Early in the morning, crisp knocking echoed through the corridor outside. Samael yawned and tried to get up, only to feel a tight restraint around his chest and limbs that left him unable to move.
Startled, the ancient serpent looked down and found a pair of fair arms wrapped around his neck. A pair of round, firm thighs had crossed around his waist and abdomen, locking him in place. A pink-haired head was buried against his chest, one side of its drowsy face rubbing against him as though it greatly enjoyed this soft, faintly cool pillow.
Perhaps sensing movement from the pillow in her arms, the sleeping swordswoman instinctively tightened her legs and drew in her arms, firmly defending what belonged to her.
At once, his pelvis and neck creaked. Caught off guard, Samael felt suffocation rise in his chest. His hands flailed wildly as wheezing gasps escaped his throat, like a branch about to be snapped in half by a koala.
"That sound..." Hearing the unusual heavy breathing from inside and the vibrations of arms slapping against the surrounding walls, the visitor knocking in the hallway stiffened and spoke solemnly. "Hang on! I'm coming to save you!"
Bang!
Samael had only just adjusted to the suffocating feeling and had yet to speak when the door collapsed under a violent kick. A white-haired, red-eyed figure with a single ponytail and blue-and-white casual clothes stormed in.
In an instant, their eyes met, and the atmosphere froze.
Tomoe Gozen stared at Samael, who seemed entirely naked in bed with only half his body covered by the blanket, and at Okita Souji, hanging around his neck with a flushed face. Her throat went dry.
"You two..."
"Ahem, listen to my explanation. This is actually a misunder—"
A dry smile appeared on Samael's stiff