Chapter 43 : You said I could put it in

I grew today.

Because I discovered a trait of humanity.

“Humans wake up when they’re embarrassed.”

Of course, it was a forced, nonsensical excuse to distract myself.

“Ugh…”

Judging by my burning face, I’d already reached tomato-level redness.

Suppressing the heat, I forced a smile.

“N-No, I’ll sleep more…”

“…”

I should’ve just kept quiet.

Yena, oblivious to my feelings, grinned brightly.

Resting her head on her outstretched arm, she covered her face with her other hand.

“Hehe, am I pretty?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Seriously, unbelievable.

Stand straight, Song Yena.

Even the school’s top beauty should have some shame.

How can she look flawless even after just waking up?

‘Seems like I’m seriously love-struck.’

I tried to retort, but her disheveled look was oddly charming, leaving me flustered.

Nervous, I gulped.

“…”

“Huuu, I see…”

Yena, watching my reaction, crossed her arms again.

Then, she buried her face between them.

Within seconds, her back rose and fell rhythmically.

‘Already asleep.’

She wasn’t this exhausted on the way to school.

Sure, she nodded off occasionally, but she walked straight enough.

Now, she looked like she could barely stand.

“Yaaawn—”

Not that I wasn’t sleepy too.

I’ll just sleep until first period starts.

The noisy girls up front gradually switched topics.

Glancing at Yena, I rested my head down too.

“Hehe…”

I had a good dream.

A dream where I explained test questions to Yena one by one.

Dream-Yena was clueless, failing to understand no matter how many times I explained.

She kept forgetting and glancing at me, so as her “teacher,” I had to educate her personally…

“Ngh… Hic! Uhh…”

What exactly did I do personally?

I couldn’t remember well.

Dreams are always like that.

Nothing ever matches reality.

“Guh…!”

Letting out a small groan, I stretched my back.

Pretty sure I heard a crack just now…

Anyway, my body felt refreshed, and my mind was clearer.

Now, I could tackle first period with energy—

“Huh?”

For some reason, I felt oddly refreshed.

Blinking, I noticed a rich scent—the happy smell of lunchtime.

The clock showed it was already the end of fourth period.

Familiar development, I thought, blinking a few times.

Turning my head, I saw Yena slumped over her desk too.

“Hey.”

“Mmm?”

A monotone voice.

Following the sound, I saw Winter standing there.

“What’d you two do yesterday?”

“Ahaha…”

Clearly, she was asking about Yena and me.

A question surfaced in my waking mind:

‘How did she know…?’

Was it that obvious?

No, we both showered and looked fine. Why…?

Without warning, Winter delivered the finishing blow.

“Did you do it?”

“Wha—?! N-No idea… What are you talking about…?”

…I’m terrible at acting.

My voice shook uncontrollably just saying that.

She reached out toward Yena.

“Yena’s dead. She’s never like this.”

“W-Well… I’ve never seen her like this either…?”

I decided to play dumb completely.

Even if my acting was pathetic, getting caught would be worse.

And…

‘I can’t possibly admit I got utterly dominated from start to finish…!’

My inner pride screamed, shaking its head violently.

Winter glanced between Yena and me a few times.

Then, she smirked.

A sudden grip on my wrist startled me.

“Wha—?! Why?!”

“Not gonna eat you. Hold still.”

After last night, anyone reaching for me made me panic.

She pinched my wrist lightly with two fingers, then rolled up my sleeve.

‘Ah…’

A vivid mark remained—matching Yena’s handprint.

Like a neon sign announcing, “I got devoured.”

Victorious, Winter smiled.

“Heh.”

“Haah…”

I laughed hollowly.

‘She already knew everything…’

Not wanting others to see, I quickly pulled my sleeve down.

Winter let go without resistance.

“If you need advice, just say so. I’ll help.”

“…Thanks.”

Reliable…

Well, maybe.

At least we had an ally now.

‘…Should I ask?’

I needed to win Yena’s heart.

But I’d never dated before…

And this wasn’t just any relationship—it was with a sadistic maniac. I desperately needed guidance.

“Uh, wait.”

“Yeah?”

“I… already have a problem… Ugh…”

Even as I spoke, I doubted myself.

I’d guessed Winter and Autumn were a couple, but I wasn’t sure if their dynamic was like ours.

“Mm. Go on.”

But even so, I couldn’t help feeling suffocated.

