Chapter - 17

Needless to say, having a classroom destroyed was a catastrophe. The teachers conferred, and decided the punishment for the two culprits: one week of house arrest―and so the top two incoming first-years were both suspended on their first day of school. This scandal became the inaugural story for Kagami's wall newspaper and spread through the student body like wildfire.

Well, Ikki was happy to be spared the 『Squirm on My Chest! Princess and Savage Locked in Room Almost 72 Hours!』 story, but―

"…She really wasn't like that before."

He was shocked about many things, and he didn't stop sighing even after returning to his room that night. Shizuku really had been a sheltered, severely shy little girl. She always followed Ikki with light footsteps, and hid whenever something embarrassing happened―a truly obedient child. How did she turn into such a wickedly alluring teen?

Stella, now under house arrest, complained beside him with a displeased voice.

"Maybe not, but you sure looked happy about it. Weren't you actually delighted?"

"That's not true."

"Yes it is. If I hadn't stopped her, you would've been kissed twice."

"Ugh."

If not for Stella, he certainly would've been kissed a second time.

"B-But it wasn't like I didn't try to move because I wanted to be kissed. How do I put this… Shizuku seemed so mature and feminine that I became overwhelmed."

"In other words, you were fascinated by your little sister who turned out to be so pretty after four years."

"No, I'm saying it's not like that…"

Shizuku was still Ikki's sister. He had never thought of her as more than that, and he absolutely never would. But today, seeing her again after four years… those alluring wet eyes, lightly blushing face, and lonely lips… if asked whether he saw Shizuku as a woman now, he couldn't deny it with full conviction.

"…maybe."

"Sis-con."

"Erk."

"Pervert."

"I… have no excuse."

Oh no, maybe I was hungry for girls after all. To be charmed by my little sister after four years….

Stella glared as he stumbled toward their shared bathroom.

"And where are you going?"

"I'm gonna cool my face in the shower a bit."

He had taken too many jolts today. Washing up and going to bed early would be best.

Part 7[]

"So irritating."

After Ikki entered the bathroom, Stella bit her lips and pouted. What was that "maybe"? He should've denied it with all his strength!

"…Even though you said I'm beautiful."

But to be distracted by his sister? It was so vexing that she couldn't settle down. Despite saying he wanted to be friends and sharing the same room, why was he still not approaching her yet? Stella had prepared for Ikki, waking up before him every morning to mend her bed hair so he wouldn't see her unsightly appearance, and she was ready every night for him to engage in that legendary Japanese "yobai" tradition.

Wait, it's not like I want to do that! If it happened, then of course I'd refuse! I'd kick him! A princess can't have a premarital sexual relationship! But….

But she couldn't bear to leave things as they were.

"Even though you called an unmarried girl beautiful! Even though you told me you wanted to get along better!"

What was the big idea, spitting out all that nonsense and then leaving her hanging? Was this what they call "not feeding a fish that's already been caught"? She wanted an explanation, and he had better apologize for being mesmerized by his sister after getting kissed.

"Ah, dang it! Idiot! Ikki, you idiot! Sis-con! Just die!"

Stella felt like crying as she hit her pillow, spouting abusive language all the while.

What if Ikki wasn't interested in Stella as a woman? What if she wasn't what Ikki wanted? What if he was more interested in loli-type girls like Shizuku? That was bad, because even though Stella wasn't tall, she'd been confident in her mature body, but what if Ikki got so caught up in being a sis-con he turned into a lolicon too? Then Stella's figure would be completely incompatible with his tastes.

That would be terrible. She didn't want that. She couldn't allow that.

"―Alright."

So Stella hatched a plan.

Part 8[]

「Siscon.」

"Haaaa…."

Ikki sank deeper into the bathtub after remembering Stella's words, and his feelings sank with him.

"Maybe she hates me now…."

「Pervert.」

"Wow…."

Was there a man not disheartened by a girl calling him a pervert? Honestly, it was quite unbearable, especially since those harsh words came from Stella. Ikki respected Stella Vermillion as a real knight, because despite her great talent, she always aimed higher and never went easy on herself. Could he do the same if he were similarly gifted? …Of course, she was a fascinating woman too, and being hated by someone he admired both as a knight and a woman left him quite depressed. He had to sweep away this bad impression as soon as he could.

