Leaves danced in the air as the large wolf’s powerful legs beat the ground .

I zoned out the cold winter air grazing my skin, and focused my attention on the wolf’s muscle movements .

―― Now!

The wolf made a steep right turn .

But I, who was riding on top of it, wasn’t blown off by the switch in momentum .

Me and the wolf had become one as we navigated through the dense forest at breakneck speeds .

Which is when it happened,

With a loud crash, a boulder had landed in front of us, blocking our path .

Dodging―― wasn’t an option .

The wolf didn’t slow down in the least, and slammed head first into the boulder .

―― And right before that .

I erased the ma.s.s from both myself and the wolf .

With that, the force from the impact equaled a total of zero, and the wolf came to a point blank stop just as its forehead touched the boulder .

The time between the large obstruction landing and me invoking my Art――

Was around 0 . 5 seconds .

“Wrong . You should’ve moved around it by changing your inertia . ”

And as the two of us were going back, my great Master Rakel met us on the way to swiftly admonish me .

“… Uh, Master, can I just say something?”

“Yes?”

“My reaction time is now 3 times faster than when I first started this training so, is it not possible to ask for a little praise?”

“You want me to praise you?”

“Just a little . ”

“Who’s a good boy . ”

“I’m not a dog!”

I shook away the hand that was ruffling up my hair .

I felt pitiful that it was actually making me kind of happy .

Together with Rakel, we went back to the open field within the forest .

The same field where Filly and I had once found Rakel .

A lot of our training was being done inside the forest, so this place had become a sort of base for us .

“Ah, welcome back you two~”

Filly, who was sitting on a tree stump, turned and waved to us .

A collection of hares were gathered in front of her .

I counted 30, at a glance . And they weren’t simply gathered randomly .

This army of hares were acting like, well, an army, forming crisp marching columns and walking in unison .

“Attennn~~~~tionnn!!”

On Filly’s order, they all stopped at attention .

Marching hares gave me a really fantasy image, but these ones looked much more trained than festive .

Rakel observed this for a moment, and then nodded approvingly .

“You’ve gotten a lot better at commanding them, Filly . Good . ”

“Hehe~! Sure have~!”

“Ayyy! You’re praising her just fine!”

“Well . Filly is cute . ”

“Fufu~! I’m so cute~ ♪”

“Jack, you need to be more cute . ”

“Jacky’s not cute~ ♪”

UN! FAIR! I’ll tell your employer (Dad) on you, just you wait!

Once they were done teasing me, Rakel, now more serious, said,

“Alright, jokes aside… the two of you have grown well . Especially you, Jack . You’re not the snot-nosed brat who put too much pride in his inborn talents anymore . ”

Really? That’s what you thought of me?

“Ah, that’s right… Jack . I have something to give you . A present . ”

“A present?”

“Yes . It’s something that’s sure to help you get stronger . ”

Stronger…

“I’ll have it for you, I think, tomorrow . You’ll like it . ”

“Eh~ sounds great~!”

Filly looked like she was more excited than me who was receiving it . Well alright, she’s always this hyper .

So a present that’ll help me get stronger huh…

Hot d.a.m.n, I was really getting stoked too . That Rakel, such a tease .

“Alright, looks like we’re done for today . ”

Rakel announced, casually as always, and the three of us returned to the manor .

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

2 men sat in the parlor .

Jack’s father, Caram Lieber, and Filly’s father, Cherno Posford .

“… Is it those Crimson Cats again?”

“It is… this makes the 3rd time just this month . They even got one of my own caravans . ”

The two men had on expressions they wouldn’t dare show in front of their children .

“Lord Lieber, this is becoming an urgent matter . We mustn’t let them do as they please . ”

“I know . By my name as lord of Daimcrüd, I will swear to put a stop to their banditry . ”

His tone was calm, but Caram’s demeanor had returned to that of his days as an active Spirit Master .

His eyes, that of a man who wouldn’t show mercy to his prey .

The 2 men stood .

It was around the time their children would return from the day’s training .

As Caram opened the door leading out, he saw that their children had returned .

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

Dad came out of the parlor and stopped once he noticed that we’d returned .

“Oh, back already? Is their training over for today?”

“Yes . Well, since it’s gotten chilly as of late . ”

Rakel answered him . Then she continued, “Excuse me, but…

“… I seemed to hear something about the Crimson Cats?”

