Kana sat by the window, legs tucked beneath her, eyes squinting at the bright sun still suspended high in the sky.
It was far too early for the day to end, let alone for Irielle to return.
Turning her head, she glanced over at the elf lounging comfortably on the edge of her bed, a smug grin on her face as if she hadn't just burst through the door like a whirlwind not twenty minutes ago.
"…Isn't it a little early for you to be back?"
Kana asked, her voice tentative, more curious than accusatory. "Aren't places like yours usually more active during the night?"
For a moment, Irielle didn't respond. She just stared at Kana with a slightly blank expression, as if the question had taken her by surprise.
Then, as if some inner switch flipped, she chuckled—a light, mischievous sound that sent a faint blush crawling up Kana's neck.
"Ah, don't worry about it. My girls can handle everything just fine without me. It's not like I'm the one working the back rooms or anything. That's not really my style."
Irielle waved a hand dismissively.
Kana raised an eyebrow.
"So, you just… left?"
Irielle's grin widened.
"Of course. Besides, I've got better things to do now. I've got you to keep me company."
Kana immediately regretted looking directly at her. Irielle wasn't just saying those words casually—her eyes gleamed with intent, and the tilt of her head carried just enough teasing to make Kana feel cornered in her own skin.
She looked away quickly, focusing on the sky again.
"You can't just say stuff like that…"
"Why not? It's the truth."
Irielle leaned back on her hands, relaxed.
Kana didn't respond. It was hard enough trying not to combust whenever Irielle turned her charm on.
The elf's unapologetic confidence was overwhelming, and Kana didn't know how to deal with it—especially when her own feelings were a tangled mess of discomfort, attraction, and sheer social panic.
Back at Irielle's establishment, things were far less lighthearted.
"Where's the boss?"
One of the girls called out from behind a curtain.
"Gone again."
Another sighed.
The receptionist, who had been calmly leafing through paperwork at the front desk, didn't even look up as she replied.
"She left about an hour ago."
A wave of resigned groans passed through the building.
"She could at least tell us when she's going to vanish."
One muttered.
"She hasn't stuck around a full evening this entire week."
"It's probably that girl again. The one she brought back a few days ago."
Another chimed in.
"Figures."
The group collectively shook their heads, some in frustration, others in amusement.
This wasn't new behavior, but that didn't mean it was easy to manage without their boss flitting in and out like a bird chasing a shiny object.
______
Meanwhile, Lysera stared at the stack of papers on her desk and wondered, for the hundredth time that day, if leaving Kana alone in her house had been the right decision.
The girl hadn't complained, sure.
But she also hadn't done… well, anything. Lysera doubted she had much to occupy herself with. The house wasn't exactly filled with entertainment, and letting someone sit idle for too long was never a good idea.
Boredom could gnaw at people, twist them into strange versions of themselves.
And Kana, with all her mysteries and unspoken baggage, was the last person Lysera wanted slipping through cracks.
She sighed and stood up, gathering her things and clocking out. It was still early, but she told herself that getting ahead on tomorrow's reports could wait.
As she walked through the quieter parts of the district, her eyes caught on a handwritten sign taped to a cheerful glass window:
Help Wanted – Inquire Inside.
It belonged to a flower shop, the kind that smelled like spring and sunshine even in the dead of winter.
A dozen potted plants sat neatly on wooden steps outside, and pastel-colored ribbons fluttered with the breeze.
Lysera stopped in her tracks.
For a brief moment, her mind painted an image—Kana standing behind the counter in one of those light green aprons, hair pulled back, arranging flower bouquets with a quiet smile.
She imagined customers thanking her, children tugging at her sleeves, and Kana's face lit with something other than confusion or unease.
She stood there for a second too long, a strange warmth curling in her chest.
"…What am I thinking. Ridiculous."
Lysera muttered under her breath, shaking her head.
She turned sharply on her heel and resumed walking.
"It's that damn magic. It messes with people's heads. That's all it is. Has to be."
She said to no one, trying to ignore the way her ears felt warm.
It wasn't that Kana was charming. Or sweet. Or that her smile—when she did smile—was soft and kind and made Lysera want to protect her from every ugly thing in the world.
It was just magic. Strange, passive, hard-to-track magic. Obviously.
Right?
______
Back at home, Kana was still staring out the window, trying to ignore Irielle's gaze.
"Do you really not work in your own business?"
She asked again, if only to break the silence.
"Only when I feel like it. Which is almost never."
Irielle replied without hesitation.
Kana couldn't help but snort at that, her shoulders shaking slightly. It was rare for her to laugh at anything, but something about how honest Irielle was—how shameless—made it impossible not to.
The elf grinned like she'd just won a game.
"See? I'm already cheering you up."
Kana rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
Maybe she was. Maybe that wasn't so bad.
Just as Kana began to think that maybe Irielle wasn't so bad—just a bit dramatic, maybe too bold for her own good—the elf leaned in.
It wasn't sudden, exactly. More like a slow, deliberate closing of the space between them.
Inch by inch, Irielle moved closer, her expression unreadable, her gaze fixed on Kana's face as if she were studying every twitch, every breath.
Kana stiffened, heart thudding, unsure whether to recoil or stay still. Her breath caught in her throat. The proximity was overwhelming.
She could smell the faint hint of perfume clinging to Irielle's skin—something floral and soft, like night-blooming jasmine.
"Irielle…?"
Kana whispered, uncertain.
The elf didn't answer, only tilted her head slightly, as if amused. Her lips were just a breath away now. Kana's mind spun.
The rational part screamed at her to move back, to say something, to stop this before it went any further.
But her hands betrayed her—twitching, shifting, then finally lifting to tug lightly at the fabric of Irielle's sleeve.
She didn't even know why she did it.
Her fingers curled, just enough to pull Irielle closer.
And that was when the front door opened with a loud creak.
"Kana, I'm back. What do you think you're doing?"
Lysera called casually before pausing. Then her tone sharpened.
Kana froze, face flushed, while Irielle didn't move an inch. She simply turned her head to look at Lysera with a small, smug smile.
"Seduction. I'm seducing my darling."
She said without shame.
Lysera's eye twitched. She crossed the room in two strides, grabbed Irielle by the collar, and physically yanked her back.
"Cut it out. Behave yourself."
She snapped.
Irielle let herself be dragged away without resistance, still grinning.
"You're just jealous."
"No. I'm sane."
Lysera said flatly.
She glanced at Kana, who was still sitting frozen on the floor, visibly struggling to process what just happened.
"Are you alright?"
Lysera asked, more gently this time.
Kana nodded mutely, though her face was still burning.
Irielle gave her a wink before lounging lazily on the couch like nothing happened.
Lysera sighed.
"Unbelievable."
_____
As much I wanted to avoid R18 content, it found me anyway. I guess the story will have yuri smut as well someday down the road...(and by that, I mean soon). If you don't want it, tell me and I'll remove it. But if you do want it...things can be arranged....