Chapter 120

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“Acupressure is something I can do anytime. Would you like me to hold out your hand?”

Lucia’s reaction, filled with worry and without a shred of doubt, made Eugene feel deep self-loathing.

Is this really okay? I’m deceiving her. I’m perfectly fine, yet I’ve only caused her unnecessary worry.

But now that he had brought it up, he couldn’t back out. Hesitant but unable to resist, Eugene extended his hand, feeling a heavy sense of guilt in his chest.

Seeing his hesitation, Lucia gently smiled as if to reassure him and held his hand.

First, she softly stroked the back of his hand, then pressed firmly between his index and thumb with her fingertips.

“How is it? Does it feel better?”

“…Yeah.”

“Hehe, that’s a relief.”

The more kindly she smiled, the more Eugene’s heart was filled with guilt. He felt so pathetic that he couldn’t even sigh. 

What am I even doing? Taking advantage of her kindness just to hold her hand? I’m perfectly fine, yet I’ve caused her unnecessary worry and misunderstanding. All because I wanted to hold her hand. 

What am I doing? His face flushed with embarrassment, and he couldn’t look her in the eye.

“I think that’s enough. I’m fine now. Sorry for making such a strange request…”

Unable to bear the guilt any longer, Eugene frantically waved his left hand, his voice urgent. Her warm touch had felt nice, but the guilt in his chest made it unbearable. 

I can’t keep taking advantage of her goodwill. I want to bow my head and honestly confess my actions, apologizing for deceiving her.

“Eugene. Go to bed early tonight.”

It seemed Lucia interpreted Eugene’s actions differently.

She seemed to think he had rejected the acupressure because it wasn’t effective.

“When you’re not feeling well, it’s best to rest. After a good sleep, your body will recover.”

Lucia, looking confident in her idea, smiled brightly.

Though her expression was irresistibly cute, Eugene awkwardly responded.

“Um, you don’t have to go that far…”

I understand what you’re trying to do, but I’m actually fine. More importantly, if I fall asleep, I’ll have to part with Lucia. 

Eugene didn’t want to waste this rare opportunity to be alone with her. However, Lucia was firm. She leaned toward him and placed her palm on his forehead.

“No way. Look, you even have a slight fever.”

As she said, Eugene’s face was burning like someone with a fever. His face wasn’t the only thing flushed; his nape and earlobes had turned red as well, likely due to Lucia’s casual actions.

Lucia smiled as if she wouldn’t accept any objections.

When her lotus-like lips curved into a smile, Eugene forgot what he was going to say.

Lucia brushed Eugene’s damp hair and stood up.

She closed the window, which had been letting in a cool breeze, and drew the curtains to block out the outside light.

Turning off the light, the sickroom was enveloped in darkness appropriate for the time of day.

“…Alright. Goodnight.”

Eugene’s voice trembled. This is strange. Every time I see her, I become strange. Why is this happening? Why is my head, heart, and even my entire body burning like it’s boiling?

He already knew the reason. That’s why Eugene couldn’t refuse Lucia’s request. A request from someone you like has a magic that makes it impossible to refuse.

“See you tomorrow, Lucia.”

“Yeah, goodnight.”

It wasn’t a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed.

I wanted to stay with her longer.

But Eugene decided to be satisfied. Just seeing her innocent smile washed away all the fatigue from today.

“…?”

As Eugene was about to see her off, he was puzzled when Lucia returned to the bed.

What’s going on? Do you still have something to do?

“Lucia? Aren’t you leaving?”

“It’s lonely when you’re sick, right? I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

Eh?

Eugene momentarily doubted his ears.

You’ll stay with me?

Until I fall asleep?

“Is it inconvenient?”

Her cautious voice carried the implication that if it was a bother, she would leave.

It was clear that her presence would disturb his sleep. There was no way he could fall asleep with her here. Just being together made his heart race, so how could he sleep with such a restless mind? 

There’s no better caffeine than this. Therefore, Eugene’s answer was already decided.

“…No, I’d appreciate it if you stayed with me.”

“Hehe.”

Eugene wondered if he had always been this materialistic.

Taking advantage of someone’s goodwill was the most despicable act, yet here I am, indulging in Lucia’s consideration.

