Time with Selian
“Haaam.”
“Hmm? Why does Selian look so tired today? Did you have insomnia?”
Selian, who rarely yawned, was doing so this morning right after coming to school.
“A, no… It just happened…”
“Hmm? If you’re too tired, how about skipping what I was supposed to teach you today and just resting?”
“No! I’m full of energy! You don’t need to worry about me.”
Whoa, what a surprise. Selian, who just a moment ago had been resting her head on the desk with dark circles under her eyes, suddenly reacted with an incredible amount of energy.
“Uh, yeah. So where should we do it?”
“…How about my room?”
Just yesterday, I invited a girl to my room, and today I’ve been invited to a girl’s room. Of course, it’s too late to make a fuss about it now, so I just let it go.
“Alright. Then I’ll come to your room after dinner, Selian.”
“Yes. I’ll wait for you.”
Following yesterday’s math session, today I arranged to learn military science with Selian. With a few relevant textbooks and a notebook in hand, I headed to Selian’s room. Since it was close by on the same floor, I quickly arrived at her door.
Knock knock
“Please come in, El.”
“Then I’ll make myself at home.”
After knocking, she immediately opened the door. Following her gesture to come in, I entered and was greeted with decor much more refined than my own room.
Having invited a girl to my room for the first time yesterday and entering a girl’s room for the first time today, I curiously glanced around the room until my eyes met Selian’s gaze.
“Ah! Sorry. Your room is so different from mine.”
“It’s fine. You’re always welcome, El.”
Deciding to stop sightseeing and focus on the task at hand, I moved towards the desk and placed the books and notebook I had brought.
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes. No problem.”
Instead of sitting at her own desk, I took the seat in front, and Selian brought another chair to sit beside me. Thus began our one-on-one tutoring session with Selian, following yesterday’s session with Yuli.
“Alright, let’s take a look at this section. This tactic was used by a small nation in the past and features several characteristics unique to that country.”
Selian began explaining the textbook contents in detail.
“You should memorize this part because it will be on the exam. Ah, this part doesn’t matter, so you can skip over it.”
While the subjects are different, and comparing Selian to Yuli might be unfair, Selian focused on the core areas, particularly those likely to appear on the test. I recall that during the last midterm, what Selian had indicated would likely appear on the test indeed had a high probability of showing up.
“Alright, let’s take a look at this content.”
Thud
“Ah, sorry.”
As I moved my arm to follow Selian’s guidance, my arm accidentally touched Selian’s body. Glancing over, I noticed we were closer than when we had started.
Perhaps she had naturally moved closer while explaining the textbook content. However, moving away or pointing it out might make Selian feel awkward, so I let it pass quietly.
“No. Don’t worry about it. Let’s continue focusing on studying.”
Selian didn’t seem to mind much and continued selecting exam-relevant points. However, each time she reached for the farthest edge of the book, she subtly moved closer little by little.
“…If we keep sitting like this, it’s hard to take notes…”
Before I knew it, we were sitting very close, with our arms touching. Unable to bear it any longer, I politely but insistently asked Selian for help, using note-taking as an excuse.
“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that. Then…”
Saying that, Selian got up, moved her seat to the opposite side, i.e., my left, and sat down again, leaning into me.
“Alright, shall we continue?”
Although she had gotten up, why she moved closer again after creating some distance was unclear. My excuse had disappeared thanks to Selian’s actions. Opening my mouth any further would be tantamount to telling Selian outright, “I feel uncomfortable being close to you.”
Ultimately, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut, and the lesson continued.
“So, why does this part work?”
In the middle of studying, there was a part that I needed to understand rather than just memorize. There was content that I found unimaginable regarding why a certain strategy was attempted by them.
“Hmm? Of course, I can tell you, but why don’t you think about it yourself?”
Selian, who had been expertly tutoring me until now, didn’t give an immediate answer this time and gave me time to consider. Imagining the execution region, time, enemy situation, and our situation in my mind drew several confusing aspects.
Eventually, deciding to draw rough approximate scenarios directly in the notebook to derive the answer, I looked at the notebook. However, it already had notes. It was a bit awkward to scribble in the middle. Even though just flipping to the back pages would work, the notebook was almost out of space.
Eventually, while looking elsewhere, my eyes caught a piece of paper between the books on the shelf. Judging by the visible part, it didn’t seem to have any writing on it, though I wasn’t sure about the back.
“Selian, can I use this paper if it’s not in use?”
Thus, I asked Selian with a slight touch on the paper.
“What paper… Heeek!”
However, Selian, quite startled by my simple request, swiftly pulled the paper from between the books and hid it behind her back, a quick motion usually seen only in sparring. From a quick glance while pulling, it appeared to be a paper with some writing in the part that wasn’t visible.
“Hmm?”
“This… It’s… Ah! A letter! Yes, a letter from home! It’s very precious to me, so…”
Then it wasn’t something she wanted me to see. No matter how close friends might be, private conversations with family can still be embarrassing.
“No, sorry. I didn’t realize it was something so important. I just thought it was plain scrap paper.”
“No, it’s my fault for leaving such an important… letter in a visible place. Please wait a moment. I’ll lend you my notebook.”
Saying that, Selian tucked the letter deep into her drawer.
“This is a blank notebook you can use freely.”
“Thanks.”
