Sakura-chan, Master of Being Doted On

"Onii-chan? Can I come in?"

I was getting ready for bed when Sakura's voice came from outside the door. Did she need something?

"Sure, come on in."

At my invitation, Sakura crept timidly into the room. She was already in her pajamas, like she was about to turn in for the night.

"Onii-chan… I have a favor to ask…"

Sakura fidgeted as she got the words out.

"What is it? Go ahead, try me."

When I coaxed her gently, Sakura finally spoke.

"Um… I was thinking I wanted to sleep with Onii-chan tonight…"

I'd braced for something heavy, so Sakura's adorable request washed over me as pure relief. She must be envious that Kaede and Arisa had each gotten to sleep beside me.

"Sure thing, let's sleep together tonight. It's cold out, after all."

Even though it was already spring, the nights still got chilly. The two of us sleeping together would probably be nice and warm.

"Mhm! Thank you! Onii-chan!"

I moved to the bedroom with Sakura, but even after I climbed onto the bed, Sakura stayed standing beside it and started fidgeting all over again.

"Onii-chan, what do you think of my pajamas today?"

Sakura asked about her pajamas with an upward, pleading glance. Today she wore fluffy pink-and-white pajamas with a hood attached at the collar, matching fluffy short shorts below, and knee-socks on her feet.

"All fluffy and cute. They really suit you, Sakura."

The soft, fuzzy pajamas looked like they'd feel nice to the touch, and made me want to reach out and pet them.

"Ehehe ♪ I'm so glad ♪"

Sakura's face melted into a happy smile, and she pulled the hood up over her head as she climbed onto the bed.

"These pajamas are bunny ones! Look! They even have ears!"

Sure enough, floppy rabbit ears jutted from the sides of the hood, so when she pulled it up it looked like rabbit ears had sprouted right out of Sakura. She looked so cute in her delight that I ended up patting her head through the hood.

"Hehe ♪ It's all fluffy, feels nice, doesn't it? Pet me more? ♡"

Just like Sakura said, the pajamas were so soft I wanted to rub my cheek against them. The rabbit ears had cotton stuffed inside, and they pushed back gently against my hand.

"I think I'll be Onii-chan's body pillow tonight ♪"

Sakura said something adorable as she clung to me. She rubbed the hood against my face, and along with the scent of her shampoo and fabric softener, all that fluffiness came rushing in at once. I felt blissfully happy.

"All right, let's sleep, Sakura."

Once I'd had my fill of Sakura's fluffiness, I lay down with her and pulled the covers up.

"Onii-chan… can I sleep holding on tight to you?"

Sakura snuggled closer and pleaded again with that upward glance. She really was a master at being doted on. She made me want to spoil her without even thinking.

"Sure, come here."

At my okay, Sakura tucked herself snugly against my chest. The fluffy hood brushed under my chin, somewhere between pleasant and ticklish.

"Bunnies get lonely, you know? So you can't let go until morning, okay?"

Sakura peeked up at me from inside the hood and clung even tighter.

"Mhm, got it."

I answered by hugging her back firmly. She was warm, like a perfectly-sized hot water bottle for a cold night.

"Hehe ♪ Onii-chan, goodnight… chu ♡"

Sakura poked her face out of the hood and pressed her lips to mine. Just like Kaede and Arisa, she'd given me a goodnight kiss. It felt like a way of confirming we loved each other, and I'd grown to like kisses too.

"Mhm, goodnight."

In return, I brushed Sakura's bangs aside and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Hehe ♪…"

 

*

 

When I woke to the morning sun leaking through the curtains, Sakura was still nestled snugly in my arms. Holding the same position all night had left my body a little stiff, but the happy look on her sleeping face stole every word of complaint right out of my mouth.

"Nnn…"

Sakura was still asleep against me, breathing softly. The thought that she trusted me enough to show such a defenseless sleeping face made me happy. There was still time until breakfast, so I figured I'd watch her sleep a little longer.

"Nnh… Onii-chan… good morning."

While I gazed at her face, Sakura opened her sleepy eyes.

"Good morning, Sakura."

"Fuhehe ♪ Onii-chan… chu ♡"

Sakura shifted up onto my body and gave me a good-morning kiss. I closed my eyes and pushed my lips out a little to meet her.

"Onii-chan, let's laze around together until breakfast?"

"Mhm, sounds good."

Sakura nuzzled her head against me like a cat, spoiling herself on me again. I pet her head through the hood, indulging her.

"I love when Onii-chan pets me ♡"

Sakura was reveling in my petting with a melted, blissful smile. She looked so dear that I began gently patting her back with my free hand, in a steady rhythm.

"The pat-patting feels good too… mmh…"

After a while of petting her head and patting her back, Sakura had drifted off to sleep again. The way she trusted me enough to let herself be doted on made me happier than I could stand. I figured I'd just stay like this until breakfast.

"Excuse me. Shouya-sama, Sakura-chan, breakfast is ready…"

Yui-san had come to call us for breakfast; she took one look at me and Sakura and froze.

"Ah, I'll come right away… Sakura…"

"W-wait, please!"

