How should I say this…… The atmosphere somehow turned slightly strange, but since we’d managed to settle on a spot for the desk clock, my original purpose for coming here, we should be heading back to the office now…… or so I was thinking, but it felt as though Lilia-san wasn’t moving, like she was hesitating about something.

Not wanting to intrude, I waited for a moment without interrupting. Then, seemingly having made up her mind, Lilia-san finally opened her mouth to speak.

[……K- Kaito-san, I have something I’d like to ask you……]

[What is it?]

[Errr, I heard a rumor that in the other world, lovers sometimes sit side by side on the bed and talk…… Is that something that actually happens?]

[Yes, that’s true. How should I say this…… It may be hard to imagine, but there are people who live in rooms that are even smaller than half the size of this bedroom. They sometimes sit side by side on the bed, using it as a chair.]

Of course, if we’re talking about couples, this can also mean setting up a mood before doing, well…… “things” on the bed, but that’s not exactly the kind of conversation you bring up in the middle of the day, so I decided not to mention it.

Explaining how things are like in one-room apartments might be difficult for Lilia-san to understand, so I tried to keep it simple with the image of a small room.

[I see…… So it’s not too different from sitting side by side on a sofa.]

[That’s right. It isn’t wrong to look at it that way…… Errr, Lilia-san, do you…… want to try sitting on the bed like that?]

[……………………………………..Yes.]

Judging from her question, it seemed like she wanted to try it, so I asked, and after a moment’s hesitation, Lilia-san nodded, looking shy.

Lilia-san, along with Alice, is one of my girlfriends who finds romantic situations challenging. I mean, when we had our first kiss, she was so embarrassed that she actually fainted for a while, so I imagine it took a lot of courage to give that little nod.

[Well then, while we’re at it, let’s give it a try…… That said, it really is just sitting side by side.]

[Ah, yes! I may be inexperienced, but I’ll be in your care.]

That didn’t really seem like the most appropriate response in this situation…… Well, I could practically feel her nervousness radiating. Much like Alice, Lilia-san is quite shy and reserved when it comes to romance, so I knew from experience that I needed to take the lead here.

So, I sat down on the bed first and lightly patted the spot next to me.

[Lilia-san, please sit here. You don’t have to be nervous; it really is just like sitting on a sofa.]

[Y- Yes…… If you’ll excuse me.]

Lilia-san sat next to me timidly. If we’re talking about the difference between a sofa and a bed, the bed does dip more deeply when someone’s weight is concentrated in one spot, which makes it feel like we’re sitting a little closer together.

Lilia-san, now sitting beside me, was clearly nervous; she was sitting up straight, her hands clenched into fists on her knees.

[U- U- U- Umm, Kaito-san…… W- What should we do after this?]

……That’s a tough question. What we should do next huh…… Since Lilia-san’s request has technically already been fulfilled, there’s really nothing more to do……

[Sorry to respond with another question, but what would you like to do, Lilia-san? Feel free to be vague. We could just chat, or even relax here quietly if you’d like……]

[……S- Something couple-like…… maybe?]

[…………………………]

Whoa there, I nearly lost my self-control for a moment. Seeing Lilia-san looking up at me with flushed cheeks was overwhelmingly endearing, and my thoughts almost wandered in an indecent direction…… However, thanks to my experience, I could quickly sense that there wasn’t any hidden meaning in her words.

In this situation, what Lilia-san was hoping for was just simple closeness, like putting an arm around her shoulder. At most, she might be imagining a kiss. Anything more than that would definitely be too overwhelming for her…… In fact, she seemed so nervous that I had the feeling even hugging her suddenly would be enough to make her faint.

For Lilia-san, even the act of proposing to “do something couple-like” was a huge leap in courage, so I needed to respond with the utmost gentleness…… At least for now, it wasn’t yet the time to go beyond that.

[……Alright then, Lilia-san. I’m going to place my hand on your shoulder.]

[Y- Yesh!]

[You can relax a bit more……]

[Ah…… O- Okay……]

Careful not to startle her, I told her what I was about to do, then gently placed my hand on her shoulder and pulled her close.

She seemed surprised at first, her body stiffening in response, but after a moment, she relaxed. As she settled against me, Lilia-san gave a happy smile, closed her eyes, and leaned into me, letting her body relax.

<Afterword>

Serious Financier : [Alice may be a trashy noob when it comes to love…… b- but she seems to be doing well…… I- I dread to think what might happen if things actually start progressing…… Eh? The heck? Financier?]

Makina : [……Mmm, it’s gentle and sweet, very tasty.]

Serious Financier : [And why the heck are you eating my arm without any hesitation? I’m fully conscious right now…… Eh? Wait, my arm has turned into a financier?!]