V5: Chapter 48: This Late-Blooming Romance... Is It Too Late?

Chapter 48: This Late-Blooming Romance... Is It Too Late?

"I'm sorry, I can't really think about it right now."

"Ah, of course. I want you to take your time and think about it carefully."

Chloe's father looked at me intently, then shifted his gaze to the teacup in his hands.

If he were saying that out of malice, it would have been easy to reject him. Certainly, it was a proposal from a businessman's perspective.

"I know I'm saying something cruel. But... more than anything, it would be for Chloe's own good."

But his face was also that of a father wishing for his daughter's happiness.

Chloe's father probably isn't a bad person; in fact, he seems to have the sensibilities of a proper father.

That's why I couldn't answer immediately.

"Excuse me, I'll be going now."

"...Yeah."

I left the study and started walking back to my room.

The fact that he isn't saying it out of malice or preconceived notions is precisely why I'm troubled.

Thinking about that, for some reason I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to see Chloe.

Even though I knew she'd be there when I got back to my room.

★

When I returned to my room, Chloe was there, just as I imagined.

"I'm back~"

"Yes, welcome back, Shizuku."

She was relaxing on the bed, looking at her smartphone.

What am I to Chloe?

Because of the Lust Mark we did naughty things...and our relationship continued from there.

Neither of us have confessed our feelings, and I'm not exactly her girlfriend in the typical boyfriend-girlfriend sense. 

And, though I call her "Master"... that's only during the night activities.

When we return to school, we're back to being close friends.

I know Chloe likes me.

I like Chloe too, but... I didn't understand what kind of liking it was.

I liked her smiling face, and her angry face.

I liked her unexpectedly playful side, and even her slightly mischievous side at night.

But I didn't know what kind of "liking" it was.

I had never thought about the future...

No, I must have tried not to think about it...

Normal romance, the difference between "Like" and "Love"... it's something you don't understand when you're actually experiencing it.

"Chloe, have you been thinking about your future...?"

"What's with the sudden question? Well, I've been thinking about it quite a lot."

"I see, that makes sense..."

Next year she'll be a high school student, so she has to think about her future.

Given her family background, she might even be getting marriage proposals.

As I was thinking about that, Chloe took her eyes off her phone and looked at me.

"I have a favor to ask."

"Uh, yeah."

I almost joked about what was up, or that it was unusual... but stopped myself.

"There's something I'm having trouble deciding on. I just wanted a word of encouragement... um..."

She gripped my hand tightly, and her voice was unusually serious.

It was rare for her, usually so confident, to seem so undecided.

What can I do for her in this situation...?

"I'm sure Chloe-chan can do it. After all, I believe in her."

"What's that...? Hehe, that's such a typical encouragement from you."

"...Right?"

She seemed to have made up her mind, and stood up to leave the room.

The tension she'd shown earlier seemed to have vanished, at least to me.

"Well then... I'm off."

"Okay, see you later."

She's probably going to talk to her father about what we just discussed.

If Chloe were to choose to build a happy family with someone other than me...

As a friend... I should probably bless her.

But thinking about that... for some reason, my chest ached.

The same chest pain I felt when we went on that trip to the beach.

And this possessiveness, that must be it.

I...

I might...

I might be in love with Chloe.

★

Chloe didn't come back after that.

When I think about it, a lot of it makes sense... but my sexual preferences and this "pure love" thing just don't mesh.

If I were to fall in love with her...

If I started to think of her as more important than myself, I might one day... want to destroy the relationship we've built. Getting too invested probably isn't a good idea.

I stopped thinking about that and waited alone in my room, and the room, which had felt so normal just moments before, suddenly felt strangely spacious.

Well, it's certainly bigger than my own house, but...

I stared at my smartphone with an indescribable feeling.

Until about an hour later, there was a knock on my door.

"Master is calling for you."

"Huh? Oh, yes."

Considering he said a few hours ago that he wanted me to "take my time and think about it," to be summoned again already... is this something unrelated to what happened earlier? 

However, my mind is made up.

So all that's left is to tell him. Dragging it out like this isn't like me.

Thinking that, I visited his study, but...　

"I'm sorry for calling you out so many times."

"No, I was planning to come visit you too."　

He seemed somewhat anxious, and unlike before, he was sitting with his arms crossed on his desk, looking downcast.　　

"Shizuku-kun, it's about my Chloe..."

