Training Grounds / Afternoon
The sun cast long shadows across the academy's sparring fields.
Kain waited patiently beneath a tall willow, twirling a practice blade in one hand.
His black coat was unbuttoned at the collar, giving him a relaxed, casual look.
Lupa arrived shortly after, a bit out of breath.
Her hair was pulled back in a high tail, her ears twitching, and her tail swaying behind her with barely restrained energy.
"I'm not late, am I?" she asked, eyes glancing away.
"You're fine," Kain replied with a small smile.
"I'd wait longer for a lady"
Lupa blinked, caught off guard.
"Tch. Don't call me that"
Kain chuckled lightly.
"Alright, warrior, then. But let's see if the warrior actually came to fight"
They sparred.
But just like yesterday, Lupa held back.
Kain didn't press her.
He used [Flow Reading] to predict her movements, countering each swing with elegant grace.
Then, just once, he activated [Heat Touch] through the handle of his blade.
When her fan clashed against it, her fingers spasmed, a soft gasp slipping from her lips.
"You're hesitating again," Kain murmured, stepping closer, voice low, soothing.
She stepped back, frustrated.
"I don't want to hurt anyone, okay?"
Kain tilted his head.
"Why would that be a problem? You're strong, Lupa. But you wear chains like shackles"
She sighed.
And after a moment, she sat down on the nearby bench.
Kain followed, keeping a respectful distance.
"Aiden found me in a cage," she said quietly, tails curling around her legs.
"I was part of a traveling show. Some noble bastard had me locked up, made me perform for guests like some trained fox"
Her fingers gripped her fan tightly.
"I don't even remember how long I was there… but Aiden broke in. Freed me"
Kain leaned in just a bit, his voice soft.
"You've already paid him back by standing beside him. But strength… real strength… is choosing your path"
He reached out, brushing a gloved hand across her knuckles, [Heat Touch] activating gently.
It was just a warm pulse, like comfort through skin.
Lupa didn't pull away.
Her breathing hitched, and she glanced at him.
Her orange eyes shimmered, not quite tears, but close.
[System Notification]
[Lupa. Affection: 55% / Loyalty: 35% / Lust: 40%]
[Mood: Nostalgic. Confused. Drawn In]
Kain gave her a half-smile.
"No one owns you anymore, Lupa. Not the noble… not Aiden. Only you decide who deserves your loyalty"
She looked down.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"You're... different from what I thought"
Kain stood slowly, eyes warm.
"Tomorrow, same time?"
She nodded slowly, ears low, tail swaying more gently.
Kain turned and walked away.
Evening / Market
The academy's night market was alive with warm hues and soft sounds, paper lanterns drifting overhead like lazy fireflies, casting a golden glow across the cobbled streets.
Vendors shouted in melodic rhythm, offering fried buns, honey-glazed skewers, and chilled fruit drinks.
Kain walked beside Aiden, dressed down in his usual black, sleeves rolled and coat open like he had nowhere to be.
He chewed leisurely on a meat skewer, eyes scanning the crowd, but mostly just enjoying the view.
Aiden, by contrast, looked like someone kicked his dog and stole his sword.
His eyes were hollow, shoulders slouched, only occasionally taking half hearted bites.
"You really gonna mope forever?"
Kain asked casually, voice tinged with just the right amount of teasing concern.
"You're starting to make me look emotionally stable"
Aiden sighed, but didn't take the bait.
Kain smiled to himself, a small flicker of amusement behind his eyes.
"Look, I'm not saying Aqua wasn't important," Kain continued, the picture of a supportive friend.
"But she clearly wasn't ready for a guy like you"
Aiden winced. Kain sipped on a chilled tea he picked up two stalls back.
"Still," Kain added, tilting his head toward a flower vendor, "you've got four amazing girls still sticking with you. That doesn't happen by accident"
Aiden looked away.
"I just… I don't want to mess things up again"
Kain stepped a bit closer, voice dropping to something more brotherly.
"Then stop hesitating"
He let the words hang for a moment, watching Aiden wrestle with them before gently nudging.
