...
Their lips met as Silence Suzuka gently shared small sips of the red wine. The wine-flavored kiss was even softer and sweeter than the wine itself. After just a tiny taste, Silence Suzuka's heart was already intoxicated.
She moved from behind Lucian to press herself against his chest, as if trying to melt entirely into his embrace. Feeling Silence Suzuka's heated breaths, Lucian wrapped an arm around her waist and lowered his head to kiss her neck.
But the little troublemaker outside the curtain hadn't left yet.
"Trainer~ You're not really thinking of making me come in, are you?"
"Still running your mouth? Hurry up and dry off, then blow-dry your hair."
"Ooh~ Got it~" Seiun Sky giggled but still didn't leave immediately. "Trainer, when can I... get today's kiss?"
Lucian glanced at Silence Suzuka in his arms—she still had her eyes closed, lightly biting his shoulder—and replied, "Now."
"Hmm..." Seiun Sky hesitated, wrestling with herself outside the curtain before ultimately chickening out. "Ehh—Trainer, hurry up and finish your bath. Soaking in the hot springs for too long isn't good for you either."
Finally, the small feet beneath the curtain disappeared.
Lucian let out a sigh of relief, though he hadn't been particularly flustered to begin with. Even if Seiun Sky had come in, it would've just meant making room for her in his arms and watching the two of them bicker jealously.
Or perhaps they might've temporarily united against him.
"Today's kiss? What kiss?" Silence Suzuka let out a soft whimper, her voice sounding like someone abruptly woken from sleep.
"You know."
Silence Suzuka shot Lucian a glare. "I don't."
"I even covered for you earlier, and now you're giving me a hard time?" As his hand stirred the water, Lucian couldn't tell whether it was the water or Silence Suzuka's skin that felt softer.
Silence Suzuka whimpered again, shyly murmuring, "Lucian-kun, I don't recall asking you to cover for me. Even if Seiun came in, I wouldn't have been afraid."
"Oh? And who was it that hid behind me earlier, panicking and asking 'What do I do?' Now you're acting tough?"
"Don't change the subject. Right now, we're discussing you and Seiun." Silence Suzuka stared straight into Lucian's eyes. "What kiss?"
"Uh, well..."
Before Lucian could figure out how to explain, Silence Suzuka unreasonably sealed his lips with her own.
"Was it like this?"
"Close enough."
"Close enough? Then it wasn't like this. How does Seiun usually kiss you?"
"Uh... how am I supposed to answer that?"
Seeing Lucian stammer, Silence Suzuka kissed him again. "If Lucian-kun won't tell me, I'll just have to figure it out myself."
No advanced techniques were needed, nor any deep exploration.
Silence Suzuka gently caught Lucian's lower lip between her teeth, teasing it before moving to his upper lip. The sound of their kisses was several times softer than the flowing water around them.
"Lucian-kun, do you think when Seiun kisses you, it's like she's indirectly kissing me too?" Silence Suzuka suddenly wondered aloud.
"Suzuka, you... genius." Just as Lucian raised a thumbs-up, Silence Suzuka immediately pushed it back underwater.
"Hmph, either way, I'm marking your kisses first." The busy Silence Suzuka couldn't get enough—she wanted to get closer, to melt into him even more. "Lucian-kun, I love you so much."
With her warmth in his arms and her sweet whispers in his ear, the lovestruck Silence Suzuka was like a fine wine with a lingering aftertaste—there was no way Lucian wouldn't be intoxicated.
"Lucian-kun." Silence Suzuka wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in his scent as if savoring fireworks. "I want... to jump."
....
After dinner, Silence Suzuka returned to her dorm room, where Rice Shower, Haru Urara, and Special Week were sitting around playing a card game.
"Suzuka, where were you this afternoon? You just got back now," Special Week immediately asked.
"Just wandered around a bit." There was no way she'd admit she'd spent the afternoon soaking in the hot springs before taking a nap in Lucian's room.
"What are you all playing?"
"Playing cards. I've already lost a bunch of carrots," Special Week complained before stubbornly pressing further. "So where exactly did you go?"
"I went to the 'Rigil' side. Didn't do much... just played some cards too."
"Suzuka plays cards too?" Special Week said in surprise. "Then come teach me, Suzuka~"
"Spe-chan, hurry up! How many carrots are you betting this time?" Haru Urara, holding a hand of cards, urged impatiently.
In front of her was a pyramid of carrots, while Special Week's pile was pitifully small—only three or four.
"Wait, let me think about how to play this hand." Special Week scrutinized her cards with utmost seriousness.
Silence Suzuka stepped around the trio, changed into her usual pajamas, and lay down on the bed.
The four beds were pushed together, forming what they called a "combined bed."
"Suzuka-senpai, are you going to sleep?" Rice Shower asked.
"No, keep playing. Don't mind me." After resting all afternoon, Silence Suzuka wasn't the least bit tired now.
She pulled out her phone and checked it. "There's a notice in the group chat—we have to gather at 8 a.m. tomorrow. You three should reply soon."
"Oh, right. I almost forgot we're not here just for vacation," Special Week said, pulling out her phone to read the message. "We're training together? Suzuka, was the training camp you joined before like this too?"
Silence Suzuka shook her head. "Before, it was only the 'Rigil' members."
"I wonder what kind of training it'll be." Haru Urara felt a little nervous, worried she wouldn't be able to keep up with everyone.
"Urara-chan, don't worry. Let's do our best together."
As Rice Shower spoke, she pushed the carrots she'd won from Special Week over to Haru Urara.
"Rice-chan, thank you!" Haru Urara gave Rice Shower a big hug.
Special Week watched, feeling something was off.
...Those were her carrots, weren't they?
But whatever. As long as Haru Urara was happy.
...
In another dorm room.
Dextrous Bailey suddenly got the idea to clean Tokai Teio and Seiun Sky's ears.
At first, Tokai Teio resisted, but after a while, she melted limply across Dextrous Bailey's lap, unwilling to move.
"So comfy~" Tokai Teio murmured lazily, though she eventually got up to let Seiun Sky take her turn.
Seiun Sky looked up. "You really can't see her face like this..."
"Seiun, what are you talking about? Turn sideways, or how am I supposed to clean your ears?"
"Oh, right, okay."
...