"Shichen-nii, you mean…?"
"Shh."
Shichen motioned for her to keep quiet, and the hand rubbing her stomach started to move lower. That swimsuit really was convenient—not much different from underwear.
"Shichen…?" Kotegawa Yui let out a tiny gasp.
"Keep it down. We don't want them hearing, do we?" Shichen reminded her with a smile, his hand not stopping at all.
"Mm."
Yui stifled a sound and immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, nervously glancing toward the tent.
The flap was shut tight; she couldn't see what was going on inside, and she couldn't hear anything either. But just because she couldn't hear them didn't mean they couldn't hear her. People weren't all the same, after all.
"Shichen… why are you… doing this now? Weren't you going to…?" Yui whispered, voice small and shaky.
"Exactly. That's why now is the right time," he replied lightly.
"Mm… everyone's still here…" Yui shivered, biting down on her lip; even her voice changed tone, soft and breathy, tickling the ears. Normally her voice was clear, a little spoiled-sounding, but right now she just sounded fragile.
"Relax. They're stuffed and drowsy. They'll be asleep soon."
"But what if…"
"Don't you want to be like us?" he asked.
"Like you… what does that have to do with this?" Yui frowned, dubious.
"Of course it does."
"How could this have anything to do with that? That can't be real."
If you could become some superpowered being just by doing this, the world would be full of superheroes already.
"Why would I lie to you?" Shichen dipped his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead, smiling.
"Mmm… I know you wouldn't lie to me, Shichen, but why does it have to be this?" Yui couldn't help pressing his hand down.
"Because it's tied to my constitution."
"Your… constitution? Since when is that such a good deal? What's that got to do with me?"
"As long as the two of us… connect…"
"C-connect?!"
Yui froze up on the spot. She absolutely understood what that kind of "connect" meant.
"Shichen, are you saying…?"
"Exactly what you think."
"That's… impossible…" Yui's heart started pounding even harder.
"I wouldn't lie to you about something like this."
"Mmm… it's just… too sudden…"
"It's not sudden at all. I've been itching from your temptation for a long time."
"I… I didn't tempt you at all."
"You really don't know how attractive you are. And you're in a swimsuit right now. I am a normal guy."
"Everyone else is dressed the same…"
"Yeah, but I want to do something with you."
"This is way too sudden…"
"It is a little," he admitted, "but I've already decided I'm not letting you go tonight."
"Why are you like this…"
"Heh. Even if you try to run, you won't get away," Shichen said, smug.
"T-Then what if I scream and call everyone over?" Yui whispered.
"Then the only one dying of embarrassment will be you."
"Why?"
"Think about it. If Lala and the others realize what I'm about to do to you, are they going to pretend not to notice, or crowd over to watch the show?"
"…"
Yui thought about it—and neither option sounded great. The worst part was, she knew both were entirely possible.
"And once they know what we're doing, what then? Are you really going to be able to look them in the eyes tomorrow?"
"Mm…" She didn't have a comeback for that.
"Momo might even sneak a peek~"
"Absolutely not!" Yui shook her head on reflex.
"So yeah. Just be good."
"I… Shichen, why are you pushing this so hard? Is it just so I can be like you?"
"That's part of it. But mostly? I just can't hold back around you anymore."
"C-Can't… hold back!?" Yui shivered.
"Yeah. If I don't completely make you mine, I'll always feel uneasy."
"You're exaggerating… I'm already… yours…"
"Are you really not interested in this kind of thing?" he asked softly.
"I-I'm not… interested…"
"Heh. You hesitated. Sounds like you are interested."
"I am not!" Yui immediately denied it.
"Don't worry. There's nothing to be scared of."
"Mm… why are you being so forceful…"
"You really can't feel it?" Shichen said, voice layered with meaning.
"Shichen…" Her voice got even softer.
"Give yourself to me, okay?"
He bent his head, looking straight into her eyes, completely serious.
Yui's heart trembled as she met his gaze; his eyes were so sincere it made her chest ache. Normally, a man's words at a moment like this shouldn't be trusted—but she knew, deep down, she couldn't refuse him. Even with all the nerves, all the unease.
"…Okay." Yui nodded hard.
"Then I'll take it from here."
Shichen slid his free arm around her waist, settling her properly on his lap. Her little belly was back to its usual flat line—smooth, tight, brimming with youthful energy.
His other hand kept moving.
"Yui…" Shichen's voice dropped low.
"Shichen…" Yui glanced back at him, eyes hazy, and leaned toward him of her own will. Once she'd accepted it, she let go completely, mind clear of everything else, just following her own heart.
He kissed her again.
They stayed like that for a long time, until Yui couldn't breathe; only then did Shichen let her go.
"Haa… Shichen…"
Her eyes had gone even more unfocused, her pretty face flushed red like it could bleed.
"From here on out… it might hurt a little~" Shichen's eyes shone crimson as he warned her.
"Mm…" Yui just nodded, breathless.
Without further hesitation, he lowered his head, nuzzled her neck, and let his fangs slide out, piercing her skin.
"Nh—"
She let out a small whimper as a thin line of red trickled down her neck, sliding along the curve to her collarbone.
Shichen ignored it, concentrating on drinking her blood. It tasted cool and refreshing, perfect for cutting through the richness of the meal he'd just eaten. Since Yui was an ordinary human, he couldn't take much; once he'd taken the edge off, he reversed the flow, letting his own blood seep back into her—again, just a little.
As he drank, Yui tipped her head back, dazed. He hadn't told her there'd be bloodsucking involved, but she trusted he wouldn't hurt her, so she let him do as he wanted. Still, the feeling of her blood leaving her body was bizarrely clear.
And after a moment, she felt something flowing back in—blood, but not her own. What is Shichen doing to me? she wondered vaguely.
Just as that thought formed, she realized something else was off: a heat building slowly inside her, a restless warmth spreading through her whole body. It made her squirm; made her want to cling to his arm, rub her chest against him.
Right then, Shichen finished giving her his blood and lifted his head from her neck, a thin thread of red stretching between his lips and her skin.
The thread broke, falling to her chest in a faint line of red—much lighter than the first.
"Shichen…" Yui leaned up toward him, trying to kiss him.
He cupped her now slightly sultry face, leaned in, and kissed her once more. The taste of blood spread between them, but she drank it in like sugar.
She grew more forward than ever before, more fiery, more eager.
Above them, the moon shone bright, the island bathed in soft silver light. Their silhouettes were wrapped in moonlight, hazy and mysterious.
At some point, a small piece of clothing that looked like an eye mask—her swimsuit top—landed on the ground.
"Shichen…" Yui breathed.
"Let's change locations," he said, scooping her up and vanishing from the spot.
Moments after they disappeared, the tent flap lifted, and Momo tiptoed out.
She glanced at the empty loungers, then at the two scraps of underwear on the sand, and sighed in regret.
She'd wanted a front-row view.
Too bad her brother-in-law never gave her the chance.
Wherever they were now, she was sure her brother-in-law and Yui were somewhere, singing a duet only the two of them could hear.
And she, unfortunately, wasn't privy to the soundtrack.