Chapter 105

148. Night II

[This chapter contains no new content; it's a revision of the previous chapter's plot after the author contacted the author via private message (warning).]

Naoko wonderful; Yukina has thought so ever since the day she first met Efnir.

More than clothes, Yukina preferred Naoko's neck, hair, and lips. A few days ago, Naoko was like a winter orange; today, Naoko's like a fine peach wine.

Or is it a liqueur-filled chocolate?

I wonder what Naoko looks like in other people's eyes, and whether they might inadvertently catch a whiff of her scent?

If that's the case, then when Naoko was pinned down by him, surely no one would have been watching Naoko, right?

Yukina's thoughts drifted. She lay on her side on the bed, her small hand wrapped around Efnir's arm, burying her fleeting thoughts in Efnir's neck.

"Itch..."

Naoko's protest reached Yukina's ears.

"Yukina, don't do that, it's a little itchy..."

Yukina remained noncommittal, taking advantage of the fact that Naoko couldn't do anything to her. She simply snuggled close to Naoko like a lazy kitten, nestled in the crook of Naoko's neck and unwilling to move.

Feeling the warmth and softness emanating from Naoko's body, she felt at ease.

"Sister, did we used to sleep together like this when we were little?"

Yukina suddenly asked.

"You remember? Well, there was a time when you really didn't want to spend the night alone, so you came to my room and said things like, 'Don't tell your parents...'"

Efnir let out a soft giggle.

"But that was when you were very young. Back then, you always liked to lie on my stomach like a kitten."

"Hmm..."

Yukina was a little embarrassed. To be honest, she really didn't remember sleeping on Naoko's stomach.

The air grew quiet.

Yukina vaguely remembered that she and Naoko had a very good relationship when they were children, but that kind of sibling affection was probably very different from the infatuation that had long since changed. Even though they were interacting with Naoko in the same way, the feelings they sought were different.

Do you remember the boastful things you said when you were a child?

Efnir suddenly seemed to remember something and began to speak.

"What?"

"You want to... marry me or something..."

"That's not just boasting..."

Yukina mumbled softly, and cute, muffled groans escaped from her nose as she stumbled along.

The embarrassing things I said without thinking when I was a child now seem to have a different meaning. Back then, there was no naive girlish sentimentality; it was simply a younger sister's dependence on her older brother who was older but not too far removed from her. It's a completely different feeling from the infatuation and longing I have now, which I desperately want to win over and desire immediately.

"Isn't this already becoming a reality?"

That seems to be the case, but something seems off.

Efnir hesitated for a moment.

"Yukina, speaking of which..."

As she spoke, a restless little hand touched Efnir's waist, and the electric-like sensation caused Efnir's voice to change tone.

Suppressing her aroused emotions, Efnir spoke softly:

"When did your... liking for me begin?"

Although it might be a bit too late to ask about these things now, Efnir still suddenly wanted to know which version of herself Yukina actually liked.

She was once Yanase Naoto, then Efnir, and also Yanase Naoko.

Given their respective identities, which side does Yukina truly see?

"Probably when you stole my first kiss."

As she answered softly, Yukina extended her soft tongue and traced it across Efnir's neck.

A tingling, slippery sensation numbed and corroded Efnir's heartbeat.

Her breathing began to become hot.

"So... you remembered that time...?"

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable from the teasing, Efnir's words broke into fragments.

"At least I didn't completely pass out... Of course I'll remember the person who took my first kiss without my permission."

Yukina glanced at Efnir and said matter-of-factly.

She recalled the view she had seen through Efnir's hair that day and the lingering fragrance that enveloped her. It wasn't much different from what she smelled now. The ambiguity in the air gradually settled down, transforming into a different kind of emotion that stirred in Yukina's heart.

To be honest, until her first kiss was taken by "Efnir", Yukina had never experienced that kind of innocent and naive heartbeat.

Whether it was that kiss that awakened her long-dormant affection, or whether Yukina was a lesbian to begin with, she herself couldn't tell.

All she knew was that her feelings for Yanase Naoto weren't romantic, and she didn't have any feelings for other men that went beyond a normal relationship, nor for other women.

Only Efnir was different; perhaps she was just Efnir- sexual, she had thought so before. And now, her feelings for Naoko were different from that infatuation.

It's the kind of feeling that "even if Naoko is no longer Efnir, Yukina will still like her."

"Then... if I hadn't been the one to save you back then... would you have fallen for that person too?"

"Efnir asked dryly."

"But the person who came to save me was Naoko, and facts can't be changed by 'what ifs'."

As if in retaliation, Yukina gently bit Efnir's sensitive ear and blew hot breath into it, eliciting a soft moan from Efnir.

"Um... but..."

"Then, conversely, I'd like to ask..."

Yukina rolled over, pinning Efnir beneath her. She gently brought her lips close to Efnir's, her breath soft against his, her eyes alluring. She gazed languidly at the person beneath her and whispered:

"If I weren't the one who confessed my love to you and forcibly kissed you that night, would you have given yourself to that person?"