"Um, ano! I've decided.... I want—"

I want to be with Chloe. My voice was interrupted by an unexpected remark.　　

"I'd really appreciate it if you'd continue to take care of her from now on." (Chloe's father) 

"...Huh?!"　　

A change of heart?

In such a short time? That can't be true, but he's actually asking me like this...

The most likely possibility is brainwashing, I thought, as I voiced my question.

"What's wrong all of a sudden? What happened?"

"Nothing happened, or rather, well something did happened..."

"Huh?"

I only received a vague answer that didn't really get to me.

"Well, but... I know this is just meddling out of kindness, but graduating from high school would broaden your life choices..."

"Ah, yes... I understand."

As I left the room after that conversation... I felt like I'd been tricked by a fox.

However, if there's no problem, that's all the better. I was curious about the reason, but... if I asked Chloe, she'd probably know something.

I returned to the front of the room and opened the door... but stopped before opening it. 　

There's no doubt Chloe is in the room, of course. But... what kind of face should I make when I see her?

"Aren't you coming in?"

"Huh?! I-I was just about to go in!"　　

A voice came from behind me, and I turned around in surprise to see Chloe.

So she hadn't come back yet; she was probably taking a bath. A lovely scent wafted through the air, and for some reason... I felt nervous.

"W-What's wrong? Your face is red... Do you have a fever?"

"N-No, not really! I've been busy lately, maybe I'm just tired..."　　

What should I do? My face is burning.

If I become aware of it, if I let it show... is it normal to feel this nervous?　　

What should I do? I don't want her to see my face right now...

"I think you'll be fine, but tell me right away if you're not feeling well, okay?"

"Okay, thanks..."

★

I entered the room, sat on the bed, and turned my gaze towards Chloe.

This silence isn't unpleasant, but there's something I need to say.

Ultimately, our discussion ended inconclusively... but I can't just let it slide.

Thinking about the future, if I want to be with her, I should tell her "that".

With that thought, I made up my mind and stood up, meeting her blue eyes perfectly.

"Phew... um, Chloe-chan..."

"What's wrong? You're suddenly being formal."

I don't know what to say. What's the right thing to say?

This is about what I want, what I want to become.

"Will you... walk through life with me?"

"Yes, sure."

She said it so easily.

I was surprised by how easily she replied, but... upon closer inspection, the corners of her mouth were turned up in a happy smile. It wasn't that she was emotionless, but it was still far too casual.

"Huh? That casual... Is that okay?"

"I've been thinking about it all along. In fact, if you were to start talking about being friends with benefits now... I'd kill you, and then kill myself."

She casually used some rather frightening words, but it was true that meeting her parents seemed like that kind of event. It seems Chloe had intended this from the start.

"But I like a lot of girls... and they like me... and I'm dishonest..."

"That's quite late, isn't it?"

"Besides, we're both girls...!"

"That's REALLY quite late, isn't it?"

It might be late, but... when you put it all together, it's really not good.

And there was something else that her father was most worried about...

"You said you were thinking about the future, right? Like, children and stuff..."

"...Ah, you mean about my father? He's really saying unnecessary things..."

"Huh?"

Thud

Suddenly, I was pushed down, and her face was very close. Her face was so close that my eyelashes could almost touch hers.

Usually, I'd just think she was cute, but... my heart was pounding.

Our bodies overlapped, and something hot and hard was pressed against my thigh.

Wait, hot and hard?

Is this...?

Could it be?!

"Is this... a... a plot twist!? Chloe-chan, you're actually a boy!?"

"You idiot! Like it could be possible!"

I got a chop to the head, and I calmed down.

I admit my thoughts had jumped a little too far.

"I asked Lux ​​to... uh... grow it for me. Of course, I've already explained it to my father."　

Indeed, only the Queen of the Night... the Succubus Lux... could do something like this.　　

"Could it be that you were keeping your distance because..."

"That's right. To be honest, ever since it grew... my desires haven't subsided."

"So... to put it simply, you've been feeling horny?"

"I was trying to be vague, so why did you have to rephrase it?"　　

Thinking about it that way, it makes sense why she was wearing pants today and why she was keeping her distance.

And also the reason for her father's subtle expression.

"Well, if you'd just told me... I could have taken care of it for you."

"I really do care about you. I didn't want to hurt you by giving in to my sexual desires."

"Ugh, I'm sorry..."