With the notebook she handed me, I started sketching the problem I was pondering earlier, surprisingly finding the solution quicker than expected. But Selian’s attention seemed to flicker between me and the drawer.
“Don’t worry, I really didn’t see any content.”
“I fully know you didn’t see it…”
Still, she looked unconcerned. Yet, Selian helped me with my study again. Occasionally, though, her eyes darted back to the drawer where she had hidden the letter, but only for moments.
“If you remember what I’ve taught today, you probably don’t have to worry much about the final exam.”
Given that this was a memorization subject and Selian focused on the necessary parts, we covered a whole week’s curriculum before the evening roll call.
“Today, I really appreciate it. Even if I attended regular classes, I wouldn’t have understood as much as I did today.”
That was genuine. If I had studied alone, I would’ve just memorized the entire book rather than focusing on crucial and exam-relevant content like today.
“Then I’ll go prepare for the evening roll call. Thanks a lot today. Even though you looked tired this morning, please get a good rest.”
Even though she tried showing vitality while teaching today, dark circles remained under her eyes. So, to let her rest as much as possible, I gathered up today’s books and notebooks, and got up from my chair.
“Ah… Excuse me!”
Just as I turned around to say goodbye after leaving the room and picking up what we studied today, Selian called me.
“Today… Wouldn’t you like to spend the night at my place?”
“Hmm?”
It was an unexpected suggestion. While I did end up sleeping with Yuli in my room last night, that was because we had to catch up on unfinished parts. However, today we covered all missing content from the past week, leaving no reason or face-saving excuse to accept.
“But Selian, you must be tired too…”
“No! I’m fine. I feel I might sleep better with El.”
For some reason, she showed no sign of letting go.
“But…”
“Yesterday, you slept with Yuli, didn’t you? I’d like… no, I also want to sleep with you.”
She already knew that Yuli had come to my room last night. I guess maybe Yuli moved in with a pillow after the evening roll call, and Selian saw her.
Refusing here might make it seem like I’m showing favoritism between Yuli and Selian. It truly was a difficult situation to navigate.
No matter what I said, Selian’s sincerity was evident in her eyes, despite the dark circles.
Ultimately, the only answer I could give was YES.
*
After changing into my pajamas and returning with a pillow to Selian’s room, the moment I entered, I couldn’t help but pause.
I had never seen Selian dressed in her pajamas. They were quite different from Yuli’s.
Yuli wore standard pink long-sleeved and long-legged pajamas. However, Selian’s attire left me unable to lift my eyes—it was too revealing.
The shape itself wasn’t problematic; the dress fixed by straps on the shoulders was perfectly identifiable. Yet, the issue wasn’t just the small area covered but the fact that the dress, except for the bra and panties, was made of thin material that let the inside show through. Having seen Selian’s skin before, this was different. The semi-transparency added a certain level of sensuality.
Unable to say anything, I slightly lowered my head, but as her flesh still came into view from the edge of my field of vision, I turned my head completely to the side.
“El?”
However, Selian innocently stood at the entrance, calling out to me. Reluctantly, I entered the room.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Even saying that, I couldn’t bring myself to look at Selian. Even attempting to look at her face naturally drew my eyes downward.
“Why are you not looking at me? What are you looking at?”
Despite my efforts to pretend not to notice, Selian didn’t reciprocate. Hence, I continued the conversation while trying my best to blur my vision, pretending I didn’t see.
“No. I was just… surprised by Selian’s pajamas.”
“Is it weird? It’s fairly convenient, and I like it.”
“No! It’s not weird at all…”
“Ho ho ho. Alright, then let’s sleep soon, as you rightly said, I’m a little tired.”
However, the only place in Selian’s room with extra bedding was the bed.
“Could you give me an extra blanket? I have restless sleeping habits, so I prefer to sleep separately on the floor.”
“I’m fine, so let’s sleep together on the bed. We only have one blanket anyway.”
“Then I’ll go back to my room to fetch another blanket. Please wait a moment.”
The moment I turned around to return to my room, Selian caught my hand.
“Yesterday…”
“Hmm?”
“You could cuddle with Yuli, so why not with me?”
Selian brought up Yuli again. Well, by saying that, I’m out of replies, right…
By the way, how did Selian know I cuddled with Yuli? It seems Yuli must have told her today while talking.
“…Alright, then let’s just sleep on the bed, what.”
Just like earlier, I couldn’t refuse.
There I was, lying side-by-side under the same blanket on the bed but trying my best not to look at her by staring at the ceiling.
I wanted to roll over and face away to be considerate, but feared she might find it uncomfortable from her perspective, so I couldn’t do that either.
“El?”
“Hmm?”
Just as I lay there closing my eyes, Selian called me. It wasn’t a time to pretend to be asleep yet.
“Could you face this way when we sleep? I feel like chatting before we drift off…”
“…. Yes.”
If I reject her this time, she’ll undoubtedly start persuading me with various arguments. Resigning myself to the situation, I turned towards Selian only to naturally see her chest compressed by her tightly held arms.
Eventually, even after Selian fell into dreamland during our conversation, it took ages for me to fall asleep.
By the way, I didn’t realize I was nervous, but now that I’m pressed so closely, a familiar scent fills the air. Pondering where I smelled it before, it turns out to be the same shampoo I use. She uses the same product as me.