Absolutely not.

Efnir blurted it out almost without thinking, which earned her a light laugh from Yukina.

Whether she felt relieved or happy, Yukina herself couldn't quite tell. Even though she had expected Naoko to answer that way, hearing Naoko say it herself still gave Yukina a different feeling.

So that's what I'm saying.

Yukina slowly leaned down, her warm breath drawing near, and pressed her lips to Efnir's.

"Hmm..."

As she was passively kissed by Yukina, Efnir narrowed her eyes slightly.

Yukina's kiss was deep, as if it pressed down on her entire body weight.

Under Yukina's teasing, Efnir's tightly closed lips gradually relaxed, her face flushed, and her eyes narrowed slightly, filled with moisture.

Unconsciously, she gently closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly.

Yukina paused.

She could feel the slightly tense body beneath her, and the lips that were cautiously parted, only slightly.

On one hand, they were enduring it, and on the other hand, they were yearning for it.

This silent gesture was a restrained indulgence, and as she witnessed it, Yukina's rationality crumbled.

"Naoko..."

Yukina's throat was very thirsty, and she felt that her voice seemed a little hoarse.

She asked, "Are you feeling better today?"

"Mmm, um..."

"Efnir replied."

Her body was aroused, and Efnir's voice was soft, tinged with a faint hint of pleasure.

"It's much better now..."

Efnir paused, suppressing her awakened desire, and asked softly:

"The weather has been getting cooler lately, so... after my check-up tomorrow, should I go buy some clothes for autumn?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Hmm... didn't we agree to go on a 'date' tomorrow?"

Yukina paused for a moment, her verbal assault stopped, and the girl beneath her was finally able to catch her breath.

"So... Naoko, you still remember..."

"Of course I remember, it was our promise on our first date..."

Efnir's breathing rose and fell slightly as she responded.

She had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Efnir had done her homework during the afternoon and evening, and had planned out the route and time for the date. Efnir was both excited and nervous about her first "date" with Yukina.

These past few days, Iven's been hospitalized due to her injury. Although Yukina didn't say anything, Efnir could still see the worry in her eyes.

Efnir took it upon herself to be responsible.

Seeing the expression on Yukina's face because of her, Efnir felt genuinely happy, but at the same time, she didn't want Yukina to be like that.

So I at least want to make Yukina happy through a date for the two of us.

As for her physical injuries, they are no longer a problem.

Although I'm not quite ready to fight off injuries yet, I can still walk freely without any problem. When I was first discharged from the hospital, I could still feel pain in my wound and walk with a limp, but after a day of rest, this symptom basically disappeared.

Moreover, appropriate outdoor activities can actually help the agent heal their injuries. The agent's power comes from the Order Force, and the use of the Order Force will consume the user's physical and mental strength.

Leaving aside physical strength, the existence of mental strength still needs further verification. However, in fact, if one's mental state is poor, the control over the Order Force will fluctuate and become unstable. Conversely, a good mental state will deepen the user's Resonance with the Order Force. This is an empirical conclusion drawn from countless experiments and practices. Therefore, researchers call this influencing condition, which has not yet been fully explored, "mental strength".

Simply put, the existence of spiritual power is just a concept that is considered to exist objectively, but what it is, where it comes from, and how to observe it are still undetermined.

Things that cannot be seen or touched can only be generalized through experience.

The depth of an agent's Resonance with the Order Force is linked to their mental state. This connection is not obvious, but the impact is real. Therefore, agents need to manage not only their physical condition but also their mental state. Appropriate relaxation and outdoor activities are sometimes essential.

In short, even if it's just to help the injury recover as quickly as possible, there's nothing wrong with going out for a walk.

But for Yukina, there was another layer of meaning in Efnir's words.

She swallowed hard, inhaling the sweet breath of the person beneath her, and tentatively asked:

"Then... Naoko, is there anything wrong with your health?"

"Absolutely no problem. In fact, I've recovered quite well this time, all thanks to Yukina's care these past few days."

"You're not lying to me, are you?"

Yukina asked again.

"Naoko, don't push yourself. It's just a date, I can wait. But I'll be heartbroken if your injury gets worse. All I want is for Naoko to be safe and sound, nothing else matters."

Efnir's breathing gradually calmed down. She looked up at the darkness before her, knowing that Yukina was right above her. She answered earnestly, "I'm not lying to you. After all, I wouldn't force myself to joke around with my own body."

In Yukina's eyes, Efnir's expression was very serious, showing no sign of lying.

Yukina raised her eyebrows slightly.

In the darkness, Efnir couldn't see Yukina's expression.

If she could see things clearly, she certainly wouldn't still maintain that nonchalant, matter-of-fact demeanor.

Because what Yukina was thinking was completely different from Efnir was thinking—her body was recovering quite well, which meant that if she was careful and gentle, perhaps...

"Since Naoko has said so, then we'll listen to Naoko."

"That..."