Kariel's First Kiss
- Hey! Aren't you getting up!? Thwack!
- Ow, it hurts... Stop hitting— Thwack!
- Then do you think I hit you to make it hurt, or not hurt? Ha, you think I don't feel pain?
- Y-you guys are the ones who broke it... My leg won't move...
- Then crawl there! That's what you're best at~! Crawling around like a worm! Your body's always frail like a used rag, so you shouldn't even think about resisting. Right?
Laughter echoed around me. My split lip oozed a metallic taste of blood, which I wiped away roughly with the back of my hand. They were the ones who'd snapped my leg, yet here they were, spouting off so brazenly. I couldn't even muster a retort. Well, I could, but it'd just mean more beatings.
That's how orphanages were. In the boonies of the boonies, a rundown dump no one bothered to glance at. I had no idea why I'd been targeted. Just because I was weak? Born frail from the start. Drop a sickly kid like that into a pit of resentment like an orphanage, and the adults don't give a damn about managing it, while the other kids steer clear, figuring they can't afford to associate with trash like me.
- ...Pfft...
- Huh? Why the hell are you laughing?
- ...Just wondering when I'll die...
Idiot.
I got beaten even worse after that. Unfortunately, the jerk tormenting me was smart to boot. Good at sports, sharp mind, so all the orphanage teachers fawned over him. He was on another level entirely. No matter how hard I worked, they paid me peanuts, and I'd be hacking up blood after a short sprint.
After scraping by in that hellhole for years, I finally aged out into society. I must've been about ten by then. Never really kept track of my age, just went wherever they'd take me. But who hires a scrawny little kid? In the end, I crashed at a homeless shelter on welfare handouts.
That's when I found it by chance. Someone's smartphone. I knew I should return it, but... damn, it was too fun. I scavenged a sparking charger, fumbled through searches with my barely literate reading, trying over and over. Weirdly, no one ever came looking, claiming a lost phone. No CCTV? No witnesses? Or was I just that good at hiding? Anyway, I figured it was pure luck.
I dove into the games folder and stumbled on one. Its protagonist was so cool. Unyielding against injustice, slicing down evil monsters to protect people. White hair whipping in the wind, sparkling eyes gleaming from within—god, so badass. From that day, I snuck plays amid begging runs. The phone vanished sometimes, but I kept it charged religiously.
When I hit the ending of that game which had carved out a chunk of my miserable life, staring at the lack of more story, reality crashed in. It felt like my life was over. This was the only thing keeping me going in this cursed existence, and now it was gone. No more tale. Furious, tears streaming, I poured out a review. At least let the protagonist I loved—Aurelia—have a kid and a happy life. Let that child avoid even a fraction of Aurelia's pain, something worlds apart from my hell. Please, even if just on the surface, grant them a peaceful world.
...Thinking back, it pissed me off. A little frailty's fine. Yeah.
"No updates at all. Guess it's really over."
I powered off the phone. Hoping no one sees this. I picked up a stone from the corner with my scarred hands.
Crack. Smashed it. No one can see it now. Screen's shattered, no more story. It still flickered faintly, but whatever. I turned away slowly, climbed onto the chair. And...
- Gasp... "Kkh... Urk... Khk... Hic..."
This hurts more than I thought. It's fine. That's why I picked something tough and thick. It won't snap. I looked it up—head doesn't pop off; it's oxygen...? Yeah, that gets cut off. So, it'll be okay. Soon... it'll end. Consciousness... fad... ing... Hii... cu... t...
Thank you for the review.
Thank you for being the only one to play our world.
We have updated a new chapter incorporating the Player's feedback.
We hope you are granted a good life.
"..."
Where... am... I... what...
"...Urk... My head... hurts..."
My head suddenly split open with pain... I swear I saw something. Was it all a dream? What the hell were those visions? What kind of memories...
...?
...Nothing. No memories at all. Won't come back. What is this? I held my breath trying to recall, but just dizziness, nothing surfacing. My head throbbed like hammered by a sledge, chest squeezed, breath stifled... Hurts... Hurts...
"...! Kariel, are you okay...?"
In that instant, urgent arms pulled me into a warm embrace. So cozy. Reliable. A scent and presence more trustworthy than anyone. I cracked my eyes open.
"Hic... M-Mommyyy... It hurts... Hic..."
"What happened all of a sudden... Where..."
