Kasumigaoka Utaha slowly opened her eyes.
A pink blush spread across her cheeks like cherry‑blossom petals as she tilted her head toward Shichen.
"Y‑you… why are you here?"
Her voice was still hoarse.
"I came to check on you."
Shichen gently brushed the hair from her cheek.
"How do you feel? Think you can go to school today?"
"N‑no… not really…."
Utaha tried moving her legs but immediately frowned in pain.
"Then take the day off. Your grades are top‑notch anyway," Shichen said with a smile.
"Mm… but I don't have my teacher's contact info."
"You're such an ace student yet don't have a way to reach your teachers? Want me to call in for you?"
"No… I can just ask someone to help."
"You have friends at school?" Shichen asked, surprised.
Utaha shot him an annoyed look. "Hmph."
"Heh, just teasing. Who will you ask?"
"What? Worried it's a guy?" Utaha chuckled, throwing the question back.
"As if."
Shichen laughed, leaned close until their noses almost touched, and looked into her eyes. "You're already my girl, after all."
At that, Utaha's face turned an even deeper red. She looked away, embarrassed and indignant.
"L‑last night was an accident!"
"Oh? Yet you got pretty into it later, didn't you?" Shichen teased.
Utaha fell silent; even her ears were flushing.
"And you cooperated so well…"
"Stop talking!" she hissed, glaring in shame and anger.
"All right, all right." Shichen covered his mouth and gave her a playful wink.
Utaha responded with a dramatic eye‑roll.
"Heh‑heh. Jokes aside—want me to heal you a bit?" Shichen asked cheerfully.
"Heal me?"
"Yeah. Your throat—and down there too—should mend nicely."
"Magic?" Utaha's eyes lit up.
"Not exactly. More like a game skill."
"Can I learn it?"
"Not yet. But someday I can take you to the world where you can."
"Take me to another world? I can really go?!"
Utaha sat bolt upright, only to wince at the pain.
"Easy there."
Shichen blinked at her—especially at her chest. She wasn't wearing a thing.
"Uh… Right—let me heal you first."
"Thanks… but what are you st—"
Following his gaze, Utaha looked down and finally realized her situation.
Scarlet‑faced, she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why the shyness? I've already tasted them," Shichen said with mock regret.
"That's different! You were so forceful!" she pouted.
"Still not used to it, huh?"
"I don't want to 'get used' to it!"
"That's a shame."
"Just heal me!"
"Okay, okay."
Shichen placed a hand on her neck; a life‑filled green light blossomed.
"Heal."
Warmth spread through Utaha's throat, and the hoarseness vanished.
"Wow—it really worked!" She spoke and felt her voice come out smooth.
"Told you. It's a powerful skill."
"So when can I learn it?"
"First you'll have to complete your transformation into a vampire. Otherwise I can't take you."
"How long?"
"Hard to say—maybe a bit later than Chisato, maybe earlier."
"Why?"
"You're different from her." Shichen winked. "You didn't just drink my blood—you also…"
"Wha—! You!"
Utaha squirmed in embarrassment. "Can you be serious?"
"Just facts. That should speed your transformation."
"What a mess you're spouting… Wait—could I be… pregnant?" she asked, suddenly tense.
"Scared?"
"Of course! I'm still so young. You want me to have a baby already?"
"No way. I don't want one this early either."
"Then…?"
"Relax. You're fine."
"How do you know?" Utaha hugged herself, staring.
"It's my own ability—who'd know better?"
"So you pulled some trick?"
"More or less."
"I thought you just got the hang of it from Tohru."
Cough. "What did you say?" Shichen stared, shocked.
"Hmph." Utaha snorted and pouted. "You think I know nothing?"
"Why so nervous?"
A playful smile curved Utaha's lips. "I'm already yours—why would I mind?"
"I'm not nervous," Shichen declared righteously.
"Really?"
She laughed. "Then hurry and finish the healing."
"Heh‑heh." Shichen grinned smugly.
"What's the grin for?"
"Oh, right—Heal requires touching the wound," he explained.
"Touch the wound… yeah, right." Utaha didn't buy it.
"Didn't I just touch your neck to fix your throat?"
"…Really?"
"Why would I lie?"
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about—I've touched you before, and…" Shichen trailed off meaningfully.
"Shut it!" Utaha burned crimson.
"So—need the rest of the healing or not?" he asked.
"M‑maybe skip it… I already took the day off…" she muttered.
"Getting shy now?" Shichen sighed.
"None of your business!"
"It is my business. Let me help."
He slid a hand under the blanket, fingers brushing Utaha's soft, slightly sticky skin—she still hadn't bathed since their wild night. No foul odor yet, but sweat clung to her.
"Well? All sweaty. Won't you heal up and shower? Wait too long and you'll reek~" he teased.
"Uu…" Utaha froze.
Sweat was more mortifying than embarrassment. Last night had been quite… intense.
Seeing her yield, Shichen found the spot by feel, confirmed it with his fingertips, then cast:
"Heal."
"Mmm…"
Despite trying not to make a sound, Utaha couldn't help a soft moan at the warm sensation.
"Not craving more, are you?" Shichen shot her a sly glance.
"Buzz off!"
Utaha swatted his hand away, wrapped herself in the blanket, and shuffled toward the door.
"I'm taking a shower!"
"So fast? You just got healed."
"Who knows what you'd try next?" She glared back at him at the doorway. "I'm not letting you bully me again."
"As if I—"
"Hmph! No sense of pity for a lady at all!" Utaha huffed and left, closing the door.
Staring at the shut door, Shichen rubbed his index and middle fingers, savoring the lingering feel. Truly—his favorite buns.
He left Utaha to her bath and headed downstairs to make breakfast.
Everyone had waited long enough; cooking was the least he could do. Halfway through, Inoue Takina showed up.
"Takina? Why are you here?"
"I came to help," she said, taking her place beside him to wash vegetables.
"Alright, then…"
Shichen let her. Working side by side reminded him of cooking with Murasame Reine.
They stayed silent until breakfast was done.
"Takina, could you wake the others?"
"O‑okay… Shichen-san." Takina glanced at him hesitantly.
"What's wrong?"
"Um… about Utaha… maybe you should wake her."
"Me? Why… ah." From Takina's flustered face he understood—she must have overheard what happened.
"…Got it."
"Mhm." Embarrassed, Takina hurried off.
Shichen watched her retreating figure, mildly awkward but thick‑skinned as ever.
After laying out the food, he, too, went upstairs for Utaha.
She was already dressed—an ice‑blue silk dress that hugged her shape beautifully. She looked in high spirits, smiling radiantly—until she stepped out of the room.
"Who are they?"
Utaha stared blankly at Yatogami Tohka and Yoshino.
~~~
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