The Color of Snow (6.5K)

Night fell.

The school festival, which had been bustling all day, finally came to a brief close.

However, today is only the first day, and this excitement will continue for the rest of the week.

After the party ended, and after seeing Euphemia li Britannia off and finishing up the day's events, Mahiro returned to the Student Council club villa.

As usual, I climbed to the second floor, entered the password, and opened the door.

What came into view was still the green-haired girl leisurely lying on his bed, with several empty plates on the bedside table next to her.

It's the plate used to serve the world's number one pizza.

It's a pity that not a single piece was left for him.

The woman's breathing was even, and she seemed to be sleeping soundly. Outside the blanket, her fair shoulders and arms were completely exposed to the air, gleaming like jade under the light.

This beautiful painting of a sleeping beauty is so stunning that any painter present would likely want to capture it on paper and preserve it forever.

Just like the Mona Lisa's smile.

Unfortunately, Mahiro doesn't think he possesses that kind of artistic talent.

Looking at this princess who resembled Sleeping Beauty from a fairy tale... no, more than a beautiful and kind princess, this woman was more like a witch who could make a king wage war for her, exuding a captivating charm even in her sleep.

This only made Mahiro's mouth water.

This gave him the idea of wanting to get the woman up and go back to sleep.

His body moved faster than his thoughts; even as he was thinking, his body had already instinctively reached the edge of the bed and gently nudged the sleeping woman.

"Hey, get up! You took so much pizza, but didn't leave me a single piece, even though I feed you well every day... Hey!"

No response.

No matter how much he pushed or shoved him, he didn't react at all, just like a dead person.

"If you don't get up, I'll throw you and the bed out the window! Get up now!"

There was still no response.

Looking at this scene, I have a strange sense of déjà vu, as if I've experienced the same situation several times before...

Okay, it's not just that it seems.

It's basically a repetition of the times CC caused all sorts of trouble before, and then after we cleaned up the mess, we came back to interrogate her.

For some reason, I felt like I was being manipulated by this witch.

This greatly Mahiro.

"What a capricious witch... Get up!"

They simply pulled back the blanket, completely exposing CC's soft, pink body to the air as she slept.

The first thing that catches the eye is her round, full figure rising and falling with her breath, like plump winter plum blossoms swaying gently on a snow-capped mountain, her flat stomach without an ounce of excess fat, her smooth, white thighs slightly crossed, and her deep, secluded valley that inspires a desire to explore, the legendary location of the Fountain of Youth.

All of this seemed to exist to provoke his gaze and nerves, almost making him want to load a shell into the gun barrel.

Even though I've seen it countless times and tasted it many times, every time I see this body that embodies all the beauty and allure in the world, I still feel an irresistible fascination.

Especially the branded scar on the heart of this delicate body, which not only did not detract from the beauty, but instead carried a unique and mysterious beauty.

It was fortunate that she was a witch, and that he himself wasn't exactly a normal person, that no one was killed...

No, perhaps it would be better if someone died?

However, just as he was systematically exploring and preparing for the next step, the witch suddenly woke up.

This forced him to stop.

Those amber eyes suddenly opened, reflecting his image. As they regained their spirits, a faint smile appeared on their faces.

Unlike usual, it wasn't mockery, it was just simple laughter.

"What? I thought someone was so bold, but it's you! You actually attacked the lady while she was sleeping."

Seeing that he didn't seem to have any intention of taking the next step, or rather, that she had ruined her plans, CC suddenly sat up, stretched without any hesitation, and displayed all her beauty in front of him.

"But why did you stop? Was it because you were caught and felt embarrassed? Or... is it that only toying with a sleeping lady can satisfy your perverse desires?"

Her long, slender legs were curled up and held in one arm; her long green hair cascaded down her jade-like back like a waterfall; her face was exquisitely beautiful and flawless; every part of her body was so delicate, gorgeous, and fragile.

Just sitting there without saying a word, she was like a beautiful princess kidnapped by a dragon in a fairy tale, but once she opened her mouth, her witch nature was instantly exposed.

However, this level of attack power was no big deal for Mahiro, and he even shrugged and spread his hands in response.

"Yeah, playing with someone while they're asleep is way more fun than playing with them when they're awake. The feeling of your body reacting in your sleep, subconsciously responding to the other person, the look of terror in their eyes when you wake up, and the tightness from subconsciously tensing your body—that's the most wonderful experience."

He's like a psychopath, making statements that are utterly perverse.

If it were anyone else, they might Mahiro Makoto right now and call him disgusting and vulgar, which wouldn't be an exaggeration.

But CC didn't react in the same way; instead, she looked at him with interest.

"That's a really classic example of a twisted statement."

