After Nunu, who had finished her bath, entered the living room while holding Maru,
The commander, who had nothing to do, was waiting for Bada while sitting in the lobby.
Bada, asking if the commander wasn’t bored, went to the kitchen to get a sandwich.
Thanks to that, the commander was left alone for the first time since arriving.
…Although, it wasn’t the first time being alone, since even on the first day of overtime, I was by myself.
Back then, it didn’t feel as lonely.
Now that I think about it, not long after I started overtime, Maru had come in.
Maru, crying and throwing a tantrum about why there was a box in her room.
To be honest, back then, I had secretly wanted to tease Maru a little for embezzling the first gacha funds, so I had shoved all the boxes that were supposed to go into Nunu’s room into Maru’s room.
When I realized there was more than I expected, I felt bad for Maru, so I subtly gave her a lot of pudding.
Looking back now, it’s all a good memory.
…By the way, I wonder when Bada is coming back. The rumbling sound from the ship hasn’t stopped.
Is there anything light to snack on… hmm?
What’s this?
A small stick-shaped snack stuck in the corner of the desk caught the commander’s eye.
It looked like it was made in a foreign country, with a tiny cat illustration and some mysterious language written on the stick.
Is it okay to eat? It smells faintly of tuna, so it seems like a snack.
The commander opened the top slightly and tasted it.
It was a bit salty and greasy. It was unexpected for the commander, who had imagined it to be something like a protein bar.
“What is this…”
“Ah, my snack!”
Bada, who had brought the sandwich, exclaimed in horror and ran toward the commander.
“Snack?”
“Yes, the one I’m holding right now. It’s my Churu.”
“…Churu for cats?”
“Yes!!”
No way. The commander had eaten Churu, one of the snacks that cats go crazy for.
After realizing the truth, the commander was momentarily startled but quickly regained composure and put the Churu down.
They say that pet food is made for humans too, so maybe it’s okay.
Although, it had a very fishy and greasy taste, but it should be fine.
“Hehe, as expected, it’s Churu.”
By now, Bada was licking the Churu with enthusiasm.
Bada carefully cut off the part where the commander had touched it with scissors and ate it greedily, looking just like a cat.
‘I wonder if Nunu would like it if I bought her a dog chew.
Even Bada, who’s a cat-human hybrid, likes it, so I think Nunu, who’s a dog-human hybrid, would like a dog chew too.’
“…What are you looking at? I’m not giving it to you.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Bada pulled back the hand holding the Churu and frowned.
It seemed that Bada misunderstood that the commander was staring because he wanted more Churu.
“Oh, that’s…
It’s a misunderstanding,” the commander tried to correct, but at that moment, his playful side took over.
With a faint smile, he confidently extended their hand and opened their mouth.
“Let me have a bite.”
“No way. It’s my snack. Besides, you’ve already eaten half of it.”
“Hehe, delicious things are meant to be shared.”
“…Who said that?”
“Maru.”
*Maru, I’m sorry.
Even though it’s not the same, Bada has a good impact, so what can I do?*
“Stop lying.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
Bada glared at the commander with wide eyes.
Bada stared at the commander for a while, then suddenly sighed and spoke.
“…I wish the person next to me was Maru.”
“I heard that, you jerk.”
“I said it on purpose.”
“Sigh, when did the commander’s authority fall so low?”
“You’re not even our commander, hmph.”
The commander adjusted the band-aid on their finger and took a bite of the sandwich.
Some lettuce fell from the sandwich, but the commander didn’t mind.
Seeing this, Bada scowled.
“Ugh, I just cleaned. Do you have to eat so carelessly?”
“Well, who cares? This isn’t even our command center.”
“How childish… Are you an adult?”
Bada seemed displeased by the commander’s words and puffed out her cheeks, giving off a pouty vibe.
Her tail, too, was puffed up and thumping on the floor, showing that she was really angry.
“…She’s just like Maru.”
Despite everything, the commander momentarily saw Maru’s figure reflected in Bada, who had her cheeks puffed out.
It hadn’t been long since she left, but I already miss her.
Imagining Maru running toward them, calling out, “Commander!” and cutely accepting the pudding, they’d probably say “Thank you!” and nibble on it with their tiny lips.
And then, while I pet her, she’d puff up her cheeks, complain, and eventually sit on my lap to act all spoiled.
“Ah, just imagining it is so healing.”
The commander smiled faintly, thinking that they were a bit of a softy.
“Ugh, why am I acting like this all of a sudden?”
Of course, Bada, who had been watching, just complained that she had lost her appetite.
