“Uh, my butt…?”
“Yeah.”
I found myself in a strange position, lying on the bed with Viviana wrapped in a back hug. Feeling awkward, I turned to face her. Her usually calm purple eyes held an unknown, deep longing.
“W-why are you… touching my butt?”
“Do you remember our first meeting?”
First meeting… when was that with Viviana? As I pondered, the memory quickly came back to me.
It was at the deep end of the palace banquet garden. I couldn’t walk because Mardian hit my butt, and Viviana applied ointment directly to it, right on my bare skin.
…Now that I think about it, I was the one who asked her to do that back then.
“It felt nice at that time. Kind of addictive, you know? So I thought it might be even better to touch it.”
“A-addictive feeling…?”
“Yeah, you’ve never touched your own butt? If you did, you’d definitely know…”
Isn’t it obvious that I’ve never touched it? Who goes around touching their own butt in an addictive way?
“Only when I wash it…”
“It’s all white and plump. It’s quite nice and sticky.”
Honestly, I didn’t want to know how my butt felt. While I was flustered by her sudden words, Viviana stared at me with a determined gaze.
“I’m a bit tired today, but I think touching your butt would relieve my fatigue… Is that okay, Tina?”
For a moment, I wavered under the intensity of her longing gaze, but I quickly shook my head to maintain my sanity.
I didn’t really want to. My butt isn’t some tool for stress relief… Is it normal to touch the butt of someone of the same gender?
“U-um, isn’t it a bit odd to touch the butt of the same gender?”
“Huh? Isn’t it weirder to touch a man’s butt?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
I was momentarily speechless by her sharp logic.
But still, Viviana’s request felt unusual.
I’ve seen friends kicking each other’s butts, but never touching for stress relief purposes.
Even among girls, who tend to have more physical contact, it feels off? Among all the Young Ladies I’ve interacted with, the only one who tried to touch was Mardian.
Seeing me lost in thought, Viviana narrowed her eyes a bit and pulled me closer, whispering softly in my ear.
“You let Mardian hit your butt, yet you won’t even let me touch it. That’s somewhat hurtful.”
I felt a bit dazed by her unexpected words.
“How do you…?”
“A Young Lady wouldn’t just get a bruise on her butt from a fall.”
She seemed to refer to when she applied the ointment in the garden. At that time, I was too flustered to say anything, but if I had known it would come back like this, I would have answered a bit more cautiously.
“Tina, so what’s your answer?”
“Uh, um…”
“Let me touch it.”
Her gaze was so intense that just looking into her eyes made my face flush.
“W-well, my butt…”
Unable to meet her daunting gaze, I looked away. As I did, the warmth in Viviana’s eyes quickly dissipated.
“…Oh, so you don’t want to. I understand.”
With those words, Viviana released my waist and got up from the bed. I was startled by her sudden action and followed her up.
“Viviana…? Where are you going…?”
“I’m going to bed. Sleep well, and I’ll see you tomorrow, Tina.”
“Already…? I wanted to talk a bit more or at least give you a massage…”
Viviana was the only person I could converse with here. Therefore, my time with her felt incredibly precious.
No matter how amusing it was to tease Iris, it didn’t fulfill my intrinsic desire for interaction like talking with someone did.
“No, I think it’s fine.”
But Viviana just patted my head lightly with a faint smile. The intense longing she had just moments ago seemed completely gone, leaving behind a feeling that her affectionate gaze had cooled.
“Well, good night, Viviana. See you tomorrow…!”
With no attachment in her voice, I couldn’t bring myself to hold her back.
“Yeah, you sleep well too, Tina.”
The door closed behind her without hesitation. Alone again on the quiet bed, I stared blankly out the window and chuckled while shrugging my shoulders.
“Well, it’s just today.”
Viviana had already finished her conquest. Surely she must have fallen head over heels for my charms. Maybe she just found today too tiring.
Tomorrow, she’d likely ask for a massage again.
*
The next day flowed just the same as always.
I ate the breakfast Luna brought, spoke to Iris as if talking to myself since she didn’t respond, and tried to tease Ciriel to ease the boredom.
Yet today didn’t feel quite as enjoyable. It seemed like time was moving more slowly than usual.
The evening came around.
While lying alone in bed, gazing out the window, the door opened, and Viviana appeared, having finished her work.
I ran to her as usual, wearing a shy smile that lacked confidence.
“Uh, welcome, Viviana! You’ve worked hard today.”
“Thanks. How was your day?”
“It was the same as always… except I particularly wanted to see you today…!”
I tried to feign affection with a slightly trembling voice. I expected Viviana to react, but her eyes showed no sign of being moved.
“Uh, I see. Thanks for saying that.”
Instead, Viviana reluctantly smiled at my affection. An inexplicable ache shot through my heart.
“Um… Should I give you a massage? It should definitely relieve your fatigue…”
Trying to shift the weird atmosphere, I smiled brightly and took her hand. I thought for sure she’d respond positively, but Viviana slowly released my hand and took a step back.
“No, it’s better to sleep early. You should sleep early too, Tina.”
“…Huh?”
A sound of disappointment escaped my lips. Viviana smiled gently and patted my head.
“See you tomorrow, Tina.”
“Y-you’re leaving already?”
We hadn’t even talked much! It hadn’t even been five minutes since she entered my room.
But Viviana left, leaving behind a final farewell. I couldn’t find the strength in her resolute gaze to hold her back yet again.
Once more alone in the room, I blinked for a while in a daze before collapsing onto the bed.
“…”
Today too, I didn’t touch any books.
As always, I curled up under the blanket, trying desperately to sleep.
For some reason, the bed felt unnecessarily wide today.
*
The next morning dawned. I lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling and muttered.
“…Is she sulking?”
Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind.
Could she be upset that I wouldn’t let her touch my butt? Is she acting cold as a way to express her discontent?
That was a possibility.
Viviana knew I let Mardian touch my butt. But now, I wouldn’t even let her touch it, so it would be understandable for her to feel slighted.
She had even said as much to me recently.
So if she’s been acting cold toward me, I would totally get it.
Once I thought this, the anxiety I had felt moments ago vanished instantly.
Right, she wouldn’t have lost interest in me, would she?
It’s human nature to love beautiful and cute things. Who would dislike a cute puppy that always welcomes you with a big smile?
“Viviana does have her cute sides.”
It’s quite childish to express sulking like this, isn’t it? It seemed quite unlike her, making me chuckle softly.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. An undeniably lovely face stared back at me. When I reached out, the girl in the mirror seemed to reach out too and grasp my hand.
“I guess I have no choice.”
As the adult, I have to be the one to smooth things over for her.
In the past, I might have let her go, but now, I had no intention of letting Viviana slip away.
Who could keep me as secure as she does? Even if I were to face danger in the future, Viviana would be a strong ally to protect me.
Her wealth also plays a part in this.
Just look at today.
Simply by enjoying the luxurious food she provides in the mansion and sleeping in a high-quality bed while showering her with enough affection, all of my family’s debts vanished, and I was promised future support.
Is there a bigger fool than this?
I had no intention of losing such an extraordinary connection as Viviana. I decided I should bend first.
Really.
“Viviana, you’re not being honest, are you?”
