Easily Pressured

Every step toward the stairs came with a bounce. Even I could tell my footsteps brimmed with anticipation.

【Expectation】

【Thump-thump】

The voice spilling from the Confession Necklace I'd left slightly open turned that feeling into certainty.

Thirty days—a span that felt both short and long.

For me, it had been long.

I'd been perfectly happy growing closer to Ariel, living tucked in their embrace. But deep down, of course, I'd only been looking forward to today, when I'd see everyone again.

I crossed the hallway and took the central stairs, hopping down the wide steps in light, little thumps.

A sensation tapped against my skin, and my eyes opened.

A vivid crimson took shape on my retinas through the dreary fog.

"Yeon-hwa!"

【Seo-yul!】

Yeon-hwa blazing in my field of view, and Seo-yul detected through Observation and Qi Sense.

Both of them had already settled onto the lobby sofas.

Yeon-hwa was leaning back with her legs crossed. Seo-yul nestled against Ellia's chest, back pressed to Ellia's front.

Seeing the two of them again after so long brought a bright smile to my face.

"I really missed you both!"

I bounded over, bouncing a little.

My steps quickened even more, and Yeon-hwa's stiff expression cracked into a soft laugh. She must have noticed all the delight packed into the way I moved.

Yeon-hwa uncrossed her legs and rose.

I reached out my hands as well.

And then—

- Flash!

【Seo-yul!】

"...! Daddy!"

"?"

I scooped Seo-yul right out of Ellia's arms.

Seo-yul's openly sulky face flickered into a smile. The instant she noticed she was smiling, she flinched in alarm and hastily rearranged her features into a pout.

I couldn't hold back my own smile as I hugged Seo-yul tight.

【Euh-heu-heung. Seo-yul, I missed you so much.】

No lie.

She had no idea how desperately I'd missed her inside the Tower of Knowledge.

While raising her, I couldn't give her the time I should have, and I thought myself pathetic and contemptible for it.

Still, now that we were face-to-face, joy surged up right alongside the guilt.

I held Seo-yul close and rubbed my cheek against hers.

"Heu-hee-hee."

The corner of Seo-yul's mouth twitched.

She was trying so hard to stay pouty, to make her sulking obvious, but in moments like this she just couldn't stop ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠twitching—and that made her unbearably cute.

I beamed.

Then I patted Seo-yul on the back and asked,

【Didn't Seo-yul miss me?】

"Missed you so much, h-hk...!"

Seo-yul answered on pure reflex, then clamped her mouth shut with a gasp.

Her pure white eyes rolled around, and abruptly she puffed up her cheeks.

"P-puu..."

She did her best to hide her smile and present an exaggeratedly sulky expression.

That blatant See? I'm mad right now! pulled a wry smile onto my lips.

Clearly, she found my month-long absence thoroughly displeasing. Which was only reasonable to begin with.

【...Seo-yul, want to go out and play together tomorrow?】

"Yes! ...Hk."

Seo-yul answered on pure spinal reflex, then clapped both hands over her mouth. Her wide-open eyes trembled.

"Ahaha! Look at that instant answer."

Ellia burst out laughing at the adorable sight, and Seo-yul's cheeks flushed red.

Even that was so cute that I rubbed our cheeks together again, observing Ellia cover her mouth with one hand as she laughed.

Ellia's shoulders shook with her laughter.

And with them, the faint tremor of the pendant around her neck.

'Hm.'

Deep satisfaction settled in my chest at the sight of that pendant hanging properly around her neck.

I'd handed it over somewhat half-heartedly, but I'd felt the same way when Baek A-rin wore the ring I gave her on her finger.

How do I describe it? Like I'd laid claim to my room with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my belongings.

Anyway, it felt good.

"Ha-yul, where would you like to go? Or should we all go on a picnic together?"

【That sounds nice, too.】

Ellia stopped laughing and asked, and I nodded in agreement.

Ellia tilted her head.

"Oh? Tomorrow's a weekday. Aren't you going to ask how I'll manage my lectures?"

【Huh?】

【Don't you not have any lectures scheduled tomorrow?】

"How did you know that?"

Ellia's eyes went round and she cocked her head as she asked.

I cocked my head back at her as I answered.

【We went over the courses you were considering for second semester together last time, remember?】

"Ah, Ha-yul, you memorized all of it back then?"

【Yes.】

How else would I figure out when we can spend time together if I don't know other people's schedules?

So I memorized everything.

As long as no one's schedule changed, what I'd memorized was accurate. And if anything did come up, I could just scan with Observation to see who was doing what where.

"...Ha-yul."

Yeon-hwa's voice, which had fallen silent for a moment, reached my ears.

I brightened and started to turn.

