I massaged the professor's shoulders with my small hands. "Kneading" might be the right word for it, but I was trying my best regardless.
Sitting on the sofa, I looked down at the professor who was seated firmly on the floor as I continued the massage. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was doing a good job, so I kept glancing at the professor's reactions.
Though given our positions, I couldn't actually see the professor's face.
"So, what made Urr suddenly offer a massage? Do you want something?"
The professor slightly turned their head. I almost flinched when that gaze shifted toward me.
"N-no... I'm just doing it because I want to. Hehe."
Whatever I had originally wanted no longer mattered. The professor was busy, and I couldn't possibly add to that workload.
I put more strength into my hands and used my arms to continue the massage. When my hands resumed kneading the professor's shoulders after a brief pause, the professor stopped mid-sentence and shifted slightly.
"...Ah, that spot was perfect."
"Here?"
"Yes, right there. Oh, who taught you this, Urr? You're really good."
The professor seemed pleased with my massage, making appreciative sounds. Feeling proud, I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from curling up.
After the massage ended, the professor grabbed their shoulders, rotated their arms in circles, and nodded.
"I feel so much better thanks to you, Urr."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
As I sat on the sofa grinning, the professor twisted their waist slightly to face me better.
"Would you like a massage too, Urr?"
"...A massage? Hmm, umm..."
"If you're considering it, shall we try?"
While I closed my eyes and pondered for a while, the professor chuckled at my expression and asked me to turn around.
Before I knew it, our positions had switched. Perhaps because of my small stature, both the professor and I ended up sitting on the floor side by side.
The professor's hands gently approached my shoulders. Maybe because it reminded me of the familiar weight of that coat, it felt strangely comfortable, helping me relax.
As I surrendered to the professor's hands, they began by gently gripping the muscles near my neck, as if trying to loosen them first.
"Hueek!"
"Huh?"
Before I could wonder what sound had just escaped my mouth, the professor exclaimed in surprise. The professor's hands froze, and silence fell between us.
After a long moment of silence, the professor wordlessly moved their hands again. My body trembled as those hands brushed near my neck.
"Hiyak!"
My shivering body couldn't withstand that ticklish sensation and I jumped up.
"Is Urr the type who can't handle being tickled...?"
As I stood up abruptly, covering my neck, the professor stared at me blankly. Another moment of silence seemed to pass, but this time I shook my head first.
"I-I think it's better if we don't continue..."
As I retreated hesitantly, the professor suddenly seemed to have an amusing thought, eyes curving into crescents as they stood up. That amusing thought didn't seem like it would be amusing for me, so I swallowed a groan.
One step back, two steps back. Then I fled from the professor with a "Waaaaaah!"
"Huff, huff..."
"I never knew Urr could move so quickly... Maybe it's because your clothes aren't that loose?"
"...I don't know."
As I lay sprawled on the floor catching my breath, the professor was also sitting on the sofa, regulating their breathing. Looking at them, I cautiously spoke up.
"...Next time, no tickling."
"Depends on how Urr behaves."
"..."
I made a mental note that not listening might result in tickle hell.
**
I had an ordinary day. When Tuesday afternoon came, I moved with the professor to attend the third-year lecture.
"Magic Studies of Demon Gods." How Demon Gods gather and use Mana. I was sitting in the very back row with Sera for this lecture.
Thinking about how I had been with Aria during the "Advanced Applications of Mana Circuits" lecture before, it felt somewhat empty with just Sera here.
"Urr! I missed you so much~"
Sera hugged me as soon as I sat down. Horrified by Sera rubbing her cheek against mine, I pushed her away with all my strength.
"D-don't do that so much."
"...Sorry, you're just so cute."
I thought I had pushed with all my might, but Sera wasn't pushed away that far and remained at close distance with her hands raised. It looked somewhat like a surrender pose.
When I pouted and glared at her, Sera smiled bitterly.
Well, I didn't intend to get angry over something like this, so I relaxed my shoulders. Then I remembered Aria's call yesterday.
"By the way, Aria said she wanted to go to the bath with Sera."
