"Darling, do you remember what I told you before?"
As Shichen was about to leave, Izayoi Miku looped her arms around his neck, tilted her head up to look at him, her tone teasing and her eyes full of affection.
Shichen lowered his head and looked back at her, reading exactly what was in her gaze.
"More… benefits?"
"Darling does remember," Miku laughed, half-mocking, half pleased.
Back when they parted the first time, she'd given him a quick kiss on the cheek and said the rest would have to wait for their reunion. Shichen knew perfectly well what comes after a cheek kiss.
"From my perspective, we haven't actually been apart that long," he said with a smile.
"Ugh, how can you say something so unromantic at a time like this?" Miku poked his cheek in protest.
"Then what should I say?" Shichen slipped an arm around her waist, still smiling.
"You don't need to say anything at all."
As soon as she finished, Miku leaned in and kissed him.
Their lips met; Shichen could feel her softness and warmth.
Miku didn't close her eyes. Her lashes trembled; she kept them open, staring straight at him, his reflection filling her pupils as if she wanted to etch him into her heart.
They stayed like that for a while, just lips touching, nothing more.
Shichen was hardly some clueless, inexperienced kid—once Miku had taken the initiative, it was his turn.
He tightened his arm around her, pulling her fully against his chest, and then deepened the kiss.
A sweet breath flooded his senses.
Miku's eyes flew open wide; she clearly hadn't been ready for their tongues to meet. But when she saw the tenderness in his gaze, her expression softened, and she slowly closed her eyes, letting him take the lead.
Feeling the proud fullness against him, Shichen began teaching her technique, and how to breathe properly between kisses.
Right now definitely wasn't the time for anything "more." Wrong timing, wrong place, wrong mood.
A kiss was exactly what fit the atmosphere.
At this rate, she'd probably master breathing while kissing even faster than Honjou Nia.
...
By the time he left, it was almost school dismissal time—even though it was the weekend.
Even so, the campus was still full of students; everywhere he looked were elegant, radiant girls from good families.
Today they weren't losing their minds like yesterday; each one looked every bit the proper refined lady.
Did Miku really have that much influence?
Shichen started to suspect quite a few of them had feelings for her and wanted to cuddle up to her.
Thankfully, Miku wasn't that kind of girl… or at least, he hoped she wasn't.
Even though they'd just kissed goodbye, he realized he'd never actually confirmed whether she liked both men and women.
He'd have to ask next time.
Not bothering with the main gate, Shichen simply teleported straight back to Honjou Nia's apartment.
At this point, he was thoroughly famous in the local school scene thanks to the commotion yesterday. Miku's reputation among high schoolers was at the very top; there wasn't a student who didn't know her. A rumor linking him and her was bound to stick in everyone's mind.
Today, some had even gone to school specifically to wait for him—Murayu Reine had given him a heads-up.
There'd definitely be no shortage of trouble later.
But getting involved with a well-known girl made all that inevitable.
Jealousy and envy were doing their work.
Being envied and begrudged was something Shichen was willing to endure—if you wanted beauty at your side, you had to shoulder that cost.
And he wasn't afraid of anyone coming to cause trouble; with his abilities, dealing with them would be effortless.
He just hoped those hotheaded teens would wise up and back off, instead of getting caught up in their own hype and showing up again and again.
That seemed… unlikely.
Teenage boys are nothing if not overflowing with energy and fire.
Honjou Nia was still fast asleep, completely out—understandable, since she'd cried herself hoarse earlier.
The room was still thick with a certain smell that hadn't dissipated. Shichen freshened the air and then set about making some congee for her.
He had gone a bit overboard. She'd need to replenish.
Even though Nia lived alone and was a helpless-moe manga artist in daily life, her fridge was well-stocked, and the kitchen had everything she needed.
Shichen had made sure of that.
If he was going to help her like this—sometimes for a full day at a time—of course he had to think about lunch.
Tokha and the others didn't need him to cook for them every single day.
Congee didn't take much: rinse some rice, toss in a few red dates and smoked plums, and let his sacred flame do the rest. In no time, the pot was bubbling away.
