After stepping down from the stage, Kokomi looked around at the crowd that had already begun eating and smiled faintly.
"Everyone, no need to hold back—tonight there's plenty of food and drink for all!"
She called out loudly to the crowd.
"Thank you, Lady Sangonomiya!!" ×N
Everyone raised their cups toward her in a toast.
"Mm."
Kokomi lifted her own cup in response and clinked drinks with them. She only took a small sip, but the others drank deeply—their alcohol tolerance was far beyond hers.
After everyone resumed eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves, she walked toward a table in the corner, because someone she cared about was there.
Just as she expected.
The purple-haired beauty sat alone at the banquet table, propping her head on one hand with a bored expression. Beneath her skirt, her shapely legs crossed casually, the black-stockinged feet in high heels suspended in the air and gently swaying. She was the only one at this table, with only a few dishes placed in front of her—likely chosen deliberately to avoid the crowd.
"...Haa."
Seeing the lonely scene of the purple-haired woman, Kokomi could not help but sigh softly with a trace of heartache. She then walked over to a shrine maiden carrying a tray of drinks.
"Lady Sangonomiya, how may I assist you?"
The shrine maiden bowed politely when she saw her approach.
"Please give me a glass of iced fruit juice."
Kokomi glanced toward the beauty who tugged at her heart before giving her request.
"Of course."
Clink~
The shrine maiden skillfully poured the juice into a cup and handed it to Kokomi.
"Thank you for your help."
After politely expressing her thanks, Kokomi turned and walked toward the woman.
The Shogun, sitting alone, gazed absentmindedly at the lively surroundings. The bustling atmosphere reflected within her eyes, glowing with warmth and vitality.
For some reason, she felt a little sleepy. Even her eyelids drooped slightly.
At that moment, she sensed someone approaching closer.
Tap~
A cool sensation suddenly pressed against her cheek.
"!"
Her body trembled instinctively as she snapped back to awareness, turning with mild complaint toward Kokomi, who had already arrived at her side. Seeing her adorable reaction, Kokomi could not help but smile, then sat down beside her and held out the iced fruit juice that had just touched her face.
"Want a drink~?"
The girl asked softly, a gentle smile lingering on her lips.
"...///"
Recognizing who it was, the Shogun recalled her own momentary loss of composure and flushed slightly.
"...You're mischievous."
She muttered in complaint, though she did not take the juice.
"...Not drinking?"
Kokomi extended the cup toward her again.
"I don't drink alcohol."
She declined.
"Pfft... this is juice."
She had deliberately chosen juice because the other had previously said she did not drink alcohol.
"...How did you know?"
The Shogun froze slightly, then asked in confusion.
"Hm? Because you mentioned it before. Did you forget?"
Kokomi tilted her head naturally, her gradient-colored hair brushing softly against her cheek.
"Oh... I remember now."
After recalling it, she accepted the cup, inhaled the fruity aroma, and took a small sip. The taste was sweet and sour, mostly sweet; perhaps because of the ice, it felt refreshing and cool.
Watching the Shogun take a sip, Kokomi casually rested her forearm on the table and raised her own wine cup for a drink. The cherry-colored lips were gradually dampened by the liquid, taking on a tempting sheen.
"Is yours juice too?"
Seeing her action, the Shogun asked.
"Mine is alcohol."
Kokomi answered casually, taking another sip. The alcohol content was quite strong; she narrowed her eyes slightly as warmth spread through her body.
"..."
The Shogun's eyes widened slightly, as if in disbelief.
"...Is something wrong, Shogun-sama?"
Kokomi turned her head after sensing her gaze. Perhaps because of the alcohol, her originally pale and translucent face had taken on a rosy tint, and her gradient-colored eyes carried a faintly seductive softness beyond their usual calmness.
"You can drink alcohol?"
The Shogun asked in surprise.
"A little... is that strange?"
