Perhaps it's because I've just gotten out of the bath, but Cecily-san gives me a faintly sweet scent, a mixture of hair wash and body wash liquid.
　I feel like I haven't been this close to her since that night at the Arkwright's house, just the two of us.
　When I think about it calmly, it's quite a thrilling situation.
　But my role right now is to make Cecily feel good about herself.
　I can't be trapped in a tricky situation.

　Okay, let's get started.
　Let's get started.

　I started by exploring the pleasure points that Mia had taught me.
　Next, I stimulate the points one by one with my fingers.
　The important thing is the degree of force and rhythm.
　Changing the rhythm at regular intervals, but also slow and steady.

Hmmm... ah...

　A pleasant sound escaped from Cecily's mouth.
　It seems to have been done properly and pleasantly.
　

　But by the way, Cecily's body is surprisingly soft.....
　I'm sure she does basic bodybuilding exercises on a regular basis, but it doesn't feel like her muscles are getting harder.
　Well, if it's Cecily-san, I wouldn't be surprised by anything else.
　No matter what he says, this person is still special.

''What do you think?''

　I listen while repeating the finger pressure.

"Hmm.........yes, that's right.......no.......no......no........no....

　I've been given the reputation of being quite good.
　Hmmm.
　From the way he breathes, the feel isn't bad, but it's still not good enough.

Then I'll raise the bar a bit more.

　So far, it's just level one.
　So.
　I had divided the rubbing treatment into five levels.

"From now on, we'll go to level 3.

　My fingers are aroused.
　I'm attacking them all at once.
　I'm only human until level 2.
　From here on out... it's a whole new dimension.

"What?　Ah.........hmmm--!

　With a start, Cecily's body bounced a little.
　And for some reason, she clutched the sheets of the bed with both hands forcefully.
　What........is she holding back?
　Oh, well.
　I'm starting to feel better.

"Y-ah, this........!　Oh, no, no, no, no-- wait, wait, wait!　Black, Hiko... wait!　Wait, wait, wait!

　Suddenly.
　Ms. Cecily bounced up and down and raised her upper body.
　Then she retreated to the bed board.
　........her yukata was disarrayed and her thighs were dangerously exposed.
　Such was Cecily-san's cheeks and ears, which were dyed pink.
　Since she was pale, it was easy to see that she was uptight.
　But.........what's going on?
　Did I miss something?

Excuse me. Did it hurt or something?
Oh, no... no, I don't think so--

　He seemed somewhat hard to answer.
　And Cecily-san smiled something deceptive.

'Now that was... well... something that didn't seem right.
Well, is it bad?　Oh, and I apologize if I touched anything weird, but...
Uh, no, I mean... uh, I mean...
?

　Cecily averted her gaze awkwardly.
　Her mouth was an awkward half-smile.

''Level 3 or something like that.......maybe it's best not to use it too carelessly. I think it would be better for the girls that follow to at least level 2.''
'What?　I still have a level four and a level five.
'No way... how much more than that is two steps...'

　Depressingly, Miss Cecily put her index finger to her forehead.

'I understand,'
What?
I'll rub it in for you this time.
Yeah, I'm going to be on foot--
I don't need it.

　Cecily comes up to me, rubbing her knees on the bed.
　A hand is placed on each shoulder.

'Then can you sleep like this, please?'
Yeah, yeah.

　The atmosphere is quite compelling.

Well.........lying face down or lying on your back?

　Hmm?

What does it mean to lie on your back?

　Isn't the push from the shoulder to the waist?
　There was an odd pause before Miss Cecily next opened her mouth.

'Right. Now, lie down, please.

　I do as I'm told and fall on my face.

'Excuse me back there.'

　Mrs. Cecily has moved--

What, Miss Cecily?
'What?　What is it?
'What?'　What is it? No, I'm not!　Why are you straddling me!

　To my surprise, Cecily-san was straddling me between my legs.

''But this will make Kurohiko happy, won't it?''
I don't know if I'm happy or not.

　Cecily smiled a good-natured smile.

'Well, today is special. Oh, I'll stop if you don't like Kurohiko, though?'
No, I don't mind, but...

　.................
　I mean, you were going to do the same thing when you were on your back............right?
　
　And Cecily began to squeeze the fingers of her hands around my waist.

'What do you think, Kurohiko?'

　Mmm.

"Miss Cecily.
Yes, sir.
You suck at it.
"Te.
Ew!

　Mr. Cecily has come to seriously destroy my waist...!

'You're totally ... too honest!　Kurohiko!

　Cecily, you're pouting.

I mean...don't you think you're just a little mean to me lately?

　I chuckle away.

'I don't mean to be mean but.......I guess you could say I'm spoiled. I mean, we're kindred spirits.
...No, I don't feel like I'm being spoiled at all. Because spoiled means--

　Suddenly.
　Miss Cecily's hand reached out to me.

