[Protagonist Mission: Intimate Moment. Time remaining: 00:10:00]

...I hate my life...

Nope! Nah. I'm not stooping that low! That sounds way too sexual!

Think, brain, think! I do not want to get humiliated again like what happened with Carlotta!

My gaze landed on Clemy, who was waiting impatiently for me to do what she'd ordered. Her fingers tapped against the pink blanket.

Then an idea slowly started cooking inside my head.

Sorry, Clemy... But it's you or me...

With that in mind, I took a deep breath and spoke.

"Y'know? Wouldn't it be better if, instead of me showing you, you did it yourself again?"

"I said—"

"Wait! Listen. Sure, I could show you, but don't you think it'd be better if you got firsthand experience yourself? So here's my proposal: pretend I'm Elion, and I'll give you advice on how to improve the way you approach him!"

"That sounds..."

Please buy it! Please buy it!

"That actually sounds like a good idea."

No freaking way! This girl seriously doesn't have much of a brain... and that's coming from me.

Not complaining, though. Like, at all. Time to take advantage of this!

"That's the spirit! Alright, then. Give it everything you've got. Ah... and by that, I mean flirt with me, not throw your puppets at me..."

"I know. Here I go. I just need to imagine your annoying face is actually my adorable Elion's."

Ouch.

That one hurts when someone says it straight to your face...

[Protagonist Mission: Intimate Moment. Time Remaining: 00:07:20]

Meh. Hurry it up already, the timer's ticking, chick!

"Here I come!"

"Good! Just think about how you'd act in an ideal romantic situation with Elion."

Clemy started approaching me. Instinctively, I got off the bed.

I swallowed nervously. Part of me was curious, part of me was terrified of whatever this lunatic was about to do. The air in the room grew tense, filled with the sweet scent of flowers. I'm guessing that was Clementine's perfume.

"H-Hey... Y-you haven't been talking to anyone besides me, right?"

Out of nowhere, she grabbed my arm and said that with a crooked smile that was honestly kind of disturbing.

HOLY HELL THAT'S TERRIFYING!

That sounded like something straight out of a yandere story where the protagonist ends up decapitated.

"Uh... Y-Yeah? No? Actually, let's go with no! Definitely not. Just you, Clementine."

Come on, Julia. Get into character. You're Elion right now.

With that, I patted her on the head...

I wasn't actually sure if that was the correct move.

"I... Umm. Do you want...? Ah... SURPRISE!"

"EH?!"

Out of nowhere, Clemy lunged at my face.

Pure instinct took over and I threw myself backward to avoid her attack.

"W-Why did you move away?! Elion would never do that!"

"Are you kidding me?! Of course he would! Who wouldn't?! You yelled 'surprise' and launched yourself at me like a maniac!"

"I..."

"That wasn't flirting!"

Damn it, this idiot genuinely doesn't have a single functioning brain cell.

[Protagonist Mission: Intimate Moment. Time Remaining: 00:03:20]

OH FOR THE LOVE OF F***!

I'd better give her some actual guidance.

"No. Listen. Flirting isn't just throwing your boobs in someone's face or showing skin. It's more... intimate. You know? Like, creating the right atmosphere...? Making the situation feel closer. Then you can try something sexier. Capiche?"

"I-I think I get it! Let's try again!"

Well, she makes up for her lack of intelligence with enthusiasm...

That's something, I guess.

[Protagonist Mission: Intimate Moment. Time Remaining: 00:02:55]

Son of a...

"Alright, let's do this again."

"Elion..."

This time her voice wasn't her usual shrill tone.

It came out softer. Almost like a whisper drifting through the pink-tinted darkness. The little stars decorating the ceiling blinked with a faint glow, like silent accomplices watching the moment unfold.

Then Clemy gently took my hand.

Almost timidly.

She opened it with such care, as though it were the most delicate thing in the world. Her fingers brushed across my palm, tracing invisible circles that made me unconsciously hold my breath.

She lifted our hands to the height of her face before placing her other hand over mine.

A faint tingling sensation traveled up my arm and settled at the back of my neck.

Huh... I never realized how small her hands are compared to mine...

Even so, they feel ridiculously huge when she's touching me like this.

Like every inch of her skin against mine weighs more than it should.

"You know... I know I can be a pain sometimes, but I don't do it on purpose. It's just that... I can't stand the thought of you not being by my side. It's... too lonely... Tell me, h-how do you feel?"

As she said that, she intertwined her fingers with mine.

Her fingers slipped between mine with a natural ease they absolutely shouldn't have had.

By reflex, I returned the gentle squeeze.

My fingers wrapped around hers as if they'd been waiting for that contact their entire lives.

The warmth of her skin seeped into mine, and a shiver ran down my spine.

S-Should I say something?

I don't think so.

This doesn't feel like a moment that should be interrupted.

It's as if time itself decided to pause just so we could exist in this single instant.

The scent of roses intensified, surrounding me in a bubble that contained only her hand and mine, her fingers and mine, her warmth and mine.

"If you ask me, I'll give you everything. Everything you could ever want from me."

Then she pulled me toward her and wrapped me in a warm hug.

I could feel her entire chest pressed against mine.

Oh...

Her body was softer than I expected.

Warmer.

More real.

