I was currently facing the greatest obstacle of my life.
An exam? It’s winter break.
Family issues? But I don’t have any family…
Did a professor ask me out for lunch? …That might be kinda scary. But no.
Girl problems? That’s somewhat correct, but it’s a bit different.
‘…What should I do??’
Though it was technically a date, I had no idea what to do.
Last time, just talking was enjoyable.
Of course, that’s still true now, but this time was different. This was our first real date as an actual couple, not just pretend dating.
I wanted to do some active activities together…
But nothing came to mind, and as I was worrying about that, a promotional flyer caught my eye.
-A great opportunity to see various animals, the Zoo! Come at a special opening price!
That’s it.
“Lily, do you like animals?”
“Huh? Oh…”
Lily followed my gaze to the flyer.
“…Yeah, it’s fine.”
Hmm, she doesn’t seem particularly interested…
I was about to look elsewhere, but Lily took my hand and led me in the direction indicated on the flyer.
What should I do? If Lily doesn’t enjoy this, it’s all over.
While I was at a loss, we had already arrived at the zoo. It seems like the zoo targets Academy students just like the shops do.
One of the attendants helping with admissions noticed our Academy uniforms and immediately rushed over to us.
“You’re students, right? I’ll assist you with directions.”
“How much for two?”
“Let me tell you the price…”
“That’s enough. Let’s call it even.”
Lily interrupted the attendant and confidently tossed a gemstone.
The attendant, upon receiving the gemstone the size of a fingernail, stared at it astonishly and held it respectfully.
“Sir, this far exceeds our ticket price…”
“Lily, this is a bit excessive.”
“Hmm… Is it?”
Lily tilted her head and rummaged through her pocket.
“Alright, here.”
Ting!
She flicked a coin towards the attendant.
Glancing at it, it seemed to be a gold coin, but it wasn’t one I recognized.
It looked different from the imperial coins I knew and also from the coins of the southern region.
“Umm…”
The attendant was at a loss and started sweating profusely.
“I’ll just pay.”
Finally, I took out an imperial silver coin from my pocket and handed it to the attendant. After receiving it with respect, the attendant handed over the tickets and hurried off to greet other guests.
“Lily…”
“It was fine last time, wasn’t it? Why isn’t it okay this time?”
“It was a high-class restaurant last time, so it was acceptable. This place isn’t that level.”
“Hmph, you should just be grateful if someone gives you something.”
What a fussy person.
Despite the brief commotion, we had received our tickets and entered. A grand sight awaited us.
“Wow…”
On either side of the straight path stood large glass enclosures, each housing various wondrous animals.
The animals I had only seen before as illustrations or engravings in books were now right before my eyes.
As I approached one of the enclosures, I saw a lizard flipping its body over.
Its iridescent scales stood out, and without caring about the onlookers, the creature was contentedly scratching its jaw.
“Do they not see us?”
Hearing my mutter, Lily tapped my shoulder and pointed towards a corner of the glass enclosure. There was a written notice.
– This enclosure is protected by anti-damage magic and perception hindrance spells.
“Aha, so the lizard really can’t see us then?”
“Correct. And there’s an illusion spell too. It makes them think they’re in a thick forest.”
“Can you even know that?”
At my question, Lily tilted her head as if asking why I couldn’t know that.
‘Of course, as an outsider, that’s normally not visible…’
After admiring the lizard’s scales for some time, I moved on again.
According to the guide paper we received upon entry, the animals are categorized by their habitats.
We seem to be in the tropical rainforest area now.
Unable to keep my eyes still, I looked around in all directions. The animals moving before my eyes were even more fascinating than I had imagined from the illustrations.
Then, my steps came to a halt.
“Eh…”
“Why, Arthur… Hmm?”
The nameplate on the enclosure read “Mandrill.”
It was a very peculiar monkey, with a bald, elongated face that resembled a banana.
There were a total of five mandrills inside, and one pair among them…
“Ki-eeek!”
“Ki-yak ki-yak!”
… one was enthusiastically thrusting its hips while the other’s behind was pressed against its pelvis.
Both were making strange noises…
I quickly turned away, blushing heavily at the scene.
And I immediately locked eyes with Lily, whose face was equally red.
She probably looks the same as me, right?
“Ahem… Let’s look somewhere else?”
“Umm, yeah. Let’s go.”
Thus, while moving on from the tropical rainforest area without saying a word, my gaze fell upon the next enclosure.
It seems like the next area is the desert.
According to the information on the enclosure, the animals were brought from the vast southern desert.
And I gasped in amazement at one of the enclosures.
“Wow! Desert fox!”
A body as small as my forearm, but ears disproportionately large, small bright eyes, and a cute expression that didn’t match its size—it looked just like the illustrations I had seen before. Honestly, I had thought the image in the book might have been exaggerated, but this one was even cuter than I had expected.
“Adorable!”
This cuteness in motion, flicking its big ears to and fro, was so cute that it made me want to keep it in my pocket and carry it around.
