Since we had already finished most of the wine while we were out on the hill, we switched to fruit liquor shortly after returning. I had tried it once before during our trip to Rigforresia; its refreshing taste went down easily.
"Speaking of Ripple, I heard a story about something called a Golden Riple today."
"Golden Riple? I’ve never heard of that. Is it actually golden in color?"
"No, it seems like a rumor spread for marketing purposes, so it probably isn't real. They say it's the most delicious Ripple in the world, though. If a Golden Riple actually existed and was made into liquor, I wonder how good it would be?"
"It certainly sounds romantic. But in practice, it might be difficult. I’m no expert, but a fruit that tastes good on its own isn't always the best choice for making alcohol."
"Ah, that's true for grapes as well. Wine grapes can be quite acidic or have a very intense flavor, so people’s preferences vary. Ripple might be the same way."
Sieg-san was right. A Ripple that was delicious to eat and one that was suited for brewing were likely two different things. Even the world’s most delicious fruit wouldn't necessarily result in the world’s best liquor.
Well, since the Golden Riple itself was basically an urban legend, this was nothing more than idle chatter.
"Kaito-san, you mentioned that you like Ripple pie, but do you enjoy Ripple itself as well?"
"It might be my favorite fruit. Besides that, I like mikan... er, oranges and things like that. I think I prefer fruits with a bit of acidity. Then again, I like strawberries too, so it’s hard to narrow it down to just one."
"I see. I enjoy most fruits as well, so I would have to think about it if I were asked for a favorite. Though, among fruit liquors, Ripple liquor is definitely my favorite."
"Is that so? Come to think of it, we drank Ripple liquor back in Rigforresia too."
Sieg-san generally only drank fruit liquor or wine, but it seemed Ripple was her top choice. I wasn't exactly an expert on fruit liquors, but I had seen varieties like orange, muscat, peach, and strawberry—and apparently, there were even blends.
Thinking back, Sieg-san usually did have Ripple liquor in her glass.
"...To be precise, it became my favorite because we drank it in Rigforresia."
"Eh?"
"It was the drink we shared during that homecoming when I finally became your lover. Because of those happy memories, I’ve come to love it more than ever."
"...I see. Now that you put it that way, the Ripple liquor I drink with you feels exceptionally delicious, Sieg-san."
"Fufu, then we feel the same way."
I wrapped my arm around Sieg-san as she leaned happily against me, pulling her shoulder close. Because she was dressed so lightly, the physical contact was intense and made my heart race. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but her body temperature seemed to be rising as well.
It would have been a lie to say I wasn't feeling self-conscious, but even that awkwardness felt like part of the bliss. It was a happy moment spent with my lover, and I felt a deep sense of comfort.
We chatted for a while as we drank, and our session came to an end once we finished off the Ripple liquor Sieg-san had prepared.
After both of us made simple preparations for bed, we climbed in together and dimmed the lights. The only illumination left was a small lighting magic tool by the bedside set to its lowest level, so the room wasn't completely pitch black.
"...Come to think of it, we slept in the same bed when we visited Rigforresia too."
"Yeah, because of Rei-san and Fia-san's prank... It feels quite nostalgic."
We really had shared a bed when I stayed at Sieg-san's house. I remembered how we had slept back-to-back, both of us desperately trying to pretend we weren't aware of the other.
Now we were facing each other normally. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I could clearly see Sieg-san's face as she watched me.
"I asked a rather strange question back then. Do you remember it, Kaito-san?"
"Yes, I remember being incredibly flustered by it."
I remembered that conversation well. Because Rei-san had been teasing her about her underwear, Sieg-san had asked me, "If you saw me in my underwear, would you get excited?" and I had struggled to answer.
Back then, Sieg-san had very low self-esteem; she didn't believe she had any charm as a woman. Though, she had called me out for my own low self-esteem as well...
"In those days, we both thought so little of ourselves."
"Fufu, we did. However, I’ve seen enough proof now to understand that your words back then were the truth. I think I’ve become a little more confident than I used to be."
"I think you have every right to be confident. You were charming even back then, Sieg-san, but I think you're an even more wonderful and attractive woman now."
"...Surely, it was you who... made me feel charming."
Her voice was gentle and sweet. I felt Sieg-san's hand slip around my back, pulling me closer... beyond that point, no more words were needed.
Serious-senpai: "Fuguah... ah... gah... I-I can't take it anymore, I'm dying... Wait, what's happening?! My body is turning into a liquid?! Even though I'm a liquid, I'm still in the shape of my body?!"
Machina: "...Well, I was thirsty, so I turned you into mixed juice..."
Serious-senpai: "You mess with my body way too much! Hey, wait—! What are you doing with that straw?! You always treat me like a snack... Wait! Is it your fault my body keeps turning into sugar?!"
Machina: "I wouldn't know anything about that. I haven't done a thing."
Serious-senpai: "...Ah... I-I see..."