Even though Nao held back his strength, the pressure of his grip still made "Gion's" breathing grow shallow.
Her porcelain-white neck flushed red, blooming with color like spilled wine. But she didn't struggle. She didn't speak. Under the moonlight, she simply gazed up at Nao—silent, unmoving, unflinching.
Not talking?
Nao leaned in closer, locking eyes with those soft-pink irises. His gaze turned cold. His grip quietly tightened.
It didn't matter if she didn't talk.
There was no point in hiding one's identity from him—not when he had his system. Even if she stayed silent, he could simply use a scanner and instantly learn the truth.
With a thought, Nao pulled up his system panel and activated that day's free scan.
Lines of data appeared. His eyes flicked across them, ready to process—when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught the familiar, delicate face before him moving—
A sneak attack?
That was his first instinct. He reflexively tensed to counter—but the next second, his entire mind ground to a halt.
Because sothing soft had pressed against his lips.
Cool. Silky. A faint sweetness lingered in the contact, along with a light, earthy fragrance like a quiet lake deep in the forest. It rushed through his senses.
His mind drifted. The hand at her throat went slack. He stared, dazed.
And only he could see the blue light shining faintly from the translucent panel still floating in the air.
Lines of system data refreshed, one after another:
[Na: Shia Clongarde]
[Age: 18]
[Strength: 8]
[Agility: 7]
[Endurance: 10]
[Charm: 9]
[Skills: Rokushiki (Basic), Firearms Marksmanship (Advanced), Court Etiquette (Advanced), One-Sword Style (Basic), Stealth & Infiltration (Master), Paracia: Mane Mane no Mi]
[Initial Affection Achieved – Expected Full Completion Reward: 10,000 Points]
[Notes: A noble from the Osok Kingdom in the New World. Elegant and aloof by nature, she joined the Marines alone after rejecting a royal engagent. In her darkest hour, it was your warmth and smile that gave her a reason to keep living.]
[Over ti, you've beco her entire emotional world.]
…
Eventually, their lips parted.
The girl with the blue hair—having returned to her true form at so point—sat back where she'd been, knees hugged to her chest, curled up like a kitten waiting to be scolded.
"So it was you..."
Nao closed the panel and looked at the girl in front of him, his expression complicated. "Why did you do this?"
Shia tilted her head, confused.
The small motion made Nao's heart skip a beat. He inhaled sharply, steadying himself. "I an—why did you impersonate Rear Admiral Gion, sneak over here in the middle of the night..."
Deceive ? Ambush? Steal a kiss?
There wasn't a good word for it.
"...and interrupt my training while putting on this act?"
"Because… when I confessed before, you told not to bother you again," Shia murmured.
Gone was the proud and distant girl she showed the world. Sitting in front of Nao, she looked hurt, ek even, arms around her legs. "I really tried. Day after day, I held myself back. I thought I could handle it. But… I just missed you too much."
"Did I really say that?" Nao blinked. "Told you not to bother ?"
Thinking back… yeah, he probably had.
That night, flustered and cornered, he'd turned her down as harshly and bluntly as he could. Didn't even give her the chance to keep pursuing him.
In hindsight, maybe he'd been too cold.
...Then again, at the ti, he hadn't had any feelings for her. Honestly, he'd even wondered if she was one of those scary obsessive types.
Her voice drew him back: "My confession must've scared you. I didn't want to be pushy. So I thought… it'd be better to go back to how things were before, just watching you from afar."
"But then I saw you pushing yourself so hard on the training grounds, and I just… I just wanted to do sothing for you."
"'Do sothing'—like what you pulled tonight?" Nao pointed to his still slightly-swollen lips.
Nineteen years. He'd guarded that first kiss all his life—ant to give it to soone like Gion or Bellere. And now? Just like that?
Damn it. He hadn't even been ntally prepared!
"That wasn't the plan!" Shia said, eyes wide and innocent. "I just noticed you hadn't gone to the ss hall a few nights in a row. I thought you might be too tired or busy, so I started leaving bentos outside the door. Ones I made myself. And then... I watched you eat them. From a distance. That was enough."
Wait—those bentos?
Nao blinked. The flavor had been just a little off from the norm. Still tasty. Still nutritious. But a little different from Chef Vidona's usual fare.
He sighed. "Why didn't you say sothing? I assud they were from Vidona."
"Because if you knew it was ," she said softly, "you'd probably have told to stop."
Nao could picture it. Shia, exhausted after her own training, cooking late into the night just to bring him food. Then waiting, silently, for him to eat.
"Honestly… yeah, you're right. I probably would've." He rubbed his temples.
Shia bead a little. "I'm not dumb, y'know."
Nao groaned.
"Well, I know now," he said. "So please don't push yourself like that again."
Then, after a beat, he added, "And… about that night you confessed. I was too harsh. I hurt you, and I didn't even try to comfort you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay…" Shia whispered, shaking her head. "If it's you, Nao... I can forgive anything."
Where had he heard that before?
Oh. Right. That was the line that made him assu she was a hopeless yandere.
"And lastly—about tonight."
Nao paused, clearly thinking hard. Several seconds passed.
"No matter what your reasons were," he finally said, "you ca here and did what you did. I can't pretend it didn't happen. You get that, right?"
Shia nodded slowly, lowering her head. "I'm sorry… I really am. It was selfish. I understand if you—if you hate now. I'll stay away—"
"Oi. What are you talking about?" Nao frowned.
"Huh?"
"You've never kissed anyone before, have you?" he asked, expression serious.
"...No," she mumbled, biting her lip and blushing faintly.
"Well, neither have I."
Nao's gaze sharpened. "So, no—I can't just forget this ever happened. I have to take responsibility for what that kiss ans, and for you."
"Eh—!?"
Shia jolted like she'd been struck by lightning, staring at him in disbelief.
Nao… Nao-kun, are you saying what I think you're saying!?
"I've always been a man of principle. I rejected your confession back then because I truly didn't know you. Not only did my heart not flutter, but we had never even spoken before that day."
Seeing the look of joy gradually spreading across Shia's face, Nao couldn't keep his stern expression any longer. He shrugged helplessly.
"But things are different now. I have to be honest about the change in my own heart. If I feel sothing, I feel sothing. There's no need to deny it."
"If I took your first kiss and still acted all high-and-mighty and cold, playing so ga of push-and-pull, I'd not only hurt you again, but I'd end up despising myself."
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