"Thank you for the compliment." Mahiro retorted, "However, how can you be any better, living so comfortably in a man's room and sleeping in his bed? You perverted witch."

"Hehe, that's true."

CC chuckled lightly, without a trace of shame or anger, even teasingly saying, "So, do you need this perverted witch like me to satisfy your filthy, vulgar, and disgusting desires?"

"No need. What's the fun in deliberately trying to please someone? The reaction doesn't feel genuine at all."

Mahiro directly rejected the witch's suggestion.

"Then forget it, you lewd, perverted Demon King."

Seeing that he really didn't seem to have any intention of making a move, CC gave up on trying to provoke him with words. Instead, she slowly stood up, ignored her naked state, went to the wardrobe, took out some clothes, and put them on.

Today, she did not choose to wear that white straitjacket that had been patched and repaired many times.

She wasn't even wearing a bra or vest; she simply bent down and pulled on a pair of light green, thin underwear, then pulled out a gray-white backless knit top that looked like a dress from the closet and put it on.

Then he casually sat down on the sofa, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV.

Various news reports are being broadcast on the screen.

This is probably one of CC's few interests besides eating pizza. She doesn't watch those melodramatic midnight TV dramas; she just likes to browse the news.

Or rather, she was looking for something up there.

"Hey, Mahiro."

While watching the boring news on TV, CC suddenly called out his name.

"Have you started calling me by my name properly now? Stop calling me by those weird nicknames? Respected witch lady?"

However, CC ignored his teasing and instead asked quietly:

"You will grant my wish, right?"

Hearing this, Mahiro felt a little strange, but still replied, "Of course, I promised you. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"I met Marianne."

"She's contacting you again? Through Geass."

Perhaps due to the unique nature of Geass, and the fact that she had abandoned her physical body, Marianne's spirit was able to travel through the C's World to find C.

Mahiro was aware of this, and also knew that Marianne had chatted with CC more than once or twice.

But if that were all, there would be no need for CC to take it so seriously.

"No, this time it's face-to-face."

CC denied his guess.

"Face to face? Let me guess... it should be through that Knights of the Rounds Anya Alstreim."

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

"Of course."

Mahiro shrugged and said, "I knew it the first time I saw that little girl; the spirit of that woman, Marianne, had possessed her."

However, what I'm more curious about is, what exactly did that dead man say to you that made you take it so seriously?"

He seemed to have connected all the clues together.

From the initial teasing that seemed out of character for CC, to later solemnly calling his name, and now...

All of this points to the conversation between C. C. and Marianne.

"Marianne wants me to leave you."

"Ha?"

Mahiro paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you mean?"

"Literally, she and Charles believe that if you and I continue to be in contact, it will ruin their plans."

"..."

Mahiro remained silent.

He didn't know what kind of expression to wear.

Charles and Marianne's plan was as absurd as Amakusa Shirou Tokisada's wish in a certain month—did it even need to be destroyed?

It was destined to fail.

Throughout this process, CC kept staring at him, as if trying to discern something from his face and eyes.

Unfortunately, nothing was found.

There wasn't even a trace of emotional fluctuation; he was as calm and profound as a deep well, making him unfathomable.

What are your thoughts on this?

CC asked again, but Mahiro grinned and said, "What opinion could I possibly have? Your opinion, CC, is far more important."

I don't care.

CC replied bluntly, "All I care about is being able to fulfill my wish..."

However, there is one thing I am curious about regarding what you said--

Yotsuba Mahiro, what is your wish? Or rather, what do you want to do?

Throughout her long life, she has seen all sorts of people and things, and she believes she can see through everything about others.

However, when facing Yotsuba Mahiro, her experience was completely useless.

It was impossible to tell what the other person was thinking, and they seemed indifferent to everything, as if they were talking to themselves.

Even when she was with VV, she didn't feel that way.

"You know I don't have any wishes, and even if I did, you couldn't fulfill them."

As for what I want to do... that's not important to you, is it? Don't you just want your wish to be fulfilled?"

"Indeed, I was just curious. If you don't want to answer, then forget it."

When Mahiro asked her a question, CC, as if throwing a tantrum, hugged her legs, twisted her body on the sofa, and turned her face to the other side, refusing to look at him anymore.

Upon seeing this, Mahiro couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, since the esteemed witch has already spoken, what harm is there in me revealing a little bit?"

Upon hearing this, CC's ears perked up.

"My goal is actually very simple: I just want to go to C's World in person."

"?"

CC slowly typed out a question mark, "Do you also yearn for immortality?"

In her view, C's World is nothing more than this.

But when she turned around to ask a question, she found that Mahiro was already standing by the window, looking at the sky outside.

"It's snowing."