Vol 7 Chapter 3 (2/2)

Probably, the sense of smell was different for a human and a dog. However, I was just an amateur. I wouldn’t blunder this time.

“Why don’t you ask Elni?”

While making such a harmless suggestion, I took Machina’s arm.

“It seems she can talk with dogs. I think she’s more knowledgeable about dogs than us. Let’s go talk to her for a bit.”

“….Will it be alright to ask Elni?”

“She’s the Mad Dog. The other day, my mother said ‘Today I want to eat a hot dog’ to Luna, whereupon Elni shouted ‘Tomoe-san is going to eat me!?’. I’m sure she knows a dog’s feelings well.”

“Ehm, I’m only getting more worried after hearing this.”

…That certainly might be so. At that time, Elni, who had made that messy foolery, was half in tears because my mother hat cut her allowance. Machina’s worry was understandable.

Still, we two couldn’t settle this on our own.

I pulled on Machina’s hand and moved to the living room. There Luna and Nazuna told me that Elni had returned to her own room, so we headed to her room, which she shared with Machina, and knocked on the door.

“Elni, can I come in? It’s me, everyone’s idol, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun.”

“…Are you really s.h.i.+n.o.bu? The s.h.i.+nomun? I can’t really tell by your voice. Say the usual pa.s.sword if you want to come inside.”

“---G.o.d is dead.”

She said usual, but it was my first time hearing that a pa.s.sword was needed. I didn’t know it, so I gave a random reply, whereupon Elni raised a dissatisfied voice through the door.

“Boo! Wrong! The G.o.ddess isn’t dead. She loves you, so she won’t die! If the pa.s.sword doesn’t work, say something cool.”

“Something cool? Okay, that’s my expertise.”

Replying instantly, I combed back my hair.

“The secret to my popularity? Just look at me! That’s the answer!”

“Ahahahaha!”

Upon hearing my words, Elni raised a rude laughter through the door. When I faced Machina standing besides me, she pressed her hand on her mouth while trembling her shoulders, as she was desperately trying to hold in a laughter.

I felt my cheeks getting hot, then the door opened and Elni showed up with a smile.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu, that was funny, so you can come in. Also, I request another cool remark.”

“---Black? That’s my colour!”

Instantly, not just Elni, but also Machina started to laugh.

…Didn’t it work because I was not handsome? Embracing a somewhat bitter feeling, I entered the room together with Machina and asked Elni right away.

“We want to consult you, Elni. You can understand dogs, right? So could you think with us about why Momo only hates Machina?”

“Mhm~”

As she was going to help, Elni changed her expression into a serious one and crossed her arms.

“This is just a hunch, but I think Momo is just behaving pampered with Machina.”

“…Behaving pampered? She bit onto Machina with all her might, you know? Doesn’t she rather think of her as an enemy?”

“That’s not true. If she really thought of her as an enemy, Momo would threat her with barks. Momo just might feel uneasy in a new environment. She’s still a puppy. I’m sure she thought her own wilfulness would be understood by Machina.”

“…I see.”

Even humans sometimes were wilful and troubled a mother or alike. This might be the same. I felt that idea to be convincing.

When I nodded impressed, Elni continued “Therefore” with a smile.

“I don’t think Momo hates Machina or anything. If her nervousness eases up, she should get along with Machina just fine. Well, it’s just a matter of time.”

“…Just for reference, do you have an estimate on that time?”

When Machina raised her hand and asked, Elni replied still smiling.

“Not really. But I guess a week should work.”

“I see. I can only be patient then--- wait, in a week Asada is already back! So in the end I can’t get along with Momo!? I don’t want that!”

Drawing closer with teary eyes, Machina grabbed Elni’s shoulders.

“Is there no other way? Please, Elni! Do something!”

“..Y- You’re helpless, Machina.”

Saying so in a weird tone, Elni searched inside the pocket off her hoodie. Following, she pulled out a tool like a certain cat robot.

“A dog-ears headband!”

“….What about it?”

When I interjected wearily, Elni answered “fufu” with her still weird tone.

“Good question, s.h.i.+n.o.buta-kun. If you want to get along with Momo, you just have her accept you as a comrade. And the fastest way for that is with this. If you wear this and talk in dog language, Machina also will get along with dogs right away!”

“Amazing, Elniemon! I’m surprised on this overhasty idea!”

“Fufufu, I’m G.o.ddemon after all.”

