I wake up with a start, wiping the drool off the corners of my mouth as I sat up in bed. I looked around in confusion as I last remember falling asleep outside.
Now that I think about it... I must have been bitten by mosquitoes or something.
I peeled back the covers, climbing out of bed to check my body before realising I was dressed in pajamas. Feeling even more confused, I overheard soft murmuring from the door and headed towards it.
It was then that it clicked that I had most likely been brought back in by the sister. She must have had a tough time since there had been two of us.
... I'll thank her then head back to bed.
I twisted the doorknob, exiting the room as I noticed her shadow not too far down the hall. A smile creeped to my lips as I thought of scaring her.
Perhaps it's because I hadn't had much time to act like a child while competing with my sister for my parent's affections. The childish tendancy just overflowed and I wanted to liberate it.
As I approached her, crouching to prepare a sneak attack, I heard faint buzzing near my ear and something brushing my cheek. My face paled as I tried fooling myself into thinking that it definitely wasn't what I was thinking about.
I carefully glanced at my shoulder, where the sensation of something landing there had been present. True to the thought, it was the number one thing in the world that I feared worse than my sister.
"Guh—"
"GYAAAAA!!!!" I shrieked, slapping it off me as the sister jumped and looked over her shoulder at me.
It was at that very moment that I happened to notice another boy, slightly shorter than me who had his hood fall off in surprise when I screamed. However, that was the least of my concern as the matter of fact that the cockroach was still crawling on my hand made me feel queasy and disgusted.
"Hyuk—!" I swung my hand, squeezing my eyes shut as I felt me bumping into someone and falling over.
As I peeled my eyes open, I had landed on top of the boy and... and... I realised how I had accidentally kissed the back of the cockroach which had landed on his mouth.
And next thing I know, I fainted.
***
Next Day...
"Lucien, Lucien!" Strawberry waved at me with a jovial expression on his face.
In contrast, I looked like a walking corpse. To think my first kiss went to a c-c-c.... Eww.... just thinking about it made me want to puke.
When I woke up this morning, I had spent most of my time washing my face and my mouth which had met the gruesome pest. I'm sure the boy had the worse of it but it's not like I could do anything about it.
I just wish I could apologise...
"Lucien!" I was forced into a stop when Strawberry stood right in front of me, my body bumping into him before I caught him in time as he was nearly pushed to the ground.
"S-sorry... you were saying?" I blinked, a little more focused than earlier.
"Geez... what were you thinking about so deeply? I wanted to ask where you slept last night. You weren't in bed." Strawberry pouted as he hugged me back.
"I wasn't? Huh... Oh... I slept at a different room... I think?" I wracked my brain, trying to think back to what transpired after but couldn't map it out.
"... Nevermind then. Can we play together during lunch break?" Strawberry beamed at me as I nodded.
Suddenly, I felt my shirt being tugged from behind. I blinked in astonishment and glanced over my shoulder as I noticed a small boy with midnight blue hair and ocean blue eyes.
When he saw my face, he froze and hilariously puffed up his cheeks. I smiled and patted his head, unable to help with how cute he looked.
"Are you lost? Shall I help you get back?" I smiled sweetly at him as I noticed his cheeks turned a rosy tint.
"F..."
"Hmm?" I tilted my head, waiting for him to finish his sentence before he slapped my hand off his head.
"Fall to your knees peasant! I the esteemed son of Duke Castford am here to accept your solemn apology!" the boy exclaimed as he folds his arms and stares at me with an arrogant expression on his small face.
Though I say arrogant... He was too cute to even act mean.
[Oh, thank you for your benevelonace and leniency! I'll never forget this!] {100 coins / watch ad for today}
[You're so cute~ I bet you aren't really angry to begin with.]
Ah... options again. That must mean he is likely to be one of the targets.
I feel so tempted to press the latter option...
I inspected his face, poking it lightly before watching it jiggle as I felt all fluffy inside and smiled.
He looks like the type who can't say what exactly is on his mind and masks it behind a show of arrogance. Guess I can't help it. I'll grant him his wish then. Let's get watching I guess.
I clicked the first option, getting myself comfy as I sat on the patch of grass and waited as the ad played. Apparently, since it was a new day, the option was only locked behind one payment which would be settled by one ad.
And so it was, the option I selected came to be. The new boy was pleased as I noticed his affection rate increasing but...
I glanced over my shoulder briefly, noticing a dark aura from Strawberry before he caught me peeking and smiled innocently at me. I scratched my cheek awkwardly and decided to head for our lessons today when the boy clung onto my shirt again.
"... Do you want to come with?" I asked as he blushed.
"S-since you're pleading, then fine. I'll accompany you." he turns his head away as I gave him a troubled smile.
So difficult...
***
"It's art today, huh... It never was my strong suit to begin with." I shrugged to myself as I sat in front of a walkway on a patch of grass and leaned against a tree.
A few people passed by as I made a rough sketch of the scenery. I caught sight of Strawberry sitting across the walkway from me and gave him a small wave.
He waves back before getting back to his sketch book. I did the same, lowering my head back to my sketch book as the boy from earlier stares at my sketch.
"Gah! Since when were you beside me?" I gasped, patting down my overexcited heart beat as he blinks at me.
"... You're good."
An unexpected compliment?
"T-thanks...? That's the first I've heard." I rubbed the back of my neck, a little embarrassed as my art usually couldn't hold up against my sister.
Honestly though, it feels like she got all the good part of the genes. I can't even comprehend...
"Why don't you draw me?" he holds my shoulder, catching me off guard as my cheeks started to heat up from his close proximity.
"..."
"Ah... I mean... Peasant! I give you the permission to draw my serene beauty upon your canvas!" He flicks his hair back, striking a pose as a fleeting thought of the phrase "Paint me like one of your French girls", passed through my mind.
"Ah... Sure... I'll try. I'm not that good so be a little lenient in your judgement." I made a light comment as he frowns and glares at me.
"I have already complimented your art, are you saying my judgement is flawed?!" he snaps, grabbing the collar of my shirt in a fit of fury.
"H-huh?! N-no! That's not what I meant?" I dropped my sketch book and pencil, pressing my palms against his small chest as he narrows his eyes at me.
"... I shall overlook your degrading talk of yourself. Now get to it." He huffed, letting go of me as I noticed him straightening out my clothes.
"Thank you..."
"Hmph." He turned away, striking a pose as I kept my eyes on him and made a rough sketch of him.
Before I realised, the sun had gotten fairly hot and my back was already growing clammy as my clothes clung to my body from the sweat. I glanced at the boy but he didn't move an inch.
Deciding to finish the drawing for the day for his sake, I quickly bought a parasol being sold nearby and shielded him from the sun. He broke his pose and stared at me with a flushed expression, but that could have simply been a trick of the sun so I paid it no mind.
"I'm nearly done. I'll treat you to an ice cream once I'm finished since you've been a wonderful model." I smiled to myself as I glanced up at him before adding a few more touches to the sketch.