I was staring at the hospital room door, wondering if it was mealtime, when who should appear but Han Sora, the MVP of the Owl Bear subjugation.
-Slide.
"How's your body feeling?"
"It's so-so, nothing major."
"What's this? Cha Eun-ju's here too? Didn't you leave later than me yesterday? Or did you... sleep here?"
"Yeah... I was a bit worried..."
"Man, with a girlfriend this devoted, you better recover quick."
Well, from an outsider's perspective, it was natural to assume Cha Eun-ju and I were a couple.
I'd hugged her body without hesitation and run around with her, and when I got hurt, she'd teared up worrying about me. It was plenty enough to cause a misunderstanding.
But if people started seeing me and Cha Eun-ju as lovers too early, it might make it harder to pursue Han Sora or the other heroines...
"W-We haven't quite reached the girlfriend stage yet..."
"Huh?"
...Our Eun-ju. Always doing something cute.
Good job, well done. As a reward, I'll make you my first lay.
Cha Eun-ju had perfectly timed it to dispel Han Sora's misunderstanding, so I seized the chance and followed up on her words.
"If I were her boyfriend, it'd be an insult to Eun-ju. We've only known each other for about a week anyway."
"No way, really? You two sync up so well, I figured you'd known each other for years."
"We met by chance during the written exam and hit it off. We synced up while prepping for the practical together."
"...Hmm, I see."
I figured she'd pry more, but surprisingly, Han Sora just nodded casually.
Maybe the news that I didn't have a girlfriend was good for her. Personally, I'd love that.
As I indulged in such fantasies, Cha Eun-ju whispered softly, just loud enough for me to hear.
"S-Seon-ho..."
"Yeah?"
"I-It wouldn't be an insult at all..."
"What?"
"E-Even if you were my boyfriend... I-I wouldn't mind at all..."
...Eun-ju, this is a hospital room.
Keep tempting me like this, and I might just ditch everything and pounce.
As those lecherous thoughts swirled in my head, I glanced at Han Sora and noticed the sky-blue bag in her hand.
"What's that? Fruit?"
"A get-well gift. You bring stuff like this when visiting the sick, right?"
"Dunno. This is my first time being visited in the hospital. Thanks anyway."
"No need to thank me for this. We fought together, and you're the only one laid up—makes me feel bad."
"Couldn't be helped since I'm support. Speaking of which, for group classes after enrollment, let's find one or two vanguards. I know a senior who's a second-year in the Shield Department next year. Maybe we can ask her to join us if there's overlapping classes..."
-Slide.
"M-Meal... pr-preparation... I-I'll... g-get it... r-ready..."
We were chatting naturally about Choi Marie when Kim Isabel appeared, towing some kind of cart.
It wasn't basic patient food— the cart was loaded with dishes under lidded plates, luxurious enough that it didn't even feel like hospital grub.
"Thanks, Isabel. But if you're not used to guys, someone else could bring meals."
"N-No... I-It's my... j-job as your... a-assigned priestess..."
"Whoa, what's all this? Does the academy church always serve meals like this?"
"Guess they're going all out since I got badly hurt in the entrance exam. Breakfast was too much even for Eun-ju and me to finish."
"...No need for fruit then. Should've just brought ice cream."
"You've got room for fruit after a meal. I'm grateful just that you came—don't sweat it."
"I-I'll help too, Isabel."
Kim Isabel naturally unfolded the bedside tray table and arranged the dishes one by one, with Cha Eun-ju—now fairly close to her—stepping up to assist.
As the mealtime bustle picked up, Han Sora awkwardly rose from her seat.
"I'll head out now. Enjoy your lunch."
"Han Sora, you eaten yet?"
"Not yet. Heading home for it."
"If you haven't, join us. Eun-ju and I would just waste half anyway."
"Huh? You sure?"
"Why not? We shared breakfast; one or two more won't hurt."
"...Well, if you insist."
Guess she was curious about the academy's special patient meals.
Now the full Owl Bear party was assembled, making it easier to charm Kim Isabel too.
"Isabel, eat with us while you're here. You haven't eaten, right?"
"M-Me?! B-But I..."
"Yeah, join us, Isabel. Come to think of it, we never properly celebrated after the practical."
"Yeah, eat with us. ...Unless you're busy?"
"N-No... Not really busy, but..."
Her hesitation showed her heart was already swaying.
Without me even pushing, Han Sora and Cha Eun-ju coaxed her to the table, and soon we had a four-way lunch.
"Whoa, this is good. Patients allowed fried food?"
"Not hospitalized for stomach issues. And I won't be petty about portions—dig in."
"S-Seon-ho... The meat patties are tasty too—want some?"