To be honest, I believed that Elni was just making a foolery, but apparently Machina took her for serious. Taking the dog-ears from Elni, she instantly put them on without hesitation.

A bit worried, she faced Elni.

“How’s it? Will Momo accept me like this?”

“Eh? Ah, yeah. Looks good. Don’t forget the dog language as well, okay?”

When was the usual retorting coming?

Is what Elni might have been hoping for, but it didn’t come true. Machina gave Elni a nod and tightly squeezed my hand.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu, come with me.”

“…You forgot the dog language.”

“Ehm, woof, woof!”

N- Not good. So frigging cute. Like that I would forgive her anything.

While my thought progress remarkable dropped, Machina sprinted out of the room, still holding my hand. And then

“…H- Huh?”

Hearing Elni’s bewildered voice from behind, as she was still waiting for the retort, I headed to the living room, still being dragged on my hand by Machina.

Midway, I spotted Luna preparing lunch in the dining kitchen and Nazuna helping out with it.

But, not calling out to them, Machina and I opened the door of the living room.

Upon that, Momo was sun-bathing at the window and looked a bit sleepy. However, when she noticed me, she stood up and started to wag her tail.

“Hey, Machina— No, I mean, Momo, come here.”

“Hey, s.h.i.+n.o.bu? Why did you mistake my name with the dog’s? At least mistake it with Elni’s.”

“…What are you saying? Right now, you’re my dog. Where’s you usual ‘Master’ and ‘woof’?”

“I, I’m sorry, Master. I’m your pet dog. Woof, woof— wait, who are you calling a dog! If you want to own me, put a choker on my like with my sister! Buy me one as well next time!”

…She was angry, wasn’t she? Or was she happy? It was hard to tell without a tail.

Tilting my head in my heart, I lightly pushed Machina’s back.

“C’mon, Machina. Why don’t you try out Elni’s idea just in case?”

Machina was cute like this. It might work out. On my urging, Machina approached Momo with a slightly nervous face, got down and called out to Momo.

“Ehm, woof, woof. Woof, woof.”

…Aw, d.a.m.n. Such a failure. Why didn’t I prepare a video camera?

I felt a strong regret in my heart, whereas Momo surprisingly— no, calling it surprisingly is rude. Momo wagged her tail and got closer to Machina.

Instantly, Machina smiled happily and reached out her hand with “Woof, woof”, but

“—Woof!”

Momo barked once seriously. She bit on the extended hand. And while Machina froze up with a smile, Momo pa.s.sed by her with an indifferent face. As if nothing happened, she came over to me.

“…It was no good after all.”

The moment I uttered that carelessly,

“Hey, s.h.i.+n.o.bu! What you do mean after all!?”

Machina turned around with att.i.tude and shouted with tears dwelling up in her eyes.

“Say so first if you already know the outcome! Why are you so mean to me!? Stupid s.h.i.+n.o.bu! Idiot! s.h.i.+n.o.bu‘s—”

“mother has”

“an outie!”

When Machina badmouthed my mother with my interjection, my mother raised a low voice from behind, as who knew for how long she had stood there.

“…Machina-chan, what did you just say?”

“Eh? T- Tomoe-san? Uhm, you got it wrong! Just now, s.h.i.+n.o.bu added that, it wasn’t what I meant! Really! But I’m sorry!”

Machina apologized fl.u.s.tered, but my mother sharpened her look and replied.

“I don’t feel any sincerity in that. Properly apologize in dog language.”

“Okay, woof! Woof, woof— wait, how is dog language sincere!? Why are even you teasing me, Tomoe-san!”

As she was sulking, Machina puffed up her cheeks lightly. Seeing that, my mother smiled faintly, approached her and petted her head.

“You’re really cute, Machina-chan.”

While saying so, my mother moved her gaze to Momo.

“Hey, you can’t bite Machina-chan.”

Along with her words, she lightly clapped Momo’s head.

Instantly, Momo barked sadly and cast down her face dejected.

Upon that, Machina showed a sad expression for some reason and hastily made a follow up for Momo.

“Tomoe-san, Momo is still a puppy. You don’t have to be so harsh with her…”

“No. Dogs are animals that value hierarchy. At this rate, you’ll always be thought as someone lower as her, Machina-chan.”

“…Someone lower as her?”

When Machina asked back like a parrot, my mother explained properly.

“Apparently a dog can see through a house’s hierarchy. As it stands, she sees you as someone lower than Nazuna or Elni. I guess she thinks of you as a servant or something. You have to be more strident or she’ll look down on you.”

