Lion's Roar Training #10
Lion's Roar Training #10
"A massage! Why won't you give me one?"
A resolute look.
Leona stared at me with smoldering eyes and said that.
"Wait, Leona? You wanted a massage?"
"Save the excuses!"
Isn't that a little too brazen an answer?
"I want a massage from Kim Geun-cheol too! Give me one too! After I looked after you so much, you do it for Woo Yu-ri and not me...! I can't take this injustice! I'm telling you, raising you was useless!"
What do you mean useless!
"Alright, alright! Calm down, Leona! I'll give you one!"
"Hmph! At this point, the only thing left is to just accept your groveling! It's already too late!"
Leona, thoroughly sulking, crossed her arms and turned her head to the side, making a show of just how annoyed she was. The apples she'd been peeling were even all tossed back into the basket.
No...!
"I'll do it! Let me do it!"
"Hmph!"
"Please! My heart truly desires it!"
So I begged Leona profusely.
"Hnnn."
At that, Leona turned her head slightly toward me and, like some wealthy aristocratic young lady, spoke.
"You want to do it that badly? Well, in that case, I have no choice but to accept."
"Look at you flip the switch! Just how badly did you want a massage?"
"Well, you see."
"You were that desperate to taste the Kim Geun-cheol massage? Leona?"
She must have actually wanted one, because her face turned red. In that state, Leona twirled the ends of her hair.
"It's just, you know! That sort of thing! Getting a massage and, uh... that good, like... I raised you, you did well! Don't you know the embodiment of that feeling!"
She shouted, her accent carrying that uniquely Korean intonation, like it was all about looking on the bright side.
"So, are you going to do it or not?"
"I'll do it!"
"Yes!"
Deal sealed.
"Phew. Now I can feel what satisfaction is. So, Kim Geun-cheol? What is it, anyway? You never even mentioned massages. How on earth did you suddenly end up giving Woo Yu-ri one?"
"Hey, I told you. I felt bad because of the whole Ahn Do-min thing."
"You felt bad so you offered to give her a massage first...? Like, 'I'm so sorry, let me give you a massage'? Were you just dying to touch Woo Yu-ri's shoulders like that, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"For crying out loud!"
I've been framed!
"That's not it... Leona. I felt so bad that I said I'd do anything. So Yu-ri was like, you know, 'Then give me a massage or something.' She told me to do it that way, so I did."
I started to feel like I was being interrogated for some reason.
Looking at it, Leona's probably feeling wronged because the guy she looked after so well didn't do it for her at all, and only did it for Yu-ri... But if it's for Leona, I'd do it as much as she wants.
"Hmm... So that's how it happened."
Having heard the explanation, Leona stroked her chin and nodded.
"Good. I've grasped the situation. Now let me try this massage from Kim Geun-cheol, too."
"Turn around. I'll show you the skill of a master artisan."
—Fwap!
Leona immediately turned around to show me her back. Then she gathered her hair with a swish, sweeping it forward over her neck to leave her shoulders clearly visible.
But Leona's in a hoodie right now.
"Give it your best shot!"
"Alright!"
If she wants a massage, of course I should give it to her. Without a second thought, I reached out and placed my hands—plunk—onto Leona's shoulders.
"Hngk!"
But Leona tensed her shoulders with a jolt and flinched her upper body.
"What? Leona. Are you ticklish?"
"It's a little ticklish...!"
"Relax. I'll show you the touch of a sommelier."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about? Anyway, just do it."
"Doing it."
—Squeeze.
I applied a little force and kneaded her shoulders.
"Ahp!"
Leona cried out as her upper body went completely rigid!
"Why! Does it hurt?!"
"No, it's just, how should I put it, ticklish...!"
"You're so ticklish you can't even get a massage? Should I stop for now?"
"No, no! Keep going! Stop prohibited!"
"If that's what you want..."
Should I be a little gentler? No. Since she's ticklish, going in harder might actually be better.
Then I'll just do it exactly like I did for Yu-ri.
—Knead, knead.
I put in a bit more strength and worked out Leona's shoulders.
"Nnngh...!"
Since she stopped moving, this level must be right. You normally squirm around if it's ticklish. Spot on.
"How is it? Satisfied? Leona?"
"Mhm... This is a bit nice. More. Press a little deeper, really work it. Use more strength. Since you're using more force, it's less ticklish."
"Like this?"
—Squeeeeeze!
I put even more power into my grip.
"Kh-huk!"
Leona let out a sound, as if it felt incredibly refreshing.
That's the sweet spot.
Let's get serious, then.
"Hold still."
—Knead, knead.
I quickly kneaded her shoulders like I was going to break them, while using my thumbs to press deep into her shoulder blades and rotate with all my strength. Like I was pressing a fingerprint and rubbing it clear.
"This is nice...! This here!"
"You like this?"
"Kim Geun-cheol, you might have a bit of a talent for massages. Honestly. You know how to do so many things. It's so surprising."
