I stepped out onto the balcony, carrying the mugs of cocoa Alice had prepared for us. The night breeze coming off the sea was cool, but given the Hydra Kingdom’s generally warm climate, it felt more refreshing than chilly.
The moon was exceptionally bright tonight, making the stars seem dim by comparison. However, the sight of that massive, radiant orb hanging over the water was magnificent enough to be called a masterpiece.
"What a view," I remarked.
"It really is. Oh, wait, Kaito-san. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to say that famous line?"
"Yeah, yeah. The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Why did you say it so casually?! You're supposed to build up to it, add some gravitas!"
"Well, when the person I'm saying it to is standing there waiting for it, I'm not really sure what kind of tone I should use."
It was hard to deliver a line like that when someone was bracing for it with a "come on, say it" expression. Honestly, I felt that particular phrase was only truly effective when it caught the other person off guard.
I gave a wry smile and took a sip of my cocoa. The sweet, warm flavor flooded my mouth, putting my mind at ease.
"So, what was next? Our hands were supposed to touch?"
"Y-Yes, that’s right. At first, our fingertips just barely graze each other, and then we gradually take our time until, you know, we're holding hands..."
"This is taking too long."
"Hyah?! W-Why did you grab my hand all of a sudden?!"
"Because if we followed your plan, we'd be here all night. Besides, we were already holding hands until a few minutes ago..."
In any case, she was hesitating far too much. According to Alice, she was currently in her Romance Bottom-tier State. While I wanted to satisfy her requests, I also knew we would never make any progress if I let her lead the way. Efficiency was essential.
"So, according to your plan, what happens after this?"
"Auh... Th-th-th-that would be... well, we snuggle up close and let the mood build... and then naturally, we share a light bird kiss..."
"I think the mood is already pretty good. The view is quiet and beautiful, and we had a great time talking on the way here."
"Well, that’s... you’re right, but... there’s, you know... mental preparation... and various other things to consider..."
Alice muttered her response in a tiny, fading voice. To put it simply, she was just incredibly embarrassed. It was so typical of her that I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Why are you laughing?!"
"No reason. I just think you're cute."
"Wha—?! Wh-wh-wh-what are you saying so suddenly?!"
"I just thought the gap between your usual self and the way you’re acting all demure and shy right now is really charming."
"Kaito-san, aren't you being a bit too calm about this?!"
"If I'm calm, it's only because you're so much more nervous than me. It's actually helped me settle down."
"Uguuu... Th-That’s just cheating... I’m over here dying of embarrassment..."
"Well, even if you call it cheating..."
Alice pouted in dissatisfaction, but since I wasn't doing it on purpose, there wasn't much I could say to defend myself.
Still, seeing her lips pursed like that was so adorable that I felt a smile tugging at my face. I set my mug down on the balcony railing and placed my empty hand on her shoulder.
"...Ah... Kaito-san..."
She seemed to realize what I was doing. Alice flinched for a split second and looked up at me, but she immediately closed her eyes and puckered her lips.
Since she had asked for a light bird kiss, I brushed my lips against hers, pulled back slightly, and then touched them again.
The sound of soft pecks echoed in the quiet night. It was a different sensation from a long, deep kiss—it felt almost as if my ears were being tickled.
After we repeated the gesture several times, Alice began to press her lips back against mine. For a while, the two of us simply stood there, overlapping our lips again and again, lost in the rhythm of each other's touch.
Serious-senpai: "Tell Me, Omniscient God! How can I escape from the Sugar Development!!"
Machina: "The choices are three... ① Dote on My Beloved Child. ② Dote on My Beloved Child. ③ Dote on My Beloved Child... You can choose whichever one you like!!"
Serious-senpai: "Huh? No, wait... excuse me?"