The moment I woke up and saw a face filling my vision, I was startled, but I somehow managed to suppress the scream that had risen to my jaw.
Lily’s sleeping face, breathing softly with her eyes closed.
The Lily who had seemed so mature until now looked… cute.
As I stared blankly at her, I was reminded of last night’s… dinner with Lily.
‘Yeah. That was dinner. Not a k…iss, but dinner.’
I justified it to myself while indulging in some self-hypnosis.
Naturally, my gaze drifted to Lily’s glossy lips.
The sun streaming in from the partially opened curtains made her lips shine with a crimson hue, evoking a strange impulse within me.
I raised my hand carefully so as not to wake Lily and brought it towards her lips.
Her warm breath passed between my fingers until they finally touched her red lips.
“Wow…”
Her lips felt as though all the morning dew had gathered there, astonishingly soft and warm.
The way they flexed and reflected light with each movement of my fingers was mesmerizing, and I found myself staring blankly.
…That is, until I failed to notice.
“Aaah~”
Her lips, which had been gently receiving my touch, parted suddenly and bit down on my index finger.
“Ahh!!”
Startled, our gazes met.
A mischievous Lily winked at me.
“Did you… wake up?”
“Hmm.”
“Since when…”
Instead of answering, Lily sucked on my finger, eliciting an involuntary grunt from me.
“Sorry about that.”
Lily tilted her head while still nibbling on my finger as if unsure what she was apologizing for, her eyes brimming with mischief.
“I’m sorry for teasing you while you were sleeping…”
In response, Lily smiled sweetly and patted my head.
Then…
“Ugh! Lily?! What are you doing with your tongue?!”
Goosebumps formed at the fine sensation of her licking my finger.
After licking a few more times, Lily sucked on my finger strongly like candy and pulled it out with a pop.
“Bad finger~”
“…Sorry.”
“If you’re going to do something…”
Suddenly, Lily closed the distance and whispered near my lips.
“Do it with these lips. Then I’ll let you off.”
Her sweet breath, drawing nearer, made the top of my head feel warm.
Frantically pulling my face back, I said,
“So, did you sleep well, Lily?”
At my reaction, Lily grinned mischievously.
“Thanks to you.”
“Ugh…”
This seemed to be a mood for continued teasing. I had to change the subject…
-Gurgle
“…”
“…”
Ah, embarrassing.
“Hehe, are you hungry? What do you want to eat? The same as yesterday?”
If yesterday meant that Old One Roast?
“Uh… It seems like it would be hard for you to hunt, so maybe we could eat something we already have?”
“It’s not that hard. It’s just a little annoying because I don’t die easily.”
“Then-”
“Wasn’t it delicious?”
When it comes to this, there’s only one thing to say.
“…Yes.”
“I’ll catch one more.”
Apparently, Lily doesn’t like seeing me do anything on my own.
As Lily twirled around in place, the dress that had been crumpled from sleeping smoothed out.
“Well, I’ll be back. It shouldn’t take too long this time…”
Lily snapped her fingers.
“Don’t cry, hehe.”
Leaving that comment, Lily disappeared as quickly as yesterday.
“…She’ll probably tease me about this until I die.”
I’m doomed.
—
The fresh Old One Roast that Lily brought back was delicious as usual today.
Although I worked up a sweat trying to stop Lily, who insisted on feeding me.
“Well, I’ll have my meal too.”
Her hair swayed as she drew closer.
Remembering yesterday’s incident, I urgently waved her off.
“You don’t have to tie it!”
“Hmm, I see. This isn’t really my preference.”
“…”
“Let me know if you change your mind. Chu~”
Lily’s tongue slithered out like a red snake, licking her lips.
I noticed her saliva sparkling at the corner of her mouth—a sure sign of hunger.
“Well…”
As I reached out to grab Lily’s cheek, her eyes widened in surprise that I had taken the initiative. Then, she softened her gaze and smiled invitingly.
Lily closed her eyes and waited silently, expecting me to take the first step.
‘This… feels so nerve-wracking because I’m doing it myself.’
Looking at her lips, waiting for me, my heart pounded recklessly.
Because of our height difference, I lifted my heels slightly and slowly approached her lips, her breath tickling my skin.
Finally, when our lips touched, a wave of warmth passed into me.
“Ugh…!”
