Undine's Tender Embrace
"Speaking of which, Miss Undine... don't you ever want to go outside?"
I tried my best not to focus on her soft, damp body gently wrapping around me as I changed the subject. She reacted as if my question was strange.
Outside... what exactly do you mean by that?
"I mean it literally. The other day, when I took little Miss Undine out for a walk... thank you for that. Wait, if you keep tickling me like that—"
At first I wondered if I was just being overly sensitive, but I was definitely not. I could clearly feel her licking and exploring various parts of my body—especially around my chest, lower abdomen, and between my thighs. It was extremely distracting.
Since she could form precise letters instead of speaking, it made sense that she could freely reshape her body or move it however she pleased. Still, it was troublesome. Particularly the situation with my lower half.
But Undine simply ignored it and answered my question, looking every bit like pure evil.
Hehe, I don't really feel the need to go outside just yet. After all, I'm not truly trapped here.
She might not feel that way now, but if she ever decided this facility was unnecessary for her, she could probably melt through the walls and walk out without issue. I was starting to understand how non-living entities were handled when it came to meals. Plus, since I wasn't sure if Undine even had a clear concept of a "main body," she could probably send out a single droplet in secret. If that droplet managed to feed and grow, it would essentially count as a successful escape.
Still, I felt relieved knowing she didn't currently see this place as unnecessary.
"Then... why?"
I was about to ask what made this place appealing to her when I vaguely realized the answer before she could reply. Thinking back to the things she'd said she wanted to eat, it wasn't hard to figure out.
Being here means I get to enjoy all sorts of meals. More than that, the director even politely asked me to stay until this world can properly accept me.
The "various meals" she mentioned were clearly not the nutritionally worthless pile of trash I'd brought on the tray. Staff members who got injured or mentally strained for all sorts of reasons during their work would come to her for healing. While my position as a counselor meant I mostly dealt with beings I could at least talk to, there were definitely others who weren't so cooperative. The pain and fear the staff experienced when facing those entities had to be vastly different from anything I could imagine.
By the way, "little Miss Undine"... that nickname is really cute. You're talking about this child, right?
With a soft ripple, a small figure suddenly emerged from the smooth surface of her chest. The mini Undine looked exactly the same as when I'd sent her away last time.
"Kyuuu..."
Compared to the mature, feminine form of Undine's main body, the mini version had rounder facial features and plump, short limbs that made her look incredibly adorable. Every time she made those strange, cute little sounds, I felt an overwhelming urge to gently stroke her damp, smooth hair.
"...Cute."
For some reason, this small body makes such adorable sounds.
The mini Undine dashed over and wrapped her arms around my head while I was still buried in her main body's cleavage, only my face showing. Her actions seemed childish, but she was still Undine herself. Realizing that helped me barely escape the swamp of cuteness. I'd almost been completely charmed.
You're so kind, always taking care of others. Maybe that's why you're drawn to small, cute forms like this?
"Well... I do like it, but only in the sense that I want to look after and take care of her."
Any other meaning would cause all sorts of problems.
Then... do you prefer the form from last time after all?
"..."
The form from last time...!
If that was what she meant, she was talking about shrinking her current, seductively mature figure down to human size while keeping the proportions intact. Easily two of them. No, knowing Undine, she could probably make even more. Imagining dozens of Undines surrounding me, all whispering those dizzying words from both sides, made the corners of my mouth twitch involuntarily.
"...Ugh."
I bit down hard on my lower lip to suppress the rising desire and shook my head to clear the fantasy. I knew Undine would grant the request if I asked, but unfortunately... I couldn't.
"No. I want to accept you exactly as you are right now, Miss Undine."
Oh my...?
"So there's no need for you to try changing into other forms just to match me."
Of course, it might be difficult. There was the promise between us, after all. If I treated her as a woman and tried to fulfill her desires, I wouldn't even know where to start with this massive body. Just look at my pathetic state right now—naked and wedged between her breasts. When I received healing inside her, I couldn't even complain about being called "little one." Standing right in front of her meant craning my neck up just to see her face, and even then her chest would probably block the view.
...But I couldn't back down over something so trivial.
"Adjusting our differences while being considerate of each other is certainly an ideal relationship. But before that, if we truly care for one another, shouldn't we be able to love even the mismatched differences, Miss Undine?"
It was the same thing I'd once said to Rav, who had been obsessively trying to perfectly match every ideal image I might have. Harpy was the same. She'd tried to hide her large wings and sharp talons from me, wearing an oversized top with rolled-up sleeves and uncomfortable knee-high leather boots just to look like an ordinary person on the outside. She had been afraid I would be startled, scared, or think she was different.
"..."
I looked up at Undine's face. From my position buried in her cleavage, I could finally see it properly. She smiled gently—a warm, reassuring smile that put the heart at ease. If she was worrying about our differences and trying to adjust for me, it was excessive consideration. I liked her massive body that called me "little one," her smooth and damp, soft skin, and that gentle, lazy smile looking down at me exactly as they were.
Because...
"Even with such a huge difference between us... we're still facing each other properly and talking like this."
Being able to converse meant we still had the chance to get to know each other. It also meant this relationship could grow into something better depending on our efforts.
Oh my... Little one... this feeling is...
"I think that's enough for me."
I had to make sure I never forgot this thought from now on. Whether it was professional pride or atonement for the shameful past when I'd wounded Harpy's tender heart during my inexperienced days, it didn't matter. As someone who could hear their inner voices, I couldn't judge them by appearances alone.
To be able to properly suppress the desires of the flesh with such a kind and upright heart... Ah...
After finishing my internal resolution with newfound confidence, Undine's gaze toward me suddenly felt... slightly frightening. It was probably just my imagination.
"Miss Undine...?"
Feeling an odd sense of danger, I quickly called her name, but she suddenly twisted her body and shyly wrapped both arms around her chest.
"Gurgle...?"
Squish...
Her upper breasts swelled under the pressure, deepening the cleavage, and I—along with mini Undine—was instantly swallowed up to the top of my head.
"..."
It was blissful, but I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe, yet... I was happy. Truly happy, but...
"Mmph..."
As I started to fear my cause of death would be happy suffocation between her soft, massive breasts, a sticky liquid seeped into my mouth and nose. In the blue-tinted vision that felt like being underwater, I could clearly hear her voice.
...That's exactly it, little one. When you confront me with such sincerity... it's not fair...