8. Mofumofu

「I will say it straight.」

Salamus.

「Are you sure. I mean—」

「I like her. I want this one.」

Clear.

「How much. What is the process. When can she come to the house.」

「Haa. Fine. If Yuuki-sama is sure, then that is that.」

He coughed and put the merchant face back on.

「From this moment she is yours. Take her home. We will handle the rest. The invoice comes later. Pay when it suits you.」

「Yeah?! Thanks!」

I took her home in a good mood.

Later I understood how easy he had made it.

He was buying a favor. A man tied to a princess.

I was too wound up to see it.

⸻

Home. Living room. Me and the beast girl.

I looked at her again.

First: ruinously cute. Idol-level. She would wipe a stage.

Cute, and then what was on her head and behind.

Ears. Tail.

Fluff.

I wanted to fluff. Fluff her.

Fluff, fluff, fluuuuff—

「U-um…」

「Haaa! Fresh snow. Empty lot. I am running in it!」

Her voice yanked me back.

I looked again.

A little scared.

Bad. I had frightened her.

I smiled.

「Introductions. I am Yuuki. Kakeru Yuuki. You are…」

「Miu. My name is Miu.」

「Miu. Good name. I will call you Miu. You call me Master.」

「I-I understand.」

Careful nod.

「Then, Master. What am I to do.」

「Yeah? What do I need you to do.」

「The work…」

Still wary. Checking my mood.

「Un. Right…」

I thought.

Plenty of maid dreams. Ears. Massage. Food, become delicious.

A pile of them. They all went off at once.

「And fluffing.」

「Fl-fluffing?!」

「Yes. Fluffing.」

Fists. Serious.

Miu clapped her hands over her ears.

Cute. Cute. Cute.

Too cute.

I want to fluff.

「All right. Bed.」

「Eeh—hyaa!」

I took her hand and walked. A little fast.

Bedroom. The big bed.

「Ma-Master. Wait. Please.」

「Yes?」

「Why the bed. You can fluff in the other room.」

「What are you saying.」

Out loud.

「After fluffing you snuggle.」

「We sleep together?」

「Yes. Snuggle. Fluff and cuddle. Basic. Deep. Best.」

「I have never heard that…」

We were already in the bedroom.

Hand in hand. Onto the bed.

「Fluffy—」

「Kuuun.」

A thin sound. She squirmed.

I did not stop. I fluffed properly.

When I woke it was evening.

Sun through the big window. I shaded my eyes.

Then I saw Miu.

I was half on my stomach. She was a tight ball beside me.

A human body can get that small.

「Cat in a pot…」

Not that. Close enough.

That cute.

「Munya…」

Sleep talk. Tail flicked on the sheet.

I tugged an ear.

She hunched and curled tighter.

After the fluff, the poke.

⸻

Dining room. Night.

「Yes! Good. Good. Good!」

Miu’s cooking.

She had changed into a maid uniform.

Not one from this house. Hers. Hole for the tail.

Food from a girl in that was good.

「Really?」

「Ah. It is.」

「I am glad… I was taught to cook. I always worried the seasoning was too strong. I thought it might be all right. It is normal for me…」

「A little rich, if you ask. Fine.」

Against soy sauce, ketchup, and mayonnaise as a diet, this was not too much. Strong. Right.

「Still good. This much flavor is fine. Cooking is yours. I will give you money later. You do the shopping.」

「Okay! I will make lots of good food.」

「Housework too, for now. If you cannot cover it, say so. I will think of something.」

「Yes! I understand.」

「Other than that, fluffing.」

「Hau.」

「That is it for now… wait.」

I thought.

「Fluff in the morning. Fluff when I leave. Fluff when I come back. Those three. Required.」

「I-I understand…」

Different from cooking and chores. A little teary.

Cute. I wanted another pass.

⸻

Next day. Mountain ox grass.

I walked and thought.

The hunts. Almosso and his men.

Easy wins. Not smart ones.

I had shoved through on power.

Action RPG. Max level. Terrible hands.

That was the feeling.

「I need to learn how to use this.」

I turned over what I could do.

A mountain ox.

「Well… let’s see.」

I snapped my fingers and went for it.