The fragrance of the congee quickly filled the apartment. Nia still hadn't woken up, but her stomach was already protesting loudly.
She'd skipped lunch and then been "bullied" by Shichen for so long that her energy was completely drained.
Shichen set the congee on the low table, then went over to the futon and quietly watched her sleep for a bit.
They were all the same like this—brows slightly furrowed, lips curved up in a little smile.
The faint tear tracks on Nia's cheeks made it even stranger: how had she managed to smile and cry?
Shichen poked her cheek. No response.
So he stopped being gentle and tugged both cheeks firmly, dragging her out of sleep.
"Mmm…"
Nia opened her eyes, still groggy.
"Shichen?"
"Time to wake up. Your stomach's been growling for ages," Shichen said fondly.
"Huh?" Nia tilted her head, not quite catching up.
"Hungry?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Um… maybe a little… hungry—ow—"
As more of her awareness returned, she realized something was wrong.
Why did her whole body ache?
The moment she tried to sit up, the pain hit and she collapsed back down, not daring to move.
"It hurts…"
"Well, yeah. After all that thrashing around, you thought you wouldn't be sore?" Shichen reminded her.
"Thrashing… ah!"
The memories of the afternoon started replaying in her mind—the image of herself singing at the top of her lungs looping again and again, flooding her with embarrassment.
But she wasn't some little girl anymore; after a moment of shame, she forced it down, leaving only the redness in her cheeks.
"This is all your fault!" Nia pouted, glaring at him.
"How is this my fault?" Shichen replied, all innocence.
"How is it not? If you weren't so merciless and un-gentle…"
"You can't put it that way. You were the one being so tempting," he countered.
"Ugh… sweet talk doesn't work on me."
"Really? Want me to heal you a bit?"
"Heal me?"
"I can get you back to ninety-nine percent."
"Ninety-nine? What about the other one percent?" Nia asked curiously.
"What do you think? Or do you actually want to be bleeding every time?" Shichen grinned.
"Bleeding every time… you—!" Realization hit her, and her face went scarlet.
"Alright, alright. Let me patch you up."
With Nia, Shichen didn't bother explaining. He just reached straight for the injured area and started massaging to heal it.
The injury was definitely quite swollen.
"Mmf… what are you doing?" Nia wriggled nervously.
"Healing."
"Does healing require groping?"
"Just tell me whether it's working."
"Ugh…" Nia had no comeback for that, and could only endure his "treatment."
By the time Shichen moved his hands away, she realized there was no more discomfort at all. The only difference was she felt like something had changed… like she really had crossed the line from girl to woman.
"I feel like… I could still go another round," Nia muttered.
"…Did you not cry enough?" Shichen looked at her helplessly.
Why was everyone like this—bad at it and still addicted?
Why did this kind of thing bring out their competitive streaks?
"It's not the same! I'm not who I was before!" Nia said gravely.
"Try being a little more realistic."
"No way! This time I'm putting on my spirit dress. I want a rematch! I don't believe I can't handle you!"
"You…"
He paused, then sighed. "Fine. If you still want to cry, I'll oblige you."
"Bring it on! Kamui Armor – Second Form!"
Light flared, and Nia's body was suddenly wrapped in her nun-like astral dress.
This wasn't for "fun"; it was to protect herself.
Then again, how did that outfit increase defense? Did it actually strengthen her body?
Shichen was curious enough that he genuinely wanted to test it.
"Eat your congee first. You'll need the energy," he said.
"Good point! I have to be in top shape so I can show you how strong I really am."
"Don't talk big. If you don't cry this time, I'll call it your win."
"Hmph~ Underestimating me, huh? Feed me~"
"Alright, alright…"
After spoon-feeding her the entire pot of congee, Shichen didn't stall any longer. He set her singing again.
With the spirit dress boosting his mood, he did get more excited and even went a little more serious, singing a duet with her.
Turns out the astral dress didn't increase her physical endurance at all. The song was too emotional; Nia burst into tears in no time.
She cried like a little kid, all dignity gone—nothing like someone in her forties.
Shichen had no intention of letting her off easy. He wanted to make sure she was properly afraid.
~~~
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