“Hum, Rakel-san, you know of them?”

“Rumors in other towns, yes . ”

“I see . Well, it seems they’ve moved into my territory as of late . Please do be careful when you head out . ”

“I appreciate the concern . ”

Rakel and Dad had ended their conversation but I still didn’t have a clue as to what they were talking about .

I think they were speaking in a serious tone inside the parlor, so was that it?

“Um… the Crimson Cats? I don’t follow . ”

I asked curiously, but Dad was hesitating to answer .

“Right, well…”

“It’s the name of an infamous band of thieves . ”

Rakel answered in Dad’s place .

Dad looked at her with an expression of surprise,

“… Is it not too early for them? I wouldn’t want to scare these two with talks of bandits . ”

“Not at all, the two of them have grown plenty strong enough to defend themselves should the need arise… I believe it would be safer for them if they knew of current news . ”

“Alright . That seems reasonable . ”

Now with Dad’s approval, Rakel once again turned to Filly and me to explain,

“The Crimson Cats are a band of thieves who’ve been causing trouble in many parts of the kingdom these past few years . They allegedly have around 30 members and their activities range from common highway robbery to kidnapping, they do all kinds of things . The majority of their number are large and strong men, but… as for their chief, she’s a powerful Spirit Master with a bounty that’s grown so

high, you could live 10 years in luxury on it . ”

“Uh huh… . ” I mused .

So the boss is a Spirit Master, and a she…

“Listen you two,” Rakel warned, “you are not to go outside after sunset under any circ.u.mstances, but practice caution even when it’s day time . If anything happens, your first job is to report to us adults . Got it?”

“Got it . ”

“Crystal clear~!”

Seeing me and Filly answer so straightly, Dad and Mr . Posford smiled wryly to each other .

“Couldn’t have said it better myself . ” Mr . Posford said,

“Indeed . Rakel-san has become quite the guardian for them . ” Dad agreed .

“Ah! … erm, my apologies . ”

Rakel awkwardly apologized, maybe thinking she overstepped her bounds .

I say awkward, but her expression was mostly stoic as always .

“No, it’s quite alright . We always seem to be busy with work after all . It’s good to have someone like you watching over them . ”

“Indeed it is . I myself felt a heavy load off my shoulders once the girl became your student . It’s great! Ho ho ho!”

“That’s how it is . I’d appreciate it if you keep watching over our kids as you do . ”

“… I am grateful for your words . ”

Dad nodded at her sincerity, and then he came and got on one knee in front of Filly and me .

“So there you have it . Since it’s gotten so dangerous on the roads, and it’s almost after dark already, Philene-chan, what say you and your father stay over for the night?”

“Eh! Can we, we can stay over!?”

Filly looked at her own father for confirmation, who gave her a gentle affirmative nod .

“Yippee~! Sleepover~!”

“Woah!?”

Filly expressed her happiness with her whole body and leapt at me in a hug .

I used 【Veiled Wings of Freedom】 on reflex and caught her .

“What should we do first~! Hey Jacky, do you know any games?”

“The first thing you should do is get off of me . ”

“Eh~ don’ wanna~”

“And stop rubbing your face on me!”

So clingy…!

“You two need a bath first . ”

Rakel declared as she unstuck Filly from my body .

“You’re dirty from training . However you want to play, do it after the bath . ”

“Ah, you’re right! Let’s go right away, the three of us~!”

“Ha?”

What’s this chick on about?

“Uh no, I’m not――”

“Sure . ”

“Sure!?”

Hey Master, how come you’re just saying ‘sure’?

“Um, listen… Master? I’m not sure if, as a man, I should…”

“Say that once you’re a hundred and fifty years older . ”

“d.a.m.n you elves and your sense of time!”

It was thus (somewhat forcefully) decided that the 3 of us would enter the bath together .

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

I took off my clothes at G.o.dspeed before the two of them even entered the changing room, and was first to enter the bathroom .

There was just something really awkward about getting undressed with 2 girls in the same room, and I wouldn’t have any of it .

Plus, those two should also have the decency to cover up with a towel before entering, so in this way, I was preventing the most casualties .

Yeah, sure, call me a loser, I don’t care .

Including my past life, I possessed a total of 30 years worth of memories . And in that time, my practical experience with women was absolutely n… n… n… not exactly zero, but that doesn’t count anymore .

