...
"Haven't you kissed enough yet? Suzuka isn't coming back tomorrow."
Lucian turned his face away, stroking Special Week's cheek with one hand while the other withdrew.
Even though the lone boat in the endless white snow, the tiny pavilion in the lake's heart, was a view she deeply cherished.
Special Week tried to climb higher; the instant she straightened up, her graceful figure curved beautifully. "Because... because Trainer-san's kisses are too sweet."
"Even if they're sweet, you can't taste them like this. Last time you kissed me until I bled, remember?"
Special Week lowered her head shyly. "I remember, sorry Trainer-san, but we haven't kissed in so long."
"Does Trainer-san still remember when our last kiss was?"
Lucian answered instantly: "The day before yesterday."
Special Week: "Last week."
Both froze at the same time. How did the accounts not match?
"Trainer-san, what does 'the day before yesterday' mean?" Special Week frowned; even the usually soft-spoken her could look displeased.
Lucian quickly realized. The day before yesterday was mouth-to-mouth communication with that little lustful cat Seiun Sky.
As for Special Week, he had actually forgotten.
He needed to find a time to let Special Week know about Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka's existence, so he wouldn't have to be so careful and secretive.
Cough cough. "I thought indirect kissing counted too, and thought it was already past midnight." Lucian dry-coughed twice and countered: "Did Spe-chan forget? I just ate your cake earlier."
"Cake?" Special Week's face flushed crimson. But cake? Just now she had been holding Lucian's head... what did that have to do with indirect kissing?
Lucian knew she misunderstood. "Oh, I misspoke. It was the pastries I prepared earlier."
"So that's it. But that kind of indirect kissing doesn't count. It has to be like what Spe-chan just did with Trainer-san."
"Fine, then it really does go back to last week." Catching sight of the mop leaning against the wall, Lucian said: "Spe-chan, I haven't finished mopping the floor?"
"Trainer-san, do you absolutely have to mop this floor tonight?" Special Week cupped Lucian's head again, chin resting on him, both hands gently stroking his hair.
Did she really have no appeal at all? What charm did that pitch-black mop have? Whatever it had, didn't she have it too...
"Haha, not really." Lucian leaned close to Special Week's neck, inhaling her pleasant floral scent. "Then let's mop tomorrow. Shall we go to sleep now?"
"But it's only a little past eleven..." Only when she was with Lucian did Special Week feel eleven wasn't late.
"Didn't Spe-chan just say she came to sleep?"
"I don't want to sleep so early." Special Week pulled Lucian's hand and placed it on her waist. "Tonight I really miss Trainer-san. I want to do lots of intimate things with Trainer-san."
"Spe-chan can be this frank too?" Lucian had just asked when he understood. Once is unfamiliar, twice is familiar; he and Special Week had already done it several times.
"Why is Trainer-san so surprised? Don't you usually feel how much I like you?" Special Week felt a little wronged.
"Unless Spe-chan officially announces it to the team tomorrow."
"No way!" Special Week shyly buried herself back into Lucian's chest. "That's not okay."
She quietly felt Lucian's heartbeat for a while, then suddenly said: "Trainer-san, I... I have a question..."
"What question?"
"That kind of thing... what does it feel like? I'm really curious."
"I know you're Special curious." Lucian was about to guide her, but then thought he should act innocent now, pretend to know nothing. "That kind of thing... I don't really understand either."
"Trainer-san doesn't understand either?"
"Uh... should I?"
Lucian was momentarily unsure. Was Special Week asking a question to find an answer, or bringing an answer to ask a question?
Don't let a newly awakened heart jump to its death on the sofa.
Absolutely not tonight. If asked, just say Seiun Sky used the "starve the enemy" tactic last night.
Special Week raised doubtful eyes. "Didn't Dragon Country have an old saying, 'Even if you haven't eaten pork, haven't you seen a pig run?' Hasn't Trainer-san seen those... little books, little videos..."
"Uh..."
Of course he had. Lucian definitely had. Even ruins that had to be destroyed before death.
But that was before. Now where did he have time... every three days Silence Suzuka, every five days Seiun Sky.
"Trainer-san, why aren't you speaking?"
"I can only say... even if I've seen them, it doesn't mean I understand."
"Okay." Special Week nodded, glanced at Lucian's lips, and took a few more reluctant sips. "Trainer-san, can you come visit my place this New Year? You didn't come last year."
"Last year time was tight, and it was too far."
"Then this year? Come specifically to see me."
Lucian had no reason to refuse, and this year he planned not to return to Dragon Country. "Sure, I can go see you this year."
"Great! There's a big ranch near my place. The sunrise in the morning is really beautiful."
"Then I'll look forward to it." Lucian suddenly grabbed Special Week's hands, flipped her over, and pinned her against the sofa, doing nothing, just staring at her.
Special Week's uneasy eyes darted away, her voice soft: "W-what is it, Trainer-san?"
"No more 'Trainer-san.' Change to a nickname."
"D-dear... Trainer-san."
Lucian wasn't satisfied. He let go of Special Week's hands and sat on the edge of the sofa, pretending to be angry.
"Trainer-san, are you mad?" Special Week cautiously crawled beside Lucian.
She was completely in his grasp. Even knowing he was faking, she would still coax him.
"No."
"I... I just can't say it." Special Week said aggrievedly. She boldly draped her slender legs over Lucian's lap, tugged at her white stockings, smoothing the wrinkles. "Trainer wants to play... if we play, will you stop being mad?"
Lucian was startled. "Spe-chan, where did you learn that?"
"I-it's what the book said could make a boyfriend happy, so I... I..." Special Week struggled to say. "Or does Trainer-san prefer black? I brought some in my bag too."
"From a book?"
The phrase sounded familiar.
Considering Special Week was roommates with Silence Suzuka... Silence Suzuka really did all the good deeds.
"It's a romance novel, not the naughty kind..." Special Week explained while leaning on Lucian's shoulder, too embarrassed.
"So that's it." Lucian kneaded Special Week's elastic calf, having fun.
"Trainer-san." Special Week brought her fragrant lips close again. "I really like you. Can you stop being mad?"
"If you change the other leg to black..."
"Okay, I'll change right now."
...