After a hectic meal, Ray-san and Fia-san said something along the lines of "the rest of you two youngsters," like they were chaperones on an arranged date, and then they went to their room.
　Since they had finished their baths and it was still too early to go to bed, Zeke-san suggested that they drink alcohol together.

''........Heh, I didn't know there was a place like this in this house.
Yes, my father had a friend who was once invited to play the role of a brave man and lived permanently in this world, and he liked the Engawa that was in his house, so he built the same thing in this house.
Well, it's definitely a porch.

　Behind the house Zeke showed me, there was a Japanese style veranda, though it wasn't a Japanese garden of any kind.
　However, it's not exactly the same after all, or perhaps the feeling is different... Zeke-san laid a large cloth, similar to a leisure seat, on the edge of the house and then sat down.
　When I am prompted to sit down, I find that although there is nothing like a garden, the town of Rigforesia itself is decorated with trees, giving it a tasteful feel.

'Are you okay with the fruit juice?'
Oh, yes.
Then go ahead, Mr. Kite.
Thank you very much.

　As I sit on the edge of the room and accept a glass from Zeke, he smiles gently and pours me a glass of fruit juice.
　The color is a light brown, and for a moment I thought it was plum wine, but the faint aroma wafting from the glass is fruit-based....

It's a libation made from ripple fruit, called Revel.
Wow, that smells good.

　Right, ripple - apple wine, or whatever it's called.　Was it Calvados?　Was it Calvados?　I don't remember the name of it clearly, but it's my first time drinking it, so I'm looking forward to it.
　After Zeke poured me a glass of Revel, I poured it into the glass Zeke held in his hand, lightly clinked our glasses together, and toasted.

　When I take a sip, the aroma of aged and elegant revel spreads with the alcohol, and the refreshing acidity and natural sweetness are very delicious.
　Bitter beer and other drinks are delicious, but this kind of elegant drink is also good.

　 I will.

Mr. Kite, it's a dried fruit.
Thank you. I'll take it.

　As I'm savoring the deliciousness of the rivelle, Zeke gently offers me a plate of dried fruit.
　I've heard of eating chocolate or dried fruit with brandy as a snack, and the crunchy texture of the fruit is pleasant, and the right amount of sweetness helps to mellow the taste of Revelle.

''Come to think of it, Zeke-san, are you a strong drinker?''
Me?　Hmmm, I have a taste for it.
That sounds like a line from someone who is a hard drinker.
'No, no, it's really quite normal... out of the three of us, me, Lili and Luna, Luna is the best at drinking. At least I've never seen her drunk.
Well.....

　I hear that Luna Maria is a strong drinker. I certainly have such an image. On the other hand, Lilia-san seems to be weak, although it's a selfish image.
　When I was thinking about that, Siege-san seemed to read my thoughts and gave a gentle, bitter smile.

''Just like Kite-san's image, Lili is weak on alcohol. That's exactly what I mean by that, after a few drinks, she gets drunk.
Haha, I don't mean to be rude, but that's what I thought.
I don't like ales or beer, by the way. I prefer wine or fruit juice.
'Huh?　Is there a beer in this world?

　Oh my gosh, I heard there's beer in this world too. Well, I do remember seeing mayonnaise and chocolate as well, so it's not strange that those things are spreading.
　If that's the case, there's likely to be some sake somewhere... or rather, Noin-san, who seems to have it.

''Yes, it's very popular in the Symphonia and Hydra kingdoms, but it's not very popular in the Arklesia Empire.
Not popular in the Archlesian Empire?　Oh, perhaps it's because there are so many dwarves?
'Exactly. The dwarves like strong drinks, and they don't seem to like beer very much.
Well the elves aren't much of a beer drinker, are they?
'No, many of the elves prefer beer. I simply don't like it...but yes. The most popular drink would have to be wine.

　As we continued chatting peacefully like that, tipping our glasses and enjoying a leisurely and comfortable time, I suddenly saw Zeke's profile illuminated by the moonlight and pale magic tool lighting.
　I couldn't help but gaze at the reddish profile, which looked slightly uplifted from drinking alcohol, and even added a somewhat glossy look to her original beautiful face.