“Wh- What’s up, with that…”

As she was angry, Machina trembled her shoulders all over.

“Lower than Elni? A servant? That’s too much! If that’s how she thinks, I no longer want to get along with her!”

Facing sideways with teary eyes, Machina left with the dog-ears still on her head.

…I really couldn’t stand to watch this. Once Machina had calmed down, I should play with her for sure.

While I thought so, I called out to my mother a bit curious.

“Hey Mom, did you ever keep a dog?”

Judging by her earlier words, she seemed to be knowledgeable about dogs. And apparently my guess was right. On my words, my mother nodded while petting Momo’s head.

“In the past, we had four dogs at my parent’s house.”

“Four even? Impressive. Out of curiosity, what kind of dogs were it?”

“Dobermans. They looked scary, but were really cute.”

As she remembered about the dogs, my mother showed a smile. On the other hand, I felt a cold s.h.i.+ver on my spine.

…Ehm, the Doberman was a selective bred kind of dog for guarding, wasn’t it? I heard of that on TV or somewhere else, but why would they keep four of such dogs at home?

Reminded me, my mother seemed to have cut contact with her parents and I never met my grandfather on my mother’s side. I smelled some kind of danger from the current conversation.

I was a bit scared, so I decided to quickly change the topic.

“A- Anyway, it’s my first time hearing about a dog seeing through hierarchy. I guess, Momo considers you as the boss of the house after all, Mom.”

“…What are you saying, s.h.i.+n.o.bu? The boss is obviously Luna-sama.”

Mh? Somehow, my mother said something weird with a straight face.

“Uhm, Mother? What you mean with Luna-sama? That joke isn’t funny, you know?”

I replied with a casual tone, but my mother opened her mouth with somewhat distant eyes.

“…A while ago, I made Luna-chan drink alcohol as a prank. Fufu, then h.e.l.l broke loose…”

Trembling lightly, my mother rested her hand on my shoulder and gave me a warning.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Luna-chan actually becomes an affectionate S at night. Be careful.”

“…And how am I supposed to be careful of that?”

Even when I asked, my mother just gave me a vague smile and didn’t answer…

After that we ate Lunch, then I invited Machina and decided to play a game with her in the living room.

However, Nazuna and Elni were playing with Momo in the living room and Machina couldn’t help but be concerned with it. Even now she stole an envious glance at them.

In regards to that, the foolery guys didn’t notice it, as Nazuna was talking to Momo with a smile.

“Momo-chan, I’ll throw the toy, so go fetch it. There!”

When Nazuna threw the dog toy like she had said, Elni jumped up before Momo and caught it perfectly.

“Got it! I got it! Praise me, Nazucat!”

“Geez, El-chan, you can’t. El-chan, sit!”

“Woof!”

Obeying the words, Elni sat down formally on the spot. Hooked on by that, Momo also sat down besides her. Seeing one human and one dog doing so,

“El-chan, Momo-chan, you’re great.”

Nazuna smiled and petted their heads.

Watching over that, I shrugged my shoulders wearily.

“Dogs sure have it easy. With just sitting down or giving paw, they get praised.”

Well, I wasn’t really envious though.

I added that in my heart, when Elni came over trotting, as she heard my voice.

For no apparent reason, she once again pulled a dog-ear headband out of her hoodie and placed it onto my head. Then she held up her palm to me with a smile.

“s.h.i.+nomun Dog, paw.”

“Woof.”

I had lot of things to say. But, for now I obeyed her order.

Upon that, Elni made a sparkling smile and started to pet my head. For some reason even Machina held out her palm to me with a smile.

“s.h.i.+nomun, your paw for me as well.”

For a moment, I considered resting my chin on her palm like Momo had done it, but I felt sorry for her, so I didn’t do it. I properly shook Machina’s hand.

Instantly, Machina showed a bright smile and started to pet my hand after Elni.

“You’re so smart, s.h.i.+nomun. Good boy, good boy.”

I wanted to mimic Nazuna and shout “Who’s bad!” right away.

However, I suppressed that impulse and accepted Machina’s action.

“Fufu, unlike Momo, you’re cute, s.h.i.+nomun.”

Machina even rubbed her cheeks against mine with a smile as a result. Certainly getting embarra.s.sed, I raised a low growl, warning her to “stop”.

There Machina tilted her head and faced Elni.

“Hey Elni, what did s.h.i.+nomun say?”

“Yeah, he said ‘Call me a dog’.”