"Lupa, man. She worships you. You know that, right? Girl looks at you like you're the sunrise. She's waiting for you to stop being afraid"
Aiden hesitated, clutching his drink like a lifeline.
Kain kept his face unreadable, warm, and genuine, like the best friend every guy dreamed of.
"You saved her life," Kain added smoothly.
"She's still trying to prove she's worthy of you. But the truth is, she's already chosen. You just have to step up before she thinks you haven't"
Aiden gave a small nod.
Kain clapped him on the back with a grin so pure it could fool the Goddess herself.
"Attaboy. Now let's get those fried noodles. I swear, they've got some kind of spell in 'em"
As they walked off together under the glow of the lanterns, Kain's smile remained easy, charming.
'I should probably get some info about Lupa from Aqua… hah… what a night'
The Next Day / Academy Grounds / Hidden Path Behind the Greenhouse
The morning sun filtered through dew-drenched leaves, casting soft golden streaks across the cobblestone path behind the greenhouse, quiet, secluded, and rarely visited.
Aiden stood there like a man about to face execution, hands sweaty, heart in overdrive.
He kept wiping his palms on his tunic, only to repeat the process thirty seconds later.
His eyes darted every few seconds to the corner where Lupa said she'd meet him.
"Okay. Breathe. Just say it. Be cool. Don't faint"
He muttered under his breath like a cursed mantra.
Lupa showed up casually, twirling one of her bangs and sniffing the air.
"You better not have dragged me out here to show me another dead squirrel, Aiden"
"W-What?! No! That was one time!"
Aiden wheezed.
"This is serious"
She arched a brow, arms folded, tail flicking behind her.
"Alright, then spit it out"
Aiden stared at her like a man facing a volcano.
His voice cracked immediately.
"I- I think I love you!"
Lupa blinked.
"…Huh?"
"I mean—I do! I love you. I've loved you for, like, forever. Since that time you have tackled that ogre and called it a 'giant turd with teeth.' I thought, 'wow, that's the one.'"
"And every day since, it just got worse. Or better. I don't even know!"
He rambled like a broken wind-up toy now, pacing in a tight circle.
"You're funny and wild and protective, and your tail's kinda nice to look at sometimes, but that's not the point! I just—"
He stopped, breathless, hands gripping the air like he didn't know what to do with them.
"I've felt so lost since Aqua left… and even before that"
"But every time I feel like I'm falling apart, you're just there, and I keep wondering if maybe… maybe you were the one I should've been fighting for this whole time"
Lupa stared.
Completely still.
Her ears twitched once.
Then again.
Finally… she chuckled.
Soft at first.
Then a bit more.
She covered her mouth with her fan, shoulders shaking.
"That… was the most pathetic, clumsy, adorable confession I've ever heard"
Aiden's heart dropped into his boots.
"O-oh—"
She stepped forward.
Then bopped him lightly on the forehead with her fan.
"And yes. Idiot. I've been waiting for you to say that since the day you let me sleep on your bed and you took the floor"
He blinked.
"…Wait, really?"
"I thought it was obvious!"
She huffed, cheeks red.
"You think I followed you into danger all these years for fun?"
Aiden looked like he was about to cry and laugh all at once.
Lupa rolled her eyes but smiled, genuinely and softly.
"I love you too, dumbass"
She leaned forward, pecked his cheek, then yanked his collar down and pulled him into a forehead press.
Their ears touched.
Her tail curled around his leg instinctively.
"But if you mess this up," she whispered, "I will slap you with my fan so hard it'll imprint your face"
Aiden just nodded, dazed and grinning.
From far off, someone else watched.
Hidden in the shadows behind a tree, arms folded and amused.
Kain smirked.
'How touching'
Training Grounds / Afternoon
The sun was high, casting golden light over the academy's sparring fields.
A light breeze rustled the grass as Kain stood with his arms folded, watching Lupa bounce on her heels like a giddy pup.
She was glowing, grinning, tail swaying in wide arcs, her strikes more fluid than ever.
