Chapter 26: Kiss to Break the Hypnosis (3)
After resonance practice ended, it was lunchtime.
I was packing my bag to head to the cafeteria with Hayeon when someone tapped my shoulder.
"Hey... Eunha, right? Got a sec?"
Turning around, I saw the male student I'd been paired with earlier in practice, fidgeting awkwardly.
"Uh, yeah. You calling me? What's up?"
At my question, the guy blushed and averted his gaze.
...How does he know my name, anyway?
I didn't recognize the guy at all. But he knew me.
The academy's first week had classes by homeroom, so maybe we'd been in the same class then, but I had no memory of him.
"Uh, well... You were so impressive during practice earlier. If you've got time, wanna grab lunch together?"
It was the hunting I'd half-expected. I sighed and shook my head firmly.
"Sorry, I've got plans. Promised Hayeon we'd eat together. If that's all, I'm heading out."
I thought I'd refused politely enough and turned to leave, but the guy suddenly grabbed my wrist.
Pulled by his tug, my body whipped back around involuntarily.
I had the impulse to snap his wrist clean off, but barely held back.
"Wait! The vibe was great during practice. Can't you at least give me your number?"
"Let go. Practice is just practice. You need to know where to draw the line between work and personal."
I scoffed and shook off his arm. No way was I going easy on some creep grabbing my wrist out of nowhere.
As I tried to make my escape, the guy yelled, face flushed red.
"I'll make it feel even better for you!"
Some weird words hit my ears.
Who does resonance thinking it's all about feeling good...?
But this guy seemed to see it as some kind of pseudo-sexual act thanks to the hypnosis.
Thinking of him as another victim softened my anger a bit.
Not that I had any intention of sitting still and letting him do resonance, of course.
Trying to grab me again? Do I look that easy?
I snatched the guy's reaching arm mid-swing and clamped down hard with my fingers.
"Wh-what... ugh?!"
Crunch. My fingers dug into bone. I applied pressure, feeling him struggle to pull away—but it was futile.
His face twisted in pain. As he screamed and crumpled to the floor, I casually released his arm.
"I told you, I'm not interested. If you pull this rude crap again, it won't end like this."
"O-okay...! S-sorry......"
"Well... I can be your practice partner, so come find me then."
After grinding dungeons and leveling up, I was pretty strong. My traits already made me way above my classmates, and my growth was fast.
Unhypnotized, I was practically invincible.
After scarfing down lunch in the student cafeteria, we settled on a bench behind the school.
Hayeon sipped her drink in silence for a while before suddenly staring at me intently.
"Eunha, that guy earlier... why'd you turn him down so firmly?"
"Huh? 'Cause he's a total stranger, duh. You think grabbing my wrist to ask for lunch feels good?"
"But during practice... you seemed so into it. Like you really enjoyed it."
"Me? With him?"
Her question left me speechless.
I wondered if she was teasing, but her serious eyes forced me to answer honestly.
"Practice is just practice. The good feeling was just from the mana surging in—no emotions involved."
"...Really? It was just the mana filling you up that felt good? Not the kissing?"
"Obviously! Why would I like kissing?"
Hayeon pondered my answer for a moment.
Her eyes seemed a bit darker than usual, putting me on edge.
"So it was the mana, not the kiss..."
Her brows furrowed slightly at my response.
Then, as if she'd made up her mind, she gripped my wrist tight.
"Come with me. I need to check something."
Led by her momentum, we headed to a secluded warehouse behind the academy's main building.
How'd she even know about this place? It was dead quiet, no one around.
We scoped out the area before slipping inside. Looked like no one would pass by for a while.
The spot made me tense. Seeing Hayeon so stiff only amped it up.
But her words blew past anything I'd imagined.
"Do resonance with me, Eunha."
"What? You and me... resonance?"
I trailed off in shock. No way this was coming from Hayeon, who'd always hated resonance.
She stared at the floor, face beet red—clearly embarrassed.
Is she hypnotized? Nah, she looks too shy for that.
My own face heated up.
Because I'd imagined our lips meeting.