Only then did Leona, having completely let go of the tension, lower her head slightly, lean her back into my hands, and release all the strength in her body.
"Heh heh heh, I'm the type who's naturally good at everything. Anyway, Leona. If you want a massage, just tell me. I'll do it for you anytime you want."
"A-anytime...?"
"Yeah. My angel. Ma chérie. With all you've done for me, feel free to ask for something like this whenever."
"Ask for it whenever!"
Leona let out a small cry of realization, then spoke a little more quietly.
"Th-then, while you massage me... hold on."
A slightly hesitant look.
Another request?
"Hold on for what?"
"A little, you know."
"What?"
"Something like, 'You've worked hard, Leona. Leona's the best.' Say something like that. Quickly."
"What?"
Leona being the best is just an obvious fact.
"I'm telling you to praise and glorify me. There, hurry! Do it! Big me up like you always do!"
That kind of request!
"L-Leona...!"
If that's what it is, it's easy.
Because my heart is always overflowing with tributes to Leona!
"Leona, you're truly the best! You're a real angel, an angel! The most beautiful angel in the whole world!"
"Hurk!"
Leona sucked in a breath.
Cutting all preamble, I kept on praising her.
"Leona, you've really worked so hard! Volunteering at the orphanage so often! Guiding your friends so well! You're a noble in the truest sense! Every day is joyful because you're here!"
"Huurrk!"
Another breath burst out.
"In fact, Leona, your very existence is a planetary blessing...! A true blessing itself! That angelic heart and beautiful face bring peace to the world!"
"Huuurrk! Oh, what to do!"
—Clap, clap, clap!
By that point, Leona was clapping and getting all excited!
"That's exactly it! More, more! Praise me more!"
"Your silver hair! It's like the most radiant silver was melted down and spun into silk!"
"Kuhak! It's super cringey! But I love it!"
"If you'd been born in the Middle Ages, you'd just be a saint, a saint! Saint Leona! A great woman herself!"
"Yahoo!"
Finally, Leona jumped up from her chair and shouted.
"Wonderful! That's exactly what I meant!"
Then, completely worked up, she turned to face me and said with a flushed face,
"I'm perfectly worthy of being called a saint!"
Leona really does like it when people talk her up. No. Not just sort of likes it. She just absolutely loves it, even if you're blatant about it.
"If you'd been born in the old days, you'd have been a great person long ago!"
"And it's the same now. Ooh! The heir of Mister Dominators! Later, inherit your family and make Europe even greater! That is your destiny, Leona!"
"That's my destiny...!"
Leona clenched her fist.
"Khahk!"
She placed a hand over her heart.
"I've exceeded the limit of joy...! Kim Geun-cheol, you are also amazing! To be this good at singing praises!"
"Satisfied?"
"Absolutely! Great at massages, great at praise, you can do anything! Completely satisfied!"
"Well, I guess I've properly repaid you for helping me get this far. All that aside, thanks for coming to visit me, Leona. I can't believe you came the moment I called."
I was really grateful for that.
"Well, it goes without saying. Phew. But maybe it's from getting that massage? My body feels so refreshed! My fatigue is all gone! Let's go eat jjamppong next time!"
"Th-that's fine! I don't hate it!"
Strange, I think I'm getting addicted too. I'm seized by the urge to dip my tongue into that spicy broth.
"Heh heh heh, ah. So tomorrow's the weekend. Shall we eat while talking about the student council president stuff?"
"Tomorrow sounds good. Let's go."
But she seriously seems like she wants to be student council president.
"Alright."
Leona's face settled into one of perfect contentment as she placed her hands on her hips. There she was, practically radiating a halo, when suddenly.
"..."
Her posture began to loosen and her face went red.
"Leona?"
"Erm... So, Kim Geun-cheol, you were touching my shoulders like that, so..."
"What about it?"
"S-so mercilessly touching me... uhm..."
"Why?"
What's the issue?
"W-Well, I'll be off now then!"
"Off where? Let's go together. I'm getting discharged too."
"I have urgent business, so I'll head out first!"
—Whoosh!
And just like that, Leona vanished in a blur, the same way she'd arrived. I didn't think she'd bolt so suddenly.
"Heh heh heh, she's so cute."
Seems she got embarrassed about rampaging and celebrating so much. To me, it's just how she always is, so it doesn't really matter. Leona does have that hot-blooded streak where she just goes all-out once she starts going off.
It's not like it's my first or second time seeing her jump for joy like that. But, I guess from Leona's perspective, celebrating wildly over being praised might feel great in the moment, but in hindsight, it could come off a little embarrassing.
"Well, should I get going too?"
I got right up, took off the hospital gown, and changed into my own clothes, which had been neatly set aside.
Gotta get a clean discharge.
"..."
Ah, but.
"Leona."
Her shoulders were really warm. And earlier, while I was massaging her, I checked her shoulder blades, but there were no wings.
An angel who hides her wings... that's precious.