Kokomi rested her head lightly on her arm, watching her with eyes shimmering like intoxicated water—a gaze full of affection she could not hide.
"No... it's just that you don't seem like someone who drinks."
Feeling the emotions in that gaze, she instinctively looked away as she explained.
"Hmm—then what kind of person does look like they drink~?"
Resting her chin on her arm, Kokomi slowly leaned closer. Her eyes carried a tempting brilliance, her tone turning teasing. The previously tranquil voice now held a breathy softness—even a hint of sensual charm.
"...I'm not sure."
Maybe someone like Ei?
Why was it that all the women around her could drink?!
Leaving aside her mother, Miko could drink, Sara could drink, even Ayaka had a strong tolerance—only she couldn't. Whenever she drank, she got drunk immediately, and it tasted bitter and spicy. She was a puppet, wasn't she?! Didn't she even have that function?!
"Shogun-sama~?"
"?"
Kokomi's hand had already moved onto the back of her hand, gently squeezing it from time to time as she used the courage of alcohol to close the distance between them.
"What are you thinking about? Are you thinking about... Miss Kamisato?"
Kokomi took another sip of wine. Her tone was now slightly drunken, and her words became bolder and more direct than usual.
"...Why mention Ayaka?"
She asked in confusion.
"Ayaka, Aya—haa... please call me 'Kokomi' too, alright~?"
Kokomi set aside her cup and leaned against her, whispering the request into her ear under the influence of alcohol.
"...Kokomi."
The Shogun obediently called her name.
"Mm. The one beside you tonight is Kokomi, not Ayaka, okay? Shogun-sama."
Kokomi wrapped her arms softly around her and pressed against her neck, exhaling gently against her skin.
"...Are you drunk?"
She glanced at the now-empty cup in surprise.
That had been strong liquor!
"I'm not drunk. I just... want to be reckless once with the courage of alcohol. I could still drink several more cups."
Kokomi opened her slightly unfocused eyes, meeting her gaze at close range. The reflection within them contained only her face. Her hands moved to cup the Shogun's cheeks as she shifted further forward, even sitting onto the woman's lap. Her white-stockinged legs crossed alluringly as she looked at her with a pure yet seductive smile.
"Haa... Kokomi... don't do this...///"
Seeing the girl like this, the Shogun's face flushed as well. She instinctively looked away toward the nearby table.
Feeling her heart pounding under Kokomi's movements, she had no choice but to lean back against the chair. Even so, there was nowhere to escape. The scent of alcohol mixed with the girl's natural fragrance, making even her—who hadn't drunk—feel intoxicated. Her head felt slightly dizzy.
This girl... could she really be this proactive in this kind of situation?!
"Shogun-sama, I... want..."
Kokomi gazed at her glossy lips, eyes hazy, and slowly leaned closer toward her mouth.
"Kokomi... please don't...///"
The Shogun turned her face aside, avoiding the girl's approach.
"..."
Seeing her avoidance, Kokomi seemed to understand something. She lowered her eyes in disappointment, then smiled faintly.
"I'm sorry... I was... being improper."
She apologized softly, sounding relieved yet resigned.
"...No need to apologize... it's my fault."
The Shogun lowered her gaze as well, speaking quietly. For a moment, the atmosphere became deeply ambiguous. Kokomi's fragrance and the scent of alcohol filled her senses, leaving her slightly distracted.
"Shogun-sama... can you look at me? You've been avoiding me since earlier..."
Kokomi's flushed face lifted as she gently stroked the woman's cheek, as if caressing a lover.
"...?"
The Shogun slowly raised her eyes and obediently met her gaze.
"I know this might be rude... but please allow me to be rude just once. Has Miss Kamisato... ever kissed you before?"
Kokomi asked softly, her gentle voice careful, as if afraid of frightening her.
"..."
Faced with Kokomi's question, her thoughts drifted back to that moment in front of the Kamisato Estate, when Ayaka had kissed the corner of her lips while she wasn't paying attention—and also to a few days ago in her bedroom, when Ayaka had pushed her down and that long kiss followed.
