Second Coupling
It had been nearly a fortnight since Netoru, through Karen's help, began blending into the 393rd Unit in the 39th Sector.
────! It was lunchtime, same as always.
—Damn it! Again!?
—No peaceful days this week either!
Suddenly, pilots from teens to early-to-mid-twenties, men and women alike, started rushing about in a frenzy. A small group of bugs had been spotted in the commander's scouting zone today as well. Amid the scramble to board their Holy Knights for sortie, Karen and Netoru were among the rare few gearing up to join. They were set to participate in this battle too.
…Alright. I can do this.
The Holy Knight's tuning, handled by Maintenance Chief Asuna, was perfectly complete, ready for immediate launch. Feeling the tight, familiar squeeze of the pilot suit after so long, Karen lay down on the cockpit seat and began adjusting her position. Lifting her hips slightly to find the optimal coupling posture, her breasts pressed irregularly against the seat, squishing and bunching up.
How long had she been holding that pose on the cockpit seat? Soon, small magic circles bloomed around her, running through various procedures. Finally, a large one rose, slowly scanning her entire body. It was the process to verify the Holy Knight's 'key'.
Once the magic circle finished scanning Karen's body, another one appeared from the cockpit seat where she lay. Having confirmed the Holy Knight's 'key', it was now time to link the female pilot's consciousness with the machine. Commonly called connecting.
The connecting magic circle was etched below the cockpit seat—precisely around Karen's lower abdomen. Feeling her mana nerve system, inscribed above her uterus, link with the Holy Knight through it, Karen let out a shallow moan between her lips.
"Ah… ngh…."
She could never get used to it, no matter how many times. It felt like something was being inserted into her body, much like in man-woman relations. Mindful that Netoru would soon enter the cockpit, Karen focused on stifling the sound. It was embarrassing to let him hear something like this.
But Netoru, oblivious to her efforts, finally climbed into the cockpit and said casually,
"This makes our second coupling."
"…Yeah."
His voice was as flat and impassive as ever—that inscrutable tone unique to Netoru, who never revealed what he was thinking. But she couldn't let her guard down. Karen clearly remembered how he'd acted on the first day. Even though circumstances forced this coupling now….
She swallowed, tensing her body.
…This time, I need to keep my head straight.
No way was she letting it devolve into the mess of their first time. Karen repeatedly warned herself not to let him seize control so easily. They'd even made some promises beforehand, just in case—but she doubted he'd keep them properly. From the past few days, she'd seen Netoru was more brazen and self-willed than she'd imagined.
Then, as Netoru positioned himself behind her for coupling, he murmured low,
"Karen. You know something?"
"What?"
"From my experience, the prettier the woman, the better the coupling partner."
"Wh-what? Out of nowhere…."
"Meaning you're a good coupling partner."
"……?"
For a moment, she blinked in confusion, then caught his meaning and clamped her mouth shut like she'd swallowed honey. Crazy bastard. What the hell is he saying all of a sudden? Her mind was already a whirlwind trying to hold onto control, and now this cringeworthy line slipped right through, igniting a flush of embarrassment. Her face burned as if she'd just received a confession.
What? Suddenly? What does he mean by that?
Was he indirectly calling her pretty right now? The more she mulled it over, the more absurd it felt. Slowly turning to look back, her eyes met his. But Netoru's gaze was calmly steady, unlike hers.
He said, with his usual unshaken eyes,
"Karen. Relax your body. You'll just make it harder on yourself."
"…You."
Was this his idea of a joke? She had no idea how he'd known without even looking, but apparently her tension was plain as day to him. Realizing that, Karen whipped her head forward again. Then, in her most serious tone,
"…Cut the nonsense and remember what I said."
Over the past few days, Karen had made efforts to get closer to Netoru—to match their coupling wavelengths. And they'd made some promises, one being no 'rough' piloting.
"Karen. But why push yourself to fight like this?"
"…Like this?"
Suddenly, what was this nonsense? Karen furrowed her brow slightly.
