Morning came gently. A pale golden light seeped through the thin curtains, spilling across the room in soft streaks that painted everything in warmth.
Dust particles floated lazily in the air, glowing faintly as they drifted in the sunlight.
Hiro's eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, he didn't move. The bed beneath him felt… too soft. Too comfortable.
The faint scent of strawberries still lingered in the air, clinging to the sheets and pillows like a quiet reminder of the night before.
"…Where am I—"
Then it hit him. Everything. His body stiffened.
His face turned bright red in an instant.
"Holy crap…!" he whispered, immediately clutching the back of his head.
Memories rushed in like a tidal wave—heat, closeness, Yurei's voice, her breath, her touch—
"I actually… did that… with Yurei…"
His ears burned.
"I guess I'm not a total virgin anymore…" he muttered, staring blankly at the ceiling.
A pause.
"…So maybe a half-virgin?" He winced at his own logic.
Slowly, he turned his head. The space beside him was empty.
The sheets were slightly wrinkled, still warm—proof that she had been there not long ago.
"She must've woken up already…"
Hiro sat up, running a hand through his messy black hair. His body still felt slightly heavy, like it hadn't fully recovered from the previous night—or from everything else that had happened.
As he slid out of bed, his bare feet sank into the soft carpet.
It felt warm.
Comforting.
But his mind was anything but calm. He quickly got dressed and stepped out into the hallway.
The base was quiet.
Too quiet.
The polished wooden floors reflected the morning light, glowing faintly as Hiro walked down the corridor.
His footsteps were almost completely silent, muffled by the careful construction of the building.
Even though they were in the middle of a bustling Central City, the soundproofing made it feel like an entirely different world.
Peaceful.
Safe.
It almost felt… unreal. Hiro exhaled slowly.
"…I could get used to this."
He continued walking until— The smell hit him.
Rich.
Savory.
Irresistible.
Bacon.
Eggs.
Something buttery. His stomach growled immediately.
"Perfect timing…"
He pushed open the dining room door.
The moment he stepped inside—
All conversation stopped. Every single girl at the table froze even Elira, who stood at the stove, paused mid-motion. And then—
They all turned to look at him and immediately looked away.
Blushing.
Every single one of them.
"…Good morning?" Hiro said cautiously.
The reaction was instant—but awkward.
"Good morning, idiot," Daisy muttered, refusing to meet his eyes.
"M-morning," Bailey added softly.
"Good morning," Yurei said, her voice composed—but her cheeks faintly pink.
"G-good morning!" Marian stammered, her tone noticeably higher than usual.
Hiro slowly walked to his seat.
What the hell is going on…? He sat down.
The silence was unbearable.
Then—
It clicked.
Wait…
His eyes widened.
Don't tell me…
"They heard us last night?!" he thought, internally screaming.
Unbeknownst to him, that wasn't entirely wrong—though the truth was slightly different.
Yurei's emotions had been shared through their bond.
Every sensation.
Every feeling.
Every… moment.
And now everyone knew.
Then clatter, Elira placed a plate in front of him.Eggs slightly runny with crispy bacon and steam rising gently.
"Th-thank you…" Hiro muttered.
The smell alone was enough to calm his nerves slightly.
"So…" he began, forcing a casual tone,
"Captain—what's the plan for today?"
Yurei straightened slightly. Her composure returned—but just barely.
"I am an Imperial Princess…" she thought internally. "I cannot let something like that affect me…"
A small pause.
"…It was just training."
Another pause.
"…Affection training."
She nodded to herself.
"Yes."
Outwardly, she spoke calmly. "We have a training session today. All of us."
"Training?" Hiro repeated.
"And tomorrow," she continued, "we begin the inspection tour."
"Oh—right!" Marian suddenly exclaimed. "The inspection tour!"
"…What's that?" Hiro asked.
Bailey finally looked at him properly.
"We travel across the region," she explained, "inspecting military units."
"Inspecting…?"
Yurei crossed her arms slightly.
"I am responsible for this region. It is my duty."
Hiro blinked.
Right…
She's not just Yurei. She's a princess.
"…That's a lot of responsibility," he muttered.
Yurei didn't respond—but her expression softened slightly.
Later that morning…
The training grounds buzzed with energy.
The sun shone brightly overhead, reflecting off metallic equipment and casting sharp shadows across the open field.
Hiro stood frozen.
"…Whoa."
Every girl had changed into training gear.
Marian's black-and-white tracksuit hugged her athletic body,the cropped top and low-rise pants revealing her toned abs and emphasizing her ample chest., her abs visible with every movement.
Bailey's colorful coat clung to her frame whichoutlined her curves elegantly, her posture radiating refined grace, elegant yet powerful.
Elira's bandage-like suit wrapped tightly around her body left nothing to the imagination, the pristine white wrapping taut against her frame, pristine and intimidating.
Daisy's sleek one-piece emphasized her balanced physique,her modest curves and larger chest, her form small and graceful.
And Yurei—
"Hiro."
Her voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. He snapped back instantly.
"S-sorry!"
She stood before him. Her jacket tied around her waist, her toned upper body exposed, muscles subtly defined beneath smooth skin. Her crimson eyes were sharp.
"Focus."
"…Yes, ma'am."
"Today," she said, "we begin physical training and martial arts."
Hiro nodded.
"Ok… exercise—Wait! Martial arts?!" Hiro exclaimed, a mix of dread and excitement tightening his chest.
"Yes. You must learn martial arts techniques. They'll boost your combat potential when you transform, and also keep you safe in your human form. Abyssals aren't the only threat in this world," Yurei said, her voice firm, carrying the weight of reality.
Even though awakened males could transform into powerful beasts, in human form they were vulnerable—usually the first target for enemies before their mistresses could intervene. Seeing her unwavering expression, Hiro swallowed hard, straightening his posture.
"Ok, ma'am," he said, bracing himself.
"Here's your exercise regimen:
100 push-ups
100 sit-ups
10 km run"
Why does this feel like a training regimen for a certain bald-headed protagonist? Hiro thought, already feeling his muscles tense.
"I think that would kill me, Captain," he said, grimacing.
"Relax. With Elira around, we can heal you in seconds," Marian said, peeking at his list with a small smirk.
This is going to suck, Hiro thought, stretching carefully, muscles protesting as he prepared for the exercise routine from hell.