…So, the situation right now is…
I’m living together with this girl who doesn’t seem like a succubus at all—no, not even like a demon…
Anya looked at Lirina.
Lirina, meanwhile, sat there with her head lowered, fingers nervously intertwining, as if lost in thought.
What is she doing… it’s been almost three minutes and she hasn’t said a word.
“Lirina?”
Anya called out.
Lirina flinched slightly and stopped moving.
Another half a minute passed.
Then—
Lirina stood up, her cheeks flushed red.
Anya looked at her in confusion.
Lirina turned around and walked toward her.
“…What are you—” Anya paused.
That expression… why does it feel like she’s made some kind of strange determination?
“Miss Anya… you don’t have any strength right now, right? You can’t even sit up… and… if you don’t eat, you won’t recover… I already decided earlier, but we got interrupted, so… so… next… I—I’ll feed you.”
With that, Lirina leaned closer.
“W-wait…” Anya stared at her blushing face.
Why is she this red?! This is way too suspicious—and what she’s saying doesn’t even make sense—where do I even start pointing it out—
The scent reached her first.
That same soft, sweet fragrance from the blanket—
—but fresher.
From Lirina.
Anya felt her own face begin to heat up.
Before she could react—
Lirina gently wrapped her arms around her.
Even through the blanket, she could feel it.
…When was the last time someone hugged me like this?
Probably not since she was a child.
She should have felt moved—
But instead, all she felt was embarrassment.
Why is she holding me so tightly…
Anya’s face burned as she unconsciously took in another breath of Lirina’s scent.
Fortunately, Lirina was far more flustered than she was, and didn’t notice.
It only lasted a few seconds—
But to both of them, it felt endlessly long.
Lirina helped her sit up.
Anya lowered her head.
Even through the blanket, she had felt—
Those… two very noticeable things pressing against her.
…Right.
This is the power of temptation… as expected of a succubus.
…No, wait, why am I even thinking about that right now?!
Lirina picked up the bowl.
“Miss Anya… um… could you move a bit inward? I… I don’t have space to sit…”
“…Oh.”
Anya shifted slightly, then frowned.
“…By the way… don’t call me ‘Miss Anya’ anymore. It feels weird.”
Lirina sat down, looking confused.
“Ah… then… what should I call you?”
Anya froze for a second—
Her mind briefly flashing back to that earlier image—
She coughed awkwardly.
“Ahem… didn’t you just call me by my name earlier?”
“Th-that was earlier! I didn’t know you’d be staying here… now that we’ll see each other every day, I thought I should be more polite…”
“…It’s fine. We’ve both already been pretty impolite… though I’ve definitely been worse.”
Anya let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“…Actually… I should be thanking you.”
“…Mm.”
Lirina stared at the porridge in her hands.
“Let me stay here… I should’ve said it earlier. Sorry.”
Anya leaned back against the sofa.
“Like I said… I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“…Then don’t say things like that anymore,” Lirina said softly. “Didn’t you say you gave all your happiness away to others? Then stop saying sad things… it’s okay. I… sometimes… feel lonely too.”
She scooped up some porridge.
“Eat… if we keep talking, it’ll get cold.”
“…You just said my name, didn’t you?”
Anya opened her mouth—
—but the spoon missed and slid past.
She blinked, then turned her head to catch it.
Lirina was clearly more embarrassed than she was.
Head lowered, face turned aside—
She wasn’t even looking at where she was feeding.
Another spoonful—
Almost hit her nose.
Anya tilted her head to catch it.
…Is she training my neck flexibility or something?
The fifth time, it nearly went into her hair.
That was it.
Anya burst out laughing in exasperation.
“Hey—look where you’re feeding! What are you even doing? How am I supposed to eat like this?!”
“Ah—s-sorry!”
Lirina turned toward her—
—and saw Anya smiling.
…She’s smiling.
Such a beautiful smile.
Up until now, she had only seen her frown, look lonely, or force a bitter smile.
But this—
This lively, genuine smile—
It was the first time.
“Um… Miss Anya… your smile… is very pretty,” Lirina blurted out.
“I’m smiling?!” Anya laughed again. “And hey—stop calling me ‘Miss’ already. Just call me Anya, like the others do.”
“Ah—”
Lirina froze, suddenly embarrassed.
What did I just say…?!
Then she realized something.
“Anya… that’s a nickname… isn’t that what friends call each other?”
“…Is it?”
Anya blinked.
“…Maybe they just said it because it’s easier. But… if you’re the only one calling me that from now on… then let’s go with that meaning.”
“Eh…?”
Does that mean… we’re friends?
…But just a few hours ago…
No—
If someone lives in your house and isn’t your friend…
That would be strange, right?
Lirina smiled.
Anya stared at her.
…That smile… is really cute.
Soft, careful—
Almost fragile.
She had never seen a smile like that before.
She found herself staring.
“…Then… I’ll call you that from now on… Anya?” Lirina said, lowering her head shyly.
…Damn it, she stopped smiling.
“Mm.”
Anya responded, slightly disappointed.
“…Then we’re friends… right? I’m… allowed to be?”
“…Huh? Th-that’s… more my question…”
Lirina looked up.
“Because… you’re an angel, and I’m a demon… a succubus… weren’t you trying to capture me?”
“…That’s what you’re worried about?” Anya sighed with a smile.
“I ran away from Heaven. I’m not really a proper angel anymore. Only by blood, maybe… And catching you? That was just on a whim. I was annoyed after wandering all day, I guess…”
“Ah…”
“So yeah… I had no real reason to capture you. I just believed what I read—that demons are bad…”
She laughed awkwardly.
“But you’re not like that. Honestly… you don’t even feel like a succubus. Just… someone who happens to have that blood. What kind of succubus is this shy?”
“Hey—Anya!”
Lirina puffed her cheeks.
It was so cute that Anya’s heart nearly skipped a beat.
“W-well…” Anya turned away. “Still… I didn’t expect someone like me… to become your friend.”
“‘After the rain, the ground hardens,’” Lirina said with a smile. “I think that’s how it goes… hehe. I learned that here.”
“Yeah… that fits.”
Anya smiled.
“Alright… keep feeding me. I’m starving… and—watch where you’re aiming the spoon. It’d be a waste to spill such good porridge.”
“O-okay… hehe…”
A/N: “After the rain, the ground hardens” - a Japanese proverb meaning that relationships often grow stronger after conflict.