Everyone in Lustra was an adult. Everyone had agreed. The Consent Candle was lit. The rules were clear.
Which meant, of course, the city decided to turn kissing into a leveling method.
We were back at the permit booth, but now it had a new sign slapped onto the wood like a threat.
HERO BLOOM STABILIZER
CONSENSUAL AFFECTION LOOP
KISS IN ROTATION TO BLEED OFF EXCESS EROS MANA
YES, THIS IS REAL
I stared at it for a full ten seconds.
Elise stared at it like she was about to arrest the sign.
Yuki Tanaka stood next to the sign with her clipboard, smiling like she'd personally invented bureaucracy-based romance.
"Congratulations," Yuki said. "Your system updated."
My system chimed in my skull like a cheerful curse.
NEW QUEST: KISS CIRCUIT
GOAL: STABILIZE HERO BLOOM
METHOD: CONSENSUAL KISSING IN ROTATION
REWARD: BOND XP
WARNING: DO NOT LOITER ON ANYONE TOO LONG
TIP: IF YOU PANIC, YOU LOSE XP
I whispered, "This city is insane."
Elise whispered back, "This city is evil."
Yuki tapped her clipboard. "You need to complete the loop. One kiss per courter. Timed. Clean. Controlled. No improvising."
Freya grinned. "So we can't freestyle."
Sofia smirked. "We can still win."
Charlotte smiled politely. "We can still claim."
Rika bounced in place. "I will be fast. Like a cute disaster."
Kaori looked like she might faint just hearing the word kiss.
Mira adjusted her glasses like she was about to sign a contract with my mouth.
The booth attendant slid a little bell forward.
"Ring it when you're ready," she said. "One at a time."
I took the Consent Candle in both hands, lifted it like a holy object, and cleared my throat.
"Okay," I said, voice rough. "Circuit rules. Everyone asks. I say yes or no. If I say no, we stop. No drama."
They all nodded. Even Freya, which was suspicious.
Elise folded her arms. "And I'm watching."
Yuki started her timer.
I rang the bell.
Ding.
The air around us settled, like the market itself went quiet to watch.
The first one stepped forward.
Charlotte Beaumont.
She didn't rush. She didn't grin. She didn't bounce. She just came close like she owned time.
"Ren," she said softly, "may I."
I nodded.
Charlotte placed one hand lightly at my jaw, thumb resting near my cheekbone like she was guiding my attention rather than holding me. Her perfume was clean and expensive, like silk and warm air.
She kissed me with control. A steady press, gentle but sure, like she was teaching my mouth the concept of calm. Not long. Not rushed. Just enough to make my heartbeat stumble.
When she pulled back, she gave me a small smile.
"Good," she whispered.
My system chimed.
BOND XP +25
BONUS: COMPOSED KISS
Yuki snapped her fingers. "Next."
Freya Lindholm practically slid in like she'd been shot from a cannon.
"Ren," she said brightly, "I will behave."
Elise muttered, "Liar."
Freya clasped my cheeks with both hands, warm and confident, and kissed me like she was laughing through it. Quick, playful pressure, a tiny pause, then another kiss like a teasing echo.
She pulled back just far enough to grin at my face.
"You taste like panic and pastries," she murmured.
I blinked. "I didn't eat pastries yet."
Freya winked. "Exactly."
My system chimed again.
BOND XP +20
BONUS: PLAYFUL RHYTHM
Yuki clapped once. "Next."
Sofia Dragomir stepped in like the air moved for her.
She didn't touch me at first. She watched me, eyes calm and sharp, like she was waiting for my breathing to slow.
"Ask," she said.
I swallowed. "Sofia… may I kiss you."
Sofia smiled like she'd won something private.
"Yes."
She placed her hands at my shoulders, firm and steady, and leaned in slowly. Her kiss was deeper in feeling, not graphic, just heavier. Like she wanted me to stop thinking. Like she wanted me to stay.
When she pulled back, her forehead brushed mine for half a second.
"Better," she murmured. "You didn't flinch."
I exhaled like I'd been underwater.
My system chimed.
BOND XP +30
BONUS: CONFIDENCE CHECK PASSED
Yuki pointed. "Next."
Kaori Minazuki stepped forward like a shy apology.
Her hands were shaking. Her cheeks were bright red. She looked at my lips like they were a dangerous cliff.
"I… I can skip," she whispered.
I shook my head gently. "Only if you want. I'm okay."
Kaori swallowed hard, then nodded once.
"May I," she whispered, "just a small one."
"Yes," I whispered back.
Kaori leaned in and kissed me softly, so light it was almost a promise more than a kiss. Her breath was warm. She pulled away instantly like she'd touched a flame.
Then she covered her face with her sleeves and made a tiny squeak.
My system chimed with unexpected sweetness.
BOND XP +35
BONUS: GENTLE AFFECTION
NOTE: HERO BLOOM STABILIZING
Rika exploded into the circle next.
"MY TURN," she chirped.
Elise said, "Ask properly."
Rika froze dramatically, then clasped her hands like she was about to pray.
"Ren," she said in a too-serious voice, "may I please kiss you on the mouth in a very legal way."
