Morning in Lustra didn't arrive gently. It arrived like paperwork.
I woke up on the rooftop bench because at some point I'd decided moving was too much effort, and Elise had decided guarding the doorway was easier than dragging me anywhere.
The pale-leaf tree above us rustled softly. The fountain trickled. The NO CHANTING sign still glowed like a smug saint.
My hands were still being held.
Vesper on the left, warm and steady, pretending she wasn't pleased.
Valeria on the right, grip firm, posture rigid, face turned away like she was guarding the horizon from feelings.
I blinked at my own hands.
"This is still happening," I whispered.
Vesper yawned. "I fell asleep holding you. That's either cute or illegal."
Valeria snapped, eyes still forward, "It's not cute."
Vesper smiled sweetly. "She said cute."
Valeria's cheeks warmed. "Shut up."
Elise's voice came from the doorway, flat as law.
"Good morning," Elise said. "Do not move suddenly. The city might smell peace and attack."
I sighed and carefully sat up. Vesper released my hand immediately like she remembered the boundary rules. Valeria did not release.
I looked at Valeria's hand on mine.
"Valeria," I said softly, "you can let go."
Valeria stiffened.
"I'm not holding you," she snapped.
I glanced down at our hands.
Valeria looked down too, realized she was still holding me, and instantly released like the contact burned.
Then she crossed her arms so hard it looked painful.
Vesper covered her mouth and whispered, delighted, "She's evolving."
Valeria hissed, "Quiet."
The fountain sign flashed.
NO CHANTING
Vesper whispered, "That wasn't chanting."
The roof hatch squealed open before Elise could even sigh again.
Yuki Tanaka climbed up with her clipboard like a villain who never sleeps.
"Good morning," Yuki sang.
Elise groaned. "Why are you here."
Yuki beamed. "I received a report of dual-hand holding without a permit."
I blinked. "Dual-hand holding has a permit."
Yuki nodded. "Now it does."
Vesper whispered, "Of course it does."
Yuki tapped her pen and read from the clipboard.
"Violation: Hand Buffet Activity," Yuki announced.
Valeria snapped, "Hand buffet."
Yuki nodded. "Two different courters holding the hero's hands simultaneously constitutes public multi-affection display."
Elise's eye twitched. "It was quiet. It was respectful."
Yuki smiled. "Yes. That's why it's a new category. Respectful things require permits too. The city must stay organized."
Vesper stared. "You are a demon."
Yuki smiled brighter. "Thank you."
She flipped a board around.
DUAL-HAND HOLD PERMIT
REQUIRES: HERO CONSENT
REQUIRES: COURTER CONSENT
LIMIT: 10 MINUTES
NO KISSING DURING PERMIT
NO CHANTING
NO GLOATING
Vesper pointed at the last line. "That's targeted."
Yuki nodded. "Yes."
Valeria muttered, "Ridiculous."
Yuki turned to me. "Hero Ren, do you wish to pay the fine."
I stared. "There's a fine."
Yuki nodded. "Three honey coins or one public boundary declaration."
I blinked. "Public boundary declaration."
Yuki nodded. "Your choice."
Elise leaned in, quiet. "Pick the declaration. Keep your money."
Vesper whispered, "Pick the declaration. It scares them."
Valeria muttered, "Pick the declaration. It's… smart."
I exhaled. "Fine. Declaration."
Yuki rang her bell.
Ding.
The bell echoed across the roofs like a summoning spell.
Within seconds, footsteps thundered up the stairs.
Because of course they did.
Freya popped onto the roof first, grinning like she'd smelled drama.
Sofia followed, calm and sharp.
Charlotte came next, polite and dangerous.
Kaori appeared behind them, sleepy but anxious.
Rika appeared last, fully awake, vibrating, hood already falling off her head.
The queen arrived last without hurrying, composed even on stairs.
Valeria's shoulders tensed like she'd been ambushed by fate.
Vesper whispered, "It's a raid."
Yuki stood at the center like a proud organizer.
"Everyone," Yuki announced, "the hero will make a boundary declaration to resolve a Hand Buffet violation."