“What kind of M guy do you take me for! Like h.e.l.l I would make such a rash remark! It‘s over now. Over, you hear!”

While retorting, I roughly removed the dog-ears.

But, Machina quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed away the dog-ears from my hand and along with a bright smile, she put it onto my head again.

…There was the incident with Momo, so I should tag along for a while.

Making a small sigh, I kept playing s.h.i.+nomun Dog as Machina desired, as I didn’t have a choice.

“Sh- s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san? What are you doing?”

As she finished cleaning up lunch, Luna showed up from the dining kitchen. As soon as she saw me, she widened her eyes and was somewhat perplexed.

“…Woof.”

For now, I sulky talked in dog language, whereupon Luna flushed her cheeks for some reason.

“So cute.”

And she clung onto me spellbound.

In that moment, Machina started to cling to me with a smile as well, which made me become unable to suppress my embarra.s.sment… s.h.i.+nomun Dog returned to the usual cool guy after a few minutes.

It has been two days since Momo came to our house. Wanting to take Momo out for a stroll, I left my room and went down the stairs, whereupon I suddenly heard Machina’s scream.

“O- Ow! Why are you only biting me!? Stupid dog! s.h.i.+nomun is way cuter!”

I leaned over the handrail of the stairs, whereupon my gaze fell on Momo, sitting in the hallway, and Machina’s hunched back.

…Ever since, Machina seemed to have tried to sneaking get along with Momo, but to no avail. Lately, she put the dog-ear headband on me quite often and treated me like a dog.

“—As you can see, because of you, I’m becoming quite tired.”

Approaching Momo, I said so, but she just wagged her tail happily.

“…You don’t get it at all. Well, whatever. Anyway, what about my clothes? Do they suit me?”

As such I sought an impression, but obviously Momo didn’t show a particular reaction.

“Yeah, no way that someone, who wears fur even in summer, would have a fas.h.i.+on sense.”

While saying so, I headed for the front door and took the dog lead for the stroll.

Instantly, Momo wagged her tail wildly, as she understood that it was time for a stroll by just that, and circled around me.

“…Here a stroll ends with three steps. Would you get angry if I said that?”

I made some stupid monologue, when the door of the living room opened and Luna showed up. When she noticed Momo and me, she came over with a smile.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, if you are going on a stroll, can I come along as well?”

“Yeah, sure. Actually, I’ll take you on a stroll.”

Suddenly getting a prankish urge, I attached the lead on Luna’s choker as a joke. …Oh, you could really attach a lead to this choker. I was a bit surprised, whereas Luna t.i.tled her head puzzled, then

“Woof, woof.”

She suddenly raised a cute bark for whatever reason and clung to me playful.

Her voluminous two b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed onto my body and her sweet fragrance abashed my heart while her warm body temperature tempted my reasoning.

I, I didn’t expect this reaction. I thought for sure that she would reprimand me, but Luna raised a “Woof, woof” voice once more in a happy mood.

“Uh- Uhm, Luna-san?”

“I am not Luna-san. Right now I am your doggy. Please order me anything.”

…How did it turn out like this? I wished she would refrain from saying such things. I was desperately trying to keep my reasoning here.

I mentally buried my head in my hands, whereas Luna, unaware of my feelings, said pampered.

“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, please hurry up and give me an order. If you do not, I will lick your ear. Also, I will stay like this.”

“Ehm, well, then that?”

“Mh? That? What you mean that?”

“b.o.o.bs!”

…Yeah, time out for a minute. I was afraid that the earlier remark was not an imitation by someone. Without doubt that word came out of my own mouth.

E- Even stupidity had a limit. Just how cracked was my reasoning? Luna had to be astonished for sure.

“Ehm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, could you crouch down for a bit?”

“Ah, yes.”

Not giving it too much thought, I obeyed her words reflexive.

But, that wasn’t good. Luna hesitated for a bit, then twined her arms around the back of my head and pulled me closer, leading me into her big b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

As a result, my face got buried into Luna’s voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

“H- How is it, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san? These are b.o.o.bies.”

“b.o.o.bies, indeed.”

“Does it feel good?”

“The best.”

I knew I had to get away right away, However, Luna’s soft and elastic b.r.e.a.s.t.s just felt too good that I didn’t move at all.

I would like to stay like this forever… wait, was my reasoning that fragile?

I was surprised myself. However, it really was about time to get away from Luna.

Somehow, Momo was coiling around my feet for a while now, so I should take her on the stroll already.