To begin with, she was the only one I could openly talk to about these things.

“So… how should I put this? She’s too domineering…?”

“Like she only wants your body?”

With her characteristically blunt expression, Winter hit the nail right on the head.

“Huh?! Y-yeah…! Exactly!”

“Tch, no wonder you seemed uneasy.”

As she let out a deep sigh, something golden quickly approached from behind her.

“Hey, Lee Winter!”

“Ah.”

Winter seemed to have forgotten something, slightly parting her lips as she reached into her pocket.

Click—

“I told you we’re going to eat, so stop messing aro— Hng?!“

“We’re in the middle of something important. No interruptions.”

It was a familiar sound.

At this point, I couldn’t help but catch on.

‘This is some seriously hardcore stuff…’

These two really play dangerously.

How have they not been caught yet? Or does everyone just turn a blind eye?

Of course, I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on that, so I brushed it off.

It’s not like I’m the one being—

‘…being…’

What if Yena suddenly demands something like that from me?

Do I have to do it? No, even if I refuse, she’ll force me anyway. Ugh.

The image flashed vividly in my mind.

A sigh escaped me before I could stop it.

The girl snoozing beside me only thinks about devouring me.

I vented my worries, but nothing was resolved—just more frustration.

Then, Winter tapped my shoulder and spoke up.

“Wanna eat together? All four of us? I don’t mind.”

“Oh, uh… sure? Okay, I’ll wake Yena up and bring her.”

“Okey, I’ll save us seats then. We’ll talk more over lunch.”

Yena already knew them, and there was no reason to refuse.

Having made plans on the spot, Winter motioned to Autumn.

“Hey, let’s go.”

“…Why don’t you ever ask for my opinion?”

“You don’t wanna?”

Winter’s hand hovered near her pocket.

“…”

“Don’t play hard to get.”

Winter walked past her, footsteps echoing.

Autumn followed a couple of steps behind.

This wasn’t a dog walk, for crying out loud.

It was like she had an invisible leash on.

Wait… even in this world, that can’t be a thing, right?

I watched them walk away before turning back.

“Nnn…”

“Hmm, how should I wake her up?”

Would word spread if I did it too well?

The bright sunlight illuminated her.

Her pale skin seemed to shimmer where the light touched.

I let my gaze wander—her face, chest, stomach, thighs—admiring every part.

After staring for a while, my conclusion was:

‘…Just wake her up normally.’

No matter what I did, the only future I saw was me getting pinned down.

Sleepiness and exhaustion make people lose self-control.

At worst, this girl would try to devour me over my clothes right in the classroom.

…Was that too extreme?

No, not for her.

You can’t apply common sense here.

“Yena.”

“…”

Her steady breathing paused.

For a second, tension flickered around her eyes before relaxing again.

“Now you’re pretending to sleep? Wow, just wow.”

“…”

Grin.

The corner of her lips twisted.

So she wasn’t even trying to act.

If she was gonna do this, she should’ve just gotten up. Absolute menace.

“Hey. Time to wake up. Let’s go eat, okay?”

“Uuunh…”

I couldn’t just not wake her after telling Winter we’d join them.

Once again, I was the one bowing my head first.

“Haah… Fine. What do you want to get up?”

“Heheh.”

Snap. Her eyes flew open.

After stretching her arms, Yena sat up.

Her drowsy gaze locked onto me.

I’d taken three steps back just in case, but she closed the distance while yawning.

“What? If you were gonna wake up anyway, why—”

My words cut off.

She casually undid one of my shirt buttons.

Like rubbing sleep from her eyes, her hand moved so naturally I missed my chance to dodge.

Only one button came undone.

The one right over my chest.

And her assault didn’t stop there.

“Hyah—! Crazy, let go—!”

“Ah, warm.”

Her cold hand slipped under my shirt, groping my chest.

I was speechless as her fingers danced over my bra.

What kind of insanity is this?

We’re in public!

Well, the classroom was empty right now.

Yena expertly adjusted the angle so no one else could see.

“…Let go.”

“You said you’d do anything.”

“When did I—”

“‘I’ll do whatever you want if you wake up’—wasn’t that it? This is happiness… Hnn…”

“Ghh—!”

Fueled by a mix of agitation and rising anger, I started shoving her away.

But this lunatic just happily took the hits, kneading my chest like dough.

“Let—go! We have—plans—with Winter—!”

“It hurts…”