"Yes, Yeon-h—...?"

But her hand caught my chin, stopping me.

Warm breath brushed my ear.

"H-hyeek."

I shuddered. A hand slid up my spine, stroked my nape, then—

- Squeeze...

"Uuu-wehhh..."

She clasped the back of my neck firmly, and my body went reflexively limp.

My arms were empty.

At some point, Ellia had risen and scooped Seo-yul out of my hold into her own arms.

The whole sequence happened in an instant, as if they'd coordinated it.

"......"

When Yeon-hwa's gaze shifted toward Ellia, Ellia answered with nothing more than an easy shrug.

For a split second, an odd look passed between the two of them.

A moment later, Yeon-hwa lifted me up and settled me onto her thighs, facing her.

"Y-Yeon-hwa...?"

I blinked with a dumbfounded expression.

I'd been subdued out of nowhere, Seo-yul had been plucked from my arms, and now I was abruptly seated in Yeon-hwa's lap.

What was all this?

I blinked with that question in mind, and—

"Hmph."

Only then did I register that Yeon-hwa's gaze had cooled somewhat.

Her eyes still glittered beautifully, but an odd chill had settled into those crimson irises.

My shoulders hunched on their own.

"Yeon-hwa... are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad. Really?"

The answer came back instantly the moment I probed cautiously.

'A lie...?'

Her words denied my question, but every other signal contradicted them.

The word "liar" bubbled up in my throat too, but I was too busy reading the room to actually say it.

【Liar】

"Oh."

The utterly tactless necklace slipped its leash and chimed out loud.

My eyes flew open. Yeon-hwa's eyes sharpened into points.

"Liar? What's a lie?"

"Uh... well, euh-wehh..."

She grabbed my cheeks. I rolled my eyes within her grip as she kneaded them like rice cakes.

Why was Yeon-hwa acting like this all of a sudden?

I agonized for a moment, even reviewing my observation records.

'...Yeon-hwa is sulking too?'

That was the conclusion I reached.

I had analyzed the signs in Yeon-hwa's mood—signs I'd missed in my eagerness to greet her—using the observation records.

Why?

I didn't know.

She had looked vaguely displeased from the start, and later that feeling had intensified.

The point it intensified... was the moment I'd lifted Seo-yul into my arms.

'Jealousy?'

Yeon-hwa, toward Seo-yul...?

She was hurt because I'd hugged Seo-yul first instead of Yeon-hwa.

At first I rejected the thought. Yeon-hwa is an adult; Seo-yul is a small child.

'...Or not?'

But then I flipped the situation around.

I imagined: I meet Yeon-hwa again after a long time—after a whole month—and she lifts Seo-yul into her arms first, rubbing cheeks, showering her with open affection.

I'd be happy. I'd be genuinely glad Yeon-hwa likes Seo-yul that much. Reassured, even—that she wouldn't neglect Seo-yul even if I died.

...And, stupid as it sounds, jealousy would surge up anyway. Won't you hug me too? Won't you rub my cheek too...

'Ah.'

Thinking from the other side, it absolutely made sense to feel jealous.

Once that judgment was complete, my accelerated thoughts stretched out again.

"Ha-yul, what are you thinking about?"

"Uuu-wehh..."

But Yeon-hwa had noticed my brief inner debate and asked. My eyes spun dizzily while my cheeks were still being gently squished.

Yeon-hwa was sulking. I could roughly guess why.

Most likely... because I'd gone to Seo-yul first.

The way to handle this? I'd learned a bit myself. I sort of knew what to do.

At times like this, you just... act cute. Act spoiled.

If I burrowed into her arms and clung to her the way I wanted and demanded affection, Yeon-hwa's irritation usually melted away.

And, honestly, it wasn't just for Yeon-hwa's sake. I wanted to act spoiled right this second, too.

I wanted to bury my face in Yeon-hwa's chest and enjoy the warm body heat and the voluptuous sensation.

I wanted to press my nose firmly into her chest and inhale to my heart's content that body scent like milk that was already thick in my nostrils.

I wanted her to stroke my head and my back, and pat my bottom too...

'Ugh...'

- Intense...

...But right now, that was difficult.

I flinched, hyper-aware of the piercing gaze digging into my back— Seo-yul, watching me from Ellia's arms.

Seo-yul.

My child, who thinks of me as her guardian.

How could the person who's supposed to be her guardian show such an improper side in front of her?

'That's... I can't do that...'

This was a conviction of my own.

Seo-yul is my child. She sees me as her guardian, so I must fulfill my duty as a guardian.

Like a proper guardian... I have to show her a reliable front so she won't feel anxious.

Though, to be honest, if someone asked "and you're bringing this up now?" I wouldn't have much to say.