"You told me before. Don't regret it after someone dies."
Karen didn't enjoy fighting bugs. She just feared watching her comrades die helplessly from the sidelines. Like it or not, they were family now. Plus, there were younger ones than her: Kanzaki, Jane, Pera, Kyoko…. How could she stand by while kids like that fought?
Impossible.
"So I'll fight as far as my body can handle without strain."
As long as she avoided reckless maneuvers. Sure, it might limit her full potential in battle, but it beat wasting away idly in the base. The whole unit had discussed and agreed. Some tried to dissuade her, saying no need for such risky coupling, but her resolve was firm.
"Well…. If that's how you feel."
"……"
Netoru muttered as if convinced. But what was that? She couldn't quite tell, but he seemed to be smiling. Curiosity piqued, just as Karen turned back to check his face—
"Eek!?"
Her body jolted suddenly. A sharp tingle raced through her nerves. Netoru had abruptly gripped the Holy Knight's control stick without warning.
"Kyaa?!"
He pulled back and shook it experimentally, making her body sway along with the Holy Knight. Currently, Karen was assimilated with the machine via her lower abdomen's mana nerve system. So every movement of the stick reverberated through her.
…Ah! I said don't handle it roughly!
Just like their first coupling—zero warning, all on his whim. But she decided to endure for now. It had been a while for him too, so he needed time to get the feel before launch. After a few light arm and leg movements in the hangar, Netoru grumbled dissatisfied,
"…Hm. Sensitivity's still a bit off."
"Ngh…. You…."
Her whole body was already going limp before takeoff. Karen narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at him.
"Too bad, but can't be helped. Then…."
But he brushed it off lightly, lost in thought. His overly serious look made her give up scolding.
…Ah. Really.
Couldn't afford to bicker right before sortie. With a sigh, she faced forward. Just then, the commander's call came in.
A clear voice accompanied the commander's face materializing inside the Holy Knight's cockpit, refracted light forming Rien's image. Karen nodded.
"Yes. I'm fine."
Karen smiled inwardly at Commander Rien's words. She said that, but her blue eyes gazing at Karen brimmed with worries. Was it really okay to allow their coupling? The doubt was plain in her gaze.
"…I'll do my best."
Thanks to that, Karen could only force a smile for her fretful commander.
Having to couple with someone for battle? To Netoru, coupling was utterly inefficient. Why need two people to fight monsters? Too many cooks spoil the broth—as the saying went, mismatched thoughts at key moments could twist a winnable fight into disaster.
Even if this was the anime setting, Holy Knights were flawed from initial development. That said, he didn't hate coupling entirely. From an average guy's perspective, it was quite the visual treat.
"…Hm."
Inside the Holy Knight's cockpit, Netoru quietly held his breath, unnoticed by Karen. Still oblivious, she adjusted her posture on the seat for coupling. He couldn't tear his eyes away.
Fresh yet paradoxically brimming with sexual allure—her movements, backed by her stunning figure. Yet Karen maintained an elegant, non-decadent poise on the seat, like a racing model at a motorshow. Probably unintentional, but her positioning exuded a tantalizing allure that stirred male urges. Especially her breasts squished against the seat, spilling sideways—a sight in itself. The pilot suit's tightness revealed a thin cleft between her firm glutes, unhidden. A feast no ordinary man could ignore.
Netoru barely restrained his hand from unconsciously reaching toward her lower body, swallowing dryly instead. Plenty of partners enjoyed skinship in the cockpit pre-sortie. The coupling posture itself was impure, designed to arouse—so not doing so would be abnormal. But not with Karen yet. One wrong move here, and he'd get slapped like last time.
…Natsuo, was it?
From what he'd gathered, she and that Natsuo kid were close. Three years coupling—that was a long relationship. Both just 19, so they'd likely coupled since training academy. Not your average bond.
But it didn't matter. Netoru licked his dry lips, eyes dropping. Karen had finished connecting; magic circles and the control stick now floated at her slender waist—for him. Not some faceless brat named Natsuo.