Is my flushed face due to embarrassment, or is there another reason?

Eugene squeezed his eyes shut and thought. Most likely, it’s both.

“Lu… Lucia?!”

“Shh, Eugene~ Good boys should go to sleep now~”

His deep contemplation didn’t last long. Following Eugene as he lay down on the bed, Lucia also collapsed beside him. 

Just a little closer, and their breaths would touch. That alone was enough to make his mind blank, but Lucia’s actions didn’t stop there. She grabbed his hand tightly. There was no need to wonder whose hand it was.

“Alice told me this. Having someone by your side makes you feel at ease and helps you fall asleep quickly.”

…I know that too.

When my sister was alive.

Yui couldn’t fall asleep alone.

She would cry out of anxiety if Eugene wasn’t by her side.

But Yui and Eugene were family. Blood siblings.

Lucia and Eugene are just friends, strangers, and of different genders.

Lying vulnerably on the same bed, holding hands, and smiling brightly—what is that?

Even if we’re friends, this is too much.

Eugene forcibly calmed his mind, which was exploding like popcorn in a machine.

He tried not to think too much of it, interpreting Lucia’s actions in the most favorable way. But now that things had reached this point, even the optimistic Eugene couldn’t help but have sinister thoughts. 

He was about to tug at his hair but stopped himself when he realized his hand was the one Lucia was holding.

Are you tempting me? The words almost slipped out.

Clenching his lips tightly, Eugene stopped himself from speaking. If she answers yes, I won’t have the courage to restrain myself. And if she says no, it’s the same. If she finds out I’ve misunderstood, I’ll die of embarrassment. Dying in such an embarrassing way would be a disgrace to Yui.

“Eugene, thank you so much today. For saving people and protecting me.”

“…”

Lucia’s voice was unexpectedly calm, unlike the situation.

No, perhaps the one who doesn’t fit the situation is me.

Eugene recalled memories from the past in his mind.

He engraved in his heart the words his precious younger sister once said.

“The girl from the next class likes you, brother? Ahaha, that must be a misunderstanding. No?

She smiles at you every time you meet and invites you to hang out on weekends?

Just because of that, you think she likes you? Brother, you’re really innocent. Don’t you remember what I told you last time? 

You shouldn’t misunderstand when a girl is kind to you. There have been more than a few girls who distanced themselves because of that misunderstanding, haven’t there? 

Brother, I’m saying this because I genuinely worry about you. You’re too clueless and easily commit rudeness. 

What? It’s different this time? You’re sure? Hmm, I see… What’s that girl’s name?”

As Yui had said, the girl from the next class soon stopped even looking at Eugene.

If they happened to meet, they exchanged a few words, but their relationship quickly grew distant.

Stay calm. Don’t panic and misunderstand.

I can’t forget the lessons of the past.

Am I going to make the same mistake with Lucia?

I don’t want that.

“So this is about repaying a debt. We’re best friends, right?”

Yes, best friends.

She and I made a promise to be best friends.

The promise we made in the nurse’s office, holding each other’s hands.

So this must also be her way of showing trust.

“Goodnight, Eugene.”

“…Yeah, you too, Lucia.”

With a trembling voice, Eugene answered and tightly closed his eyes.

As a supernatural with high achievements, the darkness didn’t hinder Eugene much.

If he opened his eyes, he would immediately see Lucia lying right next to him.

Her porcelain-like skin and thick eyelashes.

Her petite crimson lips.

Her chest rising and falling with each breath.

Everything about her was so sensual that it was almost fatal to Eugene.

‘How am I supposed to sleep…?’

She said she’d stay with me until I fall asleep.

Maybe I’ll have to stay like this until dawn.

Eugene swallowed a hollow laugh while feeling his heart racing like an out-of-control foal.

“Gulp…”

How much time had passed?

It felt like hours had gone by, but in reality, only five minutes had passed.

Eugene opened his eyes slightly when he heard a regular, soothing breathing sound.

Lucia, sleeping like an innocent child.

Her defenseless appearance made Eugene feel like his tightly clenched hand was losing strength.

“…Lucia?”

He called her name cautiously.

Naturally, there was no response.

Lucia’s consciousness had long since left for dreamland.

