Chapter 67: Kamishiro Hisui (Veil of Night)

I was pinned down by Hisui. She was straddling my lower body, her hands planted on the futon beside my head, effectively sandwiching my face between her arms and pressing me into the bedding.

Was this what you’d call a futon-don, instead of a wall-don?

"Um, Hisui? …This is a joke, right?"

"Do you think it's a joke?"

"I want to believe you wouldn't force something like this."

"I'm not forcing anything. I’m going to get your consent now."

Hisui answered while gently stroking my left cheek with her right hand.

That’s completely unreasonable…

"I'll ask again—are you still not willing to be mine, Alice?"

She ran her fingers through my silver hair as she asked.

"I’m not. The one I love is Alicia."

"…You know, I wouldn’t mind if you made me yours instead."

"That’s not happening either."

Triggered by my rejection, Hisui’s fingers slipped under my yukata, sliding from my neck down toward my chest. The cool touch made me shiver.

"Then I suppose… I’ll just stick to the plan and settle for one night of memories."

Just as she said that, her face drew close and she kissed the nape of my neck. Her tongue followed, tracing along my skin, and I stiffened at the sensation. A pleasant scent of shampoo wafted from her hair, tickling my nose.

"Isn’t… this getting kind of weird?"

I tried to twist my body away, but my lower half was completely pinned and I couldn’t escape. Her lips pecked again and again at my neck, each time making a soft chu sound.

…The ticklish sensation almost made me let out a strange noise.

"It’s not weird at all. You promised to give me a memory in exchange for keeping it a secret that Alice was alive, remember? Between a man and a woman, a one-night memory means this."

…W-Wait, really?

"…Unbelievable. Don’t tell me you didn’t realize that?"

"W-Well… um…"

"But it’s too late now."

Her hand slid up my thigh, and my body flinched instinctively.

The yukata she had so carefully fixed earlier was now messily disheveled, thanks to her, the fabric bunched loosely around my waist.

“W-Wait, Hisui!?”

With a flick of her hand, she untied the sash around my waist, and it dropped softly onto the futon. Had she done something to it when she adjusted it earlier?

The yukata slipped from my upper body as well, and before her, I was left in nothing but my underwear—white checkered cotton girls’ shorts meant for sleeping, and a single slip on top.

"That’s so cruel, Alice. I trusted you… Are you just toying with my heart?"

Her hand circled my waist, stroking my stomach in soft spirals.

"From an outside perspective, it kinda looks like I’m the one being toyed with here…"

"I’m simply exercising a rightful claim. You’re the one trying to break a promise, aren’t you?"

Her fingers teasingly played with my navel. The unfamiliar sensation made me instinctively grab her wrist in protest.

"…Can I really trust you, Alice?"

Hisui leaned her entire body over mine, sucking gently on my collarbone while her free left hand began stroking the inside of my thigh. The sudden rush of sensation made me tense up.

"That’s what I should be asking you…"

I tried resisting her advances, but I was smaller and weaker than her now, physically outmatched. I could’ve used magic, sure—but I didn’t want to resort to anything that forceful against Hisui.

"If I can just have one memory with Alice, I won’t ask for more. I swear I’ll go back to being just a normal female friend after tomorrow."

So far, Hisui hadn’t touched anywhere truly intimate. I didn’t know whether it was her way of being considerate—or if she was just teasing me—but at the very least, she seemed intent on not going any further without my consent.

"This is a necessary ritual for us to return to being childhood friends. So please… Alice."

I couldn’t respond. I was already caught in the web Hisui had spun, and there was no choice left for me but to accept it.

But if I gave in now, I’d never be able to face Alicia again.

I clenched my teeth and endured the half-hearted pleasure Hisui kept giving me, relentless and teasing.

“…So it really is that girl, huh?”

Her voice, which had been pleading a moment ago, suddenly turned sharp and biting.

"As long as you have Alicia’s permission, that’s all that matters, right? Hey, Alicia—you’re listening, aren’t you?"

『…Miss Hisui, I’m not in any position to grant Ikuto-san permission for anything.』

"So in other words, you’re fine with Alice spending the night with me, right?"

『Why does it sound like that to you… I’m saying I’ll respect whatever Ikuto-san decides.』

"Trying to act like you’re not involved is cowardly. If you really want to leave it up to Alice, then sever the mental link and let it be entirely their choice!"

『…I-I believe I still have the right to witness what decision Ikuto-san makes. If Ikuto-san does choose something, then I’ll cut the link.』

"Then you should be facing this as someone involved! Are you seriously okay with me and Alice doing whatever we want? Are you really!?"

『T-That’s…』

"If you say you don’t care what Alice does, then I will take them from you. No matter what it takes."

A brief silence.

And yet, during that silence, Hisui’s hands were still shamelessly moving across my body, leaving me with no peace of mind.

『…N-No.』

Finally, a word of refusal slipped out from Alicia’s once-resolute lips.