"But I should also talk with Shizuku tomorrow."

While changing Stella's impression was important, he also had to make Shizuku understand she was no longer a child, so she couldn't go around kissing her brother. There was nothing good in Shizuku growing up so cute only to ruin their joyful reunion that way.

Just as Ikki thought that, Stella―wearing a bikini―charged into the cramped bathroom.

"I-I'm coming in."

What could this be? For some reason, Ikki felt he had made some great mistake, like thinking he just saw a whale in a pond. Ah, of course. It was strange for Stella to wear a swimsuit in the bathroom. Strange, and improper, and even impractical. A towel, even if it seemed embarrassing, made more sense―

"―No no no no no!"

Ikki almost flipped upside down at this suddenly nonsensical development.

"That's not the issue but it's weird by itself! First of all, why would you even come in here!? I don't get the situation!"

"W-What!? You don't have to be that shocked, right?"

"I'm shocked anyway! Of course I'd be! Seriously, what's going on!? Why would you put on a bikini and enter the bathroom that I was already in!?"

"You… can't tell?"

"I can't guess at all!"

"That… I-I was thinking of washing Ikki's body…."

Dizziness struck him. His head was spinning. His body boiled. He must be hallucinating.

Stella wants to wash my body? Hahaha, yeah right. What kinky video game did I fall into?

"Sorry Stella, it seems I'm not quite myself right now. I think I heard something absurd. Could you repeat that?"

"I mean… that… you know? I'm your slave, right? Then washing my master's body is my duty as a maid, yeah."

"Oh-ho, so that's all it was. Being a maid sure is tough."

…What!?

"N-No, w-wait a minute! I never asked for that!"

"I'd do it even without you asking! Didn't Hideyoshi warm up Nobunaga's sandals even though he didn't ask!? It's like that!"

"What are you even talking about!?"

"Anyhow! This is my duty as your slave! So hurry up and sit!"

"Anyhow! This is my duty as your slave! So hurry up and sit!"

"There's no way I can do that! There's no way I can have you do that! All this stuff about masters and slaves is definitely wrong! First Shizuku, and now Stella, what the heck happened to a girl's sense of virtue!?"

"It's fine if I say it is! Just do as I tell you! If you don't―"

Stella paused for a moment, and fire started to scatter from her hair.

"I'll boil you!"

Part 9[]

*Rub rub rub*

Stella, princess of the Vermillion Empire, was currently wearing a swimsuit and kneeling before Ikki, washing his body that only had a towel around his hips.

W-What was going on…? Ikki's head was about to go haywire. Or maybe it went bad a long while ago. If not, he wished it had.

"Be sure to keep your promise. I'll play along with this prank for today, but I'll definitely not do so from tomorrow on."

"I-I get it already. I'm not going through with this because I want to, you know. I lost, and became your slave, so that's why it has to happen."

…Why can't you just not do it?

But asking her would do no good, not after his last few requests. According to Stella, washing was supposed to be a slave's duty, so she wouldn't settle down without carrying it out at least once. Ikki didn't understand, but with her royal pride fired up, he couldn't easily argue her reasoning.

Anyway, just today. I'll bear with it just for today and then forget it all…!

Ikki swore that to himself while Stella washed his body. However―

"…Uh."

His eyes were drawn to Stella's bikini-clad body. Reason was telling him not to stare, but his instincts wouldn't listen. He pretended to look away, but his emotions forced him to peek.

Right now, he was looking at the flawless figure of this charming roommate he couldn't understand. Stella was far more exposed than when he saw her half-naked that first day, exposing the pale shadows of the collarbone at the bottom of her long but thin neck, her tightly straightened shoulders, and her hips that drew a sweet line to the edges of her long and tender white legs. And among her striking features, the most outrageous was… her breasts. White and massive breasts, colossal enough to bulge tightly from her bikini. Fully ripe and peachy fruit that couldn't be hidden by her uniform. Bulges that swayed left and right while squishing every time Stella moved her body even slightly. Seeing them, Ikki felt his brain empty of blood, and his throat burned with thirst.

This is… impossible to take….

There was no way he could turn away or shut his eyes. Ikki was more temperate than most boys, maybe even too serious, but he was still a healthy sixteen-year-old lad. He wasn't adult enough to remove his attention from the bewitching body of a younger girl right in front of him. He couldn't help but stare furtively at every nook and cranny of her alluring, seductive limbs. Thank goodness Stella hadn't noticed it.

