Does Spring Come Even for a Dying Esper

Kiss.

His eyes, shimmering softly like layered snowflakes, wavered greatly at that word. Iberis’s mouth opened and closed silently, as if at a loss for words.

“B-but, Captain… you said… you’re a premarital purity advocate… that you’d only do level 1 guiding no matter what…”

Iberis stuttered, barely managing to squeeze out his voice to express his doubt.

“That’s why I said earlier that it’s a method difficult to implement right away.”

Though it wasn’t a proper question, Lucas easily understood what he was trying to say.

“I-I see. Then…”

“However, if it’s truly necessary, I can’t outright refuse by prioritizing personal beliefs.”

Lucas, interrupting Iberis, leaned his upper body closer to him. His shimmering silver hair brushed against Iberis’s cheek and shoulder.

“What…?”

Iberis’s voice cracked as he instinctively hunched his shoulders at the tickle of hair on his skin.

“So, I’d like to confirm your intentions first, Major. My actions will differ accordingly.”

At Lucas’s words, gray eyes shook violently. Iberis looked up at Lucas with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘What are you thinking?’ If what he just felt wasn’t a misunderstanding, it sounded as if Lucas might break his self-imposed principles depending on what Iberis chose.

No way… No, it can’t be.

Iberis denied his thoughts internally. The urge to confirm if his understanding was correct clashed strongly with the desire to pretend he didn’t know anything. While he was unable to do either, Lucas made the first move.

“What do you think about kissing me or engaging in acts beyond that, Major?”

“I…”

Iberis swallowed hard at the blunt and direct question, fumbling and unsure of what to do.

Kiss the Captain? Do more than kiss with him?

At that thought, his gaze naturally went to Lucas’s lips. As he took in the sight of the soft flesh, so different from his own, his solar plexus tightened strangely. His heart pounded as if he had overused his ability.

Gulp.

Iberis swallowed dryly, feeling his mouth go parched. While it seemed possible if he only considered whether it was feasible or not, he couldn’t readily answer.

“Major?”

“Huh, what?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“No, I, well…”

“Are you not going to answer?”

Lucas urged Iberis, bringing his forehead to rest against the other’s with a soft thud. Iberis’s body jerked as if burned.

“W-what are you d-doing?”

To react so strongly to just this much contact. Lucas let out a small chuckle at Iberis’s response, like a frightened rabbit.

Maybe I’ll tease him a bit.

It wasn’t revenge for being pushed earlier, but Lucas, feeling a bit mischievous, moved his hand that was resting on the sofa.

“I thought you might not know what level 2 guiding is, so I was wondering if I should give you a taste.”

“A-a taste?”

“Yes. Ah, don’t worry, I won’t kiss you. Level 2 guiding isn’t just about kissing, after all.”

“What do you me- ah!”

Just as Iberis, growing anxious, tried to turn and escape, an unfamiliar yet familiar warmth touched his nape. As firm fingertips kneaded his skin, his spine tingled and the back of his neck trembled.

“W-wait, hah.”

Iberis hunched his shoulders in surprise at the unexpected contact. In response, long fingers gently threaded through his jet-black hair.

“I’ve noticed before, but your hair is very fine and soft.”

“Wha-what…”

Goosebumps rose on his skin at the voice curling around his ear, accompanied by breath tickling his nose bridge. His body shivered, though not from cold. Iberis squeezed his eyes shut, feeling a strange dizziness. He wanted to tell Lucas to remove his hand, but his voice wouldn’t come out.

“Hmm.”

Lucas, enjoying the unexpectedly pleasant texture of Iberis’s hair, flicked the soft earlobe with his thumb. The body half-trapped in his arms flinched greatly.

“Ah, s-stop…”

Iberis reacted no matter where Lucas touched him. It couldn’t be helped; no one had ever touched him like this before. For someone unaccustomed to physical contact with others, even the slightest touch was overstimulating.

Lucas felt a strange sense of elation at these raw, untouched reactions. Golden eyes gleamed as he noticed the tips of Iberis’s ears, peeking out from black hair, had turned pink.