"Just grab one and feed me. Ahh~."
"Eek?! H-Here..."
"...You two really aren't dating?"
A meal alone with Cha Eun-ju was great, but nothing beat being surrounded by heroines.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After the meal, Han Sora peeled and ate a few of her gifted fruits before leaving, and Kim Isabel headed back to the priestess lounge post-afternoon treatment.
That left just me—stuck in bed for two more days—and Cha Eun-ju, showing no signs of leaving today either.
-Pop.
"S-Seon-ho...? N-N Need anything...?"
"Nah. Just happened to glance your way."
"Eep?! O-Oh..."
Being with Cha Eun-ju wasn't unpleasant.
Not that at all, but... well...
'Since I'm hospitalized in the church, I'd love to use this chance to get closer to Kim Isabel somehow.'
Something like that. If Cha Eun-ju was my starter Poké—, Kim Isabel felt like a wild Poké—.
Plus, the church offered plenty of alone time unlike usual—a drop rate up event, basically.
She brought meals or treatments five or six times a day, creating one-on-one moments. ...If only Cha Eun-ju weren't glued to my side since last night.
"E-Eun-ju."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe today..."
I tried to suggest she head back early, but the words stuck in my throat.
She was enduring an uncomfortable bed out of worry for me, and here I was, about to shoo her away harshly.
Treating her like a hooked fish while chasing others with my sleazy desires.
'Sigh, what am I even thinking.'
Entertaining such thoughts toward a girl willing to sleep over in worry for me.
I should be thinking of ways to spoil the obedient Cha Eun-ju more, not kicking her out because she hampers other conquests. Ridiculous.
No need to rush. Plenty of chances for Kim Isabel later.
"S-Seon-ho?"
"Yeah?"
"What about today...?"
"Oh, nothing."
I fumbled awkwardly, obvious to anyone, but what could I do? No excuse prepped.
As the mood turned awkward and I reflected on my earlier thoughts, Cha Eun-ju steeled herself and made a cautious, special proposal.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Y'know... Were you about to ask me to do something?"
"No, not that."
"If it's hard to say, you don't have to. I-I'd understand... Y-You're a guy, after all, and..."
"...Cha Eun-ju?"
She'd misinterpreted my awkward cutoff as some profound intent.
Curious what she'd say next, I waited—and she caught me off guard with the unexpected.
"If it's hard to say outright... h-how about hypnotizing me and ordering it...?"
"...Huh?"
"H-Hypnotizing me to do it... I-I'm okay with that..."
...This was Cha Eun-ju seducing me first, straight up.
I'd planned to hold back in the church. But temptation like this? No way I could resist.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"H-Hypnotizing me to do it... I-I'm okay with that..."
Cha Eun-ju's head spun wildly after blurting out words she barely comprehended herself.
Confusion, shame, embarrassment, and a whirlwind of other emotions clashing.
'Cha Eun-ju, you idiot! Why'd you say something so weird?!'
It started from a mildly naughty fantasy.
A mildly naughty imagining sparked by Lee Seon-ho's words.
Seeing him hesitate mid-sentence with "Maybe today..." and go quiet, Cha Eun-ju spun various scenarios in her mind.
What he'd originally meant to say to her.
'Probably not asking to go somewhere together...'
With his injuries, he'd be bedridden here till fully healed.
So, asking a favor... and her thoughts veered naughty.
Just yesterday, he'd secretly groped her chest while she slept during the practical. And this morning, stroked her hair stealthily.
She'd shown her chest under hypnosis anyway. Those experiences made his loaded words pull her mind lewd-ward.
'Maybe today, something like sleeping together in bed...'
...No good. She hadn't allowed that far yet.
They weren't even officially dating, her chest exposure was under hypnosis, groped only while asleep.
Advancing that boldly felt risky.
...Not that she hated it. Yeah, not hating it at all.
'I wonder.'
Now she desperately wanted to know what he'd meant.
If it was the indecent favor she imagined, he probably wouldn't admit it outright.
'In that case, maybe.'
What if she 'pretended' to be hypnotized, like before?
Her act hadn't been caught yet, and under hypnosis, Seon-ho got more honest.
If she were 'hypnotized,' would he reveal it?
It's the church, so no cheeky demands like showing her chest again.
...So, a bit boldly.
"Hypnosis?"
"Y-Yeah... If it's embarrassing, just hypnotize me and order it... U-Under hypnosis, I'd do any request..."
"...How do you know that?"
"...Huh?"
"How do you know you'd do any request under hypnosis, Eun-ju?"
"..."
Oh.
R-Right. She wasn't supposed to know that!
"Eun-ju?"
"..."
W-What now?!
How do I respond to this?!