"...///"
Thinking of it made her face flush adorably once again.
"...So it has happened, hasn't it?"
Seeing her obvious reaction, Kokomi found it easy to guess.
"Only... the corner of my mouth///."
She answered shyly.
"Hm? The corner of your mouth?"
Kokomi blinked in surprise.
"Just a kiss on the corner of my mouth—nothing deeper—"
Looking at the mermaid-like beauty sitting on her lap with arms around her neck, she answered earnestly.
"Hehe... how cute."
Kokomi laughed knowingly.
"...Cute?"
She sounded puzzled.
"I mean you... you're very cute."
Kissing only the corner of the lips—it was too adorable, like an innocent child unfamiliar with such emotions.
"...Haa... what do you mean cute? That's embarrassing."
She muttered in complaint.
"...Then may I?"
"What?"
She looked toward the backlit girl before her. The warm banquet lights only outlined her silhouette, hiding her expression; she could only feel the affection in her voice and the ambiguous motion of fingers lightly stroking her skin while arms rested around her neck.
"Kiss the corner of your lips."
Kokomi answered.
"...W-Why do all of you love kissing me so much///? That's strange."
The Shogun flushed again as she complained, her peerless face showing faint distress as she turned away like a sulking kitten.
Why kiss? For what reason? Was she... delicious? More delicious than food? That couldn't be right.
"Because it's... an expression of 'love.'"
Kokomi replied directly.
"Again with 'love.' I don't even understand what love is. Being passively loved by all of you like this... it makes me uncomfortable, and guilty."
She couldn't help raising her voice, finally voicing what had been weighing on her heart. She looked almost like a wronged child.
"..."
Kokomi paused.
"I see... you're troubled by the curse of this thing called 'love.'"
She gently stroked her hair, gazing at her with tender sympathy.
Whoosh...
Then she took the initiative to embrace the somewhat fragile woman before her, letting her bury her face against her chest, protecting her softly.
"I'm sorry... Shogun-sama, I shouldn't have acted like that..."
"...It's alright. It's not your fault."
The Shogun muttered from within Kokomi's embrace.
"Kokomi..."
"Mm?"
"If you want to kiss... then kiss."
"...!"
Kokomi released the hug and looked at her in surprise.
"Shogun-sama?"
"...Th-this vessel accepts you///~!"
She murmured shyly like a bashful bride, fingers nervously clutching her skirt.
"Pfft... mm///!"
Kokomi froze briefly, then nodded with affectionate indulgence. She held her beautiful face and brought her lips close.
Chu~
A light peck—and then she pulled away without pushing further like a certain someone would.
"...Is it over?"
—Wasn't there more?
She felt oddly unaccustomed. According to someone else's habits, this would only be the beginning, followed by something more daring.
Ah... but that didn't mean she was expecting more!
"Yes... I'm not the type to take a mile after an inch///."
Kokomi's cheeks were still flushed after pulling away, perhaps from alcohol, perhaps from shyness.
"That's good..."
Haa... she had worried unnecessarily. Kokomi was different from Ayaka. Ayaka's kisses were more aggressive, sharp like ice crystals—if it were her, she would have clung to her after that first kiss, and given the right environment, might even have pushed her straight onto a bed.
Kokomi, however, knew when to stop—gentle like flowing water, tender and delicate, merely brushing across her lips. The difference in personality between the two became clear.
...Wait—why had she started analyzing their kissing styles? Was it because she had been kissed too many times? Or had she simply grown used to it?
"Haa... today has been very rewarding. Energy +15~"
Kokomi maintained her intimate posture, arms around her neck as she sighed happily. If being spoiled by the Shogun added ten points of energy, then kissing her added fifteen!
"...You're not drunk?"
Seeing the girl suddenly back to normal, she asked in surprise.
"Hm? I wasn't drunk to begin with. I said earlier—I just wanted to borrow the courage of alcohol to bring us closer."
