Chapter 291: The Fox and the Tail

(Please pamper us properly.)

As he walked down the hallway, Shido still had Mikoto's adorably fluffy words replaying in his head.

"She says that, but... I have absolutely no idea what I'm actually supposed to do", he thought in distress.

Even though this wasn't dangerous like conquering a Spirit, it didn't mean Shido had any clue how to pamper a whole group of fluffy little "animals" like this.

"Maybe I should make them a really nice meal?" he murmured to himself.

"Come to think of it... where is Yakumo-senpai?"

After breakfast, everyone had gone their separate ways to do their own things. Wanting to ask Mikoto about what happened yesterday, Shido asked Reine where she was, then headed toward Mikoto's room.

"Senpai, are you in there?"

After knocking, he waited. No answer came.

"Did she go out? Senpai, I'm coming in."

Thinking she wasn't there, Shido slid open the door.

(!!!)

The sight waiting inside was Mikoto, sleeping soundly.

Since they were staying away from home, she was properly dressed in a sleeping yukata. It seemed she was the type who only slept naked in the comfort of her own home.

(Oh right... after everything that happened yesterday, Senpai definitely stayed up all night.)

That was enough for Shido to understand why she would be sleeping in broad daylight.

(However...)

As he looked at her, he swallowed hard.

Maybe the heater was turned up too high, because rather than curling up under the blanket, Mikoto was hugging the fluffy comforter tightly against her body like a giant body pillow. Her fair, slender legs had kicked free from the yukata's constraints, resting softly on top of the blanket. The front of her robe had also fallen wide open, revealing a deep, incredibly alluring cleavage.

"Ugh..."

Looking at the beautiful scene before him, Shido couldn't help feeling an overwhelming urge to swap places with that comforter.

(I-I should just leave.)

Blushing furiously, Shido scratched at his cheek awkwardly and decided to back out.

And then—

Swish, swish.

"Huh?"

Mikoto's large, fluffy tail swaying back and forth stole his attention.

Apparently, she was dreaming about something, because the tail kept wagging gently.

"A tail, huh..."

Completely captivated by the demonic allure of the fluff, Shido leaned over and gently stroked Mikoto's tail.

The warmth spreading across his palm told him it really was a living tail, not some fake prop.

"Mmm..."

Perhaps sensing his touch, Mikoto let out a soft murmur in her sleep, her tail shivering and twitching happily in his hand.

"She really is just like a little animal."

Wearing a helpless, amused expression, Shido reached out to pull the blanket over Mikoto properly. No matter what, it was still winter. At this rate, she really might catch a cold.

"Mmu..."

But completely contrary to his expectations, Mikoto suddenly rolled over and hugged him tightly.

"Smells like... Shido..."

Burying her face in his chest, she snuggled against him contentedly and murmured that in her sleep.

(Right... foxes belong to the canine family!)

Only then did a random piece of trivia flash through his mind, reminding him that Mikoto's sense of smell might currently be as sharp as Tohka's.

(What do I do? What do I do!?)

He had been jealous of the comforter only moments ago, but now that he had actually taken the comforter's place, Shido found himself completely overwhelmed with both happiness and sheer panic.

(If Senpai wakes up now, she'll absolutely think I'm some pervert trying to night raid her!)

That was all he could think about.

Just as he was frantically trying to think of an escape plan, Mikoto's fluffy ears brushed against his cheek.

Twitch, twitch.

The ears wriggled restlessly, then swept right across the tip of his nose.

"Achoo!"

The ticklish sensation was too much, and Shido couldn't hold back a sneeze.

(Oh crap!)

And right before his eyes, Mikoto slowly opened her eyes, apparently woken up by his sneeze.

"Shi... do?"

Lifting her head, she looked sleepily and blankly at the boy in front of her.

"Umm... Senpai... please let me explain..."

"Morning... let me sleep a little longer... Zzz..."

"This isn't what it looks like, Senpai... Eh?"

While Shido's mind spun at full speed, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation, he realized that Mikoto had already fallen asleep again.

"Wait a second! Why are you perfectly fine with going back to sleep after waking up and finding me in your bed!?"

Feeling that something was fundamentally wrong here, Shido couldn't help but shout.

"It's probably just another misunderstanding anyway. I know perfectly well you don't have the guts to night raid a girl, Shido."

