It's Fine Between Friends
Am I the only one sensing that things are veering into weird territory? I've been practically dragged to Serina's house, barely threw on a thin slip of clothing, but even that's soaked through with some mysterious liquid, the fabric plastered transparently against my skin, revealing my flesh underneath, while sticky hands roam all over it. Yeah, it feels a little—just a tiny bit—off.
"But Lily."
"Uh, y-yeah…?"
"We're just touching your body, right?"
"Yeah… seems like it…."
"Lily. If you're sleepy, go ahead and sleep."
It's no wonder Serina's urging me like that. My eyes are already half-closed for real. But no. I can't sleep right now. I cling to my foggy mind and force out the words, one by one.
"Dana… told me not to stay out overnight…."
"…Oh? Then you can't sleep, huh."
Serina presses firmly into my calf, which she'd been kneading so gently. It hurts—a little of the sleepiness fades. I let out a pathetic hic.
"G-Gently…."
"Okay."
Her touch, which had turned rough for a moment, goes back to being soft and sweet. The scent of the incense filling the room wafts over me, spreading through my whole body, and I melt into drowsiness again. Doze, doze—I'm right on the edge of sleep now. But for some reason, the sensation of her hands on me stays crystal clear, making me breathe raggedly without thinking, a unfamiliar thrill sweeping through my entire body….
"Lily. You're sweating buckets."
"It's hot…."
"Hee hee hee."
Have I ever let anyone touch me like this in my whole life? Not that I can remember. Turns out being touched feels good. I think it hazily.
"You know, back during PE earlier. You have no idea how much trouble you caused."
"Why…?"
"You kept squirming around. Rubbing up against me the whole time…."
"Sorry…?"
"So, it's your fault, Lily. Right?"
"Yeah…."
Is it? If Serina says so, then probably. Hearing a girl as endlessly sweet as her say I put her in a tough spot—that's a capital crime if there ever was one. Yeah. My bad. I messed up. Should I apologize…? While I'm pondering that, her hands stop. Curiosity cuts through the sleepiness; I look up at Serina's face. She's wearing a strange expression. Her puppy-dog eyes have drooped even lower. An inexplicable guilt clouds her whole face, leaving her looking either sulky or on the verge of tears—I can't tell which—as she gazes at me. Her eyes seem to waver, then her head droops. She looks like a criminal who's committed some unspeakable sin.
But moments later, when she lifts her head again, Serina's face has completely changed. I can't quite read what thought birthed that expression. All I can say is her cheeks are flushed deep red.
"Ahh…."
"…."
The hand stroking my calf slides higher. It tickles behind my knee, then a little more. I instinctively pull my legs together.
"Lily. Spread your legs."
Her tone is strangely commanding. It doesn't suit Serina at all. She's not the type to talk like that. She's always all, Will you let me do this for you~? or Shall we~? coaxing gently. So why now? The thought hits me as odd, and I try to sit up. But my body won't obey. It's too heavy. Well, yeah—I was basically asleep. So sleepy…. I decide to just do as Serina says. Feels like I'd get in trouble if I didn't. I relax my legs, surrendering my body to her. Her cool, damp hand glides past my knee, inward, brushing the soft inner thigh I'd been clenching shut.
"Ah, ah…!"
Lightning cracks through my head. My hips lift off the bed; my body freezes, but not from sleepiness this time. What? What's happening? I'm not the only one panicking—Serina freezes too, her movement halting abruptly. Ah. This time, I can tell exactly. Her face fills with ecstasy. She speaks softly, as if what just happened to me was no big deal.
"It's okay. No need to freak out."
"No, this… feels weird…."
"Did it feel bad?"
"Not… exactly…."
"So sensitive, Lily."
Me, sensitive? Never crossed my mind before, so I miss my chance to argue. In that gap, Serina starts kneading my thigh again, this time more persistently than before. I can only manage ah, ah sounds, like some broken machine. It's just her touching my thigh, that's all. But it's hot. My body's burning up; I crave something cold. Luckily, Serina's hands are still cool. Insanely so, compared to me. Now I'm the one lifting my hips, rubbing my thigh against her cold palm like I'm offering myself up. Ah. Feels so good… Just a little more, please….
But only for a moment. Serina suddenly pulls her hand away.
"Wh-Why…?"
I react like a kid whose candy got snatched. More, touch me more, let me grind more—I can't hide the desperate look in my eyes. Then an alarm blares in my head. This is wrong, my trauma switch flips with a click, trying to hold me back. But right now, I don't even know what that means. My heart's screams don't reach my body fully. So my mouth asks her intent again.
"Why…?"
Serina hesitates. Same expression as before she really started groping me—the one that made me tremble.
"If I keep going wild here, you'll push me away, right Lily?"
"…."
No. No way. So hurry up…. My body thrashes, but now my heart holds it back. That old resolve I made to myself seals my lips. As if her words are spot-on. Watching my reaction, Serina smiles bitterly.
"Guess it's already risky now."
"…."
"…."
Her eyes tremble pitifully, as if sensing what's coming. But I can't even voice that tiny sympathy. Silence fills the hot room. Precisely, until I get so worked up I can't even think straight.
…
Something snaps in my head with a pop, and I'm begging her almost. Tongue, throat, lips—out of control, words spill out on their own.
"No, I won't. I won't do that. Never…."
"Really…?"
"So, hurry up…."
"…I'm only doing this because you want it. Right?"
"…."
"You messed up, so you can't pull away from me…?"
"…Yeah."
My resolve, crumbling with time, couldn't beat my body's raw desire in the end. What an idiot. I feel a little pathetic. But only briefly. Soon my eyes are misty, nodding for forgiveness. Intent clear: More. It's okay. Permission granted. Serina smiles gently. Looks relieved.
"It's fine. I won't do anything you'd hate me for…."
"…."
"Just up to what you can forgive me for today."
First time "today" ever sounds scary. Serina's usual eye-smile hides some resolve I can't fathom, a ominous hunch that no matter what, I can't shake this girl off. I freeze solid. My head lists dozens of manuals for snapping these absurd yuri flags, but none seem workable. I can't act on them…. Her touch resumes, and my mind blanks again. Body boiling like it's dipped in lava, my lips—stripped of words—only leak embarrassing noises. Every time I whimper Serina, Serinaaa, she smiles satisfied, strokes my hair, praises how cute I am. I whine like a spoiled kid.
"I… shouldn't be doing this…."
"It's fine. Nothing special about it."
Every time guilt sprouts inside me, she explains how this is totally normal. I buy it. Oh, right. Massaging shoulders, soles, calves, thighs—yeah, not a big deal at all. Not lewd in the slightest. No one could call it anything special. If it'd gone further, maybe, but Serina really stops right there, which sells it. Red handprints on pale thighs? I can forgive that much. Sure, it's not something classmates do, but… mm, well, friends then. Friends with Serina. Now even when she strokes deep inside my thigh, I don't react as wildly. I like the warmth. Feels like connecting with someone. It's been so long since I felt this. Just… nice. Comfortable. Good. More, yeah, I won't complain. Between friends. Just a bit longer….
And at some point.
I pass out cold.