Such thoughts crossed my mind, when I suddenly heard the front door opening and Nazuna’s energetic voice reached my ears.

“I’m home! What’s for dinner…”

Nazuna spoke humming, but as she saw us, she stopped midway in her sentence and raised a surprised voice.

“Wah! Wawah! S- Sorry! I bothered— wait, Uwah! Momo-chan, stop!”

Mh? What was up with Momo? Did something happen?

Spurred on my worry, I swiftly got away from Luna, whereupon I saw Momo’s back, as she had jumped out of the front door into the garden. Following, a surprised “Uwah!” voice was raised outside.

When I hastily got outside, the house gate was open, as Elni returned just now as well, and Momo used that chance to slip by, running outside with att.i.tude.

Seeing that, Elni changed her expression into a pale one.

“Wh- Where are you going, Momo! I don’t really get it, but I admit it was my fault! Come baaaaack!”

Elni chased after Momo, like one would chase a runaway wife. Right away, Nazuna, Luna and I followed as well, but even though she was still a kid, a dog certainly was fast.

When we reached a corner, Nazuna and I, who had been the vanguard, had lost sight of Momo. …This was quite bad. Nazuna and I stood there dumbfounded, whereas Luna and Elni, who caught up with us, dropped her shoulders, as they guessed the situation.

Amidst that, Nazuna said worried with tears dwelling up in her eyes.

“What now? Momo-chan might get lost.”

“No, don’t worry about that, Nazucat. Dogs have a homing instinct. Even from far away, they find their way back home. But…”

Midway in her sentence, Elni dropped her gaze and continued hesitant.

“A lot of cars are driving by here, so we have to find her quickly.”

…Indeed. The possibility for a traffic accident existed. Most likely everyone understood Elni’s words. Nazuna turned a bit pale and Luna opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“Momo-chan might still be nearby. Let us split up and search for her.”

“Yeah, right.”

Replying to Luna with a firm nod, I called out to the others while turning around.

“I’ll go check if Momo has gone back to the house. Call me if there’s anything.”

Also, if Momo wasn’t home, I should get Machina to help searching as well. I sprinted back home, searching for Momo.

But, without finding her, I reached the house.

I dropped my shoulders lightly, then I headed for Machina and Elní’s shared room and knocked on the door to ask her for help.

Upon that, Machina showed up from the room right away and smiled a bit upon recognizing me.

“What’s up, s.h.i.+n.o.bu? You want to play together again?”

Machina pulled out the dog-ear headband in a good mood. Usually I would have retorted here, but it wasn’t the time for that. I asked Machina with a serious tone.

“Machina, Momo ran away. We’re all looking for her separately now, but will you help as well?”

“Eh? Run away… Why?”

“I’ll explain that later. For now, come with me. If Momo happens to get into a traffic incident—”

“H- Hey! Don’t jinx it! Stupid s.h.i.+n.o.bu!”

As she pictured the worst case, Machina changed her expression into a pale one and tears dwelled up in her eyes. Then she pa.s.sed by me and went down the stairs with att.i.tude.

“…H- Hey, wait a sec.”

Hastily turning around, I chased after her, whereupon Machina sprinted outside through of the front door in a heartbeat, looking for Momo on her own.

…Even though Momo had been biting on her so often. She was really kind.

While feeling my heart get warm, I told my mother the circ.u.mstances as well and asked her to call me on my cell phone if Momo should come home….

After that, I once more left the house and started to look around, but I couldn’t find Momo anywhere. My mother hadn’t called me either, so she didn’t come back home.

Earlier Elni had said that dogs have a homing instinct, but was that really true… Mh? Wait a moment. Maybe, for Momo the home wasn’t our house, but Asada’s?

Suddenly thinking of that, I headed for Asada’s house to verify it.

On the way, my vision suddenly fell on a large dog at the crossroad.

Did it get separated from it’s owner? The dog wore a chocker with a lead still attached to it and when I casually followed his gaze, there was Momo.

Momo was hiding behind a telephone pole and trembled all over with her tail drooped, as she was completely terrified.

On the other hand, the big dog happily wagged it’s tail and slowly approached Momo.

From what I could tell, it didn’t look dangerous, but I should intervene anyway. After all, I finally found her. It would be troubling if Momo were to run away again.

Such thoughts crossed my mind, when suddenly footsteps sounded.

“Hey you, what are you doing?”

Machina showed up with kind of heavy breathing and called out to the big dog.

