Arachne's Resolve
After clearly hearing my blunt request, her face that had been glaring at me so prettily finally crumbles, as if she could no longer hold out. "You... how could you say something like that... uhuu..."
Her cheeks flushed bright red, she fans herself with her hand while twisting her body restlessly. The way her red eyes blink rapidly in embarrassment, and the massive spider lower body behind her that looks so out of place against the unfamiliar background, feels slightly overwhelming. But the feeling that dominates me right now is how adorable she is. Especially because of that appearance.
The sight of her, who usually tries so hard to maintain her image, faltering and breaking down right in front of me. Moreover, even if she tried to glare more fiercely, her shameful lower lips were already soaked with a mixture of my saliva and her own love juices... so there was little chance of her being scared.
"Or are you saying you'll stop now?"
"Th-that's impossible. Today, I'm going to become your woman... eut, after all..."
Look at that. She's embarrassed by what she just said herself. I have no intention of teasing her further, but... hmm.
"Well, there's no need to rush, is there? We haven't even gone on a single date yet."
"You were the one who said you wanted to put it in right away... eut, so you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Oh, she took it as teasing. "Because from now on, there's no going back. It's your first experience, one you'll remember for the rest of your life."
I think we've already done everything except actual penetration in the process of sex up to this point, but I do have the awareness that something feels wrong about mixing bodies before we've even held hands or kissed like lovers. That said, the feelings she conveyed to me weren't insincere, so I'm responding to them.
In truth... well, I do have a favorable impression of Arachne, and I think she's a genuinely good woman. Plus, the things that scared me at our first meeting have mostly become okay now, so the scales in my heart have already tipped heavily toward wanting to be with her.
So the words I've said to her so far aren't just to tease her—they're an honest expression of my desire. Of course I want to do it. I've already tasted her pussy thoroughly with my mouth and tongue, and I know exactly how it twitches and tightens. My painfully erect cock is already glistening, ready to push inside and receive plenty of comfort.
It's just that I wondered once more whether it was right to have our first time driven purely by impulse and desire. A counselor's original intentions are more troublesome than expected, but because they're still necessary... I have a duty to be more attentive to the hearts of these special girls who struggle differently from others.
"If you're doing this because you're anxious and afraid you'll miss this moment, then I can stop."
At my words, I can feel her gaze land on my still-throbbing manhood, which makes me feel a little guilty... but even though I'm this worked up right now, I can stop for her sake anytime. It would be very difficult, though.
"I've always been lonely. So I hoped that at least one person, even just one, would become a friend whose heart matched well with mine."
"If it's a friend of Arachne's, it must be the President, right?"
Of course it would be the President. Setting aside whether having such a friend is truly a good thing, if it's thanks to her that Arachne was able to escape loneliness, then I'm truly grateful.
"Yes, Elise became my one and only friend. But desire is a strange thing... once I had a friend, I started wanting recognition from others too. It was unexpected. I never thought of myself as greedy before."
'Rather, when I was alone, I didn't know, so it was fine... but learning new things isn't always a good thing, I guess.'
"The reason I started cooking was actually because of that. Eating delicious food is something everyone enjoys, so when I first came to this facility and had a proper warm meal, I remembered that happiness and wanted to share that joy with others. That's why I started practicing cooking."
'At first it was with these two hands, and gradually I started using spider silk too... before I knew it, I ended up taking on work for everyone. It was hard, but I never thought I hated it.'
She looks down at her own hands, her eyes faintly tinged with nostalgia as if recalling those memories.
"That's definitely true. Without delicious food, half the fun of living in this world would disappear."
When I throw out a light joke, she smiles softly and accepts it.
"Yes, I think so too. But regardless of the food I make, people are still afraid of me because of this appearance... so recently, I was halfway ready to give up."
But then, at some point, I rudely showed up and not only acknowledged her but treated her as a woman. That's probably the story. I think I understand even without her saying more.
"In what way do you... no, sorry. Do you see me as the opposite sex?"
"That is... well, from the moment I first saw you, I already thought of you as a woman... I don't think I've ever really tried to find a specific reason."