Right, it’s like Valentine’s Day chocolates . If receiving them from family doesn’t count, then thatdoesn’t either .

… I ended up remembering something awful again .

I sunk my head further into the hot water .

“Wow~! The bathroom’s so big~!”

“Filly, watch your feet, you’ll slip . ”

“Awah!?”

I heard the sound of Filly falling, and musing on how hopeless she was, I turned around to look at the newcomers .

It was at that moment,

That my heart seemed to completely explode .

Rakel, with her footsteps echoing through the bathroom, was walking towards Filly who’d slipped and fallen .

The elf wasn’t covered up with a towel .

It was open as could be .

She wasn’t even trying to hide anything .

Rakel usually wore really baggy clothes, so it was hard to make out her body line .

The only time I did get a feel for it, literally, was when she collapsed on top of me back when we first met…

Oh no .

Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no .

Were all elf girls like this?

Supple legs on a tight a.s.s, framed within generously curving hips which led up to a pet.i.te waist .

If I was an adult, I bet they’d cup snugly in my hands .

No, what do you mean, ‘snugly’ . My head almost couldn’t take it no more .

And despite that, I hadn’t even gone up the other half of Rakel’s body .

My eyes were almost caught by the delicate little navel on her slim belly, but then, my peripheral vision had already caught sight of the area right above .

To the two, very large, milkers .

Calming my heart that was now pounding almost painfully, I slowly dragged my eyes further up――

Two round, perfectly shaped mountains each had, on their summits, a flower, pink in color, and perked up in all its glory .

A――A――A――A――A――!!

Calm, down . Calm the f.u.c.k down boy .

In manga, you often saw the protagonist burst into profound nose bleeding at such a scene but I,

“Ain’t there another place the blood’s gonna rush first (lol)?”

But I had that dirty gag pa.s.s through my mind . Then again, I was only 7 years old now, so the other area won’t react, so I might just end up exploding from the nose and pa.s.sing out like that .

But that’d be such a shame―― SHAMEFUL thing to do as a man!

I simply had to look away . Yes, simply . But I couldn’t . I simply couldn’t convince my eyes to stop staring at Rakel’s chest .

… F-f.u.c.k that’s hot .

Like Jesus H . Christ, that’s hot .

How the h.e.l.l do you get t.i.ts that big with a waist that tiny?

I mean, I could stand under there in the rain and be completely dry .

I was genuinely thankful that I was still 7 years old .

If I was ten years older, I definitely wouldn’t be able to resist it .

I’d try to a.s.sault her .

Then, she’d just easily turn the table on me, and game over .

No well, if I was that old, I wouldn’t go into the bath with her in the first place .

“…? What’s wrong, Jack?”

Rakel started coming closer to me, perhaps thinking it strange how utterly dazed I probably looked .

Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s jiggled every time she took a step .

Oh no oh no so big jiggly fun looks soft oh no oh no .

Wait, hold up, don’t

don’t get any closer, please!!

I turned my back to her, and dove into the wide bath .

“Hey, no diving . ”

Rakel sat down at the stools after giving me a light warning .

Looks like she planned on was.h.i.+ng up first .

… I see, so she’s the type that starts with her arms .

I’d never seen how girls wash themselves, but how was she going to do those huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s anyway… ?

Holy! She raised them up!

Oh, so that’s how you do it, I see, I see .

That sure filled my intellectual curiosity! Yup, sure did!

“… Hm?”

Wait .

Waaait .

… I feel, a little weird, down there .

I just said, the other area won’t react, so I might just end up exploding from the nose, yes?

And in reality, I hadn’t had any reaction from it so far… So I simply figured that it doesn’t do that at such a young age .

I quickly took a peek below, beyond the water .

… Eh…?

I, was wrong?

So boys got this sort of s.e.xual reaction this young?

I looked back on my grade school days in my previous life, but no such memories stood out .

Oh right, there was that one time I got into the bath with my childhood friend――

“Jacky, is something the matter?”

“――！？ ！？ ！？”

Filly was standing right in front of me .

I hid my crotch with my hands on reflex .

Filly, all around flat as a board, looked down and tilted her head .

“Does your groin hurt?”

“N-nope! I’m totally fine…!”

Cool down . Cool down like ice .

Right now, Filly was in front of me, so my view of Rakel had been obstructed .

What stood before me was the body of a 7 year old who mostly couldn’t be told apart from 7 year olds of the opposite s.e.x .

