...
A kiss is a process of exchanging each other's affections.
Seiun Sky's kiss remained domineering, yet no longer inexperienced.
Because she would consciously give Lucian enough time to catch his breath.
During these brief pauses, she would also exhale softly or run her fingers through Lucian's hair to fill the fleeting emptiness.
Finally getting what she wanted, as the kiss deepened, the initial shy distance between them vanished entirely.
Seiun Sky clung tightly to Lucian, as if hugging a body pillow to sleep, wanting to melt him into her very being.
Just like always, once satisfied, she began whispering sweet, tender words.
Like a cat lounging in its owner's arms after a full meal, craving affection.
"Mmm, hug me tighter~"
"I like you, I really like you..."
...
Silence Suzuka regretted not turning on a recorder beforehand.
But though she was mocking Seiun Sky now, her own voice earlier had been unbearably sweet too.
The only one suffering was the figure listening through a small crack in the door.
She had thought Seiun Sky shared the same goal as her, but who would have guessed...
Even someone as bold as Haru Urara didn't dare burst in and interrupt.
She just couldn't understand—how could the Trainer kiss Seiun Sky...?
Moreover, her heart ached far more than when she saw Lucian singing with Tokai Teio earlier that evening, as if gripped by a powerful hand.
Urara didn't want to listen anymore and tried to leave, but her numb legs felt nailed to the floor.
Darker than the night was the swirling black haze in her eyes.
...
After Seiun Sky and Lucian shared another intimate moment, Silence Suzuka took advantage of Seiun Sky's distraction to peek out and catch her breath.
She was getting impatient... They'd been kissing for half an hour—weren't their lips dry?
However, Suzuka could also gauge how far Seiun Sky had progressed—she was lagging far behind.
And it was just a qipao—it wasn't like Silence Suzuka couldn't wear one too. She could even dress in something sexier for Lucian!
Sensing Suzuka's restless movements behind him, Lucian ended the embrace with Seiun Sky. "Seiun, are you really sleeping here tonight?"
"Didn't we already agree? Or does the Trainer not want me here?"
The moment her tone lowered, Lucian knew it was a prelude to her biting him. "Of course you're welcome."
Behind him, Silence Suzuka was growing impatient, but he couldn't figure out how to send Seiun Sky away just yet.
Maybe... they could make do for one night?
Since things had come to this, sleep it was.
"Then let's sleep. Goodnight."
"Mhm, goodnight."
They bid each other goodnight, but Silence Suzuka beside them wasn't having it.
Goodnight? Without even asking her?
Under the covers, Suzuka clamped onto Lucian's hand.
Lucian instinctively tried to resist but, realizing he was outmatched and that any struggle would make too much noise, gave up.
As a result, his hand landed squarely on Seiun Sky's perky backside.
"T-Trainer!" Seiun Sky tensed up like a startled bird.
She still wasn't mentally prepared—it was all too fast for her.
Yet she didn't want to disappoint Lucian by rejecting him...
"S-Seiun, that wasn't on purpose!" Lucian was just as startled as Seiun Sky, not expecting Silence Suzuka's mischief.
By then, Seiun Sky had already pulled away from Lucian's embrace.
But Silence Suzuka fanned the flames, giving Seiun Sky's thigh a pinch.
Tonight, only one of them—her or this whimpering cat—could stay!
With that move, Seiun Sky threw off the covers and bolted up. "Trainer! I-I think I'll go back to my room to sleep..."
"Huh? Okay..." Lucian didn't understand why Seiun Sky's reaction had escalated so suddenly.
But it was probably better if she returned to her room—being caught in the middle was awkward.
Before leaving, Seiun Sky kissed Lucian one last time, then scurried away in a fluster, tail between her legs.
...
Once sure Seiun Sky was gone, Lucian wiped his sweat.
"Suzuka, you've got some nerve."
"Did Lucian-kun really want us to wake up face-to-face tomorrow morning?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind, and it seems like you're not afraid of her finding out either." Lucian actually found it somewhat amusing, especially since they both vaguely knew each other's feelings.
"Hmph, not yet." Silence Suzuka wasn't ready either.
She took a deep breath. "I almost suffocated earlier, but I did get to see a surprising side of Seiun."
Adjusting to a comfortable position in Lucian's arms, she caught a whiff of Seiun Sky's lingering scent and tried to overwrite it. "It doesn't smell like you anymore... So, does she always talk to Lucian-kun like that in private?"
"Pretty much. Suzuka, you're not thinking of recording it, are you?" Seeing her silence, Lucian wondered if she already had. "You didn't actually record it, did you?"
"I wish, but I didn't dare make too much noise earlier." Silence Suzuka's mind was still filled with the sound of Seiun Sky's voice. "Seiun's a bit... lewd around Lucian-kun."
"She's just clingy, that's all."
Lucian thought Silence Suzuka had no room to talk.
Comparing her to Seiun Sky now? No contest.
"Lucian-kun, you touched Seiun earlier. Tell me... who's better, her or me?"
"You're really comparing this?"
"Answer."
"You." Lucian surrendered, and the hand roaming his body finally stilled.
But then, Silence Suzuka flipped over, pressing against him. "I've rested enough now."
Cradling his face, she sealed her lips over his once more.
...
Meanwhile.
A few minutes before Seiun Sky left, Haru Urara had also quietly retreated to her room.
But what she had heard lingered in her ears like a haunting melody.
Though she hadn't seen anything, her mind conjured images of the two kissing.
The impact on her was no less than a sudden, violent storm.
"Urara, you're still awake?" Rice Shower, a light sleeper, stirred at the noise.
"Yeah, I just went to the bathroom."
"Okay, get some rest."
Rice Shower felt Urara's voice was unusually cold, not the groggy tone of someone half-asleep.
But drowsiness stifled her curiosity.
For Urara, however, tonight would likely be a sleepless one.
...