Elise's idea of a break was simple.
Water. Bread. Sit down. Stop being kissed like a public service announcement.
Lustra's idea of a break was also simple.
More girls. More jokes. More paperwork. More "stabilization."
We barely made it to a small food stall before Yuki appeared again, holding her clipboard like it was a holy book.
"Break approved," she said brightly. "But the loop is at eighty percent. If you don't finish the circuit, your bloom rebounds."
I stared at her. "Rebounds into what."
Yuki shrugged. "Into chaos. Cuddle riots. People inventing new permits. The city calling you 'snack' out loud."
A vendor behind the stall leaned over and whispered, "Snack."
Elise's head snapped toward the vendor like a guillotine.
The vendor held up both hands. "Consentual compliment."
Elise turned back to me, jaw tight. "Drink."
I drank water. It did nothing except give me something to do with my mouth that wasn't kissing.
Freya leaned in from the side, smiling like she was about to say something criminal.
"You're hydrating," she said. "Good. Wet mouths kiss better."
I choked on the water.
Elise slapped my back once. Not gently. "Breathe."
Sofia smirked. "He's turning red again. That's basically XP glitter."
Rika bounced. "We should farm him. Like a cute dungeon."
Kaori squeaked. "N-no farming…"
Mira nodded, dead serious. "Farming implies exploitation. We are rotating ethically."
Charlotte sipped tea like she was above all of us. "It's still farming."
Yuki tapped her clipboard. "Finish the loop. Short, clean, one at a time. Then you can eat in peace."
Elise narrowed her eyes. "If anyone makes a neck joke, I will personally escort them into the ocean."
Lucie Moreau raised her hand. "What if I make a shoulder joke."
Elise glared.
Lucie lowered her hand. "Noted."
We moved back to the cuddle station because apparently that was where my dignity lived now.
The attendant rang the little bell.
Ding.
The crowd leaned in again, like the market had turned into an arena.
Yuki cleared her throat. "We're doing fast combos. Kiss plus one safe touch. Hands visible. Over-clothes. No improvising."
Freya whispered, "Improvising is the best part."
Elise whispered, "Die."
Freya smiled. "Later."
I held up the Consent Candle. "Everyone asks. I answer. If I say no, you stop."
Everyone nodded, like they totally meant it.
Yuki pointed. "First. Hana."
Hana Shimizu stepped forward, mage eyes bright.
"Ren," she asked softly, "may I kiss you and add a harmless sparkle again."
Elise sighed like she hated beauty. "Fine. Harmless."
I nodded. "Yes."
Hana kissed me gently, careful and warm, and the lantern light around us shimmered like it was blushing too. When she pulled back, she smiled shyly.
"Pretty," she whispered.
Rika immediately whispered loudly, "He's a magical kissing dispenser."
I almost died.
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + AESTHETIC SPARKLE
BOND XP +35
Yuki snapped, "Next. Anya."
Anya Volkov stepped forward with healer calm.
"Ren," she said, "may I kiss you and hold your hands for grounding."
I nodded. "Yes."
Anya took both my hands, steady, and kissed me in a slow soothing way that made my shoulders drop. Not dramatic. Just safe. Like a warm blanket in the middle of the chaos.
When she pulled back, she squeezed my hands once.
"Good," she said. "You're still alive."
Freya laughed. "Barely."
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + HAND HOLD
BOND XP +40
Yuki pointed. "Evelyn."
Evelyn Adler approached like she was attending a formal ball.
"Ren," she asked, "may I kiss you and straighten your collar. You look… very kissable today."
Elise muttered, "Stop saying kissable."
Evelyn smiled sweetly. "I'm being honest."
I nodded, resigned. "Yes."
Evelyn kissed me clean and elegant, then adjusted my collar with two careful touches like she was making me presentable for the next girl in line.
"That's better," she murmured.
Sofia smirked. "She just made him a display."
Charlotte's eyes narrowed. "She did."
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + COLLAR FIX
BOND XP +30
Yuki pointed. "Lucie."
Lucie Moreau stepped in with a grin like a thief.
"Ren," she said, "may I kiss you and steal your arm for two seconds."
Elise snapped, "No stealing."
Lucie shrugged. "Borrow."
I sighed. "Yes."
Lucie kissed me quick and bold, then hooked her arm through mine and leaned in like we were conspirators.
"You blush cute," she whispered.
I whispered back, "Stop."
Lucie smiled. "No."
Yuki tapped the timer. "Time."
Lucie released me, hands up. "Visible. I'm an angel."
Elise stared at her.
Lucie added, "A horny angel."
Elise's expression went flat.
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + ARM LINK
BOND XP +35
Yuki pointed. "Mira."
Mira Kuroda stepped forward, calm as paperwork.
"Ren," she said, "may I kiss you and place an affirmation. Short."
Elise narrowed her eyes. "No mind games."
Mira didn't blink. "It's not a game."
