I was now standing in front of Shutola’s room, taking deep breaths in front of her door. Once again, I prepared myself, telling myself that this wasn’t the first time I’d entered this room. I’d visited many times during the wedding preparations for tea.
Shutola’s room was packed with plushies and was generally a very fancy room. She had quite a number of plushies at my home as well, but it was incomparable to her room here. I suppose that was no surprise when it came to the room she’d spent so many years in growing up. This room didn’t just boast a great number but also a great variety of plushies, from commonly sold ones to premium ones sold on a limited basis, to some that I suspected were of her own design to Georgios and Monica, which had been given to her by Efil. At any rate, those teatimes surrounded by stuffed dolls were a chance for me to see a rare side of Shutola as she told me all about them with great passion.
I gotta say, you almost never see Shutola so lively. Her eyes sparkle like in a shojo manga, and it really sounds like she’s having fun. All I could do was listen, but I can say with certainty that we both had a wonderful time. It really is rare for Shutola to make that face in her adult form. Now then...it’s pretty late. I really should go in. So let’s start with a light knock.
“Yes,” Shutola called from inside in response to my knock on the door.
“It’s me, Shutola. May I come in?”
“Of course. It’s...unlocked. Please, come in.”
I felt magic flow on the other side of the door.
Did she use magic threads to open it? Heh, she’s totally used to controlling that, isn’t she? Okay, I should do what she says and go in.
I opened the door and entered. “Excuse me. I was told that I’m supposed to sleep here tonight, Shutola—”
“Yes, that’s correct,” she interrupted. “Welcome.”
I stood there for a moment in silence.
“Erm, Kelvin-san?”
It took another beat for me to answer. “Ah, right. Thanks for having me.” I opened the door again and walked back out.
Yeah, okay...uh, okay? Right. Let’s make sure before I open the door again.
“Erm, Shutola? I think I saw some clothes on you that you wouldn’t normally wear. Was I imagining things?” Specifically, it was an awfully transparent set of...well...erm...
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Shutola replied. “Why don’t you come back in and see for yourself?”
She had a point, one that finally made me realize what was going on. After all, I had two or three times more experience being ambushed at night than the average person. I could kind of tell how things were going to go, but I also knew I was being underestimated.
Did she really think I’d be shaken by this? I mean, true, I was entranced for a moment when I first saw her. Normally I’d go the route of letting her do whatever she wants to me. But wait a second, please. I’ve prepared myself for whatever may come, and Shutola has the advantage with all her experience. But even if she’s the best strategist in the world and a very attractive woman, I can’t afford to—
Kerchak! Whoosh! Grab!
It happened suddenly. The door flew open, allowing several strings to come out from inside. In the blink of an eye, I was captured and dragged in with incredible speed.
Wow, how...proactive of her.
After a beat, I managed to get out, “You’re being pretty extreme today, Shutola.”
“Am I really? I simply want to use my limited time effectively,” she replied.
We were now face-to-face. I couldn’t even tell when I’d been made to stand in front of her. And...I was still bound head to toe with strings.
“I see. I agree with that sentiment. But...don’t you think you’re a little close?” I asked.
“Am I? But you’re the one coming to me.”
Yes, certainly, in terms of relative position, I’m the one approaching you. But you’re the one forcing me to.
“Look here, Kelvin-san,” Shutola continued.
“Uh...am I allowed to? You won’t execute me for lèse-majesté or anything, will you?”
She giggled. “What a funny joke. It’s fine, don’t worry. That won’t happen. Even if it does, I’ll be the one defending you in court.”
“Really? That’s comforting.”
I knew she would be able to get me out of anything, no matter what crime I was being charged with. No...wait, now’s not the time for that.
“There’s something I need to confirm while I still have the chance, Shutola.”
“Okay, what?”
“Erm, isn’t the first, well, experience supposed to be after the wedding? If memory serves, you were pretty particular about that, weren’t you?” In fact, that was the reason we had yet to even kiss.
“Ah, on that point, there is no need to worry,” she assured me. “Just a moment ago, the date changed, so today is our wedding day. In other words, we are basically already married.”
“I see, that— Wait, that logic doesn’t work!” That’s way too much of a stretch!
“Do you really need a reason? Hm, well, I can come up with any number of justifications for this. The best would be...that time is a factor, I suppose,” said Shutola. “This past week, your schedule has been packed, Kelvin-san, with you going all over the continent to each venue. Once our ceremony here in Trycen ends, you will be going to Rion-san in Parth the next day.”
“Well, yeah...”
“So you admit it. Considering the time you’ll need for travel, that doesn’t give us much of an opportunity after the ceremony. And with the objection system in place, I expect you’ll be exhausted afterward. Be honest, you can’t promise you’ll be able to make enough time for our precious first night, can you?”
“Erm, well, no...”
“So I decided to do this beforehand instead of after. Do you understand now? If you need more reasons, I can keep going.”
“Ah, no. I understand and am convinced. Yeah...”
In the end, everything came to its usual conclusion, with me being out-argued. I’ll never be able to beat her in a battle of words...
“Well, for now, could you undo these threads? I can’t do anything like this.”
“Can I take that to mean you’re now in the mood?” Shutola asked.
“I was always in the mood. Also, I’m not dense enough to ignore my wife after she’s gone this far. And, erm...if I’m going to do this, I want to take the lead like a man.”
“The lead... I see, this is the difference in our levels of experience talking, is it? That makes sense.”
“Um, right, yeah.” I mean, when you put it like that, it makes me feel kind of guilty.
“You definitely have more experience than I do in that regard,” Shutola admitted. “But don’t worry. This is where my collection comes in.”
Uh...huh? “Collection? Of what?”
“Of information, of course,” Shutola boasted.
Buh...wha?
“I know all about your weak points, Kelvin-san. I was taught about them in great detail by Colette-chan, Mel-san, Sera-san, Ange-san, and Efil-san, who has the most experience in doing it with you,” Shutola explained.
“What? Wai—”
“As you know, I have Perfect Memory. I can cover for my lacking skill and experience with knowledge. Also, I plan to use my threads with great skill to satisfy you, Kelvin-san. Ah, that reminds me, what should I call you? It would naturally be too embarrassing to call you my dearest brother in this form, but if you wish it...”
“Stop! Calm down, Shutola! That’s too big of a hurdle for the first set of options!”
Though I tried to stop her, I was currently in her clutches. She embraced me, burying my face in her chest. Now, in close contact...
Crap! I didn’t expect this! I might be in a bigger pinch than with Mel and Colette!
“Kelvin-san,” Shutola said after a beat.
“Are... Are you calm now, Shutola?”
“No, er...to tell you the truth, I forgot to mention this earlier, but there’s another reason... I, well... I would like to have our first kiss in private, before the parade...” She trailed off bashfully.
I looked up at her and saw that her face had become beet red at some point.
I know I’ve said this multiple times already, but that’s unexpected.