Freya gasped. "Hand buffet."
Rika whispered, "I want to buffet."
Elise snapped, "No you don't."
Rika corrected, "I want to hold."
Yuki pointed at me. "Speak."
I took a breath.
I looked at the faces watching.
Then I kept it simple.
"I'm allowed quiet," I said. "I'm allowed to choose who touches me and when. Today I want fewer crowds. And no one gets to treat my affection like a prize that belongs to them."
Silence.
Freya's grin softened for a fraction.
Sofia's smirk sharpened like approval.
Charlotte's eyes warmed slightly.
Kaori looked relieved.
Rika looked like she was trying to behave and suffering.
The queen nodded, calm.
Valeria's jaw clenched, but her gaze flicked to me like she respected it.
Vesper looked proud like she'd stolen a victory.
Yuki scribbled. "Boundary declared. Fine paid."
Freya leaned in, whispering loudly, "That was hot."
Elise sighed. "Everything is hot to you."
Freya smiled. "Yes."
Yuki clapped her hands.
"Now," Yuki said brightly, "since we are all here, I will announce the new schedule."
Everyone groaned at once.
Yuki flipped another board.
THE QUIET DATE TRIALS
TODAY'S COMPETITION:
WHO CAN GIVE THE HERO PEACE WITHOUT SELFISHNESS
WINNER EARNS:
ONE PRIVATE DATE REQUEST (NOT TONIGHT)
AND ONE DUAL-HAND HOLD PERMIT (10 MINUTES)
Freya blinked. "Peace competition."
Sofia smirked. "Interesting."
Charlotte smiled politely. "Finally."
Kaori whispered, "That sounds… nice."
Rika whispered, "I can be peaceful."
Everyone stared at Rika.
Rika whispered, "For five seconds."
The queen's tone stayed calm. "This is a better tournament."
Valeria snapped, "It's still a tournament."
Yuki nodded. "Everything is a tournament in Lustra. We cope through structure."
Vesper leaned toward me. "She's going to create a permit for coping."
Yuki pointed at Vesper like she heard it. "Already drafted."
Vesper shut her mouth.
Elise crossed her arms. "How do the trials work."
Yuki smiled. "Three rounds."
She held up three fingers.
"Round one: Silence Sitting. Ten minutes. No talking. No touching. You sit near the hero and do not make it about you."
Freya hissed. "That's torture."
Sofia smirked. "Easy."
Charlotte nodded. "Acceptable."
Kaori whispered, "I can do that."
Rika whispered, "I can't."
Yuki continued.
"Round two: Boundary Support. You must help the hero refuse someone politely."
Freya blinked. "Help him refuse."
Sofia smiled. "Perfect."
Valeria muttered, "Good."
Yuki continued.
"Round three: Calm Affection. Hand-holding only. If the hero offers. No teasing. No pressure. No jealous faces."
Every girl's eyes slid to Valeria instantly.
Valeria snapped, "What."
Vesper whispered, "You do jealous face like breathing."
Valeria's cheeks warmed. "Shut up."
Yuki rang her bell again.
Ding.
"Trial begins now," Yuki announced. "Round one: Silence Sitting. Contestants will approach one at a time."
Freya raised her hand. "Can I go last. I need to warm up my silence."
Yuki pointed. "No."
Freya sighed dramatically and stepped forward first like she was walking into her own funeral.
Yuki pointed to a stone bench.
Freya sat beside me, hands visible, posture unusually still.
Then Freya opened her mouth.
Yuki raised her bell like a weapon.
Freya closed her mouth.
She sat there, trying so hard. Her leg bounced for three seconds, then she forced it to stop. Her eyes flicked to my face, then away, like she was trying not to turn peace into flirting.
A full minute passed.
Freya leaned slightly closer and whispered without sound, just moving her lips.
I could read it anyway.
This is hell.
I smiled faintly.
Freya saw my smile and looked weirdly satisfied, like she'd won something without speaking.
Yuki rang the bell.
Ding.