"My head... hurts so baaad... Hic... So saaad..."
"..."
Gently, warm hands covered my eyelids. Come to think of it... I'd fallen asleep exhausted after the Sword Bestowal Ceremony. Sunlight from the window had faded to tranquil darkness, the room lit by soft lantern glow. And I was...
"...Mommyyy... Don't cover my eyeees..."
"If your head hurts, sleep more. It'll all be fine. Or do you want some healing potion..."
"Nooo... That's not it..."
I shook my head side to side, gripping Mom's hands over my eyes with both of mine. They felt soft and steady, but she was so strong I grunted, barely nudging them aside. Hero's a hero, huh. She probably thought she was using barely any strength.
"If you cover my eyes... I can't see Mommy..."
"..."
"I love Mommy so much and wanna keep looking... See? My head's not hurting anymore just from seeing your face... Hehe..."
"I see..."
Looking at Mom calmed me instantly. All my worries melted away. Her sweet, cozy scent wafting softly, the plush, massive softness under her chin... I loved it all. Outside, she was the cold, stoic, righteous Hero. But holding me like this, she wore only light, soft fabrics to make snuggling easy. I adored that Mom. Worrying if I was hurting, blushing as I whined and acted spoiled. I loved her so, so much. I'm gonna marry a woman just like Mom. Reliable, kind, strong, always protecting me, always looking only at me... Just like... Mom... Like... Mom...
"...Mommy."
"What is it?"
"Mommy won't get remarried, right? Yeah? You won't...?"
"...What brought that on? Remarriage? Why would I? I have no such thoughts."
Mom tilted her head carefully at my words.
"...Hehe... Good..."
I nodded vigorously, burrowing deeper into her embrace. I smooshed my face into her fluffy chest.
"Mmmph..."
"Eek... That tickles... What are you doing with Mother's chest..."
"...It's so squishy... Mommy's super squishy so it's cuz of that... Super squishy... So it's fine..."
"I'll indulge all your babying... but stop now... Hn..."
"Hehe... Mommy... You're not scared of huge dragons, but you get ticklish from me breathing on your chest..."
"Well... When your loving son does this... What mother wouldn't feel it..."
"...You, love me...?"
"Of course. More than anything in this world."
...I love you tons too. My chest tickled. Even without Mom blowing on it. My face heated up. Somehow, this life felt like a gift from someone. Past life was constant pain, but now? Not a bit. So... I can act spoiled now, right?
"Mommy... Kiss me again... No, wait... I don't want just pecks..."
"Hm? What do you— Mmph!?"
- Mwah—
So cozy, squishy, soft. Warm, sweet, fragrant—bliss beyond words. Lips mashed softly, sticky and sweet, rubbing together.
- Smack... "...! Mmph...!"
"Mwah... It's not a kiiiss... Cuz it's a peck..."
Lips pressed on. Sweet scent teased my nose. Dizzying breath filled my sinuses, lungs, head throbbing. I hugged Mom tighter. Plush, jiggly chest rubbed against me. Eyes squeezed shut, lips mashed harder. And...
- Tap tap...
"Th-this... St-stop— If it goes further..."
"Shushhh... Gonna do iiiit... Mwah... Mmm... Chu..."
I tapped her lips. Like knocking with a warm, slender pink something, brushing softly. Mom's body twitched each time. Her arms around me tightened. And... finally, her lips parted slowly.
"Mwah... Smack... Mmm... Mwah... Smooch... Slurp..."
"So sweeeet... Yummy... Mwah... Mommyyy... Mwah..."
So good... Sweet... Mom's mouth feels amazing... Sweetness filled my mouth. Swallowing made my head fuzzy.
"Smooch... Phew... Haa... Mommyyy... Love you... Love you so muuuch..."
"...Y-yes... I love you very much too..."
"So... More pe—kisses... Pwease..."
"..."
Mom averted her gaze, wiping her mouth with her hand. Blushing at my mutter, she slowly moved her hands. One cradled my head gently, the other pulled my butt affectionately.
"...Just for today. Even if your first is with Mother, first experiences are precious..."
"Yeees...? What's thaaat...?"
"...You don't need to know. Just stay safe in my arms."
- Mwah—
Lips met again.
"I love you... Kariel... My son... I truly love you..."
"Smooch... Hehe... Me toooo... Love you..."