Hey, Jack, my boy . You’re not a lolicon now, are you?

As if . It won’t show even a hint of reaction no matter how long I look at this new horizon .

Now, concentrate on this .

Drag that blood back into the body right now .

Take it Easy! Heck, it’s even easier than getting the groceries for Mommy .

“… Phew~…”

I’m calm now .

Cheers to a job well done!!

“Filly, come over here . I’ll wash your head . ”

“Yay~! Please and thanks~!”

“I’ll do you next, Jack . Come closer . ”

“… ！？ ！？”

… Fine then .

Looks like the party’s just getting started…

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

Scrub scrub scrub scrub scrub .

“Any itchy places?”

“… None . ”

Scrub scrub scrub scrub scrub .

“Am I doing it too strongly?”

“… It’s fine . ”

Scrub scrub scrub scrub scrub .

“… You’re not saying much today . ”

“I’m totally not I’m always like this I’m don’t talk that much anyway aren’t you getting the wrong impression because Filly’s such a chatterbox?”

“Okay…?”

My eyes… were firmly closed .

The only thing I could see… was darkness abound .

I had done this so as to not get soap in my eyes… For that is the only reason .

I… at this moment in time, faintly felt that I… was stepping into the seldom trodden path to enlightenment .

May Buddha guide my soul .

“… …”

“…?”

I could feel a presence in front of me .

Miss Rakel was obviously still behind me… so thinking logically, it could only be Miss Philene .

I sensed that she was looking intently at something .

“… … Hmm?”

She voiced, sounding as if she was deep in thought .

But about what?

“Mm… OK . I’m touching this .  poke poke . ”

＃％ ＆’ （＆ ）（ ）＝ ＝） （） （＆ ＆＄ ＄％ ＄！ ！！ ！！ ！？ ？？ ？？ ？？

Okay, enlightenment over .

Of course it is . She just poked me there of all places .

No man can take that and remain calm . Not even Buddha .

I wanted to run away right now, but Rakel was still scrubbing my head so I couldn’t .

I also couldn’t open my eyes and thus, was unable to accurately drive Filly away .

“Ooo~ . It’s kinda soft~”

“Aye, no, stop, you…!”

“pokey-poke… huh? It’s getting ha――”

――hardly anything wrong, NOPE!!

You think I’ll let myself react with a little girl touching me over there? Fat chance!!

“Stop it, Filly . I’m busy here . ”

Wait, I can just cover up by myself, and I wouldn’t need to drive off her hand .

But by the time I thought of that simple solution, Rakel had already gotten rid of the problem .

“Question, Master~”

“What is it?”

“This, what’s this thing?”

… My eyes, were still closed, but I could just tell what was going on .

Filly, I know you’re pointing at my nethers .

“Huh, what do you me… ah…”

Rakel froze up in the middle of her line .

… Oh?

“This, is… um…”

“Yes~?”

My Master Rakel, who could casually explain anything and everything, was at an impa.s.se .

She’d even stopped scrubbing my head .

Oh…? Ohoho?

“Come on, Master~! What is this~!? I don’t have one of these, see~? And~… ah, you don’t have one either, Master~! We’re the same!”

“R-right… that’s… ok, g-give me a moment . ”

A large splash, and I realized that I’d been rinsed with a bucket .

And while I was rubbing my eyes, Rakel spoke from behind,

“… Jack . ”

“Let me guess, you want me to explain… ”

“You can, can’t you? You should know about it . ”

“I do indeed have the knowledge, yes . ”

I was a n.o.ble, and the stuff about leaving an heir was included in homework .

Well, in my case in particular, I didn’t actually need someone to teach me .

“Can’t do it . ”

“What… why…?”

“Our Dads left educating us to you, right? So please, my Master, fulfill your duty and educate us~”

“Ugh…”

I grinned uncontrollably .

She was in a bind now . My Master Rakel . My Ultimate Spartan Master, Rakel was in a bind .

The mere thought was so incredibly funny I couldn’t bear it .

“Please explain it for us precisely like you always do, alright? Its name, function and purpose, all the details if you will . There’s nothing vulgar about it, after all . ”

“… … Don’t be so, mean . ”

“Huh? I don’t think I’m being mean to you in particular~?”

“… … … . . . Fine . ”

Hm?

Fine?