Sluuurp.
But Bada couldn’t put down the Churu in her hand. She was sucking it up so enthusiastically that her once-puffed cheeks were now hollow.
“…Why do I miss Maru so much?”
“Bada, should we go see Maru together?”
“…Should we? I don’t have anything to do anyway.”
Bada, who seemed to also miss Maru, quickly agreed.
I said it calmly, as if I had no choice but to go along because I was bored, but a tail can never be hidden.
The softly swaying tail showed that Bada was in a good mood.
When Bada is with me, the tail droops, but now it’s wagging—how unfair.
Still, it probably means that Maru is that lovable.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Do you know the way and are you leading the way?”
“No? Of course, Bada, you have to guide me.”
“Oh dear, if Maru ends up hating you, it’s not my fault.”
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry.”
The commander and Bada playfully bickered about Maru.
Since the location was close, they arrived at a door labeled ‘Reception Room’ before they even walked much.
“Maru is probably in here. Nunu said she’d be using the reception room.”
“A reception room too? What does this place not have?”
“Heheh, jealous? A headquarters with a bathhouse and a reception room—aren’t you super jealous?”
Bada started bouncing up and down, incredibly excited.
I do envy it. Living here must feel like staying in a hotel every day.
But…
“No? You guys don’t have Maru.”
“Ugh, that’s unfair… I’ll give you that one.”
Wondering if they were still watching a movie, the commander pressed an ear to the door and listened.
But all that could be heard was murmuring inside—no distinct sounds of a movie playing.
Only Nunu and Maru’s voices were audible, meaning they had likely finished watching.
“I don’t hear the TV. Looks like we arrived at the perfect time, Bada.”
“Then we should go in quickly. Come on, hurry!”
Creak…
“…Huh?”
However, the moment they stepped inside, they froze in place.
Because…
“Waaah, waaah.”
“There, there. Our Maru is so good.”
Maru—the Maru—was blushing and snuggling in Nunu’s arms, acting completely spoiled.
“Maru?”
“Huh? Commander?”
As soon as the commander called Maru’s name, an overwhelming silence filled the room.
Everyone there clammed up, awkwardly avoiding each other’s gaze.
“Oh my, what’s the matter, everyone?”
Everyone except for one person—Nunu, who was holding Maru with a blissful expression.
“Heh, so our ‘baby’ Maru just wanted to be pampered. The commander understands.”
“No! That’s not it…!”
Ah, seriously, why now of all times?
Why did they have to walk in at this moment?!
So embarrassing.
I feel like I’m going to die from embarrassment.
I want to crawl into a hole.
This is seriously the most humiliating moment of my life!!
“Pfft. Our baby Maru, did you want to go ‘waaah’ that badly? Aww~”
“Nunu, explain yourself! Save me!”
“Ughhh…”
“What now?!”
“What did I do? Why do you keep laughing?”
“Stop laughing.”
“If you keep doing this, my face is going to turn so red that I’ll just poof and explode…”
“Oh, so now you’re calling Nunu ‘unnie’?”
“It’s fine. Even if Maru gives up being a tough guy and becomes baby Maru, I still like Maru!”
“No, this was just… there were circumstances…”
Wait a second.
Since when did I start calling Nunu ‘unnie’?!
That’s weird.
Really weird.
Something’s definitely wrong here!
“Ooo…”
“Adorable. Adorable. I can’t hold back anymore. Maru, you brought this upon yourself!”
“Hiiik?! What are you doing, Bada?!”
I was already struggling with the embarrassment of having my soft head held, but now Bada suddenly hugged me.
As I squirmed, trying to break free, her fluffy tail gently wrapped around my arms.
Right now, I feel like screaming ‘ARGH!!!’ at the top of my lungs, but why is this happening?!
“Ah, Maru also likes being petted, so we should pet Maru too.”
“S-stop…”
“Oh my, then I can’t be left out.”
“Me neither! Taste the touch of this uncle’s big hands!”
“Commander, doesn’t that sound kind of weird?”
In the end, everyone placed their hands on my head and, without a word, began patting me.
Wow. My lips are actually curling into a smile. This is bizarre.
Bada, please don’t say things like that…
“Hm? Why not?”
“Ugh…”
“Ooo…!”
“…It’s embarrassing.”
“Oh my, see? I told you Maru is seriously cute in moments like this.”
“Ah, seriously.”
It does feel nice.
I mean, of course, who doesn’t like being loved and praised?
But still, this is way too embarrassing…!
This is so humiliating!!
“So cute. So cute.”
“Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!”