Chapter 27: A line I want to cross?

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  "Please start with me"... You say...?!

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  ... Hey, wait a minute, where did you get such a crazy idea?!

  Is it a sign of trust, that no matter how anxious I am, no matter what, she trusts that I wouldn't do it?

  Or is it a strategy to prevent me from crossing a fatal line by setting the first hurdle very high?

  I don't want to trample or hurt Fricka's trust, so in a way it may be very effective, but...!

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  "What? You don't like my body?"

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  "That's a misleading statement!!"

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  I definitely don't want her as a material, but because of her choice of words I'm hesitant to completely reject her...!

  That's not 'that' kind line!

  I don't know if she wants me to cross it or not!!

  N-no no no, I'm just making that assumption and it's probably not what she means... Huh, does that mean I'm just dirty minded...? Like, pretending I'm not interested but actually... Or rather, it's not like I have zero interest in--

  While my head was full of stupid ideas that makes me want to yell 'what about the serious mood from before?'.

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  There was a light thump on my shoulder.

  In my complete confusion, I was unable to resist and was pushed backwards.

  Since I was on a bed, it didn't hurt, though.

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  "So when you don't clearly say 'I don't need it'... Does that mean you've given it some thought?"

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  If I say it like that... Huh? So, it isn't just in my head, it actually has that meaning mixed in...?

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  "... Um, well... Fricka-san? ... Did you phrase like that on purpose...?"

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  "Well, what do you think?"

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  Fricka put her hand at the side of my face, leaning over me and letting out an ambiguous smile.

  Um, uhh... Wait? How did it get to this? Where did all the seriousness from a moment ago go? Well, it was my fault that the mood changed direction, and this was tense in its own way, though.

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  "Rion-sama, please be aware of this."

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  Fricka put her hand on my cheek.

  As if not allowing me to look away.

  She brought her face so close that I could almost feel her breath on me, and whispered softly, but with great emotion.

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  "I will continue to be on your side even if you commit a heinous act."

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  "...!"

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  This... Seems to trying to reassure me, but on the contrary, I feel like I'm being put under intense pressure to "not betray" her.

  She means it literally, there is no ulterior motive, and she has no hidden intentions.

  Fricka would really be on my side no matter what I did. She might not even consider it betrayal in the first pce.

  But I can't stop thinking there. My self-control is being constantly tested.

  She won't act as brakes for me, who is afraid that my own will break. So I must be cautious to never break them myself.

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  Perhaps sensing my nervousness, Fricka added with a wry smile.

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  "But if you absolutely don't want that to happen... You could ask Uru-san. I'm sure she'll stop you even if she has to smack you."

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  "... Ah..."

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  Now that you mention it, that's true.

  It was a misunderstanding to think that only the gods could forcibly stop me, a miko. There was Uru-san, who I couldn't defeat no matter how hard I tried.

  Even if it was futile to prevent it on a conscious level, it was possible to make it impossible to carry out.

  Through pure brute force.

  Her strength is proven by the fact that she has mowed down powerful monsters and saved my life many times.

  ... This is a case where self-control is required, in the sense that I have to be careful not to get spped to death?

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  Why had I forgotten that? There was really something wrong with my head.

  At that moment, the tension in my body finally rexed and I let out a sigh, but Fricka, in contrast, puffed out her cheeks a little.

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  "... I know I shouldn't say this after I was the one who suggested, but... Considering that I wasn't able to reassure you, I'm a little... No, quite jealous."

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  "U-Uhh... I'm sorry."

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  Certainly, it was Fricka who had been so sympathetic and listened to me so patiently.

  If the situation had been resolved as soon as she brought up the Uru, it probably wouldn't have been very pleasant for her.

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  "No, I won't forgive you. Well... You got me dirty earlier, maybe you should be punished for it."

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  "Ugh... I'm very sorry about that too--!"

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  I've been so horrible to Fricka today... I guess it's inevitable that she want to punish me...! I opened my mouth to apologize to her, but... Before I could finish my sentence, it was blocked.

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  By Fricka's lips.

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  "Huh? Wait--"

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  "I won't wait. This is your punishment."

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  I thought she pulled away for a moment, but then she kissed me again after pronouncing my sentence.

  This is unusual for Fricka, who tends to be rather reserved, and she repeats it again, again, and again,

  It's just a light peck, not violently, but over and over again.

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  "~~~~!"

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  Being timid, I just let it happen.

  I was unable to do anything to her, nor was I able to embrace her and accept her more deeply.

  ... I was still not used to it and couldn't stay calm, so I just didn't have the time and energy to do anything... Is that just an excuse?

  The least I could do to put up some resistance... Or rather, as a sign of no resistance... Is pce my hand on Fricka's. She squeezed back tightly, so it was not a mistake. I think.

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  "... Haa~..."

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  After what seemed both a long and short time, Fricka seemed satisfied as she sat up, letting out a hot sigh.

  I was pathetically out of breath, breathing heavily for air. My cheeks were hot, of course, not from a ck of oxygen, but from excitement... Or, how should I put it, well, yeah, that's how it felt.

  Once again aware of the embarrassment of what I had done, I called out to her while half-consciously covering my mouth.

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  "... Uh..."

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  "... I did it in a fit of impulse... Did you get angry...?"

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  "N-no, it's not like that, it's okay... Um, well..."

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  She said it with such anxious sounding voice that I quickly denied it, but I being a coward couldn't look her in the eye. I even spoke in a flustered tone.

  ... I thought to myself that this kind of attitude was probably making her restraint herself, but I still couldn't look her in the eye.

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  "... I mean, there's no need to punish me or make up an excuse... You can just do it whenever you want. You're undoubtedly my wife after all..."

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  "--"

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  I feel like Fricka has frozen.

  ... Was it really that surprising?

  I don't remember refusing her at all, but maybe it's because I'm such a wimp, because we've barely done anything.

  Maybe I should respond to her 'requests' a little more... But it's still embarrassing!... I can't do it yet...

  As I was fighting against my own sense of shame like this, I heard a chuckle. Gununu...!

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  Now it was my turn to be frozen by Fricka.

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  "That's a very attractive proposition, but let's do it next time. It looks like we have Uru waiting for us in the hallway."

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  "... Huh?"