed to death, but somehow that shame disappeared with a bang.

Instead, a sense of relief spread through my heart.

“I’m right here.”

Alice whispers in my ear as she hugs me tightly.

“You can see it better this way, can’t you? Alice is here. Alice is right here.”

I could hear Alice whispering, and I thought, “Ah, I see.”

Alice had gotten naked for me, and then told me to get naked for her.

She knew that I was anxious and lonely, so she chose skin-to-skin contact as a way to reassure me.

I could feel her warmth more surely than any words.

I can hear her heartbeat more clearly than any other cry.

She’s here.

She’s right there with me.

That’s what Alice’s whole body is telling me.

“Thank you, Alice.”

I hugged her tightly as I said this.

“Yes.”

She nodded and just hugged me tightly.

Maybe Alice hasn’t slept at all.

What should I do to make myself feel at ease? What can I do to get rid of my anxiety and loneliness?

I think I’ve been struggling with this for a long time.

The answer came up with was to embrace each other as we were born.

It is important to communicate with words. Some things can only be conveyed with words. But sometimes some things are more important than words.

Like a child begging its mother for a hug, skin-to-skin contact is a way to communicate and confirm love.

That’s what I wanted.

I always wanted Alice to hug me.

Alice noticed that.

What a surprise. It seems that Alice has grown up a lot more than I thought she would.

“More… can we stay like this a little more…?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Alice answered my question in a sweet and gentle voice.

◆

After getting dressed, I went downstairs with Alice and entered the living room.

“Kwak-wak-wak!”

I went downstairs with Alice, and when we entered the living room, the stag beetle monster was doing a strange dance while chirping.

“Kwaak, kwaak, kwaak.”

Yanomiya-san, facing the stag beetle monster, is doing a cute dance while imitating the stag beetle monster.

The stag beetle monster is creepy no matter what it does, and Yanomiya-san is cute no matter what she does.

Well, I’m glad you’re both having fun.

That’s right, Beetle monster. I was able to spoil Alice.

I was anxious and scared, but now I’m very relieved.

I’d like to thank the giant mulberry monster, but――.

“Quack, quack, quack.”

“Quack, quack, quack.”

You two look like you’re having fun, so I’ll do it later.