　Then Zeke-san seems to have noticed my gaze a little later and tilts her head with a gentle smile.

''.........Are your ears bothering you?''
Huh?　Oh, ah, um, yes. It's still like this, the characteristics of the elven race, it's a bit disturbing.

　Apparently he thought I was looking at his ears and not his profile, and Zeke pointed to his ears - the long, thin ears characteristic of the elves.
　I couldn't possibly say that I was admiring your profile, either, so I nodded my head in agreement with Zeke's words.

''I wondered if it would be painful to lie down on your side when sleeping or something...''
Oh, I see. That's all right, though. The ears of the elves are much softer than those of humans.
Yeah, well...

　Seeing Zeke's gesture of lightly touching his own ears after saying that, I wanted to touch those ears tremendously.
　I don't know what to say, maybe it's not quite the same thing, but a human being... or maybe a man has a desire to touch the soft parts of his body that he doesn't have.
　.........What am I thinking about?　No matter how much we've become lovers, I'm not going to ask you to touch my ears.

Do you want to... touch it?
"Phew!
Mr. Kite?

Are you okay?

　The statement that saw through my heart's desire perfectly, and with a shock, the liquor entered my windpipe and I swallowed as hard as I could.

'S-Sorry ... it's okay ... well, that's, uh, really, are you sure you want to touch it?'
'What?　Yes.....

　I would definitely want to touch the long ears that say they are soft, but I'll make sure to check them properly again.
　It's possible that Zeke-san is kind, so there's a possibility that he doesn't want to, but he cares about me, so I'll strengthen my detection with my sensory magic and Zeke-san's response.......

Well, I wouldn't want to be with anyone else, but if it's you, Kite, you'll be fine. We are now.... lovers.
?

　And when I heard Zeke's reply, I regretted that I had made my sensory magic stronger.
　The overflowing goodwill that came from Zeke and the gesture of shyly squirming and moving his body shocked me like I had been hit in the brain with a giant hammer.
　

　Feeling my heart pulsing at a considerable rate, I looked at Zeke-san, whose face was slightly downcast, and almost unconsciously reached out my hand.

''Well then, please excuse me.
'Oh!　Wait, wait--what?
'What?　S-Sorry, sir!　One, was it strong?

　I thought I was going to touch it after getting permission, but in the middle of the process, Zeke called out for restraint and tried to stop my hand, but it was already too late and my hand was already on Zeke's ear.
　I'm sure it's just as Zeke said, the ears are so soft and comfortable to the touch that you'd think they were marshmallows, but immediately afterwards Zeke let out a loud voice, and I pulled my hand away in a hurry.

So, please be a little more gentle with them..............
Okay, okay, I'm sorry... so, you know, I'll just, uh...
'Yes.........hmmm........'
It's really, really soft.


　It seems that the ears of the elves have strong senses, and I need to touch them gently. After apologizing for getting ahead of myself, I reach out to Zeke's ears again and gently touch them.
　It's smooth and soft, yet resilient, and it feels good as if it's sucking on your hand.

　And after all, it seems to be true that it is sensitive, and every time you move your hand against your ear, Siege-san makes a small, s*xy voice.
　I'm getting a tremendous thrill from this!　Huh?　You're just touching your ears right now!　And yet, because of the alcohol, Zeke is strangely s*xy, and oh no, no, no, no more of this, really....

Oh, thank you very much.
Huh... okay.
Yeah, well, you know, I'm...
No, no!
....
....

　Huh?　I thought we were talking normally earlier, but I'm so nervous I can't look at Zeke's face!
　Somehow an embarrassing silence dominated the place, and me and Zeke-san looked at each other in silence for a while, then sat back down on the edge without either of us.
　Then, as if to shake off the embarrassed air, we once again brought our drinks to our mouths... just a little closer than we were earlier...

　Dear Mom, Dad--When you are lovers, you still feel a lot of things differently, and Zeke-san's gestures suddenly made me feel a bit nervous. Anyway, the ears of the elves were just like Zeke's words - very soft.