As she didn’t notice me, she swiftly approached Momo and softly reached out her hand, embracing Momo just like that.

Upon that, Momo showed no real resistance, as she must have been really scared, and still trembled in Machina’s arms. And the big dog, as it wanted them to play with it, wagged it’s tail even more and approached them, whereas Machina showed a wry smile and responded.

“Geez, she’s still a kid, so don’t scare her.”

Machina advised softly, but the big dog didn’t seem to listen. Snuggling up to Machina’s long legs, it continued to wag it’s tail.

“…Quite cute, aren’t you. Your fur is all tufty as well. Fufu, woof, woof.”

Smiling happily, Machina started to pet the big dog’s head with one hand while holding Momo against her chest. Mh, Machina seemed to have fun, but Momo was certainly scared of the big dog. Being close to the big dog made her trembling even worse.

But well, that settled the incident. Maybe, Machina and Momo might get along now due to this incident.

Holding this impression, I pulled out my cell phone to call Elni and the others, but

“Unlike Momo, you’re so obedient. And you’re cuter than Momo.”

It was in the moment when Machina said so to the big dog with a smile.

“*bite*”

“Mh? Oh my? Momo, you want to play— wait, why are you biting me again! Just what are you displeased with!?”

Bitten by Momo, Machina raised a sad voice.

…Judging by this, it still might take some time for them to get along. I shrugged my shoulders a bit and operating my cell phone, I called Elni and the others.

By the way, afterwards the big dog was found by it’s owner and went back home and Momo stayed in Machina’s arms until we got back to our house, in spite of her biting onto Machina…

That night, I made a small sigh in my room.

These days, as she was hated by Momo, Machina often came to my room.

However, this hadn’t come tonight and it was quiet in my room.

Thanks to that I could leisurely read the report that Sougo-san wrote for me, but for some reason I got a bit lonely before going to bed.

…I should talk to Luna for a bit before going to bed. I was sure that she would chat with me with a smile. I stood up and headed for Luna’s room, but when I knocked on the door, there was no reply. Seemed like Luna was already asleep.

“I, I’m not lonely or anything!”

…Acting Tsundere all by myself was just vainly.

Sleep then. I moved to the dining kitchen and drunk some tea, then I wanted to return to my own room, but I suddenly noticed that the lights in the living rooms were on.

A bit curious, I opened the accordion curtain of the dining kitchen and went into the living room.

There my eyes fell on Machina, sitting on the sofa in the living room. On her laps was Momo, who was sleeping by emitting small sleeping sound while resting her chin on Machina’s lap.

“…You’re still here?”

She might have been here ever since she got out of the bath. When I asked a bit surprised, Machina nodded with a small smile.

“Because she’ll be all alone when I return to my room.”

“No, I think she’ll be fine alone at night.”

Putting herself aside and replying so, Machina then cast her eyes down and changed the topic.

“…Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu, she bites me, but she’s behaving in front of you guys, right?”

“Yeah, she is. Unlike her owner, she’s smart.”

When I affirmed with a nod, Machina a somewhat sad expression and opened her mouth.

“Why do you think such a well-behaving girl ran away?”

“…Sorry. I really don’t know anything about dogs.”

I answered truthfully, whereas Machina faintly dropped her voice and told me.

“I heard it from Elni that this girl thought ‘I might be abandoned again’. So she run out of the house and looked for Asada.”

…I see. Reminded me, Momo was picked up.

Maybe, she was sad from being abandoned by her original owner. Continuing to wait in the rain for her owner that wouldn’t come… How hard must have that been. Amidst that, Asada had reached out for her. She must have felt incredible happy.

Asada was treating her, an unwanted and abandoned dog, as a precious family member.

There might be no better happiness than that for Momo.

“…I’m sure, she loves Asada very much. So she was constantly worried. It’s really lonely not having your beloved person by your side.”

While saying so, Machina gently petted Momo’s head.

Upon that, Momo faintly opened her eyes, as she had woken up, then bit onto Machina’s hand like always.

However, Machina didn’t really say anything and continued to pet Momo’s head with her other hand.

Instantly, Momo let go off Machina’s hand and licked it, then closed her eyes once more, falling asleep on Machina’s lap.

While watching that, Machina said softly.

“It’s rea.s.suring for her to have someone by her side when she wakes up, so I’ll stay by her side at night.”

“I see…”

Making a short agreeable response, I softly sat down besides Machina.

“Mh? s.h.i.+n.o.bu? What’

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