Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

"S‑sorry…"

Yami apologized, cheeks burning, still not daring to look at Shichen.

"What's the matter with you?"

Shichen asked, baffled.

"N‑nothing…"

"You're not afraid I'll do something to you, are you?"

Seeing her like this, Shichen suddenly understood.

"N‑no…"

Yami shook her head at once.

"Really? Then look at me while you talk."

Shichen moved a little closer.

Yami froze.

Unceremoniously, Shichen reached out, pinched her delicate chin, and turned her face toward him.

Yami's whole face was crimson; her beautiful ruby‑red eyes were slightly misty.

"You didn't… secretly do something to yourself, did you?"

Shichen's expression grew strange.

"Do what, secretly?"

Yami didn't bat his hand away; she asked in a quiet voice.

"You know—when you can't help yourself and, uh, take care of things on your own."

"Take care of what?"

She still didn't get it.

"Look, you say you hate pervy stuff, right? So imagine me doing pervy things to you—only it's you doing them to yourself instead. Got it now?"

"H‑how would I even… I did NOT!"

Yami finally understood and denied it on the spot.

"Really?"

Shichen didn't actually think she had: "Then why do you look like this?"

"It's none of your business…"

"Of course it's my business. You belong to me; I have to know what's going on."

"W‑who belongs to you…?"

Her rebuttal lacked force.

"Your life's already mine. If you're not mine, whose are you?"

"…"

"By the way, Peke was here just now. Did it say something to you?"

Shichen pressed on.

"No…"

"So it did. Let me guess—did it tell you what I was doing?"

"It didn't tell me anything specific."

"Ohh, so it did talk to you."

Shichen chuckled.

Yami: "?"

"It didn't spell it out, but your imagination's been running wild, hasn't it?"

"I‑I'm not…!"

Her denial sounded even weaker.

"Heh‑heh."

Shichen laughed teasingly. "You claim to hate pervy stuff, yet that's exactly what's in your head."

"It is NOT!"

Yami's face went scarlet; she glared at him.

"Looking like that doesn't make your denial very convincing."

He leaned closer, voice low.

"W‑what are you trying to do?"

She asked nervously.

"What do you think?"

"N‑no! I hate pervy things!"

"Dummy."

Shichen released her chin and flicked her forehead.

"Ow…"

She covered her forehead, confused.

"I'm not going to force you to do anything. Come on—let's go upstairs and sleep."

He stood, giving her a small smile.

Yami pursed her lips, staring at him blankly.

"Go take a bath."

He ruffled her hair and turned to head upstairs.

"I already bathed…"

"Huh? When?"

"W‑when I changed into the maid outfit…"

she answered, head lowered.

"Oh, that explains why you and Lala smell the same fragrance."

"Mm‑hmm…"

"Well then—time for bed."

He stepped up and scooped her into a princess carry.

"Ah—!"

Yami squeaked, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

"W‑what are you doing?"

Her face was bright red.

"Carrying you upstairs to bed, of course," Shichen replied as though it were obvious, walking toward the stairs.

"I‑I can walk by myself!"

She squirmed.

"Quit fussing."

He gave her shapely butt a light pat.

Smack.

Yami instantly froze and behaved.

Shichen said nothing more, quietly carrying her upstairs.

In the bedroom lay Lala, already asleep—and wearing nothing at all.

The sight made Yami painfully embarrassed. "L‑Lala?"

"She doesn't like sleeping in clothes," Shichen explained.

"You two didn't just…?"

Yami couldn't help asking.

"Hmm? What are you implying?"

He lowered his head, amused.

"N‑nothing…"

"Ha, nothing happened. Lala just got too tired and fell asleep."

"Too tired?"

"Yeah, her arms were moving for quite a while; her shoulders are sore."

"?"

Yami had no idea what he meant.

"Never mind. Let's sleep."

Shichen carried her to the foot of the bed and set her down.

"W‑wait… You're not making me sleep with you two, are you?"

She sat there in disbelief.

"What else? There's only one bed. Where else would you sleep?"

"I… I can take the sofa!"

"Nope. A family should sleep together."

"A… family?"

"Exactly. So take off the maid outfit—you don't need it now."

"You only wanted to see me in a maid outfit, didn't you?"

Yami frowned, suddenly realizing.

After all, Shichen hadn't made her do any chores, and he treated her just like Lala.

"Ah, you found me out," Shichen admitted cheerfully.

"Why?"

she asked suddenly.

"Hm?"

"Why are you treating me like this? I came here to kill you…"

"Simple—because you're cute."

"Please don't joke."

"I'm serious. And since you can't really hurt me and were only following orders, I don't bear any grudge."

Yami bit her lip lightly, unable to refute him.

"Besides, you've noticed I'm a bit of a flirt. Someone as cute as you—I'd never let you go."

"…"

"No need to overthink."

Shichen bent down and placed a hand on her head.

Yami met his gaze.

"You don't like living with us? Does it bother you?"

"…No," she whispered.

"You've been alone all this time, right? I just don't want you to be lonely anymore. Would that be so bad?"

"You're really strange… Are all people on this planet this weird?"

Yami asked, helpless.

Shichen laughed—she was clearly accepting the idea. "Maybe I'm just special. But get to know people here; you might end up liking this planet."

"Me? Get to know them…"

"I won't restrict you. Do whatever you like—just remember this is your home now. …All right, bedtime. Change out of the maid outfit."

He ruffled her hair again.

"I… I don't have other clothes," she murmured, face red.

"Easy—wear mine."

"Y‑yours?"

"Relax, they're clean."

"That's not what I meant…"

"What—want to be like Lala?"

"Of course not!"

"Then we're fine."

"…Okay."

Shichen went to the closet and pulled out a dress shirt—not the one Yui Kotegawa had worn before—and handed it to her.

"Just one shirt?"

Yami asked, holding it up.

"Plenty. You're so petite it'll be like a dress."

"Th‑then… can you turn around first?"

she said bashfully.

"Shy, are we?"

"Turn around!"

"All right, all right."

He turned his back.

Yami didn't dawdle; she began changing. The rustling behind him piqued his interest—such delicate skin must be as soft as cherry‑blossom petals, he imagined—but there'd be plenty of chances later.

"O‑okay, done…"

Shichen turned around to see her sitting in a duck‑legged pose. His shirt fit her like a dress; aside from two dainty white feet, nothing was visible. The shirt was a little wide on her, but she'd buttoned it to the collar.

"Mm, looks good," he nodded, satisfied.

"L‑let's sleep…"

she said shyly, edging closer to Lala.

"Hold up—that's my spot."

Shichen climbed onto the bed, took her smooth ankle in hand, and gently moved her to the other side before lying down in the middle.

"Mmm…"

Lala, half‑asleep, instinctively turned and hugged him.

"Yami, want to hug me too?"

he teased.

"No!"

She immediately rolled over, back to him.

"All right then—good night."

"Good night…"

"…"

Shichen drifted off quickly, but Yami lay awake for a long time. The day had felt far too dream‑like. Yet listening to his unguarded, steady breathing, she eventually fell asleep as well.

~~~

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