Holo stirred in his bed, the warmth of the morning sun peeking through the blinds and brushing against his face. Something felt... off, though. There was a weight on top of him—soft, warm, and undeniably human. His eyes shot open, and he was greeted with a sight that made his heart leap into his throat: Trixie, lying on top of him, her face nestled against his chest.
"T-Trixie?!" he stammered, his voice cracking as his cheeks turned crimson.
Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice, and she gave a lazy smile, stretching slightly. "Morning, Holo," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.
"What are you doing in here?" he asked, his voice an octave higher than normal.
She giggled, propping herself up on her elbows so that her face was mere inches from his. "I wanted to see you. Your door wasn't locked, and I missed you. So I came in."
Holo's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. "You… you can't just sneak into my room and sleep in my bed!"
"Why not?" she asked, tilting her head innocently. "I'm your girlfriend now, aren't I?"
His face turned an even deeper shade of red. "That doesn't mean you can just—"
Trixie cut him off by wrapping her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "I just wanted to be close to you," she murmured, her voice softer now. "Being near you makes everything better. It's the only thing that keeps me going."
Her words made Holo's protests falter. He could feel her heart beating against him, and for a moment, he wondered just how deep her feelings for him really went. "Trixie…" He swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. The way she looked at him—her gaze so full of longing and desire—made his chest tighten in ways he couldn't explain.
"Have you ever kissed anyone before?" Trixie asked suddenly, her voice breaking the silence.
Holo blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What? N-No, of course not."
A sly smile spread across her face, and she licked her lips, her gaze never leaving his. "Me neither," she said softly. "Why don't we change that? We can make it each other's first."
Before Holo could process her words, Trixie shifted her position, pinning him down beneath her. Her hands rested on either side of his head, and her face hovered mere inches from his. Her breath was warm against his skin, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of playfulness and intensity.
"Trixie, wait—" he began, but his words were cut off as she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was overwhelming—dominant, passionate, and completely unlike anything Holo had ever experienced. Her lips moved against his with a confidence that left him breathless, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest like a drum. He wanted to resist, to push her away and regain control of the situation, but he couldn't. Despite the shock and embarrassment, there was a part of him that didn't want it to stop.
Trixie deepened the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed her body closer to his. Holo's mind went blank, his thoughts consumed by the sensation of her lips and the warmth of her touch. He had never felt anything like this before—intense, dizzying, and utterly intoxicating.
When she finally pulled back, a satisfied smile played on her lips as she looked down at him. "Not bad for your first kiss," she teased, her tone light and playful. "I think we both enjoyed that, don't you?"
Holo's face was bright red, and he struggled to form a coherent response. "I… I don't… That was…"
"Perfect?" Trixie supplied, leaning in to nuzzle his cheek. "I thought so too."
He covered his face with his hands, trying to hide his embarrassment. She laughed, sitting up but still straddling him. "You'll get used to it," she said with a wink. "After all, you're mine now. And I'm not letting you go."
Holo couldn't help but feel conflicted. The kiss had been overwhelming, but it had also stirred something inside him—something he couldn't quite put into words. As he lay there, looking up at Trixie's radiant smile, he realized that his life had become far more complicated than he had ever imagined.
The peaceful, albeit chaotic, moment in Holo's room was shattered when the door suddenly opened. Grave stepped inside, his usual composed demeanor intact as he surveyed the scene before him. Trixie, still perched on top of Holo, turned her head to glare at the interruption.
"Morning, lovebirds," Grave said with a smirk, clearly amused by the sight. "Sorry to break up the moment, but we need to talk."
Trixie narrowed her eyes. "This better be good."
"It is," Grave replied, ignoring her venomous tone. He folded his arms and leaned casually against the wall. "Holo, it's time for you to move on to the next stage of the program. You've done an excellent job bonding with Trixie, but now it's Scarlet's turn."
Holo's stomach dropped at Grave's words. "Scarlet? You mean I have to—"
"Romance her, yes," Grave said matter-of-factly. "The program's goal is to stabilize all four girls, not just one. You've proven that you're capable of getting through to them, so we need you to focus on Scarlet next."
Trixie's head snapped toward Holo, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "What does he mean, Holo?" she demanded. "What's this about other girls?"
Holo froze, his heart pounding. He had known this moment would come, but that didn't make it any easier. Taking a deep breath, he gently pushed Trixie off of him and sat up. "I… I need to tell you something."
Her expression darkened, but she crossed her arms and waited for him to speak.
Holo rubbed the back of his neck, struggling to find the right words. "When I came here, I wasn't in a good place. I… I tried to end things, and that's when Grave found me. He offered me a deal—to date you and the other girls in this program in exchange for a lot of money."
Trixie's eyes widened, her hands clenching into fists. "So… you're telling me you didn't come here because you wanted to? You were… forced?"
Holo nodded, his throat tight. "At first, yeah. But then I got to know you, Trixie. And it stopped being about the money. I really care about you—more than I ever thought I would. But part of this deal means I have to date the others, too. I don't have a choice."
He braced himself for her anger, for her to lash out at him, but what came next surprised him.
Trixie's expression softened, and she reached out to take his hands in hers. "You idiot," she said, her voice trembling. "Why would you think I'd hate you for that? It's not your fault. None of this is."
Holo stared at her, his chest tightening. "You're not mad?"
"I'm furious," she said, her voice turning cold as she glanced at Grave. "But not at you. At them." Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned her attention back to Holo. "The fact that they pushed you to the point where you thought ending your life was your only option… If I ever get my hands on the people who made you feel like that, I'll kill them. I swear I will."
"Trixie," Holo said softly, his voice filled with both awe and worry. "You don't have to do that."
"Yes, I do," she said firmly. "Because I love you, Holo. And when you love someone, you protect them from anyone who tries to hurt them."
Her words left him speechless, and for a moment, all he could do was look at her. She had every reason to be angry with him, to feel betrayed by his confession, but instead, she was willing to stand by him—even if it meant sharing him with the other girls.
Trixie's expression softened again, and she gave him a small smile. "You're mine, Holo. I don't care if you have to date Scarlet or the others. But that's it. No one else, got it?"
He nodded, relief washing over him. "Got it."
"Good," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "And don't you forget it."
Grave cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "Well, I have to say, I didn't expect this level of maturity from you, Trixie. But I'm glad you're taking this so well."
She shot him a glare. "I'm only letting this slide because it's part of his stupid deal. But if anyone tries to mess with Holo outside of this program, I'll make them regret it."
Grave raised his hands in mock surrender. "Noted."
As Grave left the room, Trixie turned back to Holo, her hands still holding his. "Promise me something," she said quietly.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Promise me that no matter what happens with the others, you'll always come back to me," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't care if you have to play along with this stupid program. Just don't forget about me."
"I won't," Holo said without hesitation. "I promise."
Her smile returned, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Good. Because you're stuck with me now."
Holo chuckled softly, though his heart was heavy with the weight of everything that lay ahead. He didn't know how he was going to handle Scarlet—or the other girls—but for now, he was grateful to have Trixie by his side.