Eugene felt a strange sense of emptiness. Was I the only one conscious? Well, of course. Lucia sees me as just a friend.

Trying to soothe his bitter feelings, Eugene slowly reached out with his left hand. He gently brushed the golden hair covering her face. If Lucia had been awake, she wouldn’t have allowed such a bold move, but since she was deeply asleep, Eugene mustered the courage. 

The tips of his fingers tingled as they touched her hair. Eugene let out a soft laugh.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

With those words, Eugene closed his eyes again.

If I keep looking at her, I’ll lose the composure I’ve regained.

I know from experience what kind of emotions flood in when composure is lost.

I don’t want to bite my tongue again.

“Hmmm…”

But Eugene realized he had been too naive.

Lucia, muttering in her sleep, let go of his hand.

The feeling of loss was brief.

The soft mass covering his face made Eugene unable to even scream.

“Hehehe…Alice…”

“Ugh, woah!”

Her slender arms wrapped around Eugene’s head.

Her hand stroked his head naturally, as if it was something familiar.

If it had stopped there, Eugene wouldn’t have been so flustered.

But as Lucia hugged Eugene, his face was pressed against her chest.

No, it wasn’t just pressed—it was buried.

The indescribable, bouncy sensation felt through the thin hospital gown.

“Lu, Luci…!”

“Hehe.”

“Ugh?!”

The voice Eugene barely managed to let out was swallowed by Lucia’s healing pouch.

Not stopping at just hugging his face, Lucia pressed her body even closer.

As a result, Eugene found himself in the awkward position of being held by a girl who was smaller than him.

Like a statue, Eugene couldn’t move a single finger.

“I’ll hug you tightly…”

It was a habit she had developed while sleeping with Alice on the same bed.

A cute sleeping habit of hugging Alice tightly.

The problem was that the person next to Lucia now was Eugene, not Alice.

“…”

I can’t breathe.

No, I could if I wanted to.

But inhaling would mean also taking in the alluring scent.

It smelled like a fragrant flower.

And like sweet honey.

The scent of an immature girl’s body, was stimulating—no, violently so—to an equally immature boy.

With every breath, his mind grew hazy.

The soft flesh touching his face changed shape slightly with every movement.

While thinking that Lucia’s chest was surprisingly large,

Eugene seriously wondered if this was all a dream.

Of course, it wasn’t.

If it was a dream, the sensations wouldn’t feel so real.

What should I do? I want to stay like this, but I know I can’t.

Eugene, trembling, grabbed Lucia’s forearm, which was hugging his head.

I have to pull her off. 

Now. 

If Lucia wakes up and sees me like this…

But Lucia hugged me, and I didn’t do anything wrong, right?

Just staying like this for a little longer… 

No, that’s not right!

Having barely made up his mind, Eugene tightened his grip on Lucia’s arm to pull her off.

“It’s hot…”

But there was one thing Eugene hadn’t considered.

As a supernatural who controls fire, Eugene emits heat depending on his emotions.

Even Eugene, who controls his extreme excitement with tremendous self-control, couldn’t completely suppress the rise in temperature.

Without Eugene’s intervention, Lucia pulled away on her own. The healing pouch that had enveloped his face moved away, and her hand that had been stroking his head fell away.

Feeling relief, loss, and deep regret at the same time, Eugene clutched his chest. What just happened was too stimulating for him. His heart wouldn’t calm down.

“…I-I survived. Hah… Hah…”

I almost got assassinated by Lucia.

I was either going to suffocate buried in her chest or die from a heart attack due to excitement.

But now that it’s over, today’s events will be a good memory—

“It’s hot…”

“Lucia?!”

Perhaps unable to bear the heat that had filled the sickroom,

Lucia began to slowly take off her hospital gown.

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
It’s Eugene’s reward time!

Isn’t it wonderful that Lucia is giving so much healing to our tired hearts?

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Sloppy Eugene~♡ Are you so perverted that you can only think using your brain down there ♡? Need to vent out frustrations on a defenceless girl ♡? Puha! What a sloppy perv~♡! Eek! 

Sorry, just wanted to try that. (Read Mesugaki Tank Enters the Academy on greenztl, it’s great.)