"Hyaaah!"
She shouted, twirling her war fan and lunging forward in a high-spirited combo.
Kain deflected each blow easily, dancing back with minimal effort, his coat fluttering with each pivot.
He smirked.
"You're chipper today. Let me guess… Aiden finally grew a spine?"
Lupa flushed.
"Tch. None of your business"
But her grin betrayed her, even as she tried to glare.
Kain chuckled low in his throat.
[System Notification]
[Mood: Elated. In Love. Light-headed]
[Tip: Your target responds positively to dominant strength. Use 40% more power to provoke reaction]
[Current Affection: 56% / Loyalty: 35% / Lust: 44%]
[System Note: She likes strong men. Make her heart race, not her legs run]
Kain's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Alright then, warrior," he said, sliding one foot back and shifting his grip on the training blade.
"Let's raise the stakes"
Before she could blink, Kain surged forward.
His blade crashed against her fan with a thundering clack, the impact sending a tremor through her arms.
Lupa gasped, then laughed, breathless.
"You're serious today?"
"Just warming up"
His voice was low and cool.
He pressed harder, forcing her to retreat, each strike sharper, each move faster. Kain danced forward like a shadow given life, relentless, but never cruel.
His [Flow Reading] skill predicted every twitch, every shift in weight, and when her defenses wavered, he tapped [Heat Touch] through the blade again, sending a warm pulse up her arm.
Lupa stumbled back with a shaky breath, tail raised high.
"Damn… you're fast"
"I'm holding back," he rolled his shoulder with nonchalance.
"You'd know if I wasn't"
Lupa's pupils dilated just a little.
She looked at him differently, like she wasn't just sparring anymore.
Like she was measuring.
"Tch… show-off"
Her voice was tight, but her cheeks glowed.
[System Notification]
[Mood: Flustered. Excited. Impressed]
[Affection: 57% | Lust: 50%]
Kain smirked inwardly, watching her try to shake off the rush.
Aiden may have her heart… but hearts are fragile things.
'And I have time'
Shade of the Willow Tree / Moments after sparring
Lupa sat on the bench, chest rising and falling as she caught her breath.
Her ears drooped slightly, and her cheeks held a rosy glow that wasn't just from exertion.
Kain approached casually, tossing her a clean white towel.
"Here. You earned that one"
She caught it with a grateful huff, pressing it against her brow.
"You didn't go easy on me"
"You didn't want me to"
He gave a lopsided smile, settling onto the bench beside her, but not too close.
Just close enough.
For a moment, there was only the sound of wind in the leaves and Lupa's soft breathing.
"So," Kain asked, turning slightly toward her, eyes calm and curious, "how'd it feel? Letting loose a little for once?"
Lupa didn't answer right away.
She stared at the towel in her hands, expression unreadable.
"…Weird," she admitted.
"Like I forgot how it felt to stop holding back"
Her voice dipped, barely above a whisper.
"Strong… but also dangerous"
"It suits you," Kain said smoothly.
"That wildness. It's not something you should be ashamed of. Not everyone gets to choose what they're born with"
Lupa looked at him, surprised by the gentleness in his voice.
Kain leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees.
"You know," he began, tone casual but sharp beneath the surface, "I'm glad Aiden stepped up. Took guts"
Lupa blinked, tail swishing slightly.
"But I do wonder…"
Kain tilted his head just a little, as if musing aloud,
"…Did he do it because he loves you… Or because he needed someone after Aqua crushed him like a roach under her heel?"
Lupa flinched.
Just a flicker, but Kain caught it.
"I'm not saying he's lying," he added quickly, voice smooth as silk.
"I just know guys. Heartbreak… makes us say things. Do things. Sometimes, just so we're not alone"
Lupa was quiet again.
Her fingers clenched the towel in her lap.
[System Notification]
[Mood: Conflicted. Guarded. Shaken]
[System Note: Cracks in loyalty forming. Emotional vulnerability increasing]
Kain stood, stretching with a faint yawn.
"Sorry. That was too blunt"
He looked down at her, warm and apologetic.
