Meeting is easy, but parting is hard.
Meeting is easy, but parting is hard. They say the truly beautiful person is the one who knows when it's time to leave. So before the sun rose, while the sky was still tinged with a deep blue, I dragged my heavy feet onward.
I'd already told Lina. I was leaving before dawn, so she didn't need to see me off. I'd hammered it in ahead of time, just in case she decided to come anyway.
...Though I couldn't shake the feeling she would.
Thud—thud—
"I told you, you don't have to come out."
"Yawn... If I don't see you now, who knows when I'll get to again. How could I not come...?"
As expected. Lina had been out there since the crack of dawn. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep as she rubbed them and let out a yawn. Her hair was a little messy, and her voice was lower than usual. She knew she'd be tired getting up this early, but there was only one reason she'd come out anyway.
The last time.
She stood there pretending it was no big deal, but her eyes told the truth. They said she regretted this parting enough to brave the fatigue.
I averted my gaze and muttered, "Sis, you really didn't have to come out."
But deep down, I was grateful she had.
Memories of last night's sweet kiss kept flooding back. It had been so sweet. We'd been close enough to tangle breaths, our hearts pounding like they might burst. The fact that Lina was my first kiss... honestly, it made me so happy.
I'd thought it impossible to even be friends with someone so dazzling, but before I knew it, we'd gone beyond friends—almost lovers. Any third party looking on would've mistaken us for a couple, no doubt. The air between us had been that sweet.
Up until that kiss last night, I'd tried to deny it. We were just close like sister and brother. So if I left like this, time would make me forget. But once we'd confirmed each other's feelings, denial was no longer an option.
I liked her, and she liked me. Now that I knew, I couldn't pretend otherwise.
...This has thrown the original story off track.
In the game, Lina Estelle never got involved with a background character like 'Ian.' There was no reason or chance for them to get this close. But my possession changed everything. I'd become a variable in her life.
By now, I'd carved out a place in a corner of her heart. My plan to avoid messing with the original flow had gone off the rails from the start.
Of course, she might forget me. She could get tired of waiting and find someone better, starting a new love. Even if that happened... I wouldn't regret it. I wanted her to be happy.
In the game, she wasn't a character I obsessed over. I liked her well enough, but it was just as a player appreciating her utility.
But meeting her for real, spending time together, laughing, bickering, kissing—how could I not develop feelings? What man wouldn't fall for a woman like her?
Even in the month since I possessed this body, countless guys had hit on her, thrown flirtations her way. The inn's nature only amplified it. I'd hover nearby for no reason, jealousy making me stick close. Lina, whether she knew my feelings or not, would sidle up to me and smoothly defuse the situation. Like she was using me.
...Maybe that's when things started shifting between us.
In the end, it wasn't some grand fate or the world's will that derailed the story—it was my personal desires. Jealousy. Greed. Not wanting to let go. Those emotions piled up to create us now.
Still, no regrets. Even if it veered the story off course, even if a butterfly's wingbeat could spawn a storm—I wouldn't deny the time we laughed together.
That month was one of the warmest periods in my life.
"You're really leaving? No second thoughts?"
"Yeah. I'm bummed too... but no choice."
My voice caught a little. It really was unavoidable. Staying here with Lina, tending the little inn, living a cozy life—that wouldn't be bad. Honestly, it'd be plenty happy.
But stopping there meant facing unforeseen variables someday. This world wasn't kind enough to let a peaceful rural village stay safe forever.
So parting now was safer for both of us. Not forever, of course. I'd come back someday. By then, I'd be strong enough to protect myself—and her.
She treasured me, and I treasured her just as much. That's why. I didn't want to lose her. To stay together, we had to part for now. She needed to grow, and so did I. This farewell wasn't giving up—it was just taking the long way around.
I looked at her and quietly added, "Wait for me. I'll come back for sure."
"Sigh..."
Lina let out a small sigh at my unchanging answer. She really hated this parting. So did I. But what could we do? It was the better choice for both.
"If I'd known it'd be like this... maybe I should've let things go further last night..."
"Huh?"
Wait. Lina? What're you saying?
She looked up at me with half-lidded eyes and slowly placed a hand on her lower belly.
"If you'd held me... you never would've left."
My mind went blank.
