Chapter 33 - Better Than Just Holding Hands

* Chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chomp chop chop *
Inside the bunker, where tomorrow would be just like today. After somehow finishing the formal bow, Sora and I had toured the bunker and were now enjoying the welcome party.

"This candy is truly beautiful. It's such a shame that it disappears when you eat it."

What should we try next? Eating the green grape-flavored candy, which proudly occupied one spot on the list. As soon as the party started, Sora had taken an interest in the candy.

"Um... Sora? That one's super sweet and delicious. How about trying one instead of just staring at it?"

She'd shown interest, piled a bunch in her hand, and kept staring at them.

"No. For now, I'm more fascinated just looking at them like this than eating them. I'll enjoy them a bit longer."

I'd been startled when she suddenly unwrapped all the candies, but figured there must be a reason and watched. And now she'd been frozen like that for dozens of minutes.

"Haha... Okay, Sora. Then when you're ready to try something else later, just call me? I need to raise the chicken post quickly."

"Understood. Thank you for your consideration, Rain."

Did she like the sparkling pale green beads? I thought I should give her anything shiny like jewels next time, as I invited the naturally curious elder into the chat room.

That much...? No, I'd been too naive. A nation enduring famine for 50 years. It was wrong to even assume they had money for small luxuries. I should've released ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cheaper foods first, then chicken after the fertilizer showed effects...

Seeing Falken and Walter so excited must've clouded my judgment. But the ad was already out. No turning back now. Put chicken in the shop first, then something cheaper.

"Yes."

I immediately sent the beer to Valerian, then turned my gaze toward Sora. Oh, she finally put a candy in her mouth. Closing her eyes to savor it, she looked like a painting.

So... this beauty would be living with me here from now on? My head was already spinning.

Sitting on the sofa, I seriously considered bunker expansion while admiring her. After some time like that, Sora suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked my way.

"My mana is almost depleted. I have about 10 minutes left to maintain this body."

"Huh? There's a time limit?"

I asked in surprise. A summon with a time limit felt off...

"Yes. Since my body isn't fully formed yet, a lot of mana leaks out. Normally, it would be about an hour..."

Sora was trailing off more than usual today. It felt fresh compared to her text chats.

"There's a way, right? Don't worry about me—just tell me. I'll help within my ability."

Within my ability! I knew nothing about mana, so I couldn't promise everything. But that vague phrasing seemed enough; Sora's lips curved slightly as she thanked me.

"Thank you. Since you can help, Rain, I'll gladly accept."

With that, she set the candy on the table and strode toward me without hesitation. In this unpredictable situation, I froze solid.

Sora stood neatly before me and continued.

"After the body summon completed, I touched your body to fix your awkward sleeping position."

Touching my body? The phrasing felt weirdly off.

"For some reason, mana flowed from your body into me."

"?"

Mana in my body? Why? I just tilted my head at the incomprehensible story.

"Using that phenomenon could dramatically extend my body maintenance time."

"Uh... so, body contact?"

"Yes. Even this morning, while you slept, I held your hand to absorb mana."

So that's why she was holding my hand when I woke up. I'd wondered if it was some advanced flirting. Guess not. Maybe that's why I felt a bit down.

Suddenly, my head cooled, and I accepted readily.

"If you need it, Sora, you can hold on all day. But does contact area matter? More contact might mean more mana and longer maintenance."

A pure question, no ulterior motives. Holding hands... no, if there's a more efficient way than holding hands, better to do it.

"I hadn't considered that. It's a highly plausible hypothesis. Let's test it now."

Sora immediately pulled me into a hug. So bold. Full of presence. The soft sensation contrasted her demeanor. Feeling her embrace, I gently closed my eyes.

"Definitely, more mana is flowing in. The effect is clear. Any discomfort in your body, Rain?"

"Huh? Oh, no. Doesn't feel uncomfortable or anything."

If anything, it's too good. Hug recharges mana? I love this world.

As I basked in that happiness, Sora spoke.

"With this amount of mana, we might not just maintain but recover the body. For faster recovery, I'll change to a form that uses less mana."

With that, she pulled away. I felt empty from the sudden loss of bliss. A low-mana form?

"Sora? Are there multiple forms?"

"Yes. This one's actually farther from my original form than the human shape."

Original form... Sad to lose the beauty that makes me happy just being near, but for recovery, no choice.

"Then after changing, shall we test again? If it helps your recovery, we'll try anything."

"Thank you for your consideration. I'll change the body form now. There will be a strong light, so please close your eyes."

Do all creatures here glow when transforming? I inwardly chuckled at landing in a world where eye candy is daily life, closed my eyes, and covered them with my arm for safety.

Confirming I was ready, Sora said,

"Then, beginning."

With that, the living room filled with intense light. It gradually faded. I kept my eyes covered just in case, waiting for Sora to speak.

"?"

A gallery alert rang out. Wondering what it was, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cautiously opened my eyes and glanced at the screen.

The request to look below, in Sora's speech style? Why message via screen when she's right there? Curious, I looked down as instructed.

And at the end of my gaze—

A cute tiger cub sat there.

"...Sora?"

Startled, I pointed and confirmed.

The despairing confirmation that it was indeed Sora. Devastating news. Overwhelmed by emptiness, I couldn't speak for a while.

Living with a beautiful woman? No—now it was confirmed as solo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠life with a cute tiger cub and two doggos.