“You asked for it, so I’ll explain . And since you’re here, you’ll be our live model, Jack . ”

Huh?

Model?

“Y-you’re… you’re kidding me you’re kidding me you’re kidding me!!”

“What’s wrong? There’s nothing vulgar about it, right? ”

“Ah… gh, aaah…!!”

f.u.c.k you me form the past…!

“Hey you two! What’s with all the whispering? Don’t leave me out, you hear!”

Filly yelled in a pout .

Grrrrg . No going back now . If that’s how you want it――

“―― Alright fine . Alright fine alright fine alright FINE!!”

I stood straight up and―― cast aside the towel on my waist!

“There! Now explain it to your heart’s content!!”

I said in absolute spite as I stood brazenly in front of both Filly and

Filly and Rakel .

I could feel both their gazes focus in one particular location .

And in a flash――

“Ah… ah…!”

―― Rakel’s face dyed scarlet as if she was boiling over .

As if she’d become a young girl, now both in appearance and age .

… so… cute…

“Wha~!?”

And in another flash, Filly raised a voice of surprise .

“What’s this thingy!”

And without hesitation, her hand leapt .

… I will leave whatever happened afterwards to your imagination .

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

That storm of an event now past, the three of us were all currently in the bath proper .

… I felt tired . I was supposed to relax here .

“This is the worst…”

Rakel said, languidly resting her head back on an edge of the wide tub .

Her stretched posture caused her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to float, bobbing up and down in the water .

d.a.m.n that’s a good view…

No no no . If I look too long, I’ll have another incident .

“I can’t believe my own students had to see me like that…”

“… I never imagined you’d be so, shy, on the subject, Master . ”

“I’ve never been, intimate, so… And I thought I’d be fine seeing a child’s…”

O-oh, I see… so she hadn’t been intimate yet… I see, I see…

Rakel raised her face and looked at me crisply .

“… What’s with that face . ”

“Nooothing…”

“Cheeky brat . I know you’ve been looking at my b.r.e.a.s.t.s . ”

“Oghhbhh!?”

Sh… she knows…

Rakel faintly raised the corners of her lips, and gave me a somewhat triumphant look .

“What? You want a feel?”

“Eh…”

“If you do it though, I’m making tomorrow’s training menu 5 times tougher . ”

Five, 5 times… 5 whole times huh ~ ~ ~ !!

Seeing me seriously considering the offer, Rakel couldn’t help but chuckle imperiously .

“Oh, then you can touch my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, here!”

A splash of water rose up to reveal Filly . She’d jumped up from under water .

She offered to me her washboard of a chest .

I smiled sardonically and asked,

“And you’ll want one of my deserts after dinner, is that it?”

“Nope~! I’ll especially let you touch for free, Jacky!”

“Will you now? Then, don’t mind if I do,”

I went and got a feel .

“Kyauh! That tickles~!”

Yup, it’s all ribs I tell ya .

Then again, it was fun seeing Filly be tickled, so I grabbed her as she tried to get away and continued vigorously tickling her sides .

“Ohoho . You feel goood there, missy~?”

“Oh no! Jacky you perv~! Kyahahahaha!”

Hmmm .

I kind of felt like a real 7 year old .

And seeing the two of us scuffle with each other, Rakel let out a sweet smile .

“It’s… nice . Being friends like that . ”

“Hm?”

“The two of you will grow up together, you’ll walk the path of life shoulder to shoulder . I think that’s… very nice . ”

Was it like that?

At this moment in time, I didn’t really feel the value of such a thing .

Then, Rakel suddenly stood up .

What was she,

“Now, let me join you two~”

She came and took Filly and me in a big hug .

“Kyah!”

“Buffbfmoffmff!!”

So smooth so soft so warm so abababababababa .

I think I pa.s.sed out for an instant there, but after that, the three of us played around a while longer before exiting the bath .

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

“Jacky and Master and me, we’ll sleep together today!”

Filly strongly declared after dinner, so that’s what will end up happening I guess .

The maids were now leaving the room since they were done setting the bed for us .

“Those three are always so close, are they not?”

“Sure are! They’re practically siblings . ”

“But I do wonder if it’s Rakel-sama or Philene-sama that Jack-sama will settle for in the end . ”

“Philene-sama, duh! Rakel-sama’s older than him . ”

“Oh you fool . Rakel-sama is an elf, so give a few years and Jack-sama will look just das.h.i.+ng at her side . ”

“Hey, whoever he marries, we’ll get to see a beautiful bride and groom, no doubt about that!”

