After the double date ended, Shichen and the others ate dinner out and then came back.
Today, Shichen didn't want to cook at home—it would take too long. What Mio had said earlier had him itching with anticipation; he couldn't wait anymore.
Over the past half month, ever since Mio first started sleeping with him, the two of them had been sleeping together every night.
When a man and a woman sleep alone in the same room, it's hard not to… let your hands wander.
It started because Shichen's hands just wouldn't behave. One morning, when Mio woke up, she felt her nightgown was a little tight. When she looked down, she saw Shichen's hand resting against her chest as if he were "checking her heartbeat."
She didn't scream in embarrassment—she just understood: so he really was interested in her chest. After all, she'd noticed his occasional glances before.
Mio wasn't the kind of girl who got flustered while something was happening—but afterward was another story. At breakfast, her mind would replay everything, and she'd be so embarrassed she could barely look at him.
But once it happened once, it could happen twice. If she didn't sleep alone, the same thing would happen again. And after a while… you got used to it. Then it stopped being only a "morning thing."
Mio was simply too tempting. Shichen had finally reached this point through sleeping together—there was no way he'd keep restraining himself. If he wanted something, he acted.
And over time, Mio adapted to his "checkups." Sometimes she even initiated them.
Now, the two of them were only one last step away.
When they got home, Mio went ahead in silence, not saying a word. Something felt off.
She was nervous about what might happen next—but more than that, she was looking forward to it. She wanted to take that final step with Shichen and become the closest kind of relationship.
"D-do we… wash up first?" Mio asked in the living room, a little lost, like she didn't know what she was supposed to do.
"Wash up? Aren't you basically spotless?" Shichen replied.
Mio, like Shichen, seemed untouched by dust—pure and immaculate.
Back when Shichen first saw her nude, his first thought had been that she was so flawless he could—
…not that he would say that out loud.
Though, to be fair, the others were flawless too.
But Mio was different. With others, his desire drove him forward. With Mio, it felt deeper—like her charm bypassed logic and went straight for instinct.
A normal man wouldn't be able to hold back.
"I-I still want to…" Mio said quietly. "I want to wash."
She'd already gotten used to showering before bed as part of daily life—especially when something important was about to happen. Bathing felt like a ritual.
"Alright," Shichen agreed.
Mio might take a little time, but he could wait. A good man had to keep his cool—especially now.
"…Um." Mio turned back, stepped closer, and took Shichen's hand.
"What is it?"
"Do you want to… wash together?" Mio asked, blushing, shaking her head slightly as she looked at him.
"Okay," Shichen answered seriously.
Her cheeks were rosy, her expression soft and vivid—impossible to refuse.
Mio had invited him to bathe together, but Shichen went into the bathroom first. He rinsed quickly, then sat down in the tub.
The water was just right—warm, slightly hot, but comfortable.
Waiting was usually boring. But with anticipation mixed in, it wasn't the same.
Shichen leaned back, counting the seconds quietly.
Soon, he heard soft footsteps outside. They approached the door. The door opened.
First came a small, jade-white foot… then a slender calf, pale thigh, and—
Shichen's eyes widened.
Mio walked in without even wrapping a towel around herself.
She stepped in openly, carrying a hazy, dreamlike beauty. The blush on her cheeks made her feel more real—more human.
"Mio…?" Shichen sat up, his gaze uncontrollably sweeping over her—top to bottom, bottom to top.
Perfect.
"Wh-what?" Mio glanced down at herself, confused. "Is something wrong?"
"You're not even using a towel… You're bold."
"But it's just you here," Mio countered.
"…Fair." Shichen forced himself to breathe. "If you like it, that's fine."
"Um… I'm not weird, right?" Mio asked, suddenly unsure.
"You're beautiful," Shichen said honestly.
"Then… good." Mio exhaled, then nodded. "I'll rinse first."
"Do you really need to—"
"I do."
"…Okay." Shichen could only wait again.
Mio didn't stall. She rinsed quickly and came back.
Maybe she was nervous, too—she just didn't let it slow her down.
At the edge of the tub, Mio looked at Shichen—through the water—then lifted one foot in, then the other.
No panic. She found space and sat down beside him, shoulder to shoulder.
The tub wasn't cramped. Shichen had been ready for this day; of course he hadn't chosen a small tub.
…Though a smaller one might have been dangerous in a different way.
They touched shoulders, silent. The bathroom was so quiet you couldn't even hear splashing.
Shichen wasn't about to stay still. Under the water, he wrapped an arm around Mio's slim waist.
Silky. Smooth.
"Shichen…" Mio leaned closer, skin brushing skin.
"Do you want to sit on me?" Shichen asked in a low voice.
"…Okay."
With a careful lift, Shichen raised Mio and settled her onto his lap. He held her there, his arms folded around her stomach.
Flat and slender—no extra softness—yet her skin still felt gentle and warm.
"That tickles…"
"Really?" Shichen didn't believe her and poked lightly.
"W-wait—really, it does…" Mio wriggled, shifting her hips.
"Don't move." Shichen suddenly held her tighter.
"What—ah…" Mio realized why—just like the mornings.
"I think we shouldn't be soaking anymore," Shichen murmured, losing his composure.
"But—"
"Then I'll wash you."
"Huh—wait—"
After splashing water and soft laughter, Shichen carried the weakly giggling Mio out of the bathroom and back to the bedroom.
He dried them off with a quick burst of warmth, set Mio down on his bed, and looked her over.
He swallowed.
"Shichen…" Mio's heart raced under his gaze. She opened her arms as if to pull him closer.
Shichen bent down and embraced her, the two of them rolling onto the bed. He hovered over her, eyes burning.
Mio closed her eyes.
Shichen leaned down and kissed her.
The room fell silent.
After a long while, Shichen lifted his head and pulled away.
Mio opened her eyes—bright, alluring—pressing her lips together like she wanted more.
But Shichen didn't want to get lost in that again. Her technique had already gotten dangerously good; if he indulged too long, who knew where the night would go.
"…The next part might hurt a little," Shichen warned softly near her ear.
"I'm not scared."
"Then—" Shichen lowered his head to her neck. His fangs appeared, and he bit lightly.
A thin line of red welled up.
"Mmph…" Mio winced and frowned, a small pained sound escaping.
She hadn't expected that—this was different from what she'd imagined. But she didn't resist.
She trusted Shichen completely. If he was doing this, he had a reason.
Soon she understood. Shichen began to share his blood with her—his blood.
Their blood mingled, binding them more closely.
Mio tightened her arms around him, wanting to be closer, wanting to melt into him and never be separated again.
A fire lit inside her, growing hotter and hotter.
But on Shichen's side, something unexpected happened: Mio's blood was… too nourishing.
She was the First Spirit—the god of this world. Her blood was the highest-grade essence he'd ever tasted, beyond anyone else.
Shichen awakened yet another familiar—a power of fusion and absolute zero cold, the kind of freezing force that could seal the world itself.
That part, in his view, was minor.
[Hurry up and merge your power!] "She" suddenly spoke.
[What?]
[After drinking Mio's blood, your power can ascend. Mana will convert into divinity—you'll become stronger.]
[I see.]
[Stop dragging your feet. Right now nothing else matters. Merge the power first!] "She" pressed urgently.
[Nothing else matters…]
Shichen lowered his eyes to Mio, who was being overwhelmed by the aftereffects of his bite and leaning in for closeness.
Was he supposed to choose?
[Wait a little longer.]
If he merged power now, what would that even mean?
[You—!!] "She" snapped, furious.
~~~
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