That responsible guardian image had already crumbled back when I was small and Seo-yul squished me flat and sucked my cheek.

But still!

Even so... I'd been doing my best to look dependable in front of Seo-yul...

And now I was supposed to act all cutesy in the middle of the room, where Seo-yul could plainly see, right in Yeon-hwa's arms?

That's... that's...

"Oh, right! I forgot I'd bought these earlier! That sandwich shop suddenly got crazy famous, so I even waited in line to buy some!"

Ellia clapped her hands and sprang to her feet, naturally lifting Seo-yul with her.

"Seo-yul? Shall we go eat sandwiches? I tried one earlier and they're insanely delicious!"

"Y-yes...! Ah! But wait—just a little later—...!"

"Oh, I'll bring some for Yeon-hwa and Ha-yul too! Just a bit later...!!"

Ellia skillfully subdued Seo-yul's squirming and headed far off toward the dining hall.

Seo-yul's voice grew distant, then faded. Silence settled around us.

The watching eyes had vanished. No audience remained to shred my dignity.

"......."

"......."

I cautiously lifted my eyes, and they met a pair of crimson irises.

Under a gaze that seemed to ask, So? What now?

"Yeon... Yeon-hwa..."

I stretched out the end of my words, my tongue moving in a strange way, making sounds I was too embarrassed to fully admit to, and I reached out my hands.

I wrapped both arms tightly around Yeon-hwa's waist, wiggled my hips to nestle closer, and layered my body against hers.

And, as my desires urged, I buried my face in her full chest, thick with that scent of milk.

- Snf-snf...

【I like the milk smell...】

It was a soft, pillowy sensation coupled with Yeon-hwa's distinctive cozy warmth. And alongside it, the rich body scent caught between the soft flesh filled me up inside, until my body and mind both melted into a puddle.

- Fwoosh!

The Calamity Flame, which had been dormant, suddenly swelled. The flame leaped, pulsing as if resonating with Yeon-hwa's Calamity Flame, and my shame burned away little by little.

"Yeon-hwa... I like you..."

【I like Yeon-hwa.】

As I murmured into her chest while rubbing my face against her, a giggling sound rang from above my head. The irritation inside the laughter had mostly dissolved. Relieved that this had been the right answer after all, I now grew more certain and acted bolder. I rested my chin on her chest, rubbed my cheek against Yeon-hwa's neck, and planted little kisses here and there. I parted her collar, buried my face into her bare chest, and savored the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sensation of bare skin, the warmth, the deepened body scent. Her hand patted my bottom, and I squirmed my hips back asking for more pats... Anyway, I filled her in on what had happened in the Tower of Knowledge between all of it. I threw myself into acting spoiled with a burning intensity, as if I meant to collect interest on all the touch I'd missed over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the past month. Thanks to that, I was soaked in affection until my reason started dissolving. I could feel this blissful emotion somewhere in the haze. My head wasn't great to begin with. I really shouldn't let it melt any further and turn into a total idiot, but... being looked after like a fool felt too good...

And that was why it happened.

"Ha-yul, want to enter a contest too?"

"...Which one? The Magic Tool Crafting Contest? I'm confident now. I trained really hard and came back, so..."

"No. The Cross-dressing Contest."

The reason I couldn't immediately refuse Yeon-hwa's absurd suggestion was...

"...D-don't wanna... I don't want to enter..."

"Ha-yul doesn't want to? I want to see you cross-dress though..."

"Uuuh..."

"Then how about this? I'll enter the Male-dressing Contest too, so Ha-yul enters the Cross-dressing Contest too. Hm?"

"Uuhh... that's... I..."

"Hm-m? You won't? I really want to see it... I want to enter together and make some good memories with Ha-yul..."

Yeon-hwa's gaze pinned me in place.

Inside her crimson eyes I could see longing, anticipation, desire, something closer to lust... and many other emotions reflected.

"Uuh... o-o-okay..."

Under the hands that kept kneading my bottom and the weight of Yeon-hwa's earnestness, I couldn't hold out any longer. I gave a tiny, quiet nod.

"Really? Thank you, Ha-yul!"

- Mwah.

"Ehehe..."

Yeon-hwa pressed a kiss to my lips, then pushed her chest forward while cradling my head. Buried in that chest, I let out a bashful smile. Immersed in that blissful sensation, even the regret over the choice I'd just made seemed to have evaporated entirely, somewhere far away.

.

.

.

'Fuck.'

【Fucking hell.】

The next day, the regret bobbed right back to the surface.

Waking with Seo-yul cradled in my arms, the curse slipped out of me before I knew it.

It was autumn, soon to become winter.

* * *

【Player Correction System : Measurement】

▶Title

｢Easy-to-Handle Child｣