Time shifted forward a little.
In the brightly lit bathroom, the faint sound of running water echoed.
Steam clung to the frosted glass, forming countless droplets that slid silently downward.
Kurumi lay back with her eyes closed in a rose petal-strewn jacuzzi.
Her flawless body was half-hidden in the mist, like a beauty coyly veiled behind a pipa.
The only things clearly visible were her slender white neck and the delicate collarbones beneath her shoulders, gleaming faintly pink in the soft glow.
"Phew~"
The spirit girl exhaled gently, stretching out her graceful figure.
Her curves, perfectly proportioned, were faintly visible beneath the water, enough to stir anyone's imagination.
Her long, black hair fanned out across the surface, drifting like blooming flowers.
Kurumi lifted a strand of wet hair from her chest, her gaze softening as if in quiet reflection.
"Like this… I should be safe for now, right?"
If you asked Miss Kurumi what she was feeling at that moment, the answer was a single word:
Regret.
She regretted it—regretted it so much!
Absorbing time was one thing… but why on earth did she have to tease Nagami?
She had to admit, seeing Nagami flustered or blushing always amused her to no end.
Of course, those precious moments didn't happen often.
Most of their back-and-forth ended with Kurumi on the losing side.
But what did it matter?
She could always leave behind a few clones for Nagami to torment however he liked—whether it was dressing them up as catgirls, in school swimsuits, shrine maiden robes, nurse uniforms, bunny suits, or snapping pictures of them in various stockings.
If Nagami got a little handsy, well… they were just clones.
That's what they were for—to shoulder the consequences in her place.
That, perhaps, was one reason why her clones in other timelines often plotted against her.
But this time… she had gone too far.
Yes, Kurumi wasn't exactly human anymore.
But even as a spirit, she had no desire to experience the sensation of self-inflicted suffering!
The very thought of it was bizarre—no, worse than bizarre.
At the evening gathering, Nagami had explained to everyone that his ability to traverse time and revive the dead was only possible thanks to Kurumi lending her power over time.
Because of this, not only Cecilia and Alexandra, but even the 3 Kaslana sisters, and Bronya had all expressed genuine gratitude to her.
Kurumi, of course, brushed it all off.
The "time" used for their journeys had been supplied by Nagami, and it was only thanks to him that she could wield her powers in this world at all.
She felt she had no real claim to their thanks.
On the contrary, she felt she owed gratitude to Cecilia and Alexandra.
If not for those two—elders in this strange household she might have truly lost something precious tonight.
If Nagami had done something to her, she wouldn't have resisted.
After all, she craved that infinite well of time within him.
If their relationship really did cross that line… then she could freely indulge in time without restraint.
But to experience that dual-body sensation?
Please forgive Kurumi, who still clung to some shred of human dignity—she absolutely refused!
Just what sort of madness had possessed Nagami to imagine something so far beyond the limits of human decency…?
"Now, now, don't say it like that Honestly, from a purely physiological perspective… with the brain's release of dopamine, endorphins, and hormones… there probably isn't any joy greater than this"
The voice was as clear as orchids in an empty valley.
Kurumi's relaxed smile froze.
Her crimson-gold eyes widened in shock.
In the next instant, a sudden weightlessness seized her.
She fell backward, her head landing against something soft.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"Nagami-kun!!!"
Her lips parted as she stiffly turned her head, like a rusted machine.
"Nope. It's C.C.♪"
From within the tub emerged a slender, graceful silhouette.
Her jade-white back curved like a perfect sculpture beneath the light, every line of her skin illuminated to flawless detail—as if biology and physics had reached their peak in her form.
Her silky green hair slid down with a gentle swish, spilling over Kurumi's chest and obscuring the soft, supple fullness there.
As Kurumi stared in dazed disbelief, C.C. extended a delicate white finger and traced it lightly over the spirit girl's crimson lips.
Then, leaning in, her voluptuous figure pressing forward, she captured Kurumi's lips with her own.
When she finally drew back, her golden eyes gleamed with amusement, and her mouth curved into an irrepressible smile.
"I seem to recall someone saying earlier… if it were C.C., it would be fine, wouldn't it? Isn't that right?"