"...Huh? She did? She never mentioned that to me."
"She said it was an Elf custom."
"Custom?"
Sera tilted her head as if hearing this for the first time. I tilted my head too, thinking Aria must have explained this to Sera, her friend of three years.
Even if she hadn't, there were plenty of Elves at the Academy, so it seemed unlikely Sera wouldn't know. Or maybe bathing culture only reaches the ears of those interested?
If she doesn't know, I have no choice but to tell her.
"Elves gather in bathhouses for social meetings."
As I raised one finger and explained seriously, Sera responded with equal seriousness.
"So Elves only socialize while naked?"
"...I-I'm not sure about that part, but anyway, she said she misses it?"
"Hmm."
Sera leaned back in her chair. She closed her eyes and fell into thought for a moment.
"I don't want to go just the two of us."
"Huh?"
"If Urr comes too, I might consider it."
"...I-I think that might be a bit much for me?"
When I said that, Sera dropped her shoulders as if disappointed.
"Why? I think it would be fine..."
"I heard I can only go with the professor."
As I scratched my head awkwardly, Sera let out an "Ah" of realization. It was a typical student reaction. No matter how friendly a professor might be, going to a bathhouse together would be strange.
Sera closed her mouth. She turned her head away sharply like someone who had been told no.
Shortly after, the professor distributed handouts and began the lecture, and Sera jotted down the lecture content in her notebook.
As usual, while studying the letters, I raised my head again to listen carefully to the professor's lecture. Though I couldn't understand everything, I found it interesting just to hear something about Demon Gods.
Sometimes it felt like living in the modern world, but attending lectures at the Academy with others definitely reminded me this was a fantasy world. That thought made me keep listening attentively.
"The way they receive Mana isn't that different, I believe. They normally absorb Mana contained in the air and accumulate it, but after accumulation is where the method differs."
"...Urr, is it interesting?"
As I stopped my pen and focused on the professor's lecture, Sera smiled and asked from beside me.
"Yes."
I gave her a quick glance before looking back at the podium where the professor stood. I still couldn't read what was written on the blackboard, but I found it enjoyable just to listen and stayed focused.
"People have Vessels. This is no different for Elves or Beastkin. When you pour water into a Vessel, whether large or small, it will eventually fill up. But there will certainly come a time when it overflows. When that happens, the body naturally releases Mana."
This time, a drawing appeared on the blackboard. White chalk colored in a cute human shape.
"We discard old Mana and take in new Mana to circulate it. But Demon Gods have another Vessel besides this one. It's like having an extra container to catch the overflowing water."
Another person appeared. This time, since it represented a Demon God, a circle was drawn around it. It looked like a person trapped in a ball. The professor, wanting to explain the overflowing Mana, began coloring outside the person but within the sphere.
My gaze was naturally fixed on this coloring activity that didn't go beyond the sphere.
"This is the Vessel that Demon Gods possess. Even for Demon Gods who don't extend their lives by stealing others' lifespans, you clearly understand how threatening what's contained inside can be. This is a safety mechanism for Demon Gods born alone in the world. You could consider it a form of evolution designed to prevent them from dying immediately after birth."
This was the first time I'd heard this. I was a Demon God too—had I experienced such a moment? I'm not sure. I wasn't aware of being in that state.
I could understand why people avoided Demon Gods if just being near that area was dangerous.
But if there's nothing like that, like in my case, wouldn't it be fine? If I don't emit strange energy, I can be with Sera like this, right?
Thinking that, I glanced at Sera beside me, and she briefly met my eyes.
"What do you think, Sera?"
"About bathing with Urr?"
"...What are you talking about."
What is she saying?
Horrified, I slightly increased the distance between Sera and myself. But Sera also shifted her chair, moving closer to me.
After this happened a few times, I was cornered against the wall, and Sera half-embraced me as we listened to the lecture.
Even while thinking "This is annoying," I somehow found myself comfortable with this pressure. This feeling of disliking yet liking it—what could it be?
"...Urr is small, so it feels nice to hug you."
"I'm definitely going to grow bigger."