As I kept saying how cute it was, I felt movement beside me.
While someone was speaking next to me, all my attention was on the desert fox yawning.
Then, a hand rested on my shoulder.
“Ahh, Lily, check these out. They’re super cu—”
I cut myself off when I turned to see Lily, who was… smiling? Or rather, it seemed like she was smiling.
Her upturned lips looked like a smile, but her eyes were anything but normal.
“…Adorable?”
“Umm…”
From her cold, sunken eyes emanated a red aura… Or wait, it wasn’t just her eyes. A red aura was now flowing from Lily’s entire body.
“Hehe… So cute… Yes, so cute.”
As Lily approached the enclosure, the peaceful desert fox family that had been lounging cozily started trembling and fled into a corner of the cage.
The opposite corner of the cage was filled with Lily.
“Arthur.”
“Y-yes?”
“Is this animal cute to you?”
“…”
“Speak your mind. Is it cute?”
“Y-yes.”
“Ah… So cute… So cute that you’d ignore me…”
“Wha—?”
Did the voice that just called my name sound like Lily’s?
“Hmm… I see…”
Her red aura faded.
Simultaneously, the desert fox family seemed to be gasping for breath.
Not just them—surrounding spectators, including me, began to feel an inexplicable pressure easing up.
“Uh, Lily?”
“… So cute… Hehe…”
“Lily, can you hear me?”
“…”
“Lily?”
There was no response.
Lily kept muttering something while glaring at the desert fox.
The mounting pressure had now reached a level making movement difficult.
Complaints and screams from the spectators began to echo.
Ultimately, the only one who could stop Lily here was me.
Making a decision, I approached Lily from behind and hugged her tightly.
Normally, this would be enough to bring her back to her senses, but she didn’t seem to be in her right mind.
So I lifted my heels and whispered into her ear while keeping the hug.
If words won’t work, then physical stimuli might.
Sorry in advance, Lily.
“Mmm munch munch.”
“Kyaa?!”
It was immediately effective.
Lily’s aura dissipated into the air like smoke.
“Munch munch.”
“Hey, stop… Arthur! That’s enough—”
I released her cheek that I had been gently nibbling on and whispered softly into her ear.
“Are you back to normal now?”
“Y-yes, I am, so stop it!”
Her reddened cheeks were incredibly cute.
Leaning closer to those cheeks, I softly kissed them and whispered.
“Lily, you’re adorable.”
“H-Huh?”
“You’re so cute when you’re jealous, and even cuter when you’re flustered.”
“Jealous? There’s no way I’d be jealous over something like that…”
Although her words say that, a glance revealed her slightly upturned lips.
“I’m sorry. I was too absorbed in watching them and didn’t hear you calling.”
“… No, I overreacted.”
Hoping this would be the end…
“… No. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“…”
“You’re the one who messed up.”
… Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?
“Will you admit it was your fault?”
“… Yes.”
It’s true that it was my fault, so I admitted it…
Then Lily turned her whole body around to face me.
“Feel bad?”
“… Yes.”
Hmph.
“Do you know what to do?”
“… A tight hug and a kiss to make up…”
Hmm. Did she switch her stance just for this?
‘Isn’t she just too cute?’
So that’s what you wanted, to have some skin contact, huh?
Lily was leaning towards me with her lips puckered, expecting this eagerly.
“… Since it is my fault…”
Ultimately, as I also hugged her back, our lips met.
“Clop”
“… Done?”
“Not enough.”
“… How much more do you want?”
“Mmm… Until my heart’s content?”
Are you thinking of doing this all day?
Upon reading my startled expression, Lily cunningly smiled.
“Hehe, just five more times. But on different parts.”
Different parts? Five times?!
I’ve only kissed her lips until now, so I was at a loss about where to aim.
Lily had her eyes closed and was patiently waiting.
Recalling yesterday’s event, I slowly started moving.
Yesterday, Lily had given me a barrage of kisses while holding onto me.
First, her forehead.
After slightly lifting her hair, I kissed her forehead.
Next, her eyes.
I softly placed my lips on her tightly closed eyelids. They trembled, making her seem even cuter.
Lower down, her cheeks.
Despite her sharp facial features, Lily’s cheeks were surprisingly soft and warm.
Further down, her neck.
Kissing her white neck tenderly, I heard a small laugh.
The last one was her lips.
At the moment our lips touched, Lily pulled me closer by the back of my neck and kissed me passionately.
When the total of five kisses ended, Lily smiled cheerfully, apparently satisfied.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Yes! The apology has been accepted.”
Making up is so difficult.
But seeing Lily’s radiant smile, all those thoughts disappeared.
“Shall we head to the next area?”
“Ah, wait a moment. Can we stop somewhere first?”
“Hmm? Where?”
I raised my index finger pointing in a certain direction.
Lily’s gaze followed my finger.
There was a small shop there.
– Convenience Store
My lips felt like they were about to swell.
I should start by buying some lip balm first.