"Freya survived two minutes without chanting," Yuki announced. "Impressive."
Freya stood up instantly and gasped. "I deserve a medal."
Sofia stepped in next and sat with perfect stillness like she'd been built for quiet. She didn't look around. She didn't fidget. She just existed near me like a calm shadow.
It was… comforting.
Charlotte went next and somehow made silence feel gentle, like a warm blanket without contact.
Kaori went next and nearly cried from trying not to speak, but she stayed quiet anyway, cheeks red, hands folded, determined.
Rika went next and lasted nine seconds before her whole body started trembling.
She slapped both hands over her mouth, eyes wide, and shook like a trapped kettle.
Yuki watched her and nodded. "Impressive effort."
Rika whispered into her own palms, "I'm dying."
The queen sat last, composed as moonlight, and silence around her felt like something formal and safe.
Valeria wasn't scheduled for Round One.
Because Valeria wasn't a contestant.
She told everyone that constantly.
Still, she stood close the whole time, arms crossed, watching like she was guarding my quiet from their quiet.
When Round One ended, Yuki scribbled scores like a monster.
"Round Two begins," Yuki announced. "Boundary Support."
Freya raised her hand immediately. "I volunteer as the person he refuses."
Elise snapped, "Absolutely not."
Freya grinned. "Absolutely yes."
Yuki nodded. "Allowed."
I sighed. "Of course."
Freya stepped up in front of me with dramatic eyes.
"Ren," Freya said loudly, "may I—"
I held up a hand. "No."
Freya blinked. "You didn't even let me ask."
"That's my boundary," I said.
Freya's grin widened. "Hot."
Sofia stepped in smoothly.
"Freya," Sofia said, calm, "respect it. If you want a yes later, you honor no now."
Freya pouted, then smiled. "Fine."
Charlotte added gently, "You can ask another day. Not today."
Kaori whispered, "We can wait."
The queen nodded. "Patience is love with manners."
Freya dramatically pressed a hand to her chest. "Everyone is being mature at me."
Yuki scribbled. "Boundary Support: successful."
Valeria muttered, low and rough, "Good."
I looked at Valeria.
She realized she'd spoken and went red instantly.
"I mean," Valeria snapped, "you did well."
My chest warmed anyway.
"Thanks," I said softly.
Valeria flinched, then looked away like gratitude was lethal.
Vesper leaned toward me and whispered, smug, "She's melting again."
Valeria hissed, "Stop."
Then Yuki rang the bell again.
Ding.
"Round Three," Yuki announced. "Calm Affection. Hand-holding only. If the hero offers."
The roof went very still.
Because this round wasn't about who wanted me most.
It was about who could not devour the moment.
I looked at the girls.
Then I looked at Valeria and Vesper, both standing closest, both pretending they weren't competing.
I exhaled.
And I held out both hands again, slowly.
Not demanding.
Not performing.
Just offering.
Valeria froze.
Vesper froze.
Elise watched like a hawk.
The harem collectively inhaled like the city itself held its breath.
Vesper spoke first, properly, voice soft.
"Ren," she asked, "may I."
"Yes," I said.
Vesper took my left hand gently.
Valeria stood rigid, pride fighting her face, eyes locked on the sky like the sky was her enemy.
Then she whispered, barely audible, like a confession she hated.
"…May I."
"Yes," I said.
Valeria took my right hand, grip firm, warm, stubborn.
The roof stayed quiet.
No teasing.
No bragging.
No chanting.
Just hands held with permission.
Yuki stared at her clipboard like she'd witnessed a miracle.
Elise's shoulders loosened slightly.
Freya covered her mouth like she was about to explode.
Sofia's smirk softened.
Charlotte's eyes warmed.
Kaori's eyes shone.
Rika shook silently with contained screaming.
The queen watched calmly, approving.
And Valeria, still staring at the sky, still red-faced, still refusing to admit anything, tightened her grip just a little, like she was anchoring me to peace.
Vesper whispered, barely, "We're doing it."
Valeria muttered, "Shut up."
I laughed softly under my breath.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was mine.