Her arms wrapped around my back with a strength that shouldn't have belonged to someone so small, and her hair brushed against my cheek, leaving behind traces of flowers and vanilla.

Even though I know those words weren't meant for me...

Somehow, this hug feels really nice.

Nice enough that I can almost forget this girl is completely insane.

Almost.

Our fingers were still intertwined, and I couldn't help wondering whether she felt this same tingling sensation at the tips of her fingers.

Come on.

That was intimate beyond belief!

[Protagonist Mission: Intimate Moment. Time Remaining: 00:01:00]

OH, COME ON!

Now what?

I can't believe I'm actually about to do this...

Sorry, Clementine...

Please don't kill me.

Without thinking too hard about the consequences, I lunged at Clemy, pushing her small body onto the bed.

The mattress sank beneath our weight, and the violet pillows bounced aside like silent witnesses to my insanity.

I grabbed her free hand and pinned it against the pink blanket while keeping our other hands intertwined. That way she wouldn't be able to summon her guardian bear. Her fingers struggled for a moment, but my grip remained firm.

[Protagonist Mission: Intimate Moment. Time Remaining: 00:00:45]

Clemy turned her face away, revealing a deep blush that made her look ridiculously cute. Her cheeks flushed a vivid pink that spread all the way to the tips of her ears, while her lips trembled slightly as she exhaled.

On top of that, during all the struggling, a few buttons on her blouse had come undone, giving her a rather distracting neckline. The white fabric had shifted just enough to reveal the gentle curve of her chest, while the lace of her bra peeked out like a half-hidden secret.

"Wow. You really can be adorable when you're not talking."

"S-Shut up. That's an order."

"Aww, are you seriously trying to keep up that serious, in-control act?"

"S-Shut up!"

"See? Adorable."

...Damn, this is actually kind of fun.

Teasing her and watching her reactions was way more entertaining than it had any right to be.

I knew I probably shouldn't be enjoying this so much, but her reactions were just way too cute. The way her gaze kept darting away. The way her breathing sped up. The way her fingers tensed between mine.

Was it wrong that I was enjoying this?

Mmm... I wonder if this is what Carlotta felt when she attacked me like some degenerate vampire.

Wait. Does that mean she thought I was cute back then? Does that mean I'm finally getting her to stop hating me?

Meh. Way too many complicated thoughts.

I'd rather enjoy this a little.

I still wanted revenge for that stunt Clemy pulled on me last time.

I leaned closer to her right ear and whispered softly.

My breath brushed against her skin, and I watched a shiver run down her neck.

"You're really cute when you blush, Clemy."

"H-Hey! Don't whisper in my ear! It tickles!"

She let out a fit of giggles, and the movement made her generous chest bounce slightly, throwing her neckline even further out of order.

...Damn.

Those really are huge...

But honestly, there was something else I wanted to see more.

Without warning, I reached up and gently swept aside the long strands of hair covering her bangs.

My fingers slid through her hair, feeling each silky strand glide across my skin.

And...

Oh...

"Wow..."

Her eyes were beautiful.

One pale blue.

One amber-gold.

Like two gemstones carved by divine hands, they shimmered beneath the dim starlight decorating the ceiling, reflecting liquid flashes that were impossible to look away from.

I didn't know that.

The visual novel had never shown an illustration of Clementine's full face.

There hadn't even been a mention of it.

But damn.

They were gorgeous.

My hand moved before my brain could catch up.

I touched the side of her cheek and brushed away the rest of her hair. My thumb stroked lightly across her skin.

Soft.

Warm.

Perfect.

Her face, painted in shades of pink, combined with those heterochromatic eyes glistening with the faintest traces of tears, created a scene that was simply breathtaking.

The reflections of the ceiling lights danced inside her pupils like falling stars.

For a moment, the entire world shrank down to this single instant.

Damn. If that idiot Elion isn't completely captivated after seeing this, then he either has serious brain damage... Or maybe he just doesn't like women.

"Seriously, girl. You're absolutely stunning. Those eyes are lethal."

"EH!?"

Her blush deepened even further.

A vivid crimson spread from her neck all the way to the roots of her hair.

[Mission Complete! You have unlocked a new exclusive scene with the character "Clementine Von Marinette." Protagonist Points +20.]

...Huh?

I DID IT!?

YESSS!

"N-Now you've gone too far!"

"...Eh?"

My moment of victory came to an abrupt end when Clementine broke free of my grip, those beautiful eyes now glaring at me with pure fury.

The warmth we'd shared only moments ago vanished, replaced by a blazing anger burning within her mismatched gaze.

"Connect: Creation Magic — Construction Sorcery. Make fabric dolls. Bear form. Release"

"At least I cleared the mission..."

Wait.

OH NO. I'M IN DANGER.

"Mission!? Your goal was to humiliate me!"

"No!"

"Silence! It seems you still haven't learned that you're my servant! I'm going to make you pay for this!"

"That smile is terrifying!"

The cloth bear began taking shape behind her, and at that moment I knew my luck had officially run out.

Yet despite the fear crawling down my spine, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

Because for just a moment...

I'd seen the real Clementine.

And she was adorable.

... No, wait.

What kind of nonsense am I saying!?

LEGS, DON'T FAIL ME NOW! RUN!!!

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