(Walson)
The snow was falling gently on the bustling streets adorned with European-style buildings. A thin layer of silver covered the pavement, and people were bustling about. The voices of street vendors filled the air, reminiscent of a carnival in a past life.
Couples walked hand in hand, laughing and talking as they strolled down the street. It was indeed a festival for lovers, as the four of us had described. If I were an ultra-radical member of the $Eyes of the Night Cat$ group, I might have wanted to organize a horror event here.
But I wasn't, and right now, I had a lovely girl by my side.
After finishing my date with Grace, I walked down the street with her.
"Melon, are you feeling cold?" I turned to Melon, who was walking beside me, and asked.
Right now, I am walking on the street together with Melon.
"No, Master," Melon replied, her face turning slightly red, showing a hint of shyness.
"You look beautiful today. Did you buy the clothes yourself?" I asked Melon, holding her hand in mine. I could feel her trembling slightly, her cheeks turning rosy.
Melon looked incredibly beautiful today. I couldn't even find her at first glance because the contrast was so striking.
Wrapped in a thick brown coat to protect her from the cold, she wore black furry earmuffs and a chunky white scarf draped over her shoulder, covering half of her face. It looked as if she was hiding inside. I had never seen Melon so delicate and adorable before.
...Despite being taller than me, I had the impulse to cherish her with all my heart, in a pure and innocent sense.
The Lizardkin, Melon race, were very sensitive to temperature changes, especially the cold. Normally, Lizardkin hibernated, although they were not commonly found in temperate regions like this. But now, they are hardly seen on the streets.
The president of the "$Eyes of the Night Cat$" guild was an older Lizardkin gentleman, and he had also entered hibernation. The guild affairs were now managed by the vice president, Rooney.
However, there were exceptions. If Lizardkin had access to heat sources like fire magic, they could still be active. But it was too energy-consuming, and using oil lamps, in particular, required much more fuel for Lizardkin than other races. Ordinary Lizardkin villagers couldn't afford it, so most of them went into hibernation.
Melon was one of the few exceptions, but recently she started waking up later. That's why I had installed a forge in her room, allowing her to conveniently keep warm.
"Um, M-Master, Miss Grace helped me choose this attire... Do you like it?" Melon hesitantly asked me.
Ah, come to think of it, a few days ago Melon went shopping with Grace and Barella... So she went to buy clothes! Maybe Grace helped her with her outfit too... Well done, Grace! Among our group, you're the only one engaging in typical female activities!
Seeing Melon's shy expression, I couldn't help but tease her a bit.
With that thought in mind, I reached out and wrapped my arm around Melon's waist, pulling her closer. Ahh, holding her like this, I could feel the curves of her body! It felt amazing!
"M-Master...?" Melon stammered.
"You're my girlfriend now, right? How about not calling me 'Master' and trying calling me by name?" I have a girlfriend! And it's a girl from another world to booth! It was like a dream!
Melon's reaction was quite amusing. She stood there motionless, her cheeks noticeably turning red.
Sometimes, I feel like I'm a mischievous person who enjoys teasing the girls around me.
"It's fine, I don't mind. Actually, I'd really like to hear it," I said.
"Master, calling you by your name directly... How could I possibly..." Melon hesitated.
"Come on, give it a try. Walson... Walson..." I persistently pestered her, and finally, she spoke in a small voice.
"Wa... Walson... S-Sir..." Unable to resist my persistence, Melon reluctantly complied.
Ah, well, I guess Melon is a very serious and formal person. She can't just abandon etiquette and such.
I couldn't help but burst into laughter, but Melon pouted and hugged my arm, pressing her soft body against me, her breast pressing against my arm.
UuuuooooooooHHH!
"Not like... I still prefer calling you 'Master'," Melon expressed her opinion, which was a rare occurrence.
Oh my, she's angry.
After assuring Melon that I was just joking, we continued our date, wandering around the booths at the academy.
Unlike Grace, who didn't like crowded places, Melon surprisingly enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the marketplace. She had ordinary aspects to her that I didn't expect.
So, just like a couple strolling through a night market, I held Melon's hand as we indulged in eating and drinking.
By the way, don't be deceived by Melon's appearance; she can eat a lot! She's somewhat of a hidden foodie! Over the years, I've always made sure she's well-fed.
Although Melon was a highly conspicuous figure at this school, with her current attire, apart from her tail peeking out from her coat, one wouldn't notice that she was Melon without careful observation.
The surrounding crowd was always bustling. As we ventured deeper into the festival, booths started appearing with games and activities alongside the food.
I expanded my horizons as well. I never expected this school to take the Lover's Festival so seriously... Well, no, the original intention of a school festival shouldn't be like this.
With that thought in mind, and with over an hour remaining until the ceremony, we arrived in front of the auditorium.
In front of the entrance to the auditorium, there was a water channel with several large logs placed as a makeshift bridge. A large crowd of people gathered around, making a lot of noise, seemingly engaged in some activity.
"Fall into the water, couples!"
"Darn it! They made it through! They better be happy!"
Such shouts echoed from the crowd.
Feeling curious, Melon and I approached to see what the activity was all about.
Upon seeing the full view of the event, I couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Underneath each log bridge was a small wooden boat with a person standing on it, looking resentful. They used their hands to roll the log with great effort.
The game rules were straightforward: couples had to cross the bridge while being carried in a princess carry, and the people below the bridge had to make a strong effort to make the couples fall into the water.
The participation fee was a silver coin, and the reward for completing the challenge was one silver coin and two copper coins. It was just a small amount of money for the activity.
Initially, I doubted why anyone would participate in such a strange event, but things turned out differently.
"Next up are Hyliss and Teld from the third and fourth grades, respectively!!! Can they... Oh no!! Such a pity!!"
The announcer shouted, and the logs made a creaking sound. In front of me, a pair of cat-eared girls and a young elf man fell into the water amidst laughter. Immediately, a boat approached and pulled them up, handing them towels and a cup of hot drink to warm themselves.
The two of them laughed heartily, leaning against each other.
So that's how it is, the true bonds forged through shared hardships... Are all the members of the $Eyes of the Night Cat$ Guild in this world so actively positive in their activities!? According to Melon, this behavior has become a tradition at this academy, known as the "Water Blessing," similar to a departure ceremony for a guild.
"Melon, want to give it a try?"
"A-h? M-Me, Master, in a p-princess carry?"
"Yeah, why not? Want to give it a try? A princess carry?" I said with a smile, walking up to the booth's attendant to discuss.
...
...
...
In the end, Melon carried me effortlessly on a princess carry across the bridge.
It's embarrassing, but the feeling of her breast pressing against my face is too good, so I kept my mouth shut while covering my face.
"Woohoo!!!!"
"Miss, you're so awesome!!!"
"What a heroic lady!!!"
"Keep it up!!!"
"Don't be discouraged little man, you can still grow taller!!!"
"So cool!!!"
"I'm sure there's a chance you'll be taller than your girlfriend, little one!!"
"Oooooohhhh!!! This is incredible!!! But indeed, the organizers didn't specify that only men can carry women!!! The cheers from the audience are getting louder oooooohhh!!! Will this adorable couple fall into the water or not?!!"
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