I laughed despite myself. "Yes."
Rika grabbed my hands, squeezed them, and kissed me with bright, eager enthusiasm. It wasn't messy, just excited, like she put her whole heart into it for one second and hoped it stuck.
She pulled back grinning so wide her cheeks looked tired.
"Did I do it right."
"Yes," I said, dazed. "You did it right."
Rika squealed and did a tiny victory bounce.
My system chimed.
BOND XP +20
BONUS: MORALE BOOST
Mira Kuroda stepped forward next, calm as a courtroom.
She held up a scroll like it was a badge.
"I request," she said politely, "one kiss, to confirm compliance."
Elise's eye twitched. "Compliance."
Mira didn't blink. She looked at me.
"Ren," she said, "do you consent."
I nodded, half laughing, half terrified.
"Yes."
Mira set the scroll aside, touched my chin lightly with two fingers, and kissed me in a measured, precise way. Not cold. Just controlled. Like she was proving even kissing could be orderly.
When she pulled back, she adjusted her glasses.
"Acceptable," she said.
I blinked. "Acceptable."
Mira nodded. "You are improving."
My system chimed like it respected paperwork.
BOND XP +25
BONUS: STABILITY VERIFIED
Yuki stepped forward before anyone could protest.
Elise snapped, "No."
Yuki lifted her clipboard. "Facilitator fairness."
Elise's mouth opened, then closed, because bureaucracy always wins.
Yuki leaned close without touching.
"Ren," she said, smiling, "consent."
I swallowed. "Yes."
Yuki kissed me quickly, neat and sharp, like a punctuation mark. Then she pulled back and smiled wider.
"Good," she murmured. "Now you'll think about that later."
Elise hissed like a kettle.
My system chimed anyway.
BOND XP +15
WARNING: FACILITATOR IS EVIL
Hana Shimizu stepped forward next, mage eyes bright.
"May I," she asked softly, "add a tiny spell. Nothing big. Just… warmth."
Elise narrowed her eyes. "No spells."
Hana held up both hands. "No manipulation. Just sparkle. For the crowd."
The booth attendant shrugged. "Non-intrusive magic is allowed."
Elise looked like she hated all of reality.
I nodded to Hana. "Okay. Yes."
Hana leaned in, kissed me gently, and the moment our lips met, the air shimmered like lantern light had turned into glitter. Warmth spread through my chest like a soft wave, not arousing, just glowing. The crowd sighed like it was watching fireworks.
Hana pulled back, smiling shyly.
"Pretty," she whispered.
My system chimed, almost dazzled.
BOND XP +25
BONUS: AESTHETIC SYNERGY
Anya Volkov stepped forward with healer calm.
"You're tense," she said.
"I know," I admitted.
Anya's gaze softened. "May I help."
I nodded. "Yes."
Anya touched my cheek with one hand, thumb gentle, and kissed me slowly in a soothing way that made my shoulders drop. Like a lullaby in the middle of chaos.
When she pulled back, she gave me a small, kind smile.
"Breathe," she said.
I did.
My system chimed.
BOND XP +30
BONUS: STRESS REDUCTION
Lucie Moreau, the dagger girl, stepped in with a grin like a thief.
"May I," she said, "steal one."
Elise snapped, "Don't say steal."
Lucie shrugged. "Fine. May I receive one that feels like stealing."
I laughed again. "Yes."
Lucie kissed me quick and bold, like a playful bite without teeth. Then she pulled back, smug.
"Cute," she said. "You blush on command."
My system chimed.
BOND XP +20
BONUS: SPEED RUN
Evelyn Adler stepped forward last, noble and composed, green dress catching the lantern light.
She offered her hand like an invitation to a dance, even here.
"Ren," she said softly, "may I."
I nodded.
Evelyn kissed me with quiet elegance, a calm press that felt like approval. When she pulled back, she smiled like she'd just placed a crown on my head.
"You're doing well," she whispered.
My system chimed, loud and satisfied.
BOND XP +40
CIRCUIT COMPLETE
HERO BLOOM STABILIZED
LEVEL UP
A warm pulse moved through my chest like relief.
LEVEL UP: RELUCTANT HAREM HERO → SLIGHTLY MORE DURABLE HAREM HERO
NEW PASSIVE: CONSENTUAL COMPOSURE
EFFECT: +10% RESISTANCE TO PRAISE
WARNING: STILL VERY WEAK
The crowd cheered.
The harem looked pleased.
Yuki clicked her pen and nodded like she'd finished filing my dignity.
And Elise stood beside me, tether chain glinting, cheeks pink with fury and something else she refused to name.
She leaned in, voice low.
"You leveled up," she whispered.
I swallowed, lips still warm, heart still racing.
"Yeah," I whispered back. "By kissing my way through a lineup."
Elise's eyes flicked to my mouth, then away.
"Disgusting," she muttered.
The chain tugged softly, pulling us closer.
Elise's voice dropped even lower, almost angry at itself.
"…You did it safely."
My system chimed one more time, like it was laughing.
BONUS UNLOCKED: DAILY KISS CIRCUIT AVAILABLE
TIP: YOU ARE NEVER ESCAPING THIS CITY