I can hear you, you know . You maids need to do your gossip where we can’t year you .

Well, I wasn’t going to bother complaining . I was used to this .

It’s a hobby all the maids seemed to partake in .

Filly landed on the bed with a large puff .

“Soft pillows~♪ Jacky, Master, get over here~!”

“That’s not the energy of someone who’s going to bed…”

I also got on the bed with a thin smile .

Rakel followed me, and we settled on the bed in a row .

Rakel, being the tallest, was in the middle .

“I’m turning it off . ”

I was closest to the lamp so I turned it off .

It became dark .

Only the faint light coming from the window illuminated the room .

“Fufu~♪ Master~, you’re so warm~♪”

I was, well, at least trying to be reserved and had positioned myself separated from Rakel, but Filly, in contrast, was hugging her tight .

They really were… like mother and daughter .

Something panged inside my head .

In the back of my eyes, memories, a scene .

I was young .

It was a time when I was actually 7 years old .

Me, my mother―― and my sister . A memory of the three of us sleeping together .

I was suddenly recalling the warm feeling from back then .

“… Master . ”

I suddenly felt my reserve fade .

My voice was trembling .

“Can I, come, a little… closer?”

I got extremely embarra.s.sed right as I said that, and couldn’t look Rakel in the face .

But somehow… I felt like she was happy hearing that .

“… Mn . Sure . ”

I shuffled my body closer, and wrapped my arms around Rakel’s slim figure .

… Warm .

Soothing…

I buried my face in her and took in that sweet smell .

I somehow felt like I just did something very perverted, but I wasn’t getting aroused at all . It was the opposite, the act had calmed me down .

This warmth, this fragrance, I wanted more of it . Much more .

I brushed my arms around her to get into a more comfortable embrace, when,

“Anh~”

Rakel moaned, softly .

That definitely sounded like a moan .

I was momentarily surprised by the action, but quickly realized that I’d caused this .

I’d somehow ended up grabbing on to Rakel’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s .

Maybe because I felt that they were easy to hold on to .

I carefully lifted my gaze up to fine her staring pointedly at me .

“… … … … … . . Rascal . ”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about what kind of reaction she’d make if I gave her another squeeze, but her look told me that doing that would be very unwise .

Then, Rakel lightly laughed and while I was still frozen in

still frozen in place, she hugged me in turn .

And she whispered, softly into my ear .

“There, it’s going to be 5 times the training tomorrow for you . ”

“Aakh!!”

H-have mercy…

“Leaving me out again~!”

Filly, who was on Rakel’s other side, climbed over her, and squished in between us .

“So, what were you talking about?”

“Jack here touched my b.r.e.a.s.t.s . ”

“Wow~ Jacky’s such a pervert~”

“It was an accident… please believe me…”

I’m ashamed of the actions I’ve done, I swear .

“Careful now Filly, Jack is a boy too, who knows what he’ll do . ”

“Eh~? I’m totally~ fine if it’s with Jacky~”

“That so, Filly, do you love Jack?”

“I do! I love love Jacky!”

“Oh, and what about him do you love so much?”

“Hm~, let me think~ Oh, he shares sweets with me, right~? And then, he also goes walking with me, isn’t that nice? I also love it when we race super fast~”

“I have a feeling a lot of those can apply to a pet dog…” I commented .

Well, with how she’s always popping out everywhere, she was more like a cat really .

“Oh, and, and… … he’s really really nice, just to me . ”

My heart skipped .

In that voice, in only that line… I felt this sort of, heat .

Rakel smiled and looked towards me now .

“That’s true, isn’t it . Jack is always very sweet to you . ”

“He sure is, isn’t he~?”

“I am…? I don’t think I’m that nice…”

I mean, I’m always getting dragged around by her .

“Okay then, Filly, here’s a big one . When you get older, do you want to be Jack’s bride?”

Dear Master, you’re really something, giving it to her straight like that with me right here .

You need to realize that you can’t just but kids on the spot like this!

“Oh… erm… huh…?”

Surprisingly, Filly was contemplating the matter .

She took quick glances at me as she pondered .

It was dark… and I couldn’t make it out completely ――

―― But she was, blus.h.i.+ng…?

Filly was?

Being shy?