Kokomi turned her head and picked up the wine glass with one remaining sip.
"And... my alcohol tolerance is actually pretty good~?"
Tilting the glass slowly, she let the remaining drops flow toward the rim. With a seductive posture—one arm around the Shogun's neck, legs crossed—she tilted her head back, opening her lips so the falling droplets landed precisely in her mouth.
"..."
The Shogun frowned slightly at her somewhat improper behavior.
"Mmm~ haa... Shogun-sama, this is strong liquor~ I—cough! cough—haa..."
Kokomi showed her the cup with a charming smile, but before she could continue she began coughing uncontrollably.
"Cough... cough... haa... Is there more alcohol? Someone, refill the—wah~"
Before she could finish, the Shogun suddenly snatched the cup away. The force made the slightly dizzy Kokomi tilt sideways, letting out a soft, alluring sound.
"Enough! Stop drinking!"
Clack~
Already slightly angry, the Shogun placed the cup heavily on the table and glared at her.
"!"
Kokomi froze, still somewhat dazed.
"Haa... look at yourself. What kind of state is this?"
She scolded emotionally. Alcohol really was poison—it could turn a person into this. The girl who had always been calm and gentle before her—what had she become now? A drunkard?!
"..."
Kokomi lowered her gaze, pressing a hand to her forehead as the haze slowly cleared. When she looked up and saw the cold expression on the woman's face, her heart trembled.
"I'm sorry... I..."
"I really misjudged you."
The Shogun turned her face aside, speaking with anger.
"!!"
Kokomi's body trembled as she hurriedly wrapped her arms around the now-angry beauty.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Shogun-sama. I... I was just really happy today and wanted to drink more. Please don't hate me—please don't hate me. You finally accepted me... cough... cough... I'm sorry."
Perhaps due to the alcohol, her eyes reddened as if about to cry. Her voice trembled as she clung tightly to her, pressing her cheek against hers while apologizing repeatedly, coughing between words.
"..."
The Shogun continued looking away, ignoring her—though she made no move to push her off her lap.
"Haa... cough... I'm sorry, Shogun-sama. Sorry~ Little Mio~ forgive me... don't be angry. Don't be angry~ Little Mio, don't be mad."
Still slightly drunk, Kokomi hugged her head and coaxed her softly.
"From now on... you're not allowed to drink alcohol."
The woman in her arms finally spoke in a low voice beside her ear.
"Mm... I won't drink anymore. Absolutely won't."
Kokomi nodded.
"Even at banquets like this, only a tiny bit. Don't let me feel worried like today."
She finally embraced the girl in return.
Don't you know your own physical condition? Why harm yourself like this?
"Mm, I won't make you worry."
Kokomi replied, pressing her forehead against hers.
"You're forgiven."
A few seconds later, the Shogun conceded softly.
"Thank you... O Narukami Ogosho... Almighty Lord... I, the Divine Priestess~ thank you—my goddess~!"
Kokomi leaned against her face, joking playfully—or perhaps simply speaking nonsense as the alcohol reached its peak. She wanted to sober up.
"Narukami... lord~? Uh... Lord Mio?"
She continued muttering incoherently, words slightly slurred, sounding adorably lazy.
"What is it, Lady Sangonomiya?"
The Shogun played along indulgently.
"Narukami-sama, help me... sober up."
After saying that, Kokomi simply closed her eyes and collapsed against her.
"Here, drink this juice."
The Shogun handed her the iced fruit juice she had barely touched.
"Thank you... Eternal Queen's... juice~!"
—Another title change. She sighed inwardly.
Gulp~
Kokomi quickly drank the juice. The cold, sweet liquid flowed down her throat, making it bob adorably as her body wriggled against the Shogun's embrace.
The Shogun narrowed her eyes speechlessly at her antics.
Just as she had thought before—
This girl was a mischievous little troublemaker at heart~!!