"Ignore me. Just tired ramblings from a guy who drinks too much at night"
Lupa shook her head slowly.
"…No. You might be right. I just… don't want to believe that"
Kain offered her a hand up.
"Then make him prove you wrong"
His eyes met hers, steadfast, sincere, inviting.
"And if he doesn't… maybe it's not him you needed after all"
She took his hand.
Her grip lingered longer than it should have.
Kain's Room / Nightfall
The academy grounds had long since quieted.
Crickets chirped lazily outside as moonlight filtered through the blinds of Kain's room.
A soft breeze drifted in through the cracked window, rustling parchment and the edges of a long-forgotten book.
Kain lounged on his bed, shirt unbuttoned halfway, a glass of fine red resting on the nightstand beside him.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
A slow smile curled across his lips.
"…Hah. Right on time"
He rose, taking his time to answer.
When he opened the door, there she stood, Lupa.
Arms crossed, eyes uncertain, her long tail twitching behind her.
She wore her night hoodie, ears low, and a look that screamed, "I shouldn't be here, but I came anyway."
"Can I… talk to you?"
[System Notification]
[Lupa. Affection: 61% / Loyalty: 39% / Lust: 47%]
[Mood: Nervous. Seeking Comfort. Unsteady]
Kain's smile was warm, inviting, not smug.
"Of course. Come in"
She hesitated, just a beat, then stepped inside.
Kain closed the door behind her with a soft click.
"Want something to drink?" he offered casually, already pouring her a glass of something light, apple cider, sweet and harmless.
Lupa took it, but didn't drink.
Her fingers wrapped tightly around the glass.
"I… I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted softly.
Kain didn't say a word.
He simply moved to the couch and patted the spot beside him.
She joined him, curling one leg beneath her, keeping just enough space to pretend she didn't want to lean in.
"It's about Aiden, isn't it?"
She nodded.
Then paused.
Then shook her head.
"It's about me"
He waited.
"I said yes. I told him I'd be his. But ever since… I keep wondering if he only said it because he was afraid of being alone. Like you said"
Her eyes locked on his.
"How did you know?"
Kain met her gaze with calm sincerity.
"Because I've been that guy before"
'I'm lying through my fucking teeth'
A soft chuckle.
"We all have. Sometimes we're drowning, and the first hand that reaches out… we grab it without thinking"
Lupa looked down at her lap, tail wrapping around her thigh.
"But I don't want to be a… replacement"
Kain set his glass down.
Then, gently, he reached out and touched her wrist. Just enough. Just soft enough.
[Skill Activated: Heat Touch]
A faint warmth traveled up her arm, like safety, like clarity.
[System Notification]
[Lupa. Affection: 65% / Loyalty: 49% / Lust: 47%]
[Mood: Vulnerable. Searching. Drawn In]
"Then don't be," he murmured.
"Be someone impossible to replace"
Her lips parted.
Words caught in her throat.
Kain leaned in slightly, his voice low.
"And if he ever forgets what you're worth…"
His smile returned, slow and sharp beneath the charm.
"I'll remind him. With a blade. Or something worse"
She laughed softly, the tension breaking, just a little.
The soft hum of moonlight filled the silence between them.
Lupa had relaxed a little now, her glass resting on the armrest, her eyes distant but calm.
Then she looked at Kain, just a little sheepish.
"You've done a lot, y'know"
He glanced her way.
"Aiden's better. I'm less of a wreck. Even the others seems less... moody"
She scratched her cheek with a tiny grin.
"So, what do you want?"
Kain blinked, caught off guard.
"What do you mean?"
"A reward. Nothing weird!"
She added quickly, cheeks flaring pink.
"Lunch? Pocket money? I could steal you meat from the kitchen like an assassin?"
'I already have Darcy for that'
Kain laughed under his breath.
"Tempting. But I've got more than enough meat"
She groaned.
"Gross"
Then Kain leaned back, tone shifting, quieter, but no less playful.
"Alright. If you're offering something personal… Let me touch your tail"
Lupa's ears perked.