I'll tell you why.
'Oh....'

　Did he hug you?
　My face is naturally buried in Cecily's chest.

'Cecily--'
Hey, Blackie.

　Huh?
　His voice is ... serious.

'I think you've become a well-balanced man already, don't you?
What?

　What?

You haven't forgotten that you might be my partner, have you?
Well.
However, 'partner' and 'lover' are never equivalent for you.

　............
　Partners are an extension of 'friends'.
　I think so.
　So to speak, a partner is the best of friends.
　But a lover is.........

'Actually, I've been thinking about it ever since. Why do you go out of your way to separate your partner from your love life? Why are you making up such troublesome thoughts?

　Ms. Cecily pulled her face up to within breathable distance.
　Her scent grew even stronger.
　Ms. Cecily whispered in her ear.

''I mean, you think it's 'possible' for people to like you as a companion, but you don't expect people to like you as a member of the opposite s*x... is that not true?''
I'm not sure...

　Pinpointed and poked.
　..........
　But.
　It's no wonder that this person would strike 'here'.
　Because I know.
　For now.
　More than anyone else.
　I - about me - about 'Soraku Kurohiko'.

　I took a breath in surrender.

''Hmm........I'm no match for you, Cecily-san.

　I pulled away from her and sat cross-legged on the bed and put my hands on my knees.

'Yes, I do. Well, it frustrates me as a man to say this to myself, but.......is there anything about me that makes me attractive to the opposite s*x?
I knew it....

　Cecily gave one big sigh.

'Well, I thought it would be something like that but...'

　He seemed disillusioned about something.
　But love, you know, we've only known each other for three weeks.
　
　...........
　Or............................
　Isn't it?
　Am I just misunderstood in some way?
　I don't know.
　I don't have much experience with people, so I don't understand.
　I can't believe it.
　The fact that someone like me can be favored as the opposite s*x by nice girls like them, is unbelievable.
　..............
　Nope.
　But, by any chance, I--.

When low self-esteem is combined with insensitivity, the walls become this thick. Well, that's one of the good things about Kurohiko.

　Mr. Cecily let out a long, deep breath, huffing and puffing.

'Do I have to say this outright now? I understand. I, too - shall I make up my mind?

　I realized that it was almost time to take my turn.
　But before I could tell her, Miss Cecily quickly adjusted her disheveled lodgings and then lightly got out of bed.
　Then she put her hand on the doorknob and turned around, twisting her slender hips.

'Kurohiko, let me have the last word.
Yes, sir.
I love it.
...Yes?

　Do you like it?
　I don't know what I'm talking about.

I like you, Cecily.
Not as a 'like' like that, but as a woman.
What?


Not as a colleague, but as a woman, I like Sagara Kurohiko.


　Cecily's eyelashes went down and her mouth relaxed.
　Not in a joking mood........not.
　Her gaze said it all.

'Oh, unlike that night, I'm not losing myself, am I?　If you want to hear why I like you, I'll be happy to hear as many as you want.

　She didn't even give me a chance to reply.
　Cecily began to explain the "reason" for this.
　It's as if she was singing her praises.

　The part about trying your best.
　The part where you get to know your true self.
　We have to be able to say what we really think and sometimes play with it.
　When the chips are down, you can count on me to be there for you.
　Kindness.
　The way you talk...

　She described it until I was surprised that she had seen that much.
　Overrated.
　The only thing that came to my mind - just such a word.

'And ... from the first time we met, you had a different way of looking at me than most people. You didn't know about the Arkwright family or the 'God's Beloved Girl', you just genuinely - you only looked at 'me'. Looking back, I think I might have started to care about you from that time onwards. Well, this might be an afterthought reason, though. Still--

　Then she gave a huff and a florid smile.

'I hate you,'

　Ah, I thought.
　I couldn't help but be speechless and fawned over the fact that humans are capable of such expressions.
　A smile that almost sucked me in.
　She gave me a curious, coquettish look with that unworldly smile.

'I hate you so much for making me feel like this.

　........................
　What is it?
　What's this?
　I thought we were just having a little bit of fun rubbing each other's backsides together.

I mean, Cecily...

　Cecily turned the doorknob she was working on and pulled it.

''Hmph, I'll leave you like this for today. For now, I just thought I'd tell you properly. So please don't worry. I'm not going to give you an answer yet--eh?

　Ah.
　It's open, through the door.

"Oh, um...

　Miss Cecily let out a puzzled voice.
　Then she hurriedly took the pocket watch out of her pocket and checked the time.
　Cecily-san looked up again.

''When did you start...?''
I'm sorry, but that's a long time coming.

　The one behind the open door was...

　It was Mr. Currier, who looked awkward.