Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

Back at the house, Yui Kotegawa sat down for a while, had some ice cream, took a quick break, and then asked Shichen to walk her home.

Lala and the others were headed for a bath.

Lala actually invited Yui to join them, but she refused without hesitation.

After spending the entire day in seawater and soaking in a hot spring afterward, the last thing she wanted was more water.

"Really not staying over?" Shichen asked, holding her hand.

"No. I've been away for three days—I should head home and check in," Yui replied, squeezing his hand in return and shaking her head.

"You could go home and check in, then come back."

"My mom would think I've completely lost it," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Come on. You forgot we just came back from summer camp?"

"We weren't there to study."

"Your mom doesn't know that."

"Still no. We've got exams next week. What if my grades drop?"

"Your mom's strict about your grades?"

"Not really. I just care about them myself."

"Don't stress. A little slip in grades isn't the end of the world."

"Should a school principal really be saying that?" Yui gave him a look.

"Haha, I'm just joking."

"Hmph. And I can't be out overnight every weekend, either. If my mom starts thinking I have a boyfriend, it's going to get awkward."

"What would happen?"

"We'd have a mother-daughter talk. I'd die of embarrassment."

"Oh? Would she really get the wrong idea? What's it like at home with you?"

"Like I'd tell you. Just take me home already," Yui snapped, blushing.

"Alright, alright."

In the blink of an eye, they teleported, reappearing a short distance from Yui's house.

"I'm heading in then," Yui said softly after glancing at her front door.

"Yeah."

"My hand..." she whispered, her face flushed.

"Oh, right." Shichen laughed as he let go.

"You're unbelievable... always holding hands. Haven't you had enough?" Yui murmured, holding her left hand with her right, her expression shy.

"Nope. Definitely not," Shichen replied with a grin.

"You're impossible... I'm going."

"Wait," he said, grabbing her wrist again.

"What now?"

"About what we were just talking about—don't you want to date someone?"

"Date...?" Yui's eyes widened. "What's there to talk about?"

"You've never dated anyone, have you?"

"Of course not!"

"Then... don't you want to try?" Shichen leaned in closer, his voice soft.

"With who, exactly?" she asked, looking away.

"Who do you think?"

"There's no one I could date."

"Isn't there someone right in front of you?"

"I'm not doing that! You're already dating Lala. If I got involved, what would that even make me?"

"So what? Lala and I aren't tied down by the rules of this planet."

"Well, I am from this planet!" Yui shot back, irritated.

"Fair point... So you're saying you don't want me to take responsibility for you?"

"Take responsibility for what..." She trailed off mid-sentence.

At that moment, her mind flooded with memories—him seeing her in the lingerie shop, spanking her, all the teasing, and how far he'd already pushed things. There was no way she could be with anyone else now. He should take responsibility.

But... she wasn't ready to accept being part of some open relationship.

"You really won't let me take responsibility?" Shichen asked again.

"I will! Just... not yet," she said, cheeks red, meeting his eyes with determination.

"I see. So I just have to wait?"

"Whatever... ugh—"

Shichen suddenly pulled her into his arms. His breath was warm against her skin.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Well, if you won't let me take responsibility, then I guess I'll just do something worse."

"Worse? Like what?"

"What do you think?" he whispered, slowly leaning in.

Yui's heart pounded. As his face came closer, she didn't pull away—just shut her eyes in nervous anticipation.

But just as their noses touched, she opened her eyes and asked, "Did something happen between you and Yami?"

Shichen froze, caught off guard. "Why are you asking that?"

"She was acting really strange today."

"You really want to know?"

"If you're willing to tell me... mmph!"

Before she could finish, Shichen kissed her. Her eyes went wide, locked on his. After a moment, he pulled back when her face flushed deep red.

"Gah—haa—" Yui gasped, trying to catch her breath.

"You dummy. You forgot to breathe," Shichen teased, smiling.

"You surprised me, okay!" she shouted, still red-faced—but it was clearly from something other than anger.

"So, that answers your question."

"Wait... are you saying you actually did something with Yami?"

"Way more than you think."

"Way... more?" Yui's mouth opened in shock.

"Jealous?" he asked, pulling her close again.

"I... I don't even have a reason to be jealous."

She didn't push him away, didn't resist—just stayed there in his arms.

"I can smell the jealousy on you."

"Can't you just stop being such a flirt?"

"Sorry. But this is who I am."

"You jerk," she muttered, biting her lip before lightly punching his chest.

"Hit the other side too."

"No way!"

"Too soft-hearted?"

"Just go home already. Come over tomorrow if you want," she said, pouting as he ruffled her hair.

"I'm not coming over! You player!"

Yui shoved him away and turned to leave, but only got a few steps before stopping.

Shichen didn't say a word. He just stood there, watching her quietly.

"I have something to say," Yui muttered, turning back around with puffed cheeks. "That was my first kiss. How could you treat it so casually?"

Then she ran at him, leapt into his arms, grabbed his neck, and kissed him hard.

"I want it to be unforgettable!"

Blushing furiously, she jumped away from him and bolted toward her house.

Shichen stood there for a few seconds, then shook his head and smiled. With a wave, he teleported back home.

…

When he got back, he was nearly blinded by the sight in the living room.

Lala and Est were both there, hair still wet, and—of course—neither of them were wearing bathrobes.

Est was wearing only a pair of thigh-high black socks.

"What are you two even doing?" Shichen asked.

"You're back!" Lala flung herself into his arms.

He caught her effortlessly, her smooth skin soft in his embrace.

"What exactly is going on here?"

"Oh, Est and I were waiting for you to come back and dry our hair."

"Yeah!" Est nodded sweetly from the couch.

Shichen suddenly felt like turning into the couch himself. Holding Est's soft, tiny frame, maybe even catching a glimpse of something pink and white...

Wait, no—he'd already seen it all before.

"Why aren't you wearing bathrobes?" he asked, smacking Lala's firm backside.

Smack.

The sound echoed crisply.

"Ow... robes are uncomfortable!"

"What about you, Est?"

"Lala wasn't wearing one, so I didn't either."

"No way. Est didn't wear one first, so I didn't."

"Oh, now it's a contest?" Shichen gave her other cheek a light slap.

"Ow—hey, that kinda hurt," Lala pouted, acting spoiled.

"Where's Yami?"

"She's upstairs reading."

"Yeah, figured. She'd never act like you two."

Shichen shook his head, sat down with Lala in his arms, and had her face away from him.

He picked up the hairdryer and started drying her hair.

Her long, pink strands were smooth and thick, flowing like silk through his fingers.

Lala rested her hands on his knees, sitting perfectly still, eyes half-closed and smiling brightly.

Once she was done, it was Est's turn. She sat right on his lap, mimicking Lala's posture.

She was smaller, so it was easier to reach her hair.

Surprisingly, Shichen didn't let his mind wander—he focused entirely on drying their hair.

"All right. You two watch some TV. I'm gonna go check on Yami."

"Okay!"

"See you later, Onii-chan."

Shichen carried the dryer and headed upstairs.

At the bedroom door, he spotted a familiar golden figure sitting on the bed in a nightgown, knees drawn up.

As he walked in, she didn't react—but he noticed her toes subtly gripping the sheets.

She stared at her book, unmoving, not even turning the page as he got closer.

Shichen stopped at the bedside, watching her silently.

She finally couldn't pretend anymore.

"How long are you just going to stand there and stare?" she muttered.

~~~

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