Her tongue flicked across her lips.
Her voice carried an intoxicating mystery that made one ache to unravel her further.
Oh, don't get the wrong idea—there was no Geass at play here.
It was simply the mingling of Nagami's aura with the original personality's, creating this strange blend of presence.
Yes, Kurumi freely admitted she enjoyed teasing cute, pretty girls from time to time.
She even liked to toss out suggestive jokes now and then.
But that didn't mean she actually liked girls!
It was just… entertaining.
When bored, she'd flirt with all kinds of adorable girls, watching their shy, flustered reactions—it was delightful, pure fun.
But as for her real preferences?
'My orientation was absolutely normal!'
That bold statement she'd made earlier in the day had been nothing more than playful teasing toward Nagami.
If someone actually expected her to get all lovey-dovey with a girl for real? No way—Kurumi could never accept that!
…Although, when it came to C.C., could she even be counted as an ordinary "girl"?
Kurumi gazed at the green-haired beauty's delicate, porcelain-like features.
A flush crept across her own pale cheeks.
Suddenly, she could understand why Nagami had done something as outrageous as… indulging himself.
C.C. was simply too beautiful.
Her very presence was intoxicating, like a poison you couldn't help but crave.
Staring at her for too long made it hard to guarantee Kurumi's heart wouldn't waver.
Her lips parted, words trembling on the edge of release… only to be swallowed back down.
In the end, all that escaped was—
"I'm sorry, Nagami-sama! I was wrong! I was completely wrong!"
Kurumi's cheeks burned crimson as she bowed her head, apologizing with uncharacteristic sincerity.
For once, her apology actually sounded like a genuine apology.
Now wasn't the time to hesitate!
The only correct move was to apologize at the speed of light!
Seeing a trace of hesitation flicker across C.C.'s expression, Kurumi bit her lip and—rarely for her—shifted to a coaxing, almost pleading tone.
"Nagami—no, C.C.-san… I really was wrong. Please, forgive me just this once, okay?"
Drawing upon the peak of her acting talent, she twisted her body shyly, as her moist eyes shimmering as she looked up at C.C., radiating fragile charm that begged for forgiveness.
And it worked. Kurumi caught the faint softening in C.C.'s expression, and her lips curved in a secret, unseen smile.
There was hope—real hope!
After all, even in a beautiful girl's body, C.C.'s inner nature was still that of a true shameless LSP.
That meant Kurumi still had a chance at victory!
Her expression grew even more pitiful, like a bullied kitten.
On her, the contrast was almost disarmingly cute.
"…Fine. Since you're being so sincere, I'll give you a chance," C.C. finally relented.
A subtle smile tugged at her lips as she raised a finger to them, eyes drifting—rather deliberately—to Kurumi's chest.
"If you kiss me on your own… I'll consider letting you off today."
'Whew… that was close! I didn't think she'd actually fall for it.'
'Looks like even Nagami still has a shred of humanity left in him after all.'
Relief flooded Kurumi's chest.
Kiss Nagami's body? That was nothing.
C.C.'s body? Even less of a problem.
Leaning down, she drew closer to the girl's flawless face.
Their mingled strands of hair brushed together as Kurumi's lips descended upon those wine-red, cherry blossom lips.
The soft wetness against her own lips sent her heartbeat racing.
And then—something strange bloomed in her mind.
Could… kissing a girl really feel this good?
The longer their kiss lingered, the more bizarre yet intoxicating the sensation became.
Strange, yes—but irresistibly so.
'This is weird… Could it be… do I actually like girls?!'
The thought erupted uncontrollably, sending her mind into chaos. And then—
"No, you're perfectly normal," came a lilting voice, warm and melodic.
Kurumi froze.
The green-haired girl smiled radiantly. "Because what you're feeling isn't yours—it's this body. Kurumi-san, your consciousness is now linked with mine. Every sensation from both of my bodies is being transmitted directly into your mind."
She leaned in with a sly glint in her eye.
"A final piece of friendly advice: if you're around someone who can read thoughts, don't let your inner drama run too wild. Otherwise, the consequences are—well~"
Kurumi's smile froze stiff on her face.
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