I nodded. "Yes."
Mira kissed me with neat control, then pulled back and said calmly, "You can say no. Even if they pout."
Rika pouted immediately on purpose.
Mira continued, "And pouting is not a binding spell."
Rika gasped. "Lies."
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + AFFIRMATION
BOND XP +45
Yuki pointed. "Rika."
Rika bounced forward like she'd been charging her energy bar.
"Ren," she said very seriously, "may I kiss you and sit very close. Not on you. Just close. Like… shoulder. With tail."
Elise snapped, "Tail counts as touching."
Rika blinked. "My tail is part of me."
Elise snapped harder. "Exactly."
I covered my face. "Rika. Just arm-link."
Rika brightened. "Okay."
"Ask properly," Elise warned.
Rika clasped her hands. "Ren, may I kiss you and link your arm in a very legal manner."
I nodded. "Yes."
Rika kissed me bright and enthusiastic, then linked her arm through mine and leaned into my shoulder with a happy sigh like she'd been waiting her whole life for this exact moment.
She looked up at me and whispered, "Hand holding is lewd."
I whispered back, "Stop."
Rika giggled. "No."
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + ARM LINK
BOND XP +40
Yuki pointed. "Sofia."
Sofia stepped in like she was the final boss of my self-control.
She didn't smile at first. She just looked at me like she could press one button and make my knees forget their job.
"Ren," she said softly, "may I kiss you and give you one praise line. That's the combo."
Elise said, instantly, "No."
Yuki said, instantly, "Praise is legal."
Elise glared at Yuki like she wanted to set the clipboard on fire.
I swallowed. "One. And then you stop."
Sofia's smirk returned. "Deal."
She kissed me slow enough that the crowd went quiet again, and I hated that my body reacted like it was getting graded. Then she pulled back, hands lifted, visible, and she leaned close to my ear.
"Good boy," she whispered.
My soul fully exited. Again.
Elise made a sound like a dying star.
Freya clapped. "He's farming so fast."
Kaori hid her whole face.
My system chimed violently.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + PRAISE
BOND XP +70
WARNING: WEAKNESS EXPLOITED
Yuki pointed. "Freya."
Freya stepped forward with the smile of a woman who enjoyed loopholes.
"Ren," she said sweetly, "may I kiss you and sit on your lap for exactly one second, because one second is technically a moment, not a crime."
Elise snapped, "No."
Yuki checked her notes. "Hero choice."
Everyone stared at me.
I sighed. "No lap."
Freya gasped like I'd wounded her. "Wow. He said no."
Mira nodded approvingly. "Good."
Freya recovered instantly. "Fine. Kiss plus forehead boop."
I blinked. "Forehead boop."
Freya pointed at her finger like it was a weapon. "Boop."
I sighed. "Yes."
Freya kissed me quick and playful, then tapped my forehead once with her fingertip.
"Boop," she whispered, satisfied.
Elise muttered, "I hate that I prefer this."
Freya grinned. "You're learning."
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + BOOP
BOND XP +35
Yuki pointed. "Charlotte."
Charlotte stepped forward, calm and deadly elegant.
"Ren," she asked, "may I kiss you and hold your chin. Just for control."
Elise tensed.
Charlotte smiled sweetly. "Control of his posture, not his life."
I nodded. "Yes."
Charlotte's fingers guided my chin gently, and she kissed me with composed possession, like she was stamping her name without leaving marks.
When she pulled back, she whispered, "You're doing well."
Elise's eyes narrowed. "Stop praising him."
Charlotte's smile widened. "No."
My system chimed.
COMBO SUCCESS: KISS + CHIN HOLD
BOND XP +50
Yuki clicked her pen. "Loop complete. One hundred percent. Stabilized."
My chest loosened like the city finally let me breathe.
My system chimed happily.
AFFECTION LOOP COMPLETE
HERO BLOOM STABLE
BONUS: CROWD DISPERSAL
The crowd actually started to relax, like they'd watched the required episode.
I exhaled. "Finally."
Elise grabbed my wrist and tugged me closer, chain clinking.
"Food," she ordered. "Now."
Freya leaned in and whispered loudly, "She's dragging him like a jealous wife."
Elise's face went red.
"I am dragging him," Elise snapped, "because he is tethered."
Sofia smirked. "You could untether him."
Elise went still. "No."
Charlotte tilted her head. "So you like it."
Elise looked like she was about to explode again.
I took one step toward the food stall and the harem followed like a loyal curse.
Rika chirped, "Can we do the loop again tomorrow."
Yuki said, "It's daily."
I groaned.
Freya cheered. "Daily kisses. That's basically my religion."
Kaori whispered, "That's… a lot…"
Mira nodded. "Routine builds stability."
Sofia smiled. "Routine builds habits."
Elise muttered, "Routine builds migraines."
And me
I just wanted a sandwich
But in Lustra, even eating had a flirting permit waiting somewhere nearby