“Li, Lily? Just a moment… Woah?!”
Lily, who had climbed on top of me, covered my mouth with her soft lips.
“Chuup… Chuup…”
The kiss that followed was different from any Lily had given before.
During meals, Lily usually doesn’t use her tongue. She occasionally does, but not usually.
And even when we really kissed, she always seemed to hold back somewhat.
But now…
“Hueup… Chuup… Mmm…”
Not only was she exploring my mouth with her tongue, but she was also drooling quite a bit.
The intense kiss, as if trying to swallow me whole, made my head spin.
“Lil… Lily, just… a moment…”
The kisses continued without giving me much chance to breathe.
The continuous flow of Lily’s saliva and breath was so hot and sweet that I found myself responding to her movements involuntarily.
-Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
“Customer… Master Key… What’s the matter… response…”
I could hear an employee speaking from outside, but nothing seemed to matter.
All my senses were focused on Lily.
While I was receiving the emotions Lily was pouring out as she clung to me…
-Bang!
“Customer! Is everything alright…?”
The door opened and an employee entered.
When they saw us intertwined, they gave us a perplexed look.
“Whoop!”
After sucking my tongue once more, Lily broke the kiss, turned her head, and faced the employee.
“…What?”
“T-the food was ready but there was no response, so I thought something might be wrong…”
“Leave it here.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said leave it here.”
“Yes, y-yes! Have a pleasant time!!”
-Bang!
The employee placed the plate with the dessert and quickly closed the door and left.
Lily glared at the closed door for a moment before lowering her head and meeting my eyes again.
Lily’s eyes were shining with a bright red color.
“Sorry, there was an interrupter.”
“Lily.”
“No. I don’t want to.”
“How do you know what I was going to say?”
“Obviously, it was going to be telling me to stop.”
“…Lily.”
“No.”
When I tried to stop Lily with my hand…
-Bang
-Bang
“…What is this?”
Lily grabbed my wrist and slammed it to the floor with her hair.
“…Isn’t that enough?”
“You said you’d wait as long as necessary.”
“My mind has changed. After becoming lovers, I don’t want to let go anymore.”
“I’m not asking you to give up, just giving me some time.”
“…How much?”
I was momentarily speechless.
I had vaguely thought that if I just gave it some time, I’d be able to make a decision.
But reflecting on it, it was more like I was just running away mentally, and not a real solution at all.
“A bit more-”
“Exactly how much.”
The time it would take for me to truly love Lily as just Lily, rather than as family.
“…A year.”
“That’s too long.”
“Lily…”
“I can’t wait any longer. Every day, no every second I spend with you, my feelings grow… How can you expect me to hold back…?”
For the second time, I was at a loss for words.
I had thought that Lily and I felt the same way about each other.
But Lily’s emotions went much deeper.
For an outsider who lives eternally, a day is shorter than a grain of sand. However, Lily said that her emotions were growing with each passing second, which must feel like an incredible speed to her.
This feeling could have been seen as burdensome, but instead, I found Lily’s emotions to be very…
“Thank you, Lily. For loving someone as unworthy as me so much…”
Though it’s embarrassing, it wasn’t burdensome at all.
To someone like me who had no power, money, or family, for her to give her heart so freely…
‘How could I not like this?’
“One month.”
“Two days.”
What?! That’s too short!
At my dumbfounded look, Lily wiggled her lips.
“Three days?”
Are you seriously checking my reaction even in the middle of this?
Aww, she’s so cute!
“One week. I’ll make up my mind by this time next week.”
“Is that… for real?”
“Yes.”
“Promise me.”
“Yes, I p-promise…”
“Seal it with a pinky promise.”
What? Come on, I’m an adult, and pinky promises…
Lily seemed serious as she showed me her pinky finger.
One of her strands of hair released my hand.
With a faint smile, I intertwined my pinky with Lily’s.
“I promise.”
“Seal it with a kiss.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Enough to last me a week.”
Somehow all her actions seem adorable.
“What about the dessert?”
“…I’ll take it with me in a storage space.”
“…Please hold out for a week.”
“Okay. I’ll try to go back to being normal until then.”
“And let go of this hand too.”
“Okay.”
As soon as my hands were free, I rotated my stiff wrist and then immediately wrapped my arms around Lily’s neck.
And once again, as Lily relaxed her supporting arm, she naturally climbed on top of me.
