"Glug, glug—"
Nearly an hour later, La Folia rinsed her mouth by the pool. She wasn't like Tritos and the others—she had normal, human sensibilities—and because she hadn't been prepared, there had been a small "accident."
"Shichen, I think something's stuck in my throat…" she said in a small voice, face flushed—not from embarrassment so much as afterglow.
Shichen was washing his face as well.
"Then just swallow," he said breezily. "I already drank yours."
"Mm… is that okay?"
"Relax—it's fine. Might even be good for you."
"Don't exaggerate…"
"Tritos and the others like it."
"Huh? So they do this for you a lot?"
"More or less…" Sometimes they'd slip away for a period during P.E.
"So what I did isn't anything special, then?"
"No—it was great. You're just not practiced yet."
"It's not like I can practice this…"
"I'll help you practice."
"You like that so much? Don't you want to just… you know… have me?"
"No rush—when you're ready. We only just met. Let's get to know each other first."
"That's what I thought too… Doing this today was just to show how serious I am about you," La Folia said, a little shyly.
"I already felt it. I believe you."
"Good." She smiled, relieved. Her confession had come so suddenly that she'd had to do something to close the distance—she didn't want only the other girls to have time with him day and night to build feelings. Extreme? Maybe. But Shichen didn't mind; he understood her, and given her royal background, her way of expressing emotion was… particular.
"Come on—we've delayed long enough. Let's go recover your lifeboat."
"Mm… Who knew you'd last so long… If that were a real fight, would I die?" she joked, still a little shaken.
"…Then get help," Shichen shot back.
"Get help… What if Kanon and I did it together?" La Folia asked, straight-faced.
"Are you serious?"
"Why not? I might not manage alone… Isn't that your thing?"
"Who told you that?"
"Haven't Avrora and the others… done it together?"
"…," Shichen had no comeback.
"I see—I'll have to make sure I get along with Kanon, or no one will 'help' me," La Folia nodded to herself.
"Enough fooling around. Which way to your lifeboat?"
"That way," she said, pointing without looking—already plotting.
"Let's go…"
Shichen wrapped an arm around her and took to the air. She could do as she pleased; he couldn't stop her—and, truth be told, he didn't want to.
The royal lifeboat had come down on the island's western shore; they spotted it at once—hard to miss, it was so lavish. A plastic-shelled egg with inflatable floats outside, pure gold plating that wouldn't rust or corrode and even conducted lightning safely; inside, real leather, a proper berth, water and food, even a warm-water bidet.
Royal gear indeed—no ordinary camper could dream of it. In that light, her deciding to bathe despite the danger seemed… very her; used to that level of comfort, of course she couldn't stand feeling sweaty.
"The lifeboat seems fine. How do we take it back?" she asked.
"Easy."
He lifted a hand; golden ripples opened in the air, and the boat rose up into them and vanished.
"What's that?"
"Think of it as my travel pocket."
"Wow—you can even store a lifeboat?" Her eyes lit up.
"There's plenty of room in there."
"With that, we'd never worry about packing again, right?"
"That's your big takeaway?"
"Hehe~ Oh—my personal clothes are in there. I still need them."
"I'll look."
He opened his golden "vault" and a few rather daring sets tumbled out—lace, black pieces, even garter stockings.
"Why do you have these?" he asked, handing them over.
"Because they're pretty. Want me to model them? I've never actually worn them," she said blithely.
"Seriously?"
"Mhm. I was going to try them on during this trip, and then… all that happened."
"No rush. Wear them for me tomorrow."
"Okay."
They headed home. As expected, the house was mostly asleep; only Natsuki and Kanon were in the living room.
"Back already?" Natsuki asked. Seeing La Folia still "intact," she let out a quiet breath.
"Yeah. Kept you waiting," Shichen said—and, to forestall any jealousy, hugged her and stole a quick kiss.
"You…!" Natsuki froze.
"Let me go! I'm going to bed!"
"You do need sleep."
"I do!"
"Alright."
Whoosh—
He let go; she vanished in a blink. A proud girl had no time to stew.
"Not bad, Shichen," La Folia said—she'd clocked his intent.
"Only because you made us late."
"How was I supposed to know it would take that long—and it was my first time."
"Looks like I'll have to train you properly."
"No thanks—my cheeks are sore. Let me recover."
"I didn't say mine were."
"Enough…" She flushed, remembering the… splash across his face. Mortifying.
"So you do know how to be shy."
"Of course."
"Heh~ It's late. You must be tired. Go to bed."
"Mm. I'm beat—cheeks and back… Carry Kanon to her room, would you?"
"Mm."
Shichen lifted the dozing Kanon and walked La Folia to her room. It was still plain—she'd just moved in—but the bed was big enough for two. When he set her down, her eyes fluttered open.
"Mm… Onii-chan…?"
"It's me."
"You're back." She woke fully and smiled sweetly.
"Yeah. Keep sleeping—we'll talk tomorrow."
"Mm…"
Instead of closing her eyes, she leaned up and kissed him. "Good night, Onii-chan," she said, cheeks rosy.
"Good night," he said softly, kissing her forehead.
"Me too~" La Folia leaned in, hugging his arm.
"What do you want? Didn't I already kiss you—long enough?"
"Not the same place…" She flushed bright red, realizing what he meant.
"You don't mind tasting your own?"
"Don't say it—and didn't you wash?" she huffed.
"Fair point."
He kissed her pink lips, then her forehead. "Good night."
"Mm. Good night," La Folia said, perfectly content.
~~~
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