...
In the space without light, Lucian didn't know how much time had passed outside.
Waking up naturally from sleep, without the plot of the female lead nestling in his arms shyly pretending to sleep, after he woke up, he met Tokai Teio's burning gaze directly.
No light, but there was color—the black in her eyes.
The concentration of the black mist was much thinner than yesterday, but still not enough.
Lucian admitted he had underestimated Tokai Teio; she was much more difficult to handle than Urara.
But now, to what extent could it go...
Lucian's eyes darkened with unspoken desire as he gazed at Tokai Teio, his chained hands twitching slightly, yearning to touch her. The air between them thickened, heavy with the remnants of last night's passion, her scent still lingering on his skin like a intoxicating perfume.
She shifted closer, her breath warm against his ear, whispering his name in a voice laced with vulnerability and hunger, making his pulse quicken.
His voice came out low and rough, "Teio... you're still so tempting, even now." His gaze traced the curve of her neck, down to where her shirt had slipped, exposing the soft swell of her breast marked faintly from their earlier encounters.
Tokai Teio's cheeks flushed, her tail swishing slowly as she pressed her body against his, the friction reigniting sparks that made them both gasp softly.
"Clink—"
The handcuffs unlocked, falling away as Tokai Teio finally released them, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed his wrists, a silent apology mixed with lingering possessiveness.
But she didn't resist; she just twisted her body and then lay back on Lucian's chest. "I-I believe Trainer."
"Mhm? Really?"
A shy Tokai Teio was the result Lucian wanted.
Her hands roamed up his chest, fingers splaying over his heartbeat, feeling it thunder under her touch. She leaned in, her lips brushing his collarbone in a feather-light kiss that sent shivers down his spine, her body molding perfectly against his as if they were made for each other.
"Really..." Tokai Teio squirmed, constantly making slight changes in position, as if enduring something. "Trainer, can you say the words 'I like you' again?"
Clearly having just gone through a night of intimate entanglement, but after waking up, Tokai Teio still felt uneasy.
This was normal, and Lucian would of course give her the necessary comfort. "Of course I like Teio, it's just that before yesterday, it was a secret."
"Really?" Tokai Teio bent one leg.
"We've kissed, and I'm Teio's now, how could Teio still ask this kind of question?"
Although it was comfort, what Lucian said was also the truth, but his like was hidden in the bits and pieces of daily interactions, sometimes even he himself wouldn't notice.
This was also the main reason why after Tokai Teio's darkening, he could face it calmly—his heart didn't reject it at all.
"I'm just afraid Trainer is lying to me... After I unlock it, Trainer will tell this to others, then stay far away from me."
For Tokai Teio, it was already a situation of breaking the jar after it was cracked; her fear and anxiety were not without reason.
So when talking about this, she started to choke, her voice gradually trembling.
But if you thought she was showing weakness, you'd be greatly mistaken, because Lucian saw the darkness slowly condensing in Tokai Teio's eyes again.
This couldn't let her continue to imagine.
Gently patting to wake Tokai Teio's reason that was about to fall asleep again, her chattering also stopped abruptly.
Lucian pretended to sigh in disappointment. "Sigh~ In the end, it's because Teio doesn't trust me much."
"No, no..." Tokai Teio shook her head. "I trust Trainer very much."
At this time, Lucian didn't mention the shackles again, after all, the purpose couldn't be too strong; he needed to quietly wait for an opportunity.
Just like with Urara at that time, solve the problem from the root—first figure out which events made Tokai Teio darken.
This might also be the most difficult part; Urara would pour out her grievances all at once, but Tokai Teio wouldn't for now.
"Teio, what time is it now? I'm a bit hungry." Lucian's stomach timely let out a wail.
Tokai Teio took her phone and looked. "It's already nine in the morning on the second day."
"Slept that long? Teio, your family won't come back, right? I don't want to be caught by mom and dad doing something."
Tokai Teio's whole body trembled, stunned for a while before coming back to her senses. "They... they went back to grandma's house for New Year's visit, usually takes several days."
Mom and dad... mom and dad?! Trainer directly called them out.
"Oh? Teio didn't say to let them meet me, turns out you set a trap early waiting for me to jump in."
"I-I could only do this... Trainer really will hate..."
"If this trap was a sweet confession, or Teio reading a love letter to me in person, it would be even better."
Tokai Teio's imagination was interrupted by Lucian again.
He suddenly said softly: "But Teio is great, Trainer likes you the most."
"Trainer, you.. aren't you hungry? I.. I...." Tokai Teio suddenly thought that she couldn't cook, and Lucian took the initiative to mention eating, was it him wanting to use the excuse of cooking to unlock the shackles?
"Yeah, then order takeout." Lucian spoke again, unintentionally interrupting Tokai Teio's imagination again.
It wasn't exactly hitting by mistake; since he decided not to mention the shackles, topics related to them naturally needed to be shielded.
"Speaking of which, is there takeout delivery now? Otherwise, I can only eat Teio again."
Tokai Teio was startled. "There is! It's just that the delivery fee will be a bit more expensive than usual, but spending money for Trainer is fine."
If it was before yesterday started, Lucian's words just now would be the spark igniting the fuse, and she would explode in an instant.
But not all places were strong; now some parts were a bit sore, with the will but not the strength... Sure enough, she wasn't wrong; her Trainer was the best!
"You have to eat too, don't tell me you're not hungry?" Lucian laughed.
As he said that, Tokai Teio's stomach also "gurgle" called out. "Hungry."
"Then order the food."
"Mhm."
Lucian's gaze softened as he watched Tokai Teio fumble with her phone, her hair tousled from sleep, falling in soft waves that he longed to run his fingers through. The domesticity of the moment—ordering breakfast together after a night of passion—stirred something deep within him, a warmth that blended with lingering desire.
She caught his stare and blushed, setting the phone aside to crawl back over him, her lips finding his in a slow, languid kiss that tasted of morning and unspoken promises.
His now-free hands finally roamed her back, pulling her closer, the simple act of ordering food forgotten as they lost themselves in each other once more.
Tokai Teio's hands slid under his shirt, nails lightly scratching his skin, eliciting a groan from him that vibrated through her.
"Teio... we should eat first," he murmured against her lips, but his actions betrayed him, flipping her gently onto her back, his body covering hers.
She arched up to meet him, legs wrapping around his waist, the hunger in her eyes not for food but for him.
Their clothes were shed in a flurry, skin on skin reigniting the fire; he entered her slowly this time, savoring every inch, her moans filling the room as they moved together in a rhythm that spoke of affection and need.
He whispered "suki" repeatedly, each thrust punctuated by the word, driving her higher until they both shattered, collapsing in a tangle of limbs, sated for the moment.
...