I went out on the veranda with a mug of hot choco that Alice had prepared for me. The sea breeze at night was a little cool, but I felt comfortable, partly because the climate in Hydra Kingdom itself is quite warm.
The moon was very bright today, so the sparkle of the stars was subdued. However, the scene of the bright and large moon over the sea is undoubtedly a magnificent sight.
[That’s a spectacular view.]
[Right. Oops, Kaito-san, isn’t this your chance to say that famous line.]
[Yeah, yeah. The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?][Why do you say it so readily!? Can’t you at least make it more dramatic!?]
[No, it’s kinda difficult to gauge what tone I should use when the other party is waiting in anticipation, you know?]
I think it’s normal to find it difficult to speak up when someone looks as if they’re waiting for me to say those words. Rather, I believe that particular line works precisely when the other party is caught by surprise.
Putting that aside, I just wryly smiled and drank my hot choco. The sweet and warm tastes spread in my mouth, and I feel relieved.
[So, what was it again? Hands touching or something like that, right?]
[T- That’s right. At first, our fingertips would just tightly, before gradually, over time, we’d find ourselves holding hands……]
[……Tryhard.][Hyaahh!? W- Why did you suddenly hold my hand!?]
[Nah, it’s just, if we proceed according to Alice’s assumptions, we would take a long time…… I mean, we had already held hands just a moment ago……]
In any case, it feels like a plan coming straight from someone inept, or rather, just as Alice put it, from a sh*tty noob in love. While I do have a strong desire to fulfill Alice’s wishes as much as possible, it can be frustrating that things aren’t progressing under Alice’s lead, so I need to do some tweaking here and there to shorten up that time.
[So, what’s Alice’s assumption after that?]
[Ahh, t- t- t- that is…… Ummm, w- we’ll get even closer and get into a good mood…… and naturally, we’d exchange a light, fleeting kiss.]
[I think the mood is already pretty good. The scenery is peaceful and beautiful, and the pleasant conversation we had while walking up to this cottage was quite enjoyable.]
[That is ummm…… That certainly is the case but…… I still need…… various preparations…… to get my heart prepared……]
Upon hearing my words, Alice murmurs in a nearly imperceptible volume. In other words, she’s simply embarrassed. Though that’s certainly just like Alice, I couldn’t help but chuckle at her response.
[Why are you laughing!?]
[No, I just thought you were cute.]
[Wha!? Ah, w- w- what are you suddenly saying!?]
[Well, it’s like there’s this gap between how you are now and how you usually are, and you being all shy and meek is also kinda cute.]
[Kaito-san, aren’t you being too composed about this!?]
[If you ask me why I’m composed, that’s simply because Alice is far more nervous than I am, which makes me calmer in this situation instead.]
[Ughhhh…… T- That’s just unfair…… Even though I’m this embarrassed……]
[No, even if you tell me that……]
Alice expresses her dissatisfaction, but it’s not like I’m intentionally trying to create this situation, so I could only be at a loss when accused of being unfair.
However, Alice pouting in dissatisfaction while saying that looked so cute that I couldn’t help smiling. Placing my mug on the veranda’s railing, I held Alice by her shoulders with my free hand.
[……Ah…… Kaito-san……]
It seems like Alice understood what I was attempting to do with my actions. With a slight flinch of her body, Alice looked up to me, then she promptly closed her eyes and gently pushed her lips forward.
This would just be a chaste, light kiss, so I lightly touched Alice’s lips with mine and then moved my face away, before lightly kissing her again.
Hearing lots of “chuu” sounds, it felt different from a normal long kiss…… as repeatedly hearing such sounds makes me feel ticklish.
After a certain amount of repeated kisses, Alice started initiating kisses from her side, and not knowing who started it, we continued to lightly press our lips together over and over again for a while.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [Omniscient God, share with me your wisdom! How can I escape from this sweet development!!!?]
Makina : [You have three options…… ① Love my beloved child. ② Love my beloved child. ③ Love my beloved child…… Now, choose which path you’d like!!!]
Serious-senpai : [Eh? No, ummm…… yeah?]
