ㅡSmooch♡ Something soft and hot touched my cheek.
The initial sensation was softness.
It came with a bouncier elasticity than Sophia's lips. But as if to scold such an impolite impression, what followed the soft touch was...... ㅡFwoooosh......!! "H-Hot......?!" It was a sensation so hot it tingled.
Like searing my cheek with a branding iron.
Or maybe the feeling of scratching an insect bite intensely? For a moment, I thought Reirin had breathed her Breath onto my face. Fortunately, I didn't get burned enough to form a blister. “Heheheh-♪ You look just like him when you’re flustered, y'know......?” Reirin clung to my shoulder and grinned.
She looked at my surprised face and laughed playfully.
But this wasn't a mocking laugh. A pure laugh, without a hint of malice. Rather, it was a smile stemming from the joy of meeting a lover or family member after a very long time. Reirin, with her unfocused eyes, kept gazing at my face. She was probably remembering someone called Whity... my appearance reminded her of him. 'Haah? Just a light touch of her lips and it’s already swollen?' Anyway, my cheek felt like it was about to burst.
It had been throbbing constantly, driving me crazy.
Just from that slight contact with her lips, my right cheek was bright red and swollen. It looked like I'd been stung by a bee.
Enough that I could see my cheek just by looking down.
The pain already felt numbed by the tingling sensation. My swollen cheek felt dull. It was probably the tingling energy of the Fire Herb, smeared on Reirin's lips, that had transferred. It was a relief we hadn't kissed lip-to-lip.
If we had actually kissed, it would have been chaos.
Not just my lips, but my entire airway would have swollen, suffocating me. 'Whew, still, I'm glad only my cheek is swollen. If I had tasted even a bit of that Mala Tang earlier, I would’ve been in big trouble.' The pain subsided, but my cheek was hot.
How should I put it? Like my skin was stinging?
It was far from being actually burned. “Whityyy, Whityyyy...? I really missed youuu......” Meanwhile, Reirin's condition was serious.
She couldn't seem to snap out of it.
She mumbled with a loose tongue like a drunk and gazed at me deeply. "Heehee... Heheh-♡" Staring intently with eyes that seemed to find me incredibly cute for some reason...... If this kept up, I might receive another baptism of kisses hotter than the sun. “...This won’t do, Ramji. I should get going and escort the Young Lady.” “R-Right...! Thanks for your hard work! I learned a lot thanks to you-!” I decided to take Reirin back to the Dormitory. “Yeah, you worked hard too.” “Teach me again next time...!” “Ah, sure. If you need help again, find me next time. I think I’ll be busy from now on too.” Ramji helped support her and saw me off.
Then he thanked me repeatedly.
Asking me to help him often in the future, too. Anyway, after saying goodbye to Ramji like that, I left the dining hall. ㅡTrudge, trudge...! While supporting Reirin, of course.
But maybe because of Reirin's firm body?
Despite her delicate appearance, she was surprisingly heavy in many ways. “Young Lady? Roll Call time is soon. Will you be able to walk on your own?” “Howawa...? O-Of course...! But it feels much better walking close to Whity like this, y'know~?!” Reirin was still struggling with the spiciness.
It seemed her tongue had loosened from the sharp taste.
Not just her tongue, but her eyes were unfocused too, like a completely drunk person. ㅡSqueeeeze...! As soon as I had that thought, Reirin pulled me closer with the arm draped around my shoulder. It was like a mischievous older sister expressing affection for her younger brother under the guise of teasing. Like playfully bothering someone with harmless clinging. “Puhaap...?! P-Please don’t do this! What if someone sees us like this?” Because of her outfit, revealing her cleavage openly, my face pressed against her bare skin. Perhaps because of the Mala Tang, her body temperature was hot.
At the same time, a soft sensation enveloped me.
Reirin's pounding heartbeat echoed in my head. If I stayed like this, I was sure to suffocate. “Keuheuk-? S-Stop......!” “Tch...! Alright, alright! Your big sis can act like this when she's happy, y'know......” The drunkard, intoxicated by Mala Tang, released her grip.
Simultaneously, my face was freed from her chest.
Cool air touched my skin as I could breathe again.
But strangely, I didn't feel happy. I had clearly been troubled by the one-sided skinship, but now that freedom was granted, a sense of disappointment lingered. Even though I had almost suffocated while buried in her cleavage. ㅡThump, thump, thump...! Regardless, Reirin staggered ahead. Perhaps annoyed that I had asked her to let go, she walked alone without a word. Reirin still stumbled, but she looked much better than before. Though she seemed unsteady, she managed to walk forward somehow. The effects of the Mala Tang must be starting to wear off. “Young Lady Reirin? Can you go on your own?” “Hmph, you don’t need to worry about me~! I’ll head in first!” “But─” “Nah, it’s fine-! If we go in together like this, strange rumors might start, right? I’m heading off first~!” Reirin waved her hands, saying she was fine without looking back. She walked towards the Dormitory, still humming cheerfully. Like the back view of a household head returning home tipsy from a get-together? “Whew, I can finally breathe a bit now.” In any case, I'm glad things worked out.