I shook my head hard to clear the fantasy.
"Th-that might be kinda tough..."
"Huh? Tough how?"
"Can't explain exactly, but just... a bit..."
My body was female, but with a male soul—kissing Hayeon felt like deceiving her.
No way to voice that mess, so I just awkwardly shook my head.
"You did it fine with that random guy you didn't even know. But not with me?"
She snapped, sounding hurt—or maybe a little pissed.
Her intensity shut me up.
She wasn't wrong.
If I could do it with a stranger, what was stopping me with a trusted friend?
I wavered between instinct and reason.
Resonance was no big deal—just close my eyes and get it over with. But my original male identity amplified the guilt.
"Y-you really don't want to...?"
Then Hayeon teared up.
Taking my hesitation as refusal. She looked a bit shocked, too.
The sight of her tears made me squeeze my eyes shut and nod.
"No, no! I was just flustered. Let's do resonance."
This is training. Just training. I repeated it endlessly in my head.
I couldn't taint Hayeon's pure offer—made despite her aversion—with dirty thoughts.
I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut, but Hayeon beat me to it.
"It's my first time, so... be gentle."
"..."
That pitiful sight made me swallow hard. I steadied my trembling heart.
I leaned in slowly. Her breath drew near. Mine reached her too—her eyebrows quivered.
Soon, soft lips met.
Hayeon's lips were plush and moist.
Lip balm, maybe? They tasted sweet.
The first kiss with that random guy? Forgotten in this ecstasy.
"Mm..."
Tense Hayeon shrugged her shoulders. Knowing I had to lead, I carefully worked my lips.
Her stiff lips softened.
My tongue slipped into the gap. Her mouth felt like it was melting.
But something was off.
Our tongues were tangling, but no mana flow.
Why no mana? Is Hayeon too tense?
I kissed her again.
Still no mana exchange.
Frustrated, I shoved my tongue in rougher.
"Ha-mmph, chup, mm...!"
"Mmph... mm!"
But Hayeon wouldn't budge.
It was just kissing—no mana. Pure lip-locking.
Realizing that, I pushed her shoulders away.
"Haah, mm... Hayeon, mana... no mana coming..."
"So, you hate it?"
"N-no... not that, but..."
Ignoring me, she pressed her lips back on.
I knew I shouldn't, but the dizzying pleasure parted my lips anyway.
Activated!
Our tongues stirred each other's mouths again.
My body was already warmed from practice's afterglow.
And with Hayeon as the partner, heat pooled between my legs.
But it wasn't enough.
Stimulation without mana left my core burning.
"Haa... churp, chup♡"
"Ngh, Eunha, mm, mmph...!"
I craved more pleasure, clinging to her and pressing our chests together.
Soft breasts squished against each other. The faint heat from her chest only tormented me.
Like a frog in boiling water, my body heated up more.
Mana piled up inside, overflowing. My longing for the eventual release grew—but Hayeon just passively took my kisses, offering no pleasure.
My mind went blank.
Resonance without mana was torture. It felt good, but missing that final punch.
Unthinkingly, I grabbed her sleeve and dropped to my knees.
"Haa, haa... Hayeon, why... huh? We need resonance..."
"E-Eunha? Snap out of it. This is enough."
"No... don't wanna... more...♡"
I begged, looking up at her.
She hesitated, flustered—but I didn't care.
Mana flowed crudely from my lower belly upward. I wanted to unleash it all now.
Self-relief wasn't an option.
I just wanted her to free me.
Activated!
And... I know how amazing the climax feels after holding back...
"E-Eunha? Snap out of it. I just wanted to show you... that you like resonance even without mana..."
"Don't care... dunno... Hayeooon...♡"
That brain-melting sensation I'd felt so many times.
I couldn't understand why Hayeon wasn't sharing mana.
You suggested it first... that's mean...
It felt like she was just tormenting me.
Unable to control my sensitized body, I collapsed, begging her.
"Hayeon, please... give me mana...♡"
She stared at me with a hardened expression.
Feeling her gaze, my body shuddered uncontrollably.