『I don’t want that. Of course I don’t!』

Now that she had breached the dam holding back her heart, Alicia’s emotions came rushing forth in a torrent of words.

『What even are you, Miss Hisui?! Ikuto-san told me they love me, and yet you ask them out on dates and try to seduce them? Can’t you just leave us alone for a little while!?』

"I hate forfeiting without a fight."

『Ikuto-san, you too! You say you love me, but the moment Hisui-san flirts with you, your nose stretches out, your eyes are glued to her chest, and right now you’re totally expecting something, aren’t you!?』

"S-Sorry…"

『And Hisui-san keeps saying she’s been in love for a long time, but if we’re talking about how long, I’m not losing either! Ever since I heard the prophecy, I’ve been told I would serve the hero who was summoned one day. I’ve spent all this time wondering what kind of person my hero would be, dreaming about them. I won’t lose to Hisui-san when it comes to the strength of my feelings!』

Alicia’s feelings overflowed in a passionate outburst.

And for some reason, Hisui was smiling confidently.

Ahh, if only I could be the one to sever the mental link right now…

『Ikuto-san said they love me. So please, Miss Hisui, stop trying to seduce them!』

"I refuse."

Hisui declared it with a radiant smile.

『Huh!? W-Why?! What are you even trying to do, Miss Hisui!?』

"Because I’m here to make a memory with Alice tonight. Don’t tell me even you didn’t realize my intentions? Honestly, your wishes don’t matter to me."

『But then, why…?』

"Well… I always thought my sexual preferences were pretty normal. Even when Ikuto turned into Alice, I figured it was fine because I was still in love with Ikuto. But… when I was teasing you two in the bath earlier, I realized something. I think I’m okay with girls too…"

『Wha—!? W-What are you even saying!? That’s not okay! I’m completely normal! Don’t drag me into your preferences, Miss Hisui!』

"I’ll just love both of you. That way, neither Alice nor Alicia would count as cheating. Doesn’t that make it all perfectly okay?"

『Stop acting like that’s some kind of genius solution! It’s not okay! Ikuto-san, say something! Don’t just sit there!』

"I-I…"

Hisui’s fingers lightly brushed against me, so faintly they barely touched, but left behind a sweet, ticklish sensation.

"Hey… it’s fine, right? Tonight, I’ll make you both feel good."

"H-Hyah!?"

M-My ears!?

Her tongue slithered into my ear, wiggling around—like she was stirring up the inside of my brain.

“S-Stop—!”

I was at my limit.

I tried to summon magic to push Hisui away—

But the moment I looked at her, my body froze.

—Tears.

A droplet fell, landing on my cheek and soaking my skin.

Her hair hung down, hiding her face.

But down both cheeks ran streaks of tears.

"Just for tonight… please, don’t reject me."

What stood there wasn’t a predator.

It was just a girl—someone hurt because of me.

My hand reflexively moved to reach for her—then stopped.

I didn’t choose her. There’s nothing I can do for her now.

But if nothing else—

“…I’m sorry, Alicia…”

I let my body relax.

Whether this was the right choice or not… I didn’t know.

『…No, it’s okay. If that’s your decision, Ikuto-san, then I—』

"…Really?"

Her hand overlapped mine, gripping it tightly as she looked up at me with hesitation and asked in a small voice.

"Y-Yeah…"

Still uncertain, I gave Hisui my answer.

I wouldn’t initiate anything myself.

But tonight, I’d accept whatever Hisui wanted to do.

"Hehe… Thank you, Alice."

Wiping her eyes, Hisui wrapped her arms tightly around me.

She leaned in so close our noses were nearly touching. I instinctively tried to turn my face away—but her hand held my cheek in place, leaving me no room to move.

As she brushed her hair aside, her expression came into view.

A chill ran down my spine.

She was smiling—a predator’s grin.

The tear streaks were gone.

"Wait—weren’t you crying just now—!?"

"I was crying… wasn’t I? I mean, it’d be really sad if things ended halfway here."

"Wha—!?"

…She tricked me!?

『T-That’s not fair, Miss Hisui!』

"Alicia, you said you’d leave the decision to Alice. You’re not planning to go back on that now, are you?"

『I-I did say that, but…!?』

"Don’t worry. I’m not going to take their virginity or anything. I’ll even leave the lips to you, Alicia."

Ignoring both my and Alicia’s frantic panic, Hisui pressed her fingertip against my lips and made her declaration.

"But everything else, I’m taking."

Then she licked her lips.

『W-Wait just a minute! At least let me sever the link—ahhh!?』

"I’m going to keep the switch on the whole time… You’re not getting to opt out."

"W-Wait!? N-No… st-stop…!"

『A-Ahhhh…!』

I had misunderstood everything.

It wasn’t just that my absence had hurt Hisui.

She had grown stronger—far stronger.

And I learned that lesson…

Etched into my heart and body,

…through waves of stimulation so overwhelming I could no longer tell if they were pleasure or pain—until I lost consciousness.