She froze.
"…My tail?"
"Just the tip," he said with a teasing grin.
"I've always wondered what it felt like. Everyone says it's sacred. Lovers-only, right?"
Her lips parted, words trapped in her throat.
He tilted his head, feigning disappointment.
"But hey, if you don't trust me—"
"Fine," she muttered, arms crossed.
"But only for a second. You're ridiculous"
She scooted a little closer, cheeks red hot now, turning slightly to let her tail curl around into his lap.
Kain's eyes gleamed.
Slowly, reverently, he reached out.
His fingers trailed to the soft white tip.
[Skill: Heat Touch – Active]
A warm pulse surged through the nerves of her tail, delicate, electric.
She gasped.
"Ah—Kain…!"
Her face lit up in mortification.
But Kain didn't stop.
He leaned in and gently pressed his lips against the tip.
A sacred act.
Reserved for those in love.
She stared, stunned… but her hand slid to his chest.
Then, slowly, she leaned forward.
Her breath hitching, his lips now meeting hers, slow, soft.
Her tail trembled against him, her chest tight with some forbidden thrill.
His hand moved.
Up her thigh.
Her eyes shot open wide.
"W-Wait—!"
She gasped, breaking the kiss.
A long pause.
She pushed back fast, scrambling up, flushed beyond saving.
"That—That shouldn't've happened. I have Aiden, and I—! I shouldn't—!!"
Kain said nothing.
Just watched with that perfect mix of sympathy and restrained amusement.
Lupa didn't wait for a response.
Her eyes glassy, breath uneven, she bolted for the door.
"I'm sorry!"
The door slammed, leaving him in absolute silence.
Kain leaned back onto the couch, running a finger through his hair.
"Cute"
He smirked to himself.
[System Notification]
[Lupa. Affection: 70% / Loyalty: 54% / Lust: 52%]
[Mood: Panicked. Guilty. Addicted…]
The Next Day / Training Grounds / Afternoon
The sun hung lazily in the sky, clouds drifting slowly above the academy's wide-open sparring fields.
Lupa stood beneath the familiar tree.
Her fan was strapped at her hip, her long hair tied up high like usual, but her usual fire… felt dimmer today.
She glanced around, ears twitching.
Nothing.
"…He's just late," she muttered, adjusting her stance.
She waited five minutes.
Then ten.
Still nothing.
She tried a few practice swings, but they lacked rhythm, and her thoughts were miles away.
"He wouldn't just skip," she whispered to herself.
"Unless… no. He probably feels bad about last night. I mean—gods, I kissed him back"
Her tail curled tightly behind her.
"That doesn't mean anything. I'll just… talk to him. Clear things up"
Another ten minutes passed.
Her stomach twisted.
"You're such an idiot, Lupa," she muttered, brushing her bangs back.
She stared at the bench they always cooled off on.
The memory was fresh.
The towel.
His voice.
His lips.
The heat rushed back to her cheeks.
She turned and left, head low, tail dragging.
Meanwhile / Academy Rooftop
Kain lounged back on the stone edge, one leg crossed over the other, coat lazily unbuttoned at the collar.
The wind tugged at his hair, the scent of the market stalls wafting up faintly from below.
He bit into a crisp red apple.
[System Notification]
[Lupa. Affection: 70% / Loyalty: 54% / Lust: 52%]
[Mood: Confused. Vulnerable. Hopeful]
A slow smirk crept across his lips.
"Let her stew in it," he muttered under his breath, voice soaked in amusement.
"Worked on Ruby. Worked on Beatrix. Why fix what's already perfect?"
He watched a pair of birds fly past overhead, chuckling to himself.
"You give 'em just enough fire… then starve 'em of the warmth"
He bit into the apple again, savoring it.
"Sooner or later, they always come back"
Academy Garden / Night
The moonlight bathed the academy garden in soft silver, the lanterns barely flickering as wind whispered through trimmed hedges and hanging vines.
Lupa sat on a bench by the koi pond, her tail twitching behind her, restless, unsure.
