Chapter6
Talk on the Bed (2)
Shiori Bookmark
In Shia-yun’s story, the word “Shikitari” came up many times. It seems that the people of this country all live by observing these Shikitari—traditional customs handed down from their ancestral spirits.
Among those customs, there’s one that says:
“A pure maiden must offer her body to the Marebito (the otherworldly visitor), and receive his seed.”
The timing—yeah, that’s all I could think about. Seriously, what kind of erotic game scenario is that? The “setting” sounds exactly like one—but I just can’t bring myself to feel that way right now.
Of course, as a healthy high school boy, it’s not like I have no interest in that kind of thing. When I’m hanging out with the guys, those kinds of conversations come up all the time. I’ve thought I’d like to experience it someday. Actually, no—I definitely want to. But… not now.
Right now, I can’t stop thinking about Rika.
I was scared enough that we’d grow apart when we went to different universities, and now we’ve become even more distant than that. And yet, a part of me is relieved that we did. Even though I’m the one who confessed because I didn’t want things to change—and made them change—I’m relieved, and that makes me feel pathetic.
Everything just feels empty. My mind doesn’t seem to work right. It’s not exactly that things feel unreal—it’s just… I guess I’m still too shocked from being rejected. I can’t even figure out how to take in Shia-yun’s story, or what’s happening in this castle where I was summoned, or that “Shikitari” thing.
“When you say ‘next’…”
As I opened my mouth, Shia-yun tensed up. She was probably trying to treat me with respect, but it actually made it harder to talk.
“Next… would it be okay if you listened to my story?”
At my words, Shia-yun nodded slightly. When I first met her, she seemed like a refined, elegant older woman, but now she looked more like a shy girl.
“First of all, it’s kind of hard to talk like this—could you put your clothes back on?”
When I said that, Shia-yun bowed her head slightly and replied, “My apologies…” then began to put on the black dress she had dropped by the bed. Seeing her from behind again, her waist was unbelievably slender, her figure graceful and perfectly balanced.
As my attention drifted to her feminine curves, Rika’s face popped into my mind…
Ah, yeah. I’m probably going to be like this for a while. The more I think about it, the more I want to see her again—even though I don’t have the courage to face her. God, what is this feeling?
After she finished dressing, Shia-yun hesitated for a moment, then climbed back onto the bed and sat facing me in a proper seiza posture.
Right… we could’ve just talked after getting off the bed, huh. But honestly, I don’t even have the energy to move right now.
I mean, I’m about to tell a beautiful woman I just met—barely an hour after getting dumped by my childhood friend—that I can’t possibly do the whole “offspring” thing right now, even though the castle is surrounded by monsters and there’s nowhere to run. To make her understand, I’ll have to explain things in detail…
I really can’t think about any other girl but Rika right now.
To Shia-yun, who’s looking at me with a serious expression despite the crisis of the castle, the country, and even our lives, my story might seem trivial—but to me, it’s something painfully real.
Taking a deep breath, I began telling her the story of me and Rika.
