Shinano

That morning, Higashino Makoto was awakened by something soft pressing down on him.

It wasn't Akeno; Akeno's term ended yesterday.

She didn't look back as she left, but a hint of reluctance lingered in her purple eyes.

Today's rotation list includes a new name.

Shinano.

Morning light streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling on the messy bed.

When Higashino Makoto opened his eyes, he saw long, silver-white hair.

Like a waterfall of moonlight, her hair cascaded down, the ends gradually changing from silvery white to light blue, then to pale purple, shimmering with a soft and dreamlike glow in the morning light.

That's not his hair.

A strand of long hair fell across his chest, carrying a faint, cherry blossom-like fragrance.

He tried to sit up, but found he couldn't move.

Something was pressing down on his body.

Soft, warm, and fluffy.

He looked down and saw nine enormous fox tails covering his body, the tips of which gradually changed from silver-white to pale blue and cherry pink, floating gently in the dim light like ribbons of aurora borealis drifting in the night sky.

The tail is not heavy.

The feeling of him being pressed down was more like a thick, breathable down comforter.

A woman embraced him from behind, her arms encircling his waist, her palms pressed against his abdomen, warm and soft.

Her body pressed against his back, her full curves visible through the thin fabric.

The height was even greater than him, he was certain of that.

The arms that were wrapped around him were long and slender, but the hands were not as big as he had imagined, and the fingertips were a faint pink.

"Um..."

The woman behind him let out a soft hum, her voice low and languid, as if she had just woken from a long dream.

The vibrations from his chest traveled down his spine, and warm breath tickled the back of his neck.

She tightened her arms around him, and gently stroked his abdomen with her palm.

"My lord... you're awake?"

The voice rang in his ears, hoarse from just waking up and with an indescribable softness.

Higashino Makoto took a deep breath and quickly recalled the names of his protectors.

"Shinano, right?"

"I am from Shinano."

Her voice remained languid, as if she hadn't fully woken up.

She resembles Sekhmet, the Sloth Witch.

"From today onwards, I will serve as your secretary. Please guide me."

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment, feeling somewhat unfamiliar as he was held in someone's arms.

He's usually the one carrying others.

Why do you hold me like this while we sleep?

"Because I'm used to sleeping with something in my arms. I can't fall asleep without something to hold."

Ha, just for that reason?

Did I accidentally add some strange attributes when I designed her?

You know who I am, right?

"I know. Higashino Makoto, the master of Novas Etier, the Supreme Beings to whom I serve."

Higashino Makoto fell silent again.

He felt the warmth of the body behind him, felt the nine fluffy fox tails swaying gently on the blanket, and felt the warm and strong arms holding him.

"Stand up."

"Sleep a little longer, sir."

"Stand up."

"The adults are really heartless."

A soft sigh came from behind, and then the arm loosened its grip.

The fox tail slipped off the blanket, revealing the disheveled sheets. The woman behind her sat up, her long, silvery-white hair falling from her shoulders, shimmering with an iridescent sheen in the morning light.

Higashino Makoto sat up, turned his head, and finally saw Shinano's face clearly.

Her long, silvery-white hair gradually turned light blue and pale purple at the ends, cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.

Its two enormous fox ears drooped slightly, giving it a gentle and docile appearance.

Her eyes were a mysterious purple, half-open, with a hazy, just-awakened look, as if she were looking at the world through a thin mist.

She is tall and slender with elegant and full curves.

Even when she's sitting, you can still see her voluptuous figure, typical of a Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman).

The most striking feature is the nine enormous fox tails behind it, their pure white fur gradually transitioning from silver-gray at the roots to pale blue and cherry-pink at the tips, fluffy and soft, radiating a faint luster in the morning light.

Wearing a Japanese-style outfit in the "twelve-layered kimono" style, with white, blue, and purple as the main colors, and embellished with metallic decorations.

She wore a black bodysuit underneath a gorgeous kimono robe, with intricate gold patterns on the wide sleeves and hem.

She knelt on the bed, her hands clasped on her knees, her wide sleeves spread out on either side of her body.

"Grown ups."

Seeing Shinano's appearance, Higashino Makoto asked a question.

"Speaking of which, how tall are you again?"

"One hundred and ninety centimeters, five centimeters taller than an adult."

She tilted her head, her eyes still half-open and half-closed.

"The adults don't like it?"

Of course not, after all, tall and beautiful women have a unique kind of allure.

Especially those nine big, fluffy tails.

Thinking of Tingyun and glancing at Shinano, Higashino Makoto understood King Zhou of Shang even more.

"It's not that I don't like it. It's just a bit of a surprise; it's the first time I've met a secretary who's taller than me."

Shinano's lips curled up slightly.

"Does the adult like it?"

Higashino Makoto looked at her, at her purple, half-open eyes, at her long hair that gradually changed from silver to light purple, and at her nine fluffy fox tails that resembled ribbons of aurora borealis.

Of course I like it.

Shinano's smile deepened.

"That's good."

She stood up, her wide kimono robe slipping off her shoulders to reveal a black bodysuit underneath, outlining her full and slender figure.

"Sir, breakfast is ready."

Who did it?

"Miss Rem said that adults prefer plain porridge and side dishes for breakfast."

Higashino Makoto nodded, threw back the covers, and got up.

Barefoot on the carpet, he walked to the coat rack, took down his outer robe, and draped it over his shoulders.

"My lord, may I help you get dressed?"

"No need, I'll do it myself."

"Then let me comb your hair."

Higashino Makoto glanced at her, then sat down in front of the dressing table.

Actually, it's not necessary.

The Immortal's passive, Immortal Bearing ensures that his image will generally remain unchanged.

But since Shinano insisted, he didn't care.

Shinano walked behind him, picked up a comb, and began to comb his long, silvery-white hair. Her movements were slow and gentle, the comb teeth sliding from the roots to the tips of his hair, carrying a faint scent of cherry blossoms.

"Sir, your hair is very good."

"Yours too."

"Then I will comb your hair every day from now on."

"Good."

Shinano's lips curled up slightly.

Nine fox tails swayed gently behind her, their tips gleaming with pale blue and cherry pink light in the morning glow.

Breakfast was served in the small canteen on the Seventh Floor.

Rem stood by the dining table, her blue eyes fixed on Higashino Makoto.

And behind him stood a tall woman with nine fox tails.

"Higashino, this is... your new secretary?"

"Shinano, from today onwards, you shall succeed Akeno."

Rem looked at Shinano.

I looked at her long hair, which gradually changed from silver-white to light purple, at her half-open purple eyes, and at her nine fluffy fox tails that swayed gently behind her.

"Hello, Miss Rem."

Shinano bowed slightly, her wide kimono robe slipping off her shoulders to reveal a section of her fair collarbone.

"I am Shinano, and from today onwards I will serve as your secretary. Please guide me."

Rem's fingers tightened slightly on the tray.

Please give me your guidance.