...
The water rippled for a while.
The water rippled and swayed for quite a while.
Lucian's hands traced the curves of Silence Suzuka's body under the water, his fingers exploring her most intimate places with deliberate slowness. He teased her entrance, circling before sliding in, the warm water amplifying every sensation as she arched against him, her breaths turning into soft moans that echoed in the steam-filled room.
...
Coming out of the bathroom.
For the first time in a while, Lucian enjoyed Silence Suzuka's dressing service. "What about you? Won't you be cold in just that?"
"Not cold."
"Good if not cold."
Her constitution couldn't be generalized with his; Lucian knew she had her limits, but he'd still mention it often.
Silence Suzuka carefully buttoned up. "For team-building, has Lucian-kun decided where to go?"
"Adopting Matikane's suggestion, to the amusement park in the neighboring county... But it's winter now, so the water world there is temporarily closed. Only Joy Valley, Fantasy World, and the aquarium as themes to choose from."
He said so much, but Silence Suzuka only focused on the seemingly irrelevant first two words. "You call her 'Matikane'?"
"Mm... Because her name is too long, so everyone discussed and gave her that nickname."
"Besides that, there are Twin Turbo, Urara, Rice Shower and the others; they all have nicknames for each other."
Lucian wasn't explaining; he just wanted to fill in more of the daily life Silence Suzuka had missed.
"Then what about me? Do I have a nickname?" Silence Suzuka finished buttoning, didn't step back, but leaned forward instead.
She found that doing nothing, just quietly looking at him like this, was also a happy thing.
Lucian opened his arms and said nonsensically, "Let me hug?"
Silence Suzuka tilted her head in confusion but still offered the embrace.
"Hugging my daughter."
Silence Suzuka returned to her indifferent demeanor, reached to Lucian's waist, and gave a gentle twist.
"Wrong, wrong~" Lucian shrank to the side, still grinning. "It was all shared by Symboli Rudolf classmate. If there's an issue, you can find her."
"Lucian-kun still in contact with the President?"
"Don't overthink this; it's limited to discussing jokes."
Symboli Rudolf seemed to treat him as a kindred spirit; after that, she'd occasionally share self-created jokes with him.
Lucian often got chilled by them.
"Then can the others overthink?" Silence Suzuka always caught the loopholes in Lucian's words.
"You're better at catching points than me." Lucian said, though he caught with hands, Silence Suzuka checked with mouth. "Help you blow-dry your hair, then cook noodles. Eat and head out."
"Mm."
As shown (delete if infringing)
...
Silence Suzuka pocketed one hand, the other hooked Lucian's wrist, coming to the mall with him.
Perhaps still the blessing of the three goddesses, when a star horse girl appeared on the street, there wouldn't be hordes of fans screaming and surrounding.
Outside, Silence Suzuka was no different from ordinary people.
The two first bought a cup of milk tea.
Lucian: "Why not two cups?"
Silence Suzuka: "Lucian-kun still disgusted with me? Back then, it was clearly you pressing..."
"Cough cough." Timely prediction, timely interruption, had become Lucian's passive skill. "Milk tea drunk by Suzuka is sweet."
"Lucian-kun, really?" Silence Suzuka slurped another sip, held it in her mouth, some leaking from the corner.
"Really." Lucian leaned down slightly, replacing the milk tea in her mouth with a new container.
She really wasn't afraid of passersby's gazes at all.
...
Silence Suzuka, like most girls, liked shopping.
But she liked buying things for Lucian.
This watch suits Lucian, pack and buy.
This perfume smells nice, pack for Lucian.
This women's clothing would look good on Lucian, pack...
Lucian: "Hey, I don't want this one."
No response came; he curiously followed Silence Suzuka's gaze—it seemed to be men's victory outfit.
The kind of shirt that perfectly shapes the body.
Indeed, faintly visible never goes out of style.
"Lucian-kun, will you wear it?"
"By your morning words, I should wear patient clothes."
"Lucian-kun, patients don't have to wear patient clothes." Silence Suzuka still fingered that T-shirt.
Lucian could see Silence Suzuka really wanted to buy. "Buy buy buy, if you like, buy."
...
Of course, Lucian also bought some things for Silence Suzuka.
He took her to the glasses store, picked some non-prescription glasses for her to try.
"This black frame... a bit like a country bumpkin, should match your school uniform."
"The silver frame suits your outfit, a bit of cold teacher vibe."
"Gold wire frame... this is good, but should pair with OL uniform, abstinent style."
...
Lucian was still hesitating what other glasses to pick; Silence Suzuka, wearing the gold frames, suddenly leaned close, her hand lightly lifting Lucian's chin.
"Lucian-kun like this one? Can add contrast?"
"Don't mess, so many people." Lucian wrapped her fingers.
Silence Suzuka: "Buy them all."
"I think that's fine."
...
Stopping and walking, the two passed a claw machine store.
"Hm? I think I see Spe-chan and Seiun."
Silence Suzuka instinctively released Lucian's hand. "Spe-chan? Where?"
"I mean the dolls in the claw machines."
Silence Suzuka breathed relief, gave him a blank look. "Lucian-kun, can you be clearer?"
"Why, now you know fear? Back when someone kissed me goodbye at the airport, why no fear?" Lucian raised his hand. "Just let go like that, not letting you hold."
Silence Suzuka didn't forcefully grab back Lucian's hand, but tugged his clothes. "Lucian-kun, wrong... apologize to you."
Lucian also fell for her occasional softening, coaxing.
"Don't be mad." Silence Suzuka lowered her voice, her hand slipping under his shirt, fingers tracing his skin teasingly, building a subtle heat between them.
"You're not allowed to move."
"Mm."
"Alright, forgive you."
Lucian extended his hand; Silence Suzuka placed hers on it, interlacing fingers again, like an eternal pendant.
The two entered the claw machine store, only to find not just Seiun Sky and Special Week dolls; Silence Suzuka's own were there too.
But perhaps due to her year out of sight, machines with her dolls were few, placed in the corner.
"No grabbing Seiun or Spe-chan, or anyone else's."
"Then who to grab? McQueen?"
"No." Silence Suzuka puffed her cheeks, quite cute. "Not allowed..."
"Then what do you say to grab? These are all hot horse girls right now! The dolls inside aren't for direct sale! And heard they're quite hard to grab!" Lucian "condemned" righteously.
Silence Suzuka tugged Lucian's sleeve again, pointing to the corner machine. "Grab that....."
"Who's that over there, some unknown horse girl daring to imitate?"
Silence Suzuka pursed her lips, said softly: "Silence Suzuka.... go grab Silence Suzuka..... Lucian-kun can only grab Silence Suzuka."
...