“…Isn’t it heavy?”
Yes, it was heavy. Honestly, it’s bad to want someone with such a great figure to weigh less.
“It’s not heavy.”
And somehow, I felt Lily’s warmth better because of the weight.
The enveloping warmth made me feel good.
And because of the close contact, I could hear the sound of her heartbeat again.
Our synchronized beats were pounding quite fast.
Then, just before the heat of the moment was about to rise again and Lily’s lips came close…
“…Lily. We’re only gonna kiss, right…?”
“…”
“Lily…?”
“…I’ll try.”
What do you mean-?
“Chuup!”
—
When we left the room, we descended to the first floor again.
“Customer~ Did you have a good time?”
The employee who smiled slyly while looking back and forth between the two of us seemed to be the one who had entered our room earlier.
“…I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s my fault for not reading the atmosphere.”
“Hmph…”
“Hey, customer. Do you know what can overcome sweet love?”
Overcome sweet love?
While I was pondering, the employee opened their mouth again.
“The answer is fiery love hot enough to melt sweet chocolate-like love!”
I couldn’t even lift my head because I was so embarrassed.
“See you again~!”
After paying, we stepped out onto the street and couldn’t look at each other for a while.
I tried sneaking sideways glances at Lily, and at one point, our eyes met.
Since dodging each other’s gaze seemed awkward, we stared at each other for a moment.
“…Lily. You’ve got a strand of hair in your mouth.”
“Ah… You too… There’s a mark on your lips.”
Just as we were awkwardly wiping away the traces,
-Groggrrr…
And only now did I realize we hadn’t eaten dessert and had instead stored it in an extra-dimensional space. It meant I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.
“…Are you hungry?”
“…Yes.”
“Shall we eat before going home?”
“…Yes.”
To prepare the meal that Lily would later give, it was inevitable that we needed to be alone. However, it’s still… awkward to face each other.
“How about here?”
“…Fine.”
For the same reason, we deliberately chose a busy restaurant.
The meal ended quickly. I practically inhaled it without even tasting it.
We decided to head back to the academy sooner than expected since we had nothing to do here.
While walking back, we noticed a cafe.
“Are you thirsty?”
“Are you?”
We had spoken at the same time.
We stared blankly at each other for a moment then,
“Haha…”
“Fuh…”
Laughed simultaneously.
In the now lighter atmosphere, I pulled Lily’s hand I hadn’t let go of since leaving Sweet Love and looped her arm through mine.
“…Arthur?”
“…Still… today hasn’t passed yet…”
Our role-playing ends today.
And today hasn’t passed yet.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Hmm… I haven’t had coffee that much before…”
Me neither, but…
Since Lily hadn’t really eaten much else but sweet desserts,
“Then I’ll get you a sweet latte. Hot or iced?”
“…Hot please.”
Order taken. What about me…
Approaching the counter, I placed my order with the employee.
“Hot latte one and an iced Americano with two extra shots.”
The employee looked confused and asked,
“Iced? In this weather?”
It was a bit cool, but…
“Yes, I want to cool down a bit.”
“Ah, me too then.”
Lily casually added.
“…An iced latte one and an iced Americano with two extra shots.”
The employee tilted their head in confusion but quickly began making the drinks.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
After taking a sip of the coffee I received,
The bitter aroma filled my mouth.
It was definitely worth adding two shots.
It felt like my mind was clearing.
The cold temperature was also perfect for cooling my heated body.
Sucking on her straw, Lily looked satisfied too.
Every time she sucked, her cheeks moved cutely.
“Can I try what it tastes like?”
“Here.”
I took a sip of the coffee Lily offered.
“It’s sweet, which is good.”
“…You’re not surprised anymore?”
“Huh? About what?”
Lily pointed to the straw.
“Indirect kissing.”
Ah…
” …Honestly, after everything else…”
“That’s true. Can I try yours?”
As she offered me her coffee, Lily also took a sip.
And she furrowed her delicate eyebrows.
“Ugh… It’s bitter!”
“Of course. You added two shots to an already bitter Americano.”
It was ordered that way to function as a stimulant.
Lily was cleaning her mouth with her own coffee.
When we arrived at the academy gates, Lily pulled my arm and stopped me.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Can I ask just once, as your lover?”
Why is this again?