She looked up as five familiar figures approached.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," she said with a soft laugh.
"Feels like it's been forever since we talked… even though we pass each other every day"
Ruby tilted her head with a sheepish grin.
"Ah, you know how it is. Classes, training, drama"
"And Kain," Beatrix added, earning a small elbow to the ribs.
Lyla gave a practiced smile.
"We didn't mean to keep a distance. Just didn't want to intrude… figured you and Aiden needed space"
Lupa lowered her gaze.
"About that"
They all sat down around her, like they knew this moment was coming.
"I kissed Kain," Lupa finally whispered.
It hung in the air like frost.
Ruby and Beatrix shared a look, measured, rehearsed.
Beatrix leaned in.
"Well, damn. Didn't think you'd admit it out loud"
"We figured something happened," Ruby said, letting out a dramatic sigh.
"He's got… that effect"
Lupa's ears lowered.
"I feel awful. Like I betrayed Aiden. Like I ruined something"
She looked up.
"But when Kain kissed me back… it didn't feel wrong. It felt—real"
There was silence.
Lyla spoke softly.
"You're not a bad person, Lupa. You're just not sure what your heart wants"
Darcy, usually reserved, added quietly.
"Feelings aren't math. They don't always add up cleanly"
Alyssa, with her usual kindness, took Lupa's hand.
"You care about Aiden. But maybe you're trying to convince yourself it's enough… when deep down, you know it's not"
Lupa's throat tightened.
"It's just…" she blinked back heat in her eyes, "he confessed. He made me feel chosen. But Kain… Kain made me feel wanted"
The girls didn't answer right away, but they didn't need to.
They had done exactly what Kain asked them to.
Every word nudged her closer to the edge.
Ruby stood, stretching.
"You'll figure it out. Just… don't lie to yourself. Kain's hard to forget"
Beatrix winked.
"Trust us"
They left her in the moonlight.
Alone.
Wavering.
Just as planned.
Kain's Dorm / Midnight
[System Notification]
[Lupa. Affection: 73% / Loyalty: 54% / Lust: 57%]
[Mood: Yearning. Shame. Craving Something More]
He spun in the middle of his room, bare-chested, wearing nothing but sleek black briefs, hips swaying to a melody only he could hear.
He pointed at the system screen in the air like a stage light.
"And that, dear Aiden…" he sang softly, voice dripping with mockery, "…is how your girl slips away, inch by inch, thought by thought"
He chuckled darkly and gave a small twirl before striking a pose, hand on his chin, the image of smug satisfaction.
His crimson eyes flicked to the stats once more.
Lupa's guilt was now fused with longing, and that's all he needed.
"Gods, I can't wait to see that puppy-dog heartbreak again. So damn tasty!"
Just then, a knock at the door.
Three sharp taps.
Followed by two softer ones.
Kain paused mid-dance.
His smirk widened.
"Right on schedule"
He flicked his fingers, the system window fading, and moved to the door.
He opened it.
There stood Aqua, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed and that lazy, sultry smile.
Behind her were Beatrix, Ruby, Alyssa, Darcy, and Lyla.
And at the back…
The Headmistress herself, Iris.
Elegant, cold, and absolutely not supposed to be here at this hour… in that black velvet nightgown.
Looking so damn fucking sexy!
Kain's eyes sparkled.
"Ladies"
He stepped aside.
They filed in with practiced grace, each one subtly brushing against him.
Aqua was already making herself comfortable on his bed.
Iris was the last to enter, her heels clicking lightly against the marble tile before the door clicked shut behind her.
"You summoned us," Iris said, her tone even, but her cheeks were faintly pink.
Kain nodded.
"Just wanted to celebrate some progress"
He waved his hand and conjured a fresh bottle of infernal wine.
"Lupa's almost ready to fall"
Ruby giggled.
"Took her long enough. I was starting to think that tail of hers was just for decoration"
Beatrix poured the wine.
"You're gonna break Aiden again, huh?"
Kain took the glass, lifting it with a mocking toast.
"To second heartbreaks!"