"..S-saying something like that, you should at least be a little embarrassed..."
Well, I don't think it's something to be embarrassed about. Her sleek upper body, her small face, the cool female superior-like voice and tone, and her eye shape that matches well with a gentle yet mature gaze that seems to scold a child—all of it makes my heart waver quite a bit from the viewer's perspective.
In the first place, what she's talking about seems less about distinguishing between woman and man, and more about distinguishing between person and monster... but normally, wouldn't people think of her as a woman rather than a man?
"And actually, before thinking of you as a woman, you were Chef first."
Back then, I didn't know her name so I used that title as an improvisation, but I remember being glad it seemed to suit her heart perfectly.
"Uung.."
"Besides, I tend to like women who cook well. I also like kind people who are mature and take good care of others, just like Arachne."
"U..ung."
She, who has little immunity to praise, looks like she's struggling as her facial expression visibly melts in real time. I didn't entirely intend it, but... she's really cute.
"So even if we don't go all the way today, I think I'll eventually be drawn to Arachne anyway."
"Is that... a confession?"
"It might be. I already have plenty of goodwill toward Arachne... and I selfishly don't want to show this cute side of you to anyone else."
Even as I say it, I'm a bit conscious of it and expect her reaction to being called cute... but more than expected, she doesn't seem to imagine that "cute" is referring to herself and doesn't immediately understand.
Huh...? Cute? What is? Who...? Why? After several such questions rapidly pass through her mind, she finally realizes that the word "cute" is pointing at her.
"..."
Wow... she's completely speechless. Her face looks like it would burst if I poked it with a finger.
"...Don't... tease me..."
Not just her expression—her voice has completely melted as well. She's desperately covering her face with both hands, but the color difference between the back of her hands and her face is so stark that it stands out even more.
"I already know how Arachne sees herself."
"..."
"I also know that even if I lied and said I like your spider lower body, or your black and red reverse eyes, or the single eye on your forehead, it wouldn't really comfort you."
Maybe the President would retort with "I actually like it though?" but this is about how Arachne herself accepts it.
"So what I can say is... even taking all of that into account, Arachne is still a very attractive woman."
"I, I... I..."
Whether it's the frustration from memories of suffering because of her appearance, the joy of hearing these words right now, or embarrassment—her inner voice is reacting in a very confused mix of emotions.
"Actually, the one who should be anxious is me. The reason I like Arachne isn't because of anything special about me—it's because of what's inside Arachne."
She seems to think I'm special, but I'm not particularly special. I just had a little more opportunity to see another side of her. I couldn't discover something in her that didn't exist in the first place.
"..."
She removes her hands that had been tightly covering her face while pretending to wipe her eyes, but it's obvious because her eyes are already moist. It seems the sudden mix of surprise, joy, and various other emotions made her tear ducts weaken for a moment.
"..I think I understand why there are so many women around you."
"Yes?"
"Because you say so many things that people want to hear."
'Even now, you're so... mm, so turned on by me...'
Still, she quickly regains control of her emotions and speaks, but the fact that she can't quite meet my eyes remains consistent and cute. She might have forgotten during the conversation, but I'm currently naked with my limbs bound, so it's funny who's calling who cute.
"Then..."
At this point, I think I've said everything I needed to say, and now only her choice remains. And honestly, even though I'm a bit disappointed, I expected that the mature Arachne might change her mind even now and suggest we properly prepare for a date first.
..But.
"Thank you for saying that for me... really. Still, I..."
"Ah?"
"...I want to be connected with you today."
Why? Ah, maybe it's because my thing looks too painful standing like that...
"If it's because of this guy, I'm really okay."
"That's not... it."
"...?"
She seems to know that what she's saying doesn't match the flow I prepared, looking at my dumbfounded face hesitantly before barely managing to speak. And what followed was beyond my expectations.
"I don't think... I can do something this embarrassing again next time..."
Aaah... swallowing a deep sigh of understanding, I also feel my heart resonating more deeply than ever with her unchanging self. That's... so like her.
"This time... please really stay still..?"