As I tried to wake Sakura, Yui-san hurriedly stopped me.

"I can't let a scene this lovely slip away!"

With that, she pulled out her smartphone and started snapping photos of me and Sakura.

"Sakura-chan and Shouya-sama are both so cute… haah… ♡ Wonderful ♡"

"Y-Yui-san…"

My voice didn't seem to reach her; she was completely absorbed in the camera.

"Shouya-sama! Your hand has stopped petting Sakura-chan!"

This time she switched to video mode and prompted me to resume. I did as she said and started petting Sakura's head and patting her back again.

"Haah… ♡ Shouya-sama's gentle touch… I'm so jealous of Sakura-chan…"

Yui-san finally tucked her phone away once she was done filming, letting her inner voice slip out as she did. Come to think of it, the first time I'd hugged her, I'd petted her too.

"Yui-san, if you'd like, come over here…"

Thinking she'd surely be pleased, I worked up the courage to invite her onto the bed.

"Shouya-sama…! Are you sure?!"

Surprise mixed with delight in her voice. When I nodded, she timidly climbed onto the bed and sat beside me.

"Yui-san… at that distance… um… I can't reach…"

She'd sat down hesitantly a little ways off, and with Sakura on top of me, I couldn't quite reach her.

"Yui-san, please come into my arms…"

"In-into your… arms?! … Excuse me…"

At my words, Yui-san went bright red and laid her head against my arm. I curled my arm around her and started petting her head in a steady rhythm.

"Fuwah… in Shouya-sama's arms it's so warm… it feels so good…"

She melted into a blissful expression and gave herself over to my hand right away.

"This is bad… Shouya-sama…"

Yui-san's eyelids dropped lower and lower until they finally met her lower lids. She'd been working since early in the morning, so it was only natural for her to get sleepy. I hoped she could rest even a little in my arms.

"Yui-san, goodnight."

Both Sakura and Yui-san had drifted off into deep sleep in my arms. The two of them really did look like little animals, adorable beyond words. Sakura was a bunny in her pajamas, and Yui-san was… a squirrel, maybe? Both of them brimmed with a charm that made me want to spoil them.

It struck me how happy being relied on like this made me, and at the same time I finally understood why the maids and my big sisters kept saying they wanted me to lean on them more.

"Oh my～ ♡ Yui-chan, you're really out cold～ ♡"

While I was lost in thought, still petting the two of them, Moka-san's voice drifted over. She must have come to check on us when we hadn't shown up for breakfast at all.

"Fufu ♪ I'll just take a picture ♪"

She pulled out her smartphone too and began snapping photos of us. I kept on petting the two of them and let her shoot however she pleased.

"Shouya-sama, it's a shame to part with this, but shall we wake them up soon～? ♡"

Once Moka-san was satisfied with her shoot, she tucked her phone away and began shaking Yui-san.

"Yui-chan～, wake up～."

"Sakura, time to go eat breakfast."

At the same time as Moka-san, I woke Sakura, who was sleeping on my stomach.

"Nmuu… I fell asleep again…"

"Mnya… ha…! I-I'm so sorry, Shouya-sama!"

Sakura was still half asleep, but Yui-san sat bolt upright and started apologizing.

"It's all right, Yui-san. I'm the one who invited you."

"But…"

Yui-san looked terribly apologetic. Dozing off in your employer's arms is probably unthinkable for an ordinary maid, so I supposed it couldn't be helped.

"Now, now, Yui-chan. Shouya-sama looked happy having you lean on him too, didn't he? So it's fine. Right? ♡ Shouya-sama? ♡"

"Y-yes…"

Having it spelled out that I'd been happy left me a little embarrassed. Moka-san really does watch over me closely.

"Shouya-sama… well then, next time, when it's actually okay to sleep… could I ask you again? ♡"

Yui-san fidgeted bashfully as she made her plea. The sweet, endearing sight filled my heart all over again.

"Yes, of course."

At my nod, Yui-san smiled happily and got down off the bed.

"Shouya-sama～ ♡ I want to pet Shouya-sama myself～ ♡ Please let me dote on you like Yui-chan did～ ♡"

It seemed Moka-san would rather lull me to sleep than have me lull her. Having just learned the joy of being relied on, I could see it would make her happier here if I let her have her way. And it wouldn't be reluctant indulgence, either; with Moka-san and the others, I felt like I could honestly let myself be spoiled.

"Yes, I'd love to nap with you, Moka-san."

The maids finish their housework in the morning and are mostly free in the afternoon, so I suggested we nap together after lunch. Moka-san smiled happily back at me, her busty chest swaying inside her maid uniform.

"Onii-chan, you'll sleep with me again too, right?"

Sakura must have worried this was a one-time thing; she tugged on my pajamas as she pressed her case.

"Of course, I'll sleep with you again, Sakura."

"Hehe ♪ Yay ♪"

Sakura's mood lifted, and she climbed down off me to head to the living room with everyone for breakfast. At the table, Moka-san spilled the beans about Yui-san's deep sleep, and Yui-san shrank even smaller in her chair.