…Still, Stella really is beautiful.

Of course, Stella was beautiful as a woman, but her body was also beautiful as a knight. Ikki could see how Stella tormented herself to get that far. She had an unyielding will despite possessing so much talent. Her body could be a sculpture of her soul.

Really beautiful.

It was the first time Ikki realized her figure was this lovely. It was also the first time he wanted to touch it so badly. Of course, he knew that touching would be unforgivable, but―

At the same time, from Stella's perspective….

He's been staring so hard for a while now….

Stella had noticed Ikki's peeks long ago, since a woman was sensitive to a man's eyes, especially those of a man on her mind. It was probably that thing called "a woman's intuition", a sense that men didn't have, and hers immediately felt Ikki's feverish gaze and told Stella, Oh no! He's looking! He's looking!

"…Uu…fu…uu."

She was aware of that intense gaze, and her body started to heat up feverishly. His line of sight crept from her nape to her collarbone, breasts, navel, and thighs―as if he was brushing her whole body gently.

So embarrassing… I'm gonna faint….

But Stella didn't mind. No, she was relieved, because this was proof that Ikki didn't dislike her figure, or at least he wasn't indifferent to it. Seeing Ikki's body had unsettled her, and seeing hers had sent Ikki's heart thumping the same way. Stella was reassured by this, and very happy. She wouldn't lose. She definitely wouldn't lose to that little sister.

"Then, next… your back. I'll wash it…."

Stella turned towards Ikki's back after finishing his torso. Of course, she wasn't going to wash his bottom half. It was still too soon for that. Right. Not just yet.

"Y-Yeah, I'll leave it to you."

Ikki took care not to mention Stella ignoring his waist. If the situation called for him to take off his towel, he was prepared to escape even if he had to smash through a wall.

Only the back left. It'll all be over after that….

As long as he didn't look at Stella's body, controlling himself was quite simple. Having his back washed made him a little uneasy, but he didn't need to move his chest or abdomen. He could endure. He could pass this mysterious ordeal. And then he'd forget it entirely, never recalling what happened here today or speaking a word of it to anyone. May it lie buried and abandoned in the deepest corner of his memories.

As Ikki resolved himself, Stella suddenly spoke behind him, her voice as soft as a butterfly's wings beating.

"Hey, Ikki."

"What is it?"

"Um. You, see… erm, I mean, there's something… I'd like to… ask you…."

"Sure, that's fine. What is it?"

"Ikki… you… do you like… girls with breasts?"

Ikki felt a hammer hitting the back of his head.

"Wha! Ah, you―! W-W-What are you…!"

"I mean… weren't you staring… a while ago?"

Waaaaaaah!

He'd been caught! She caught him stealing glances!

Ikki wanted to die. Disappear. Let him turn to wind this instant.

"I'm sorry! I knew it wasn't good to stare like that! But you have to understand―!"

"Y-You don't have to apologize. Just answer my question."

The question? He'd rather cast himself face-first onto the ground before her than answer that. To be asked about his preferences by a girl right behind him, what kind of crazy penalty game was this? Terrible, it was just too terrible. Had he called down some god's wrath?

He was mortified, but―Ikki had no escape, so he resigned himself and squeezed out a tiny reply.

"I… do."

"…Hmph."

…

...

...…S-Say something!

"H-Hey, Stella―"

Ikki nearly died from the silence, but the moment he spoke up―

*Squish!*

―two round things, springier than a sponge and far softer than one's palms, pressed against his back. Numbness bolted up his spine and into his brain, short-circuiting Ikki's consciousness instantly.

Incomprehensible. Everything had happened behind him in his blind spot. No matter how excellent his vision, Ikki couldn't see somewhere he couldn't look. But even if he were fully blind, he'd still know what had happened.

"S-Stella… just now… you…!"

Before he could demand an explanation, Stella dashed from the bathroom with lightning speed, her face red to her ears.

"Why!?"

First Shizuku, and now Stella. Just by being the other gender, do people really become that hard to understand!?

Ikki couldn't comprehend a single thing that had happened since waking up this day. But one thing he could say for sure: he'd never forget that sensation.