As if waiting for this moment, Lily leaned into me, transferring her weight.
Before I could feel the heaviness, her hair supported my back, allowing me to focus entirely on Lily.
“Ah…”
Lily’s lips pressed against mine.
In a short time, her tongue began tapping my lips.
No sooner had I understood its meaning and parted my lips, Lily lunged in and our lips crashed together.
“Zoooop!”
The cool sensation I had experienced yesterday returned instantly as Lily’s eyes lost focus.
“Haa…Zup…Zooop…”
In between occasional breaks to breathe, she continued clinging to me.
Yesterday was the same; Lily’s personality seemed to change completely when eating.
She still exuded maturity, but her usual warmth transformed into an intriguing allure during meals.
“Mashis~”
…Every time she muttered something incoherent between kisses, it was filled with an intolerable cuteness.
As our kiss deepened, my body gradually leaned backward until almost lying down. The strange posture continued thanks to Lily’s hair, which steadfastly supported me.
As I opened my mouth while holding Lily with a mixture of gratitude and a little self-interest, I inadvertently glanced beyond Lily.
Looking at the clock in my field of vision, it was 8:40 AM. Hmm? Wasn’t today…?
“Aahh!!”
I urgently patted Lily’s back.
“Ugh…”
Instead of letting go, Lily clung tighter.
“Lily, sch…uhh!!”
She blocked my further words with her lips.
I had no choice but to physically shove Lily’s face away with my palms.
“Ugh, why~”
My fierce resistance made Lily’s gaze return slightly, and under my relatively weak but insistent push, she stepped back.
Regaining my breath from the intense “meal,” I said,
“I have to go to school.”
“Hmm?”
“I need to go to school.”
Dazedly looking at me, Lily suddenly turned her head and looked at the clock I had been checking.
“Ugh, the time…”
Regret was evident on Lily’s face as she turned back toward me.
“Ugh, I’m still hungry…”
…Even outside of meal times, Lily’s cuteness was fatal.
But…
“I can’t miss classes.”
“…Tardy ch-”
“It’s not allowed.”
To begin with, how does she even know the word ‘tardy’?
“Ugh…”
Lily was still gazing at me—or more accurately, my lips—with longing.
“I’ll come again at lunch.”
“…You have to.”
“Yes, I definitely will.”
Despite my firm reply, Lily hesitated for a while before finally releasing her hair.
“Instead, I’ll eat a lot at lunch.”
“Yes.”
“I won’t let you go for an entire hour.”
“…”
…I’m worried I might suffocate, but…
I actually started looking forward to lunch, just a little.
Since my clothes were from when I returned to the dorm yesterday after school, I only smoothed out the wrinkles. With no time to wash up, I hastily ran a comb through my tousled hair.
When I made to leave the room urgently,
something soft touched my back.
Realizing what it was, my face heated up drastically.
“Wha… What are you doing…?”
Lily, who had pulled me down from behind, gently stroked my hair.
“Come back safely.”
The languid murmur sent shivers down my ears.
“…I will.”
I threw a greeting that felt like it had been ages since I last used.
Suddenly, Lily turned my body around and kissed me.
It was a very short kiss, considering the time, but unlike the intense “meal” earlier, it carried a warm sentiment and felt gentle.
I gazed dumbly at her, and Lily gave me a soft smile.
“Hehe, it’s for you to do your best today.”
“…Isn’t the forehead usually the place?”
“Of course, the lips are better, right?”
…I didn’t say no…
“…I’m really leaving now.”
“Come back safely~”
Leaving the dormitory, with Lily waving behind me as I closed the door,
I immediately felt an empty void in a corner of my heart.
The leap into reality, filled with scorn and contempt, had always tormented me,
but this time was different.
…
“Should I go?”
Each step I took had a strength I had never felt before, and the hallways that usually intimidated me felt less threatening.
Nothing had really changed.
The disdainful looks from my classmates and the teachers’ cold words would cover me just like yesterday. The towering cliff of expulsion would loom before me as well.
Still, something felt different.
‘Lily…’
Knowing someone was waiting for me.
No matter where I went or fell, knowing someone would be with me.
And the anticipation of the time I would spend with that someone.
All this made me feel like my view of the world had changed.
For the first time in a long time, I walked the dormitory hallway with a smile on my face.
