落とし穴８７堀：家族 (Part1)
Pitfall 87: Family
Family
Side: Yuki
No matter how busy the world gets, rest is a necessity. Without it, the only destination awaiting a person is death from overwork.
Some people—the types who claim "the word 'impossible' does not exist in my dictionary"—might insist they only need three hours of sleep a night. There are even those like the "Little War Office," who practiced the statistics known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," pouring their heart and soul into the advancement of hygiene, medicine, and nursing, working literally without a break.
Well, in my case, I did manage to sneak in naps, so that’s a different story. As for the "Angel in White" from the Crimea, her partner ended up dying from overwork, and she herself collapsed from heart failure, forcing her to withdraw from the front lines.
In short, if humans don't rest, they die.
Even if they don't die, they become unable to return to the workplace, so the busier a person is, the more they must take appropriate breaks.
It is for their own sake, and for the sake of those around them.
People say that everyone is replaceable, but when someone in charge leaves, those around them suffer greatly trying to fill the void.
And yet, looking at the current labor environment in Japan, where unpaid overtime is considered the norm, one could say we haven't learned a thing from the lessons left by our predecessors.
Why is it that humans are such a race that refuses to learn from the logistics lessons of the Second World War?
Spirit and willpower alone can't solve everything.
That said, today is a day off.
I have no intention of doing unpaid overtime, not even after coming to another world.
I’m spending my time leisurely, enjoying the fluffiness and letting it heal my soul.
"Um, Yuki-san?"
"What is it, Tori?"
"Is... is my tail really that pleasant to touch?"
"Yeah. It feels great."
At that reply, Tori’s tail wags back and forth with great vigor.
Ah, that wagging is getting a bit painful, isn't it? It’s hitting me with a rhythmic *thwack-thwack*.
"……Is Seraria the same?"
"Of course. Kaya and Riel’s tails are so fluffy and wonderful. Qual won't let me touch hers, though."
"Ahaha, well, Qual-san isn't married, after all."
"Letting someone touch your tail is something you only do for a lover, a spouse, or family like us."
"I know that. But still, having such cute, fluffy tails right there and not being able to touch them is stressful in its own way. Well, thanks to Kaya and Riel, I can fluff them to my heart's content, so I’m happy."
Seraria, just like me, is being healed by fluffing Kaya and Riel’s tails. We were both incredibly busy, after all.
"I’ve brought tea. Wait, are you two still doing that? Here, have some."
Milly says this with a sigh, though she hands us the tea nonetheless.
"Oh, thanks, Milly."
"That’s right. The despair I felt back when this fluffiness was lost to us was truly immense."
"Ratz was still around back then, wasn't she?"
"Ratz alone wasn't enough. Besides, Ratz was on the verge of a nervous breakdown herself."
"I see."
"Exactly. We didn't even have the luxury to enjoy the fluffiness."
After the summoning incident, we finally reunited and are taking a long-overdue break. We plan to take turns resting, but since Seraria and I are up first, this is our current situation.
"But I’m truly relieved that there are no issues with the babies," Seraria says with deep emotion.
I feel exactly the same way.
"The due dates are coming up soon. It’s the best, isn't it? More angels joining us. Plus, so much fluffiness—it’s the best."
Everyone except Milly is a beastman, after all. The children born will inevitably have animal ears. For Seraria, it means the family is growing, and since the children will be fluffy with animal ears, her happiness must be doubled.
"I’ve had them since I was born, so I don't find them all that interesting, but what about you, Milly?"
Tori asks Milly with a wry smile at Seraria’s comment.
"Eh? I love everyone’s ears and tails. It’s such a blessing to be able to touch them so openly like this. I’m sure it’s good for the baby in my belly, too."
"……Is that really a thing?"
Kaya, who was having her tail fluffed, asks me if that’s true upon hearing this new theory.
"I can't say for sure. I’ve heard that playing classical music for an unborn child is good, though. Well, isn't it fine as long as it helps the mother relax?"
"Better than being stressed out, right?"
As Riel says, it’s certainly better than letting stress build up.
"……True. But what should those of us who don't have the 'fluffiness' effect use to heal?"
"Hmm. I hadn't thought about that."
"That’s true. It’s unfair that only some of us get to be healed."
"But still, I wonder what kind of healing we can provide..."
Originally, the reason we get healed by the fluffiness is partly due to our envy of the parts we humans don't have. Since humans don't have those "plus-alpha" features, it’s quite difficult to provide that kind of healing.
No, wait—even among beastmen, fluffiness is usually reserved for family, lovers, or kin...
"Tori, how about a lap pillow?"
"That sounds lovely. Yes, please come here."
Tori spreads her arms, happily inviting me over.
Normally, I would jump at the chance, but this time, it’s different.
"The other way around, Tori. You put your head on my lap."
"Eh?"
"Well, I’m a man, so I guess it’s not exactly 'healing'?"
"N-no!! That’s not true at all!!"
With that, Tori quickly approaches me and slowly lays her head on my lap.
"Hehehe. This is so healing."
Tori rubs her head against me happily. I wondered if a man’s lap pillow would be any good, but I suppose it’s fine for a married couple.
" " "Aww..." " "
The other wives watching from the side voice their envy.
"I’ll do it for all of you later. Besides, the topic was what heals you guys, right? Seraria, Milly, why don't you try doing the same for each other?"
At my suggestion, the four of them busily start taking turns with lap pillows.
"Oh my, this is perfect—it’s so easy to touch the animal ears."
"……Seraria’s lap pillow feels good, too."
I see. I’ll try fluffing Tori’s ears, too.
"That’s right. Riel’s ears are so soft and pleasant."
"Mine feel good too, don't they? ...Also, Milly, your belly is so big, it reminds me of my mother."
" " "……" " "
At Riel’s words, everyone becomes somber. Everyone here, except for Milly, has either been separated from their families or lost them to death.
No, wait—am I the exception?
"Milly?"
"That’s right. Maybe it’s nice to play the role of Riel’s mother once in a while."
"I’m not that much of a child, you know? I’m going to be a mother soon, too."
"But it’s nice sometimes, isn't it?"
"……Yeah. Thank you, Milly."
With that, Riel looks happy resting on Milly’s lap.
"In that case, I’ll be Kaya’s mother for now."
"……I’m counting on you."
Seeing that, Seraria and Kaya do the same.
"So, does that make me the father?"
"Hmm. Yuki-san is the husband, so I think it’s fine to just be a happy couple."
"I suppose that’s true."
"Yes."
Tori and I remain in our happy couple dynamic, leisurely stroking her hair and touching her animal ears, letting the peace wash over us.
*Rustle...*