That afternoon, after finishing her homework, Lirina and Anya talked a lot about the real Heaven and the real Demon Realm.

Lirina realized that Heaven wasn’t some strictly orderly paradise… in reality, it operated like a large corporation, divided into various zones with separate administration. There were also designated living areas—it wasn’t small by any means.

Anya was surprised… most of what she had learned about the Demon Realm while studying in Heaven was wrong. Heaven intentionally misrepresented the Demon Realm… which made Anya’s fondness for Heaven drop even further.

However, nothing about Anya’s family or personal history was mentioned. She didn’t bring it up, and Lirina figured she’d learn about it naturally as their relationship deepened, so she didn’t ask.

That evening, Lirina made salmon rice bowls. Anya’s eyes lit up as she devoured them.

~~~~~~~~

Night, Lirina’s room.

“…Ugh.” Lirina bit her lip, reaching to pull back her blanket.

“Oh… wait a moment.” Anya looked at Lirina, who was both shy and determined, and couldn’t help but smile… and feel a little warm inside.

Even being so easily embarrassed, she still goes this far for me…

“Lirina… um…” Anya gathered her thoughts. “I… I want to ask… if we do this every day, will it ever feel bothersome… hmm?”

“…Ugh.” Lirina froze.

Ah… am I making Anya feel pressured? I understand that sense of feeling like you’re just taking without giving…

But… I don’t really feel bothered… though it’s embarrassing…

Hugging Anya actually feels amazing… hugging itself is joyful.

“Well… no, not at all,” Lirina said with a small, deep breath. “Even though it’s embarrassing… every time I see you happy, gaining that… um, sense of happiness, I feel happy too.”

“That’s true…” Anya smiled. “But Lirina, you might get tired. And it seems like it only benefits me, like I’m taking from you alone.”

“No, no!” Lirina’s eyes widened. “Hugging… is meant to give you happiness! If you think otherwise… that would be the wrong way around! Actually… hugging… benefits me too!”

“Really?” Anya raised an eyebrow, and her confused expression vanished.

“Yeah! For example, using dream magic on you every day is also a kind of practice for me,” Lirina said. Then she drew a blank, unsure how else to explain.

Because she couldn’t tell Anya… that she also didn’t dislike hugging her… saying that would make things very weird!

Moreover… hugging could even be absorbed to some degree by a succubus as a “source of power.” That couldn’t be said either—it would also get weird!

“Really?” Yet Anya didn’t overthink it. “If it’s helpful to you too, then that’s fine.”

Lirina glanced at Anya’s flushed cheeks—standing out vividly against her long white hair and lashes. She looked genuinely adorable.

Even imagining it, Lirina knew her own face must be just as red…

“Um… then, shall we start?” Lirina stammered, fighting her shyness.

“…Mm.” Anya looked up, her blue-gold eyes serious despite both of them being shy. “You might fall asleep… so I’ll say it in advance: whatever happens, I’m grateful.”

“Ugh…” Their eyes met briefly before quickly averting. “Mm.”

“Then hurry up, it’s getting late.” Anya lifted her blanket.

Lirina turned off the lights, slid out of her own bed, and climbed into Anya’s.

“Mm…” Anya tensed slightly.

A soft, fragrant body hesitated slightly… then wrapped around her.

Anya swallowed and raised her arms, hugging Lirina back.

The softness, the two chests pressing lightly…

Ugh… Anya…

Lirina felt Anya’s body. She was slimmer, so it felt a little light… making her want to keep holding her. But I have to keep boundaries in mind!

…Anya’s scent had changed. Probably because her mana was full and she absorbed sunlight in the morning…

It felt like sunlight on a cloudy day, without temperature or color.

“Anya… I’ll start the dream magic now,” Lirina whispered, not realizing her breath brushed against Anya’s ear.

“…Mm.” Anya’s face heated, slightly tickled by the air.

Lirina took a deep breath, channeling mana.

The sleep-inducing dream magic was quickly completed. With experience from the previous sessions, she controlled her mana efficiently without overusing it.

“Done.” Lirina exhaled. “Goodnight, Anya.”

She tried to pull away, but Anya didn’t let go.

“An… Anya?” Lirina felt her head heat up.

“…Can we not move? Just… like this… it’s… it’s not bad, right?” Anya’s voice was sweet and clingy, her hands refusing to release Lirina.

“An… An-An-An… Anya, you…?” Lirina felt her world spin.

“We’re both… sleepy anyway, right? So what’s wrong with sleeping like this…?” Anya’s voice was soft and honeyed, like a layer of chocolate cake.

“Anya… it’s… a bit embarrassing… ugh…” Lirina felt the fatigue from her magic start to hit, but she fought to maintain composure.

“…Not allowed?” Anya’s blue-gold eyes glimmered faintly pink in the dark.

“Uwaa…” Lirina’s rationality instantly collapsed at the sound of that cat-like whine.

Though her face burned and her brain felt like boiling…

“Th-then… goodnight, Anya!” Lirina bit her lip and hugged her tightly.

I don’t dislike this… just… it’s so embarrassing! And am I even supposed to be doing this?!

…but she couldn’t refuse this strange, adorable Anya…

Lirina closed her eyes.

What happened last night?!

Anya sat on the bed, looking at Lirina, who was still fast asleep.

Why did I say those things… even if it was my honest thought at the time… I know what I should say, what I shouldn’t… but why did it just come out?!

She covered her face. Wait… she’s a succubus.

Even with only basic dream magic, her strong bloodline would inevitably carry subtle effects…

Then why wasn’t I affected the first two times?

…Maybe because she used it consecutively and her abilities grew? Ugh… Should I still hug her before bed every night?

Anya blushed, noticing the tiny red horns peeking through Lirina’s hair. I need to discuss this later…

Lirina opened her eyes.

Anya felt like she’d been struck by lightning.

They looked at each other for a while, then turned away.

“An… Anya…” Lirina bit her lip.

“…Mm.” Anya turned her head.

After a while,

“Last night… I don’t know what came over me… anyway, um, don’t mention it.” Anya said, face red but voice steady.

“Ah… ah. Mm… okay.” Lirina nodded.