"It's getting late—time to head back to the tents and get some sleep," Shichen said, clapping his hands to signal the end of dinner and sending everyone off.
"Eh? We just finished eating. Sleeping right after is bad for you—it'll make you fat," Ilya protested.
"You two can always play inside the tent."
"Mm…"
Ilya and Sakura glanced at each other, then shook their heads in unison. "No."
"Huh? Weren't you the ones who wanted to sleep together?" Shichen asked.
"That's not what we meant. We want you to take us exploring again."
"Mm-hm," Sakura added.
"This late… you're not scared?"
"With you here, no way!"
"So you really want to go exploring?" he confirmed.
"Mm-hm. We're kind of full—walking will help."
"Fair enough… Iri, you want to come along?" Shichen turned to Irisviel.
"We'll pass. You go with them," she replied with a smile.
"Not worried about getting fat?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.
"As if! I didn't even eat that much!" she shot back with mock annoyance.
"And you, Saber?" he asked.
"I… I'll pass too." After a brief hesitation, Saber shook her head.
"Not afraid of putting on weight? You ate a lot."
"…I don't gain weight," Saber muttered, a little embarrassed.
"Shichen! You can't just say a girl eats a lot," Irisviel scolded on her behalf.
"I was just telling the truth." He spread his hands innocently.
"That's still no excuse!"
"Hey, I don't mind. Being able to eat is a blessing, and I happen to like girls with a big appetite."
He thought of Yatogami Tohka—he liked her for the same reason. If Saber ever met her, the two would probably get along well.
"Like…?" Saber murmured, lowering her gaze shyly.
"Hmph, trying to sneak in a confession? Saber won't fall for that—she doesn't like being called a glutton."
"…Right," Saber nodded in agreement.
"Alright, alright, I'll drop it. Since you two aren't coming, I'll just take Ilya and Sakura for a stroll."
He took a small hand in each of his, ready to leave, when—
"Wait!" Frieren called out suddenly.
"What is it?" Shichen looked at her, puzzled.
"Why didn't you ask me?" she said flatly.
"I know you. You don't want to move a muscle." He rolled his eyes.
"Still, it's the principle that counts!"
"Fine. Do you want to come with us?"
"That's better… but no," she said without hesitation.
"…I'll deal with you when I get back."
He gave her a pointed look before walking off with the two girls.
"…I'm doomed," Frieren muttered, looking miserable.
"What's wrong?" Irisviel asked.
"When Shichen comes back, he's going to spank me…"
"Haha~ That's what you get for teasing him. He won't hit you hard."
"Yeah right. He doesn't go easy anymore—last time he left a red handprint."
Just remembering it made her flinch, her backside almost aching in sympathy. Poor, delicate butt…
"Seriously?" Irisviel found it hard to believe.
Sure, yesterday when he'd made her lie on the ground he'd smacked her, but that had been playful—it hadn't hurt. Did that mean he really could hit hard? …And why did that thought make her oddly excited?
"Would I lie? What am I supposed to do?" Frieren looked pitiful. "Why does he have to have such a thing for spanking?"
"…Does Shichen… like doing that?" Saber suddenly asked softly.
"Yep. Loves it," Frieren replied.
"Then… when would he do it?" Saber asked, feeling an unexpected flicker of worry.
"He usually doesn't do it for no reason. But if someone disobeys him, he definitely will."
"I see…"
If that was true… would she end up on the receiving end too? She'd gotten to know him fairly well by now, and she was sure he would—if she disobeyed him. She could only hope she was overthinking it.
Shichen, of course, had no idea they were discussing his little quirks. He spent the next half hour exploring with the girls before returning. Irisviel and the others were already in their tents.
The little adventure had been completely safe—they hadn't seen so much as a rabbit. It was winter, after all; most animals were hibernating. He'd kept his detection skill active, ready to change course at the first sign of trouble, but nothing had come up.
"So boring… We didn't find anything," Ilya complained.
"Mm…" Sakura agreed.
"That's normal. In winter, animals are sleeping. Come spring, they'll be out."
"Really? Then let's come back in spring!"
"Of course." He ruffled their hair fondly.
"Alright, happy now? Time for bed."
"Okay~ Goodnight, Daddy."
"Goodnight, Onii-chan."
"Night."
Once they were in their tent, Shichen headed for his own—but it was empty. He peeked inside—dark and vacant. Sensing Irisviel in Saber's tent instead, he guessed she was keeping her company and didn't call her back.
Instead, he made his way to Frieren's tent and climbed inside.
It was dim, lit only faintly, and Frieren was lying on her stomach reading a manga.
"Where'd you get that?" he asked, settling beside her.
"Brought it with me," she replied without looking up.
"No wonder your bag was so full."
He glanced at the pages—the art was refined, full of handsome men and beautiful women. It looked like a romance manga.
"What is it?"
"No idea."
"Then why are you reading it?"
"The art's nice."
"…Congratulations, you're officially a baby otaku."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, finally glancing at him.
"Don't worry about it." He reached out to ruffle her soft silver hair with a smile.
She blinked but didn't push his hand away, going back to her book.
He stayed beside her, reading along, until the male and female leads kissed against a backdrop of falling cherry blossoms—a beautiful scene.
"Shichen, they like each other, right?" she asked, eyes on the panel.
"Probably," he said, not having read the earlier chapters.
"So that means… only people who like each other kiss?"
"Of course."
"Then does that mean we do too?" she asked, turning to look at him calmly.
"I think so." He met her green eyes and nodded.
"But I don't really understand what liking someone feels like… No, I know what it is, but I can't feel it."
"You're just slow on the uptake," he teased, ruffling her hair again.
"…Slow?"
"Point is, I like you, and you like me. That's a fact."
"Really?"
"What else would it be? We've kissed before—are you going to pretend that didn't happen?"
"That was your doing."
"And afterward? Every time I kiss you, you don't stop me."
"…Mm."
"Want to make sure?" he asked, leaning closer.
"Make sure of what?"
"Of this…" he said, kissing her.
Frieren blinked at him, then slowly closed her eyes.
He closed his as well, pulling her into his arms to hold her small frame while deepening the kiss.
This time she was a bit more proactive, even wrapping her arms around him.
Soft and pliant in his embrace, she gave him the distinct feeling she was easy to tease. He lingered at her lips before slipping into something deeper.
"Mmh…" Frieren let out a small sound, not resisting—if anything, she responded to him.
The tent was silent save for the faint, intimate sounds of their lips, unheard by anyone else.
Of course, Shichen wasn't the type to keep his hands still in a moment like this.
At some point, Frieren cracked her eyes open to look at him. "Your hands…"
"Ahem. They have a mind of their own."
"What's the point of touching? They're so small…"
"That's fine. I can help you make them bigger."
"Really?"