"Wh-what do you mean...?"
One hug and I wouldn't leave? ...Honestly, no clue. I'd never held a woman before. But I didn't think one impulse would've broken my resolve.
"Yesterday was a dangerous day for me."
...Hold up. Scratch that. Cancel everything I just thought. That was way too close!
"......"
My mind blanked out completely. Lina's dangerous day? Is that why we'd stopped last night? I'd almost been stuck here forever as the inn's helper.
"Today's safe, though..."
Slowly. Lina took a step closer. I swallowed hard—the sound echoed hugely. Time stretched. Her footsteps looked like slow motion. My body froze. I wanted to run, but I couldn't move.
Thud—thud—
And suddenly, she was right there.
"...Won't you hold me before you go?"
A bomb. A real bomb. What do I do? Should I turn her down this time? No... pushing her away now would mean—
My head spun in chaos. Was refusing her offer here the right call? Or making one last memory before leaving?
"Answer me."
"Ugh..."
Lina pressed. Like she wouldn't let me run. Like she wouldn't let me look away. Her hands gripped my face.
Thump—thump—
My heart raced wildly. Had it ever pounded this hard? This might be the most tense moment of my life.
No more hesitation. Staying silent would be rude to her. So I—made my choice.
Smack—
"Eep..."
I gently brushed back her bangs and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. Then, slowly and carefully, I pulled her into a hug.
"This is what you get for tempting me, sis."
Yeah, if not now, when? I held her close.
"Eek...?!"
Her surprised breath grazed my ear. Princess carry. I scooped her up and headed to her room. I'd been there a few times, so no hesitation—I opened the door and went in.
Carefully, I laid her on the bed.
Thump—thump—
My heart wouldn't calm. The air in the room felt scorching.
"Ha-ah, chuup..."
The kisses started again. Deeper, hotter this time. Lina instinctively pressed her chest against me, pulling me close. So I couldn't escape. To feel our body heat even nearer. Her arms around my neck tightened.
"Ha-ah, chuup... chuuuup—"
Breaths tangled. A faint lemon scent seeped into my mouth. The taste of her saliva from last night—still sweet, still novel. No time to get used to it; my heart reacted first.
I moved my hand slowly. Very slowly. No rushing. Like a proper gentleman. My fingertips brushed her hem.
First time. Touching a woman's clothes like this. I tugged gently, and the fabric slid down easier than expected. Like it had been waiting for this.
I paused, breath held, gazing at her. No hesitation.
"Ahh... haa... haa... Ian..."
She averted her face briefly, baring her breasts. Like guiding me to touch.
"Touch me... more, more... hold me."
"...Yeah, sis."
No refusing. I'd already touched her—I was seeing this through.
"Ha-ah, chuup..."
"Haaang...!"
I pressed my mouth to her breast. So soft. The softest thing I'd ever had in my mouth. Heavenly, really.
My fingers slipped inside her underwear. Slowly, gently, so it wouldn't hurt. Soft caresses.
"Ahh, haaaang...!"
Lina's back and waist trembled faintly. Lewd sounds of her wetness and my fingers echoed from between her legs.
Embarrassed by that? "Ahh, haang...! Ha-ah... I-Ian..." Her face flushed crimson. Was it the unfamiliar moans from her own mouth, or the sounds filling the quiet room? Couldn't tell.
But—those red cheeks, those quivering eyes. The way she looked away only to meet my gaze again... it felt strangely lovable.
Usually so confident, skilled, a step more adult than me—she seemed clumsy now. And that shook my heart even more.
I chuckled softly and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Embarrassed?"
I whispered, and her face burned hotter. That reaction was cute too—so I kissed her cheek.
"Lina sis..."
"Yeah... Ian..."
"I love you..."
"Me too..."
The short confession melted into the air. And again—
"Ha-ah, chuup—"
Lips met. Deeper this time... longer. Breaths tangled, body heat drawing closer. My fingers didn't stop. No rushing. No forcing. So she wouldn't hurt. Wouldn't feel anxious. Slowly. Carefully. Watching her reactions, feeling her breaths and shivers.
Lina's hands gripped my shoulders tight. Like telling me not to run. Like she wouldn't let go.
I whispered my love once more.
"...I love you."
.
.
.