For a little while more, Filly kept humming in thought .

And when she was done,

“… … … … … … … yes . ”

She answered .

With a small, tiny little voice .

But she had answered ――

Determinedly .

“… Got it . Then I’m sure you’ll work hard so you can be a great wife, won’t you?”

“Yes!”

“You too Jack, work extra hard and be a good husband for her . ”

“Y-yes . ”

… Wait what?

Did I just promise to get married?

“Ehehe~ ♪”

Filly laughed bashfully, like she’d been tickled somewhere .

… oh, alright .

Seeing my innocent childhood friend’s smile, I decided to think that this was fine .

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

I was beginning to doze off .

I was on the border of reality and dreamland when a tiny voice pulled me back to the former side .

“(Hey Jacky, Jacky~)”

“Ng…?”

When I opened my eyes, Filly was right in my face with her own .

Remembering the subject from earlier, my heart beat faster .

“You’re, too close…!”

“(Shhh . )”

Filly put her index finger on her lips, and then used it to point at Rakel .

My Master’s ample bosom was rising and falling . She looked to be asleep .

So you’re telling me not to wake her?

Is what I figured she was hinting at . Filly then slid under the sheets .

I felt a tug on my nightclothes .

Me too?

I was guessing she wanted to tell me something in secret, so under the sheets was better than out in the open .

I also slid inside the sheets .

It was of course pitch black in here .

With the collective body heat from me, Rakel and Filly, it was really warm too .

But now, with Filly being this close to me, I felt her warmth most of all .

I could hear her breathing in the darkness .

I felt her slowly repeating moist, warm breaths on my cheeks .

Filly’s breaths .

Once my eyes were adjusted to the dark, I could faintly make out the outline of her face .

“(Quietly . )”

Filly whispered in her quietest whisper .

Her breath hit my skin every time she spoke .

“(W-what is it? Did you want to talk?)”

I said, trying not to reveal my agitation .

Hey, where’s your cool guy now, huh?

Didn’t you say you ain’t no lolicon?

Was it maybe the natural sort of reaction for my 7 year old body?

“(Erm, yeah, that . )”

Every time Filly moved her lips, I felt as if they’d touch my own, and half my focus was fixed in that direction .

“(Master said she had a present for you, right?)”

“(Uh, ohh . She did, yeah . )”

“(So I was kinda thinking about that, and I got an idea… why don’t we~ get her something too?)”

“(Like, a present?)”

“(Yes . )”

So she was thinking about that . Huh .

Pretty surprising when all she did was swipe away other people’s treats and desserts .

“(Not a bad idea, actually . Master will be happy too . )”

“(Great! Then let’s pick one out together, on the next off day maybe?)”

“(Sure, let’s . )”

“(It’s a promise!)”

She put out her pinky finger, and I wrapped my own around hers .

And with a light shake, we let go .

And that ended our little rendezvous…

“(… Umm, also,)”

Right as I was feeling a pang of regret over having to go back out, Filly continued the conversation .

“(We… said it right…?)”

“(S-said what?)”

“(That I’ll become a good wife . And that, you’ll become a good husband . )”

“(We, did . )”

I nodded awkwardly while Filly looked away abashed .

“(Um, and, I, so I heard about this from Mother, right… … )”

―― That moment .

I, at first, failed to realize just what had happened .

In the darkness where I could only make out an outline, Filly’s face closed in to mine and――――

We kissed .

―――― That is what had happened .

Something, something very soft had just touched my lips .

“(Ehe . Ehehe . )”

Her face now at the original position, Filly giggled as if to gloss over the fact that that just happened .

“(A husband and wife have to do this… she said . )”

“(So they have to… huh . )”

“(Y-yes . They uh… have to . )”

I wasn’t thinking .

Before I’d realized, I’d gotten close, and touched our lips on my own .

To Filly, who was blinking with her long eyelashes in surprise, I said,

“(Have to do it… right?)”

“(R-right . )”

Another kiss .

From Filly this time .

“(Since we, have to… so . )”

“(We… do . )”

We,

Had to, after all .

Under the darkness of the bedsheets .

Enveloped within the heat of 3 bodies .

Inside the s.p.a.ce where our breaths collided .

And right beside Rakel, whom we were careful not to wake――

―― We kissed . We kissed and kissed . Many, many times .

That was my,

Jack Lieber’s, first kiss .