How did I end up in this situation? That was the question on my mind as I stood face-to-face with a bright-red Lilia-san.
Shiro-san’s demanded hug was over, and for a fleeting moment, I thought we could finally leave the ocean floor and head back to the surface. But then Shiro-san spoke, declaring that it was Lilia-san’s turn.
Naturally, that meant I had to hug Lilia-san too. Since we were still stuck at the bottom of the sea, it was clear Shiro-san had no intention of letting us go back until we complied.
I can’t say I hadn’t seen it coming, and I certainly wasn't against the idea. However, one thing truly caught me off guard: Lilia-san was surprisingly eager to go along with it.
Lilia-san is bashful to the core. If she had shown any sign of discomfort, I would have tried to talk Shiro-san out of it, but there was no trace of hesitation.
Of course, she was embarrassed—her face was practically glowing—but she wasn't panicking or flustered. On the contrary, the emotions reaching me through Sympathy Magic felt more like... anticipation.
Puzzled by her uncharacteristic reaction, I slowly reached out. When my fingers brushed her shoulders, her body flinched for a split second, but only for an instant. She immediately looked up, staring straight at me with a crimson face.
Her eyes carried a silent plea: "Please, don't stop."
Thinking to myself that she was acting much more proactive than usual, I pulled her close. Lilia-san isn't particularly small, but she’s shorter than Shiro-san. Perhaps it was that height difference, or the innocent way she leaned into me while blushing all the way to her ears, but she felt far more delicate than she appeared.
As I wrapped my arms around her back, she hesitantly returned the gesture, mirroring my embrace. The reaction was so adorable that I reflexively tightened my hold.
Suddenly, Lilia-san looked up, staring intently at my face. Then, with a fluid, natural movement, she narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips just a fraction.
I’m not dense enough to miss a signal like that. Keeping one hand on her back, I moved the other to gently cup her cheek. In response, Lilia-san stood on her tiptoes, bringing her face closer to mine.
I remembered something Luna-san had mentioned once, completely unprompted. Lilia-san is 157 centimeters tall, and I’m 169. That makes a difference of 12 centimeters. If I remember correctly, that’s supposed to be the most ideal height difference for a kiss.
The thought barely had time to cross my mind before our lips met.
How long did it last? Seconds? Minutes? It felt like an eternity and a fleeting heartbeat all at once. Eventually, we pulled apart.
Lilia-san’s face was as red as a ripe apple and her eyes were moist, but she gazed at me with an expression of pure happiness. It felt remarkably fresh.
...Ah, right. This wasn't our first kiss. For all her shyness, Lilia-san can be quite bold once she makes up her mind; she’d even kissed me during the Six Kings Festival. But back then, there had been no time to enjoy the afterglow—she had immediately fainted from sheer embarrassment.
"I really should thank Shiro-sama," I thought.
Right now, Shiro-san was using her power to prevent Lilia-san from losing consciousness. Because of that, she didn't have to miss out on the moment.
If I wasn't just being conceited, then Lilia-san really did want to share these romantic moments with me. Ordinarily, her embarrassment would win out, depriving her of the chance.
That must be why she was being so proactive now that the opportunity had finally presented itself.
"I... I feel like my face is about to explode from shame, though..."
Even so, she seemed to be at her absolute limit—which was just like her. I suppose that’s part of her charm.
This entire scenario was likely exactly what Shiro-san had planned. Knowing how shy Lilia-san is, she had deliberately brought us to this secluded seabed and forbade her from fainting, using the hug as a prerequisite to force her hand.
It was undeniably a thoughtful gesture on Shiro-san’s part. Truly, she’s become incredible lately...
"That is mostly correct. However, going as far as a kiss feels like a bit much, doesn't it? It seems unfair."
I really wish she’d stop ruining my internal monologues with those airheaded comments.
By Shiro-san’s power, we returned to the surface. Standing back on the sandy beach, Lilia-san bowed deeply to Shiro-san and offered her gratitude.
"Shiro-sama, thank you very much."
"Whatever for? I simply wanted to flirt with Kaito-san myself."
"Hehe, is that so? Regardless, thanks to you, I’ve had a very wonderful experience. So, thank you."
"Hmm. Well, I shall accept your thanks for now."
"Yes!"
Despite my initial worries, this pair seemed to be getting along much better than I’d expected. It helps that Shiro-san, the superior party, is being so friendly.
Again, I was struck by how much she’s grown. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to revise my opinion of her.
"You are more than welcome to praise me more. I quite enjoy being complimented."
"Ahaha... Wait, what?"
As I watched, Shiro-san wore a smug expression that only I could recognize. Suddenly, the sea behind her surged, and a massive wave rose—a wave physically made of giant, three-dimensional letters spelling out the word "Smug."
Stop that! Stop the Smug Wave! It’s lucky nobody happened to be swimming there, or they would have been crushed by a wall of literal smugness! Honestly, some things never change.
Serious-senpai: "..." Machina: "Mmm, I’m so jealous. I want to hug my child too! Oh? Serious-senpai? Aren't you drinking your coffee?" Serious-senpai: "Huh? Oh, no, I’m drinking it... Just give me a second. I need to regain my composure." Machina: "Oh?" Serious-senpai: "...Right. I want something spicy to eat, too." Machina: "Spicy snacks? Here you go." Serious-senpai: "......Sigh... Look, this lovey-dovey stuff is just dragging on. Can we get some 'Serious' in here already!?" Machina: "It seems unlikely given the current momentum, but the possibility isn't zero. A serious development would provide a nice bit of contrast. I hope it happens for you eventually." Serious-senpai: "...............Are you an angel!? That’s not the reaction I wanted!!" Machina: "Eh?" Serious-senpai: "Triple-Question-Mark, please come back soon! This is the absolute worst! This woman is an unintentional gag-killer!" Machina: "Eh? What?"