"...So it can end up looking like this..."
"Brother-in-law's hand is so big…"
"Frieren really is so flat…"
Momo studied the scene on the bed, thoughts racing while her cheeks burned. She'd wanted to see, but her heart still pounded—too much, too fast. It was her first time witnessing something like this.
They didn't have "action films" out in space—at least she'd never seen any—but as an adult she knew enough to be curious. Just this much had her buzzing; she didn't dare imagine anything further.
Momo crept to the foot of the bed and carefully climbed up, wanting a closer look. There wasn't much point staring at her sister—she had what she should have; nothing new there. The main thing was him.
There were parts of a male body she didn't have, especially… She looked toward Shichen's crossed legs and realized she couldn't see what she wanted.
Brother-in-law was so formidable she worried she might wake him, but she still wanted to take a peek. She honestly didn't know what to do. Since he was asleep, there shouldn't be any reaction, right? It seemed this was as far as she could go for now.
Just as she started to back away, a hand caught her wrist.
"!" The blood drained from Momo's face; she almost jumped out of her skin. Lips pressed tight, eyes shut, she froze.
In the hush she could hear her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. After a long moment with no other sound, she cracked one eye open. No one stood in front of her. She looked down at the hand holding her wrist, traced it along the arm to its owner.
Brother-in-law.
But his eyes were still closed—still asleep. Maybe he'd just rolled over?
Relief swept through her… then a new dilemma. His grip was firm. If she struggled, she might wake him. If he woke up now, how would she explain any of this without seeming like the "wrong kind of" girl? That wouldn't do at all. But she couldn't just stay here like a statue, either.
While she was fretting, Shichen tugged, and she suddenly found herself on top of him.
"!" Startled again, she didn't even have time to react. Pressed against him through their sleepwear—her chest to his abdomen, her chin on his sternum—her mind flashed a thought:
Did Brother-in-law mistake me for Sis?
The thought barely formed before her head went hazy. The warm scent of a man up close scrambled her; so did his broad, firm chest, the hard lines of his abdomen—she was going to lose it. She didn't dare move, barely dared breathe. The last thing she wanted was to make her heartbeat obvious and wake him.
How did things end up like this so suddenly?
She was completely at a loss, too scared to budge. If he woke now, there'd be no explaining it. She didn't want him thinking she'd come for a midnight "visit," not when they'd only just gotten acquainted.
"Mm—"
Shichen shifted again. His left hand slipped free from Lala's embrace and curled around Momo's back; his right traced the line of her spine, heading westward until it found the base of her tail.
"Mm!" She couldn't hold back a tiny sound, then slapped a hand over her mouth, rigid as a board. A quick glance: eyes still closed.
He really had mistaken her for Sis.
Which meant next would be—
A tremor shot through her. She'd tussled with NaNa before, sure, but never had she been handled like this—with such easy confidence—and by him. With all those "buffs" stacking at once, she felt like she'd been jolted with electricity; her whole body went numb.
Shichen, "asleep," fought back a smirk. His technique was polished; Momo, for all that she was an adult, had no real experience. He hadn't expected her to come to his room tonight—certainly not this soon—but since she had, it'd be rude not to… acknowledge her.
He played idly with the soft tip of her tail, looping it around his forefinger, guiding her wrist, teasing the base with slow circles.
Even with that, she didn't make a sound—just bit her lip. Saliva beaded and dripped onto his chest.
She never suspected he might be faking, either. Lala had a tail too, they were in the same bed, so a "sleep-state mix-up" was perfectly plausible. Or perhaps deep down she didn't want him to be awake. Otherwise the embarrassment might have killed her.
Impressed with her self-control, Shichen didn't let up.
"Mm~" At last, a hushed sound slipped out before she clamped her hand over her mouth again. He coaxed her along a bit further; she endured.
Then his arm relaxed. Without giving her any hint he was awake, he turned over, edged her gently toward the foot of the bed, and settled back in—pulling Lala close with both arms.
Momo lay there, breathless, eyes unfocused. After a long time, she finally eased herself off the bed, legs unsteady, and drifted out the door like cotton.
When it clicked shut, Shichen opened his eyes and gave a helpless shake of his head.
Back in her room, Momo collapsed face-first on her bed and didn't want to move. She didn't even bother changing her underwear before sleep took her. Her last semi-coherent thought:
Brother-in-law is way too powerful…
…
Morning. Shichen woke first, listened to Lala's heartbeat for a moment, then slipped out. Yami could wait; it wasn't her morning.
It was Saturday—no one needed to be up early—but it wasn't that early, either. He headed downstairs to make breakfast… and, to his surprise, Momo came down soon after.
"Morning, Brother-in-law."
"Morning, Momo." He gave her a once-over; nothing seemed amiss—maybe just a bit more glow to her face.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, noticing his look.
"It's nothing… You just look especially pretty this morning."
Pink bobbed hair, delicate features, fair skin flushed a soft rose, comfy sleepwear—how could anyone not stare?
"Really? Thank you, Brother-in-law." Momo blinked, then smiled.
"How come you're up so early? You could sleep a little longer."
"I couldn't fall back asleep. And I don't really have a habit of sleeping in." She shook her head.
(She had, after all, changed into dry underwear; wearing the other would've been… uncomfortable.)
"I see."
"Are you making breakfast? Can I help?"
"Help?"
"Mhm. I want to see how this planet's cooking works—and learn a little."
"Sure."
"Thank you, Brother-in-law."
With her quietly watching, Shichen found his motivation rising. Her steady questions, her bright praise, that soft voice and open expression—it all made his heart bloom a little. Maybe this was what they meant by "men and women working together makes light work."
Before he knew it, breakfast was ready.
"Brother-in-law, why don't you go wake Sis and the others? I'll set the table."
"Think you can handle it alone?"
"I can. Don't underestimate me—I'm pretty capable."
"That you are." He nodded. A royal princess of Deviluke wasn't a delicate flower, after all.
Reassured, Shichen went to rouse the rest.