Tightly embraced was the small body of Meow.
However, before I could even feel the texture of Meow’s fur, the tiny figure that easily fit in one hand gradually began to grow larger, and the weight that had once been so light started to become heavier. Of course, it was still within my embrace, light as it was.
And in the end, the form of Meow disappeared, leaving a girl in my arms instead.
The scratchy sensation of a cat’s tongue had now transformed into a ticklish feeling.
“Boss…?”
But it wasn’t Meow—it was Presia, still licking my neck, preventing me from seeing her face. Yet even without seeing her face, the scent that tickled my nose was unmistakably Presia’s, a fragrance I could never forget.
“Didn’t you say we’d be together forever…?”
From beside my neck, just below my ear, came the small voice of Presia. It was only a short sentence, but within it, I could fully feel the emotions Presia was experiencing. Not because we were connected by some contract magic, but because it was a word more magical than any magic itself.
Of course, the past three years of separation weren’t only painful for me alone. Selfish as it might seem, I felt a little glad because it confirmed that Presia had also missed me. That she hadn’t forgotten me.
But the joy was short-lived. Confusion soon set in. Among the things causing my confusion—like how Meow was actually Presia or how Presia had found me—I feared most facing her directly.
Fortunately, her face was still buried in my neck, so I could avoid the situation for now, but I didn’t know how long it would last. I had no idea what expression I should show when I finally face her.
Moreover, the pain of leaving her side again flooded over me. Reuniting with someone I thought I’d never see again was joyful, but I’ve sinned too greatly to remain by Presia’s side. Eventually, I must leave her, and separation, especially when there’s no promise of reunion, is even more painful when you already know how agonizing it can be.
“Umm… what is it…?”
While holding Presia, Luna, who had been stepped on by Presia when she was in Meow’s form, wiped away the saliva from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve and stood up. Her half-aware expression after waking up was amusingly endearing.
“Senior…?”
Luna’s adorable gesture of rubbing her eyes reminded me of a cat. If the haughty Presia in my arms was a purebred feline, then Luna was like a stray cat dreaming of freedom.
“Huh…? Who is this woman…?”
Luna finally noticed the presence of Presia in my arms and asked. However, Presia merely held onto me tightly, showing no signs of letting go.
“Stupid, it’s Eliisia.”
“Um, Boss…?”
“Every day was painful. I despaired and felt defeated at the reality of not seeing Eliisia every morning. But the reason I’ve managed to endure until now has been the hope of seeing Eliisia again.”
“But….”
How could such complex emotions of the past three years be conveyed in just a few words? Even these fragments struck deeper into my heart than any blade could.
“Eliisia, is it okay for you to think you’ll never see me again? Am I the only one in this much pain?”
Raising her head from where it rested on my neck, Presia looked straight at me and spoke. Her eyes were brimming with tears.
I must leave now and put some distance between us. The longer I face her, the more it will hurt when I eventually have to part ways.
But my mouth remained clenched shut, unable to utter the words that would push Presia away.
And it seemed my silence was answer enough. With tears still in her eyes, Presia looked at me and smiled faintly.
“It’s a relief. Eliisia doesn’t hate me.”
“… How could I hate you? If anything, I would have no words to say if you hated me….”
Perhaps she doesn’t know, which is why she can speak so easily about me—about what I’ve done in my past life.
“No. Even if Eliisia stabbed my heart, I would never hate you. I would never fear you. Anyway, my life before meeting Eliisia had no meaning. For me, true life begins and ends with this moment, being with Eliisia.”
But my belief that Presia doesn’t know the truth about me was just a delusion. She already knew. It wasn’t merely a metaphor or a reference to her life before this one. Perhaps she heard it from Selian, or maybe it was a miracle produced by her incredible talent.
“Then who are you…!”
Thinking that she had been ignored, Luna shouted and leapt to her feet. Yet Presia paid no attention, continuing to look only at me.
While I hesitated, unable to act despite the absurd ease of my forgiveness, Presia spoke again.
“Eliisia took my hand, so now it’s my turn to take yours.”
But rather than grabbing my hand, Presia’s hands were gently cupping my cheeks.
“Now… I won’t let go.”
At that moment, I felt a soft, gentle touch on my lips.
Briefly startled by Presia’s unexpected action, around us a bright light blossomed, illuminating the dim surroundings.
Beginning from my lips, the soft sensation gradually enveloped my entire body. Presia’s magic flowed through me, bringing warmth and comfort.
I’d felt this sensation before. It was the contract magic formed with Meow.
Though the sensation was far more vivid than that, the essence of the contract magic was the same.
Of course, as a hero, I could have broken this contract magic if I so desired. But beyond the warmth and comfort, I couldn’t bring myself to reject the earnestness I could feel.
Finally, her magic settled in my heart, while mine, in turn, settled in her heart—where I had once stabbed her in a past life.
A single petal bloomed over each of our hearts. This was another contract with her. If she dies, I die, and if I die, she dies as well—a curse disguised as a contract.
Were I to break the contract with my powers, she would die instantly, severed from the connection. With this brief hesitation, there was now no escape.
Her face slowly faded, yet the tenderness from her lips lingered.
Does Presia not realize how foolish her actions have been? Even for the sake of forming a contract, doesn’t she know how embarrassing it should have been? Yet she simply looked at me and smiled.
Is she pleased that she truly won’t let me go, as she promised?
“Wh, wh… what…!”
Luna screamed in shock, having witnessed Presia and me kissing and forming a contract. If I didn’t clear up the misunderstanding quickly, both me and Presia might be misunderstood as liking the same sex.
Though I do like women, it’s not about liking the same sex. Moreover, Presia is simply a regular young girl, not someone like me.
But Presia wasn’t bothered by any need to clarify the misunderstanding. She turned to Luna, who she had ignored up until now, and stared directly at her. Then…
“Hmph.”
A light laugh from Presia. Though it sounded mocking, given the impossibility of her mocking anyone, it must have been from the pure amusement of Luna’s misunderstanding.
“Yieek! Stop it, Senior…!”
Not knowing Presia, Luna misinterpreted the sound as mockery and approached as if to rush at her. However, Luna stopped in her tracks, unable to take another step.
“Huh? What are you…? Whoa?”
The one who stopped Luna was none other than Tokki. With Presia’s arrival, it was obvious that Bear and Tokki had come as well. However, Tokki’s appearance took me by surprise.
Certainly, the cute nature remained, but… its size was drastically different from what I last saw.
Tokki had grown as large as Presia. It was the same size as the massive rabbit plushie I had won as a prize during the festival street three years ago with Presia.
Wait. If that’s the case, does that mean Bear…
GAAAH!
At that moment, I felt a powerful grip around my waist from behind. Turning my head, I saw, as expected, a similarly transformed Bear, now as big as the large festival bear plushie, standing behind me.
“Hey… Bear? Why are you holding onto me…?”
It was pointless to run now, with the formal contract already binding me to Presia. The new contract connected not just our positions but our very lives as well, making it impossible to break the contract and escape.
Yet Bear showed no signs of letting go, even in response to my question, but instead held me tightly.
“Hehe… Eliisia once said… If I ran away… I’d get my butt smacked… right?”
“N, ne!? Boss…? Wait, just a second…!”
Sensing unease as Presia slowly approached me, I tried to break free from Bear’s grip but to no avail.
Instead, Bear lifted me up and placed me face-down across his lap. The situation was eerily reminiscent of…
“Wait a moment…! Gyaah!”
SMACK!