The second Conditional Taming ended well,
and Reirin's condition was fine too. Another exhausting day's work comes to an end.
No, wait, Roll Call is still left.
Let's finish it quickly and get some sleep. 'Today was another long yet short day.' I waited until Reirin disappeared, then scratched my tingling cheek and slowly entered the Dormitory. ㅡGiggle, giggle♬ ㅡBreeder Teacher, hellooo...! The 1st floor was, as always, filled with blooming laughter. Their Academy life looked so exciting, I was just envious. “Young Ladies, you should start preparing for Roll Call soon.” I exchanged brief greetings with the Little Young Ladies and headed towards the On-Call Room. Covering my right cheek with one hand. ㅡClick! It was just 5 minutes before Roll Call. 'Huh? Come to think of it, the swelling went down pretty quickly?' While preparing for Roll Call, I looked at my face in the hand mirror, and it looked surprisingly okay. The cheek that had been severely swollen just moments ago had subsided quite a bit. The only problem was a clear kiss mark, like a bright red lipstick stain, remained on my cheek. The mark of Reirin's plump lips. At this point, I might as well have been marked. 'What on earth is this......' Let's just cover it with a bandage for now and go out. I don't want it catching the Young Ladies' eyes and starting bad rumors. [Riiiiing─!!!] With my cheek covered by a bandage, I immediately rang the bell and went out for Roll Call. “1st year evening Roll Call personnel report...! Total 10 members! No exceptions!” As always, Tina, full of discipline, recited the report. The 1st year Roll Call might be the easiest task in the Academy. “Good. We’ll keep Roll Call brief today. You may stand by.” Today, I intended to conduct an abbreviated Roll Call at my discretion. Because I wanted to rest today. “Yes...! But, Breeder Teacher?” “Hm? What is it, Miss Tina?” Tina called out to stop me as I was about to go up to the 2nd floor immediately. “Um, today... are there no snacks......?” “Snacks, you mean?” “Yess-! Derke said she’d get some again today......” Tina hesitated, cautiously bringing up the topic. “Ah, unfortunately, considering what the 3rd year Young Ladies said yesterday, please bear with it for the time being. I’ll give you something delicious again when I get the chance later.” “Aah, yes...!!” Tina replied with a slightly disappointed expression.
They say if goodwill continues, it's taken as a right.
I need to moderate it appropriately before that happens. Naturally, I also need to be mindful of the upperclass Young Ladies. ㅡStep, step, step...! I then headed straight for the 2nd floor. “2nd year reporting.” “Yes, please report.” “Total 15 members. No exceptions. If... you have any announcements, please tell us.” Sonya greeted me as soon as I reached the 2nd floor.
She was always emotionless, but today was different.
Definitely a feeling of being somewhat more polite?
Well, her cold voice was still the same, though. Still, the effect of Reirin stirring things up yesterday was significant. Even all the 2nd years were waiting outside their Dorm Rooms by the book. Zeros was visible right behind Sonya.
The rascal glanced at me and snickered.
With an expression that looked somewhat arrogant and teasing. Somehow, it felt like she was mocking me with words like, ‘A grown adult getting hurt... such a Weakling♡ Don’t sneak glances at me. It’s unpleasant-♡’. “Everyone worked hard yesterday, so we’ll keep it brief today. Everyone, stand by.” Normally, I would inspect the Dorm Rooms thoroughly, but as I said earlier, I wanted to rest quickly today. “Um... Breeder Teacher?” “Yes? What is it?” Again, the grade representative stopped me.
Why is everyone like this today?
This kid usually didn't even care about me? “Um... how did you hurt your cheek?” “Pardon?” “N-No, it’s not that...! I just asked because I was concerned...! D-Don’t get the wrong idea......!” Sonya asked about my well-being with a prim expression.
The direct intervention of the 3rd years is certainly effective.
Her personality seems to have changed a lot in just one day. Sonya’s face was flushed red.
Well, it must be hard trying to do something she doesn't usually do.
There was no need to force herself to ask about my well-being like this...... “Thank you for your concern, but it’s really nothing. Now, please stand by.” But what business was it of mine? Just because she was acting friendly now didn't mean I had any obligation to respond sweetly. “Haah...? Th-That......” Today, it was my turn to react coldly, and Sonya’s flustered reaction could be heard from behind. But despite that, I didn’t look back and headed towards the 3rd floor. 'Whatever, let’s just finish the 3rd and 4th years quickly with this momentum.' As long as Tiana doesn't pick a fight, I should be able to finish quickly─ “...Huh?” When I reached the 3rd floor aiming for a quick end to Roll Call, I couldn't help but be bewildered. And for good reason...... “Welcome. There’s quite a lot to report today, you know?” “......?” Because instead of the 3rd year representative, Tiana, a different Young Lady was waiting for me. Moreover, with a tone and expression suggesting she had been eagerly waiting for me.

Gradually Changing Evening Roll Call