When she said that, all I could do, as someone who'd done all sorts of things driven by sexual desire, was apologize.

She looked at me, swallowed hard, and licked her lips.

"Well, if it was consensual, then it's okay, right?"

"Huh? Ah, wait a minute...!"

She grabbed my wrist tightly and pushed me further down onto the bed.

"It's alright, I'll take the lead so that all your desires will be satisfied..."

"Hey, this... Chloe-chan's family is here... isn't this wrong?"

"Hehe. With that longing look on your face, it's not very convincing, you know?"

Her slender fingers stroked my ribs... then reached my back and unhooked my bra.

That familiar, everyday act felt... completely different.

"Ah, don't look at my face? Please, at least, can we turn off the lights?"

"Hehe, you're blushing, aren't you? How cute."

"Ah, I'm embarrassed...!"

I felt embarrassed that she would see my face.

My heart was pounding; I never thought I'd be this nervous just from her face getting close.

It wasn't even foreplay, yet I was so nervous.

Her beautiful face was so close that our noses were almost touching.

Her fingertips slid smoothly along the nape of my neck... sending shivers down my spine.

"Come on, look this way?"

"No, no...♡"

She pinched my cheek with her fingers, and then... our lips touched.

"Mmm, mwah...♡"

The soft feeling of her lips, our first kiss... tasted like the tea she'd been drinking just moments before.

A French kiss, as if we were exchanging saliva.

Even after we parted, a lingering aftertaste spread.

My mouth felt lonely, so I brought our lips closer again to fill the gap.

How long did it last after that?

We shared a passionate kiss, our tongues intertwined, then a light kiss, like the touch of a bird's beak.

My feelings of love seemed to grow stronger and stronger.

But then we ran out of oxygen and collapsed onto each other.

We held each other so close we could hear each other's breathing and heartbeats... Just as we started to notice the sweat on our faces, Chloe sat up.

"Hehe, I gave my first time to you, Chloe-chan ♡"

"You're saying something rather suggestive, aren't you?"

The kiss was great, but my body was burning up and I wanted to continue.

"Ah, ah... Hey, let's continue... some more? ♡"

"It's true, it's getting a little hard to hold back."

And then, before me, was a part that shouldn't exist in women.

"Wow, a... I've never seen a man's penis before..."

"I've never even seen one too, let alone touched one."

It stood there, pulsating as if excited.

When I brought my nose closer and sniffed, the strong scent made my head spin.

"And yet this girl says she didn't do it on purpose... you're a real femme fatale, you know that?"

Finally, this... Chloe's big one will.... towards me...♡

"I'm sorry to disappoint your expectations, but..."

"I-I wasn't expecting anything..."

"After discussing it with my father, we decided that nothing like that would happen until the wedding. An unexpected announcement... at our age wouldn't look good, after all."

"Huh? Then what about this big weapon...? Won't it be cruel to this guy?"

It seemed cruel to leave it as it was, swollen to the point of bursting.

No, I'm only thinking of Chloe's well-being.

It's not like I want to do it or anything.

"There are other holes besides the front, you know."

"Other hole...Wait, wait?! I've never even touched that one, let alone had a first time yet!"

"Don't worry. Everyone's first time is a first, you know?"

I was made to get on all fours, with my butt sticking out.

What she pulled out of her suitcase was a pink, jelly-like liquid.

"I anticipated something like this might happen, so I've been given various things by Lux."

"Hey, what are you going to use that pink jelly for...?"

"What do you mean...? It's obvious, isn't it?"

Looking closely, I realized that what I thought was jelly was actually wriggling.

It was definitely alive, or rather... I'd seen it before. If my memory serves me correctly, that was for cleaning...

"Ah, wait a minute...♡ It won't go in, it won't go in...♡"

A cool sensation pressed against me.

Then, with a squelching sound, it entered my bottom.

"Oh, it's in."

"No, no, no, wait, really wait? No way, it won't go in!?"

It was unpleasant.

An extremely strange, abnormal feeling of a foreign object.

That hole is meant for letting things out, not for putting things in.

"I was taught that if Shizuku's resisting, it's a sign that she wants more, you know?"

"Ah, no? Stop, wait. At least, at least... let me catch my breath ♡ Ahhhh♡"

★

After that, we did a lot...

Well, at first it felt really strange.

That discomfort somehow aroused me, or something...

What if this becomes a habit...?