“Lily, you said you’d wait…”
“Just once…”
…How can I refuse when she’s asking with such a bright-eyed look?
“…What is it?”
Then Lily suddenly started unbuttoning her school uniform.
“Wha- What are you doing right now?!”
“Don’t worry. No one will see us.”
Looking around, it was true that the people walking by weren’t paying any attention to us.
After unbuttoning about half of her uniform, Lily slightly pulled down her shirt.
Lily’s pale skin gleamed in the sunlight.
Her collarbone, which makes it hard for any man to look away, was revealed.
“…Suck it.”
“…”
“A hickey…”
…What did you just say?!”
Lily blushed, having read my shocked expression.
“Seal it. Visually.”
“It’s already sealed with a kiss on the lips.”
“Not enough. I need something visible to be reassured.”
I quickly checked the surroundings.
“…This can’t be seen by others too, right?”
“Yeah, it’s safe.”
“…”
Letting out a deep sigh, I hesitantly hugged Lily tightly.
Naturally, my face buried in Lily’s neck, I slowly lowered my head to her collarbone.
“Chuup… Chuup… Chuup…”
“Hueup!”
Damn. Even though it’s not a major part, why does it feel so sensual?
“Chuup… Chuup… Pfaaahh…”
When I finally pulled away, it was already red and swollen.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“…No, thank you.”
Don’t thank me for something like this…
As I was about to let go,
“…Can I give you one too?”
“Wha?”
“A hickey…”
“…”
I thought about it for a moment, but the answer was already decided.
“…If it’s somewhere that won’t show…”
“Yeah, I’ll give it to you on the collarbone too.”
Unbuttoned my necktie and pulled down my shirt slightly to expose my collarbone.
In the same way, Lily’s face buried near my neck slowly descended toward the collarbone. Then,
“Chuup…”
“Ugh…!”
“Chuup… Chuup… Chuup…”
Strangely enough, it felt different from expected.
It felt good when her soft lips touched but irritating from the sucking pressure.
After letting go, Lily buried her face in my neck.
“Did it hurt?”
“…No, just kind of… weird.”
After continuing the embrace for a while, we slightly pulled away.
After quickly kissing each other again, the sweet smell of the latte we drank earlier mixed well with Lily’s natural fragrance.
Breathing heavily after breaking the kiss, Lily muttered,
“…Bitter…”
“I thought it tasted sweet.”
“Unfair.”
“So you’re going to stop?”
Shaking her head no, Lily kissed me again.
We finished our relatively short kiss for the time and walked back to the academy while holding hands.
As soon as we passed through the academy gates, Lily hid her appearance from others and stuck close to me.
Her arm looped through mine as her cheek rubbed against my shoulder.
“…Do you feel nostalgic?”
“…Yeah.”
“Please wait a week.”
“A week ‘and’ I said.”
“…Yeah, maximum a week.”
I expect she’ll use up all the time.
“This week will be busy because of the practical exams.”
“…Are you nervous?”
“Hmm… Not really? You’ll be there with me anyway.”
“Yeah. Just relax, Arthur. I’ll protect you.”
“Feels reliable.”
“Lean on me all you want~”
Thinking about it, everything started with the practical exams. What seemed like an insurmountable wall not long ago now feels like a trivial hurdle.
‘…Being with Miss Outsider has made me braver.’
Realizing my own transformation, I rubbed my cheek against the head of Lily who was stuck to me.
Enjoying the pounding heartbeat, while heading to the dormitory—
“Aaaaaaaaaaaah! Arthurrrrrrrrrrr!!”
Someone was running towards us.
The voice was clearly a woman’s, but the running form reminded me of a peasant escaping from a tax collector.
“…Reeti?”
I could feel my arm being squeezed painfully, but I didn’t show it.
Reeti, who reached us in an instant, didn’t even take a breath before waving something in front of me.
“You, you, you! What is this?!”
What she showed me was a small newspaper.
The shining newspaper, Academy Club’s #1 Avoided, releases daily newspapers with news from every day, and weekly compilations of the daily editions.
What Reeti showed me was a daily edition.
A newspaper smaller than the palm of a hand, and what filled its page was—
“…What?!”
-Urgent Report. Unparalleled Beauty Spotted Near the Academy’s Shops. Is her companion a second-year boy with a cat?!”
It was a picture of Lily and me holding hands.
—-