Mikoto murmured drowsily, clearly hovering right on the border between sleep and wakefulness.

"Gah!"

Even though her words were 100% correct, Shido still felt his pride take a direct, critical hit.

"Setting aside whether I have the guts or not—could you at least let go of me first?"

He scratched his cheek awkwardly. If this kept up, he was going to be forced to play body pillow until Mikoto woke up on her own.

"No way."

But instead, Mikoto lazily shook her head adorably and hugged him even tighter.

"In that case... Senpai, please prepare yourself..."

Staring at the half-asleep, half-spoiled Mikoto, Shido raised his hand helplessly.

"Hyup!"

And gave her tail a light squeeze.

"Hya!?"

The instant her tail was touched, Mikoto's eyes flew wide open. Blushing furiously, she let out a cute, high pitched squeak.

"Heheh, how about that? Are you awake now?"

Mikoto's reaction was just way too amusing, so Shido couldn't resist giving it another gentle squeeze.

"W-Wait..."

"Shi... do..."

"Iyaaa—!"

In the end, thanks to Shido's tail squeezing tactic, a series of highly questionable squeals echoed through Mikoto's room.

_____________

Five minutes later...

"Ugh..."

"I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry!"

The young girl sat on her knees on the tatami mats, letting out sounds like a frightened little animal. Opposite her, Shido was locked in a perfect dogeza.

"Shido... pervert..."

"I'm sorry! I will deeply reflect on my actions."

Faced with Mikoto, who was hiding her fluffy tail protectively in her lap, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, and puffing out her cheeks in anger, Shido maintained his strict dogeza posture.

Was it because tails had some sort of magical allure? Once you had that fluffy perfection in your hands, it was impossible to want to let go. Or was it because Mikoto's reactions were just too cute, awakening a sadistic urge to tease her? Either way, he had clearly taken the joke too far, and now Mikoto was genuinely upset.

"I can't get married anymore."

"I'm sorry! I'll take responsibility— eh?" (TL:Tch....)

Looking up and catching the sly, cunning glint in Mikoto's eyes, Shido realized he had just agreed to something incredibly dangerous.

"Ehehe."

Seeing Shido freeze up in shock, Mikoto couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

"Yakumo-senpai... you're so sneaky..."

Just like a little fox, Shido thought to himself.

"You're the one who was in the wrong first."

Mikoto used her tail to hide her blushing face.

"Umm... yeah, sorry about that."

Shido scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"Then, as punishment... Shido has to help me comb out my tail until it's all neat again, okay?"

The young girl held up a small comb with both hands and tilted her head adorably.

"Ugh..."

Letting out a sigh, Shido took the comb and began brushing Mikoto's tail, which he had just ruffled up himself.

"Come to think of it, why did you turn into a fox, Senpai?"

He had been wondering why, out of everyone, Mikoto was the only one who became a fox.

"As for that, the only thing I can think of is that foxes have a very strong affinity with shrines. Look, aren't there a lot of shrines with fox statues guarding the entrance?"

Mikoto thought about it and answered.

Not all of them, of course, but plenty of shrines—especially Inari shrines—did indeed have fox statues standing at the entrance.

"What's with that? That sounds like a massive stretch."

"Hehe. What's wrong with a fox? Shido really seems to love big fluffy tails, after all."

"I-I don't love them!"

Hearing Mikoto's teasing, Shido awkwardly looked away. Whether it was because she hit the bullseye, or because he had just caught sight of the cute panties at the base of the tail, even he couldn't tell.

After all, yukata were never designed for girls with tails. In order to comb her tail properly, the lower part of her robe had to be lifted. As a natural result, Shido was treated to a perfect view of her soft butt... and those adorable panties.

"Umm... Senpai..."

"Hm?"

"For something like combing your tail... couldn't you ask Kotori or someone else to help?"

Staring at the overly erotic scene right in front of him, Shido asked, his heart beating a little too fast. Maybe it was because of the animal transformation, but somehow Mikoto felt bolder than usual today.

"Uuu, well, I wouldn't really mind. But if they asked me why my tail got so messy in the first place, what do you think I'd say?"

The young girl tapped her chin with her finger and smiled wickedly.

"I am so sorry. Please allow me to continue combing Senpai's tail."

(If Kotori finds out the reason, I will actually be murdered.)

That was the only thought remaining in Shido's mind.

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