“You’re turning red too, Major.”

“What are you talking about, hah.”

Iberis swallowed his breath as warmth gently enveloped his ear tip. All his nerves focused on the ear held by Lucas. He could clearly feel the blunt fingertips moving slowly along the curve of his ear. Realizing this, heat rushed to his cheeks and ears, making him wonder if his face had ever felt this hot before.

“S-stop…”

That should be enough. Lucas realized it was time to stop at the sight of Iberis pleading with a trembling voice. He barely managed to drop his hand, suppressing the desire to touch more.

“…Is this enough of a taste?”

A voice, as if submerged in water, flowed between his lips. Lucas clenched his fist to keep from touching Iberis further. Otherwise, he felt he might reach out to him again.

“Haah…”

Finally free from Lucas’s hand, Iberis opened his mouth as if releasing a held breath. His head was spinning, and his heart was pounding. The ear that had just been held by Lucas still felt hot.

“I’ve told you both methods as you wished, Major. Now, please make your decision.”

Lucas, straightening his upper body that had been leaning towards Iberis, passed the choice to him.

“Decision?”

Iberis, finally coming to his senses, asked in a dazed voice. His face, unlike usual, had a light peach tint to it.

“Yes. I’d like you to choose between cohabitation or level 2 guiding now.”

Lucas urged Iberis to make his choice, staring intently at his flushed cheeks.

“Do I… have to choose?”

“You must. Are you running away after I’ve gone this far?”

“Nngh…”

A pained sound escaped between Iberis’s cute lips under Lucas’s pressure. Iberis fell into contemplation, his expression showing he didn’t know what to do.

If we do level 2 guiding, will I have to experience sensations like just now every time? If that was just a taste, what would happen with kissing or more intense skinship?

Recalling the recent sensation, Iberis shuddered without realizing it. He didn’t think he could handle the sensations Lucas gave him. Above all, what Lucas had said to him on the first day weighed on his mind.

‘If level 1 guiding isn’t enough, we might have to consider more… but personally, I hope that doesn’t happen.’

‘I have no interest in mixing bodies with someone I don’t love.’

‘Unless it’s an emergency, I won’t proceed with level 2 or higher guiding.’

He clearly said he didn’t want sexual contact with someone he didn’t love. Although he added the condition that he might do level 2 or higher guiding in an emergency, Lucas’s attitude at the time was extremely firm.

Did he consider the current stagnation in their matching rate an emergency? No matter how he thought about it, that didn’t seem to be the case. If so, given Lucas’s personality, he would have mentioned level 2 guiding from the start instead of cohabitation.

In the end, what Lucas wanted must be cohabitation. He recommended it from the beginning and seemed reluctant to mention other methods. Even stimulating him under the guise of a “taste” might have been to induce the answer of cohabitation.

Iberis bit his lip as he inferred Lucas’s true intentions. While his doubts were resolved, leaving him feeling somewhat relieved, there was a strange bitterness in his mouth.

“…I’ll go with cohabitation.”

“You’ve made a wise decision.”

Lucas welcomed Iberis’s decision. While he felt relieved that Iberis had chosen cohabitation as he had hoped, he also felt a strange sense of regret.

“Then we should start the remodeling right away. Would you prefer opening up the adjacent room or a loft structure?”

“…I don’t know. Either is fine, do as you like.”

Iberis waved his hand dismissively. Then, with a tired face, he buried himself in the sofa and dismissed Lucas.

“We’ve decided, so there’s nothing more to say, right? You can go now.”

“…Are you angry?”

Lucas cautiously spoke, noticing Iberis’s tone was more curt than usual. He was aware that his actions in teasing Iberis with a taste of level 2 guiding might have been a bit excessive.

“No, I’m just tired. I’ll see you at mealtime later.”

“…Understood. Rest well.”

Lucas, who seemed about to say something more, quietly withdrew. From experience, he knew it was best not to push further in situations like this.