The confession was sudden. The kiss, even more so. I stood there, silent, simply letting it happen. In truth, "stunned" was likely the more accurate description. To me, the students of Class 3-A were children, a full five years my junior—at least physically. Mentally, the gap was much wider. I had viewed them much like I viewed Fiona: with the protective, somewhat distant affection one has for a younger sister.
But those were my feelings. Madoka's were clearly something else entirely.
"Mnn..."
Her eyes were squeezed shut, her lips pressed against mine. In that moment, I felt a faint pulse of energy radiating from her body—something akin to mana.
What is this? For a split second, I thought a Provisional Contract had been triggered, but it lacked the overwhelming resonance I'd felt with Ayaka or Chizuru. There was no sudden surge of shared SP, no intoxicating wave of affection for her. It was a different kind of magic circle entirely.
Finally, Madoka pulled back, her breath hitching.
"I... I'm sorry! I just felt like if I didn't say it now, right here, I'd regret it for the rest of my life. And—and don't think you have to give me an answer! I'm not expecting anything! I just... I just wanted you to know how I feel!"
She blurted the words out in a frantic rush, then let out a long, shaky sigh, a self-deprecating smile on her lips.
"God, after all those times I told the Class Rep not to lump me in with her... I go and fall for you anyway. Talk about a textbook 'tsundere' move. Well... anyway."
She stepped back, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and gave me a small, flickering smile.
"Listen, Axel. That was my first kiss. You'd better feel honored, okay?"
"...Yeah," I finally managed to find my voice. "Of course."
I followed her toward the door as she moved to the entrance of the room. She slid the paper door open and called out to Misa Kakizaki, who had been waiting in the hall.
"Misa. I'm done."
Misa practically bounced into the room, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Well, Madoka? How was it?"
"It was... fine," Madoka replied, ducking her head to hide her glowing face.
Misa chuckled softly and turned her gaze toward me. "Sorry for the ambush, Axel. But when a girl is in love, she gives it everything she's got. I hope you can appreciate that."
"Uh, yeah. Right."
I wasn't sure what the appropriate response was. But before I could process it, Misa closed the distance between us.
"Now then," Misa purred. "It's my turn."
"Huh?"
"It means... this."
Before I could react, Misa's lips were on mine. Unlike Madoka's, which had been warm and trembling, Misa's were cool, soft, and remarkably steady.
Under normal circumstances, I would have evaded her easily. But the lingering shock from Madoka's kiss had slowed my reflexes. I stood frozen, accepting the contact in silence.
"Wait—Misa!?" Madoka shrieked.
After about ten seconds, Misa pulled away. Just as with Madoka, I felt a trace of mana leak from her body, though she didn't seem to notice. Madoka, on the other hand, was far too busy panicking to notice anything supernatural.
"Look, I'm not harboring some burning passion for you like Madoka is," Misa said with a wink. "But I definitely like you, Axel. And just so you know... mine was a 'first' too. Be grateful."
"The way you say that is totally lewd!" Madoka barked, snapping at her friend.
Misa just smiled. But it wasn't the gentle, supportive smile she'd given Madoka earlier. It was something sharper, more predatory—the smile of a woman who knew exactly what she was doing.
My brain finally finished rebooting. I let out a heavy sigh.
"Alright. Someone explain to me why this is happening."
"The reason? Oh, we're playing a game," Misa explained airily. "Project 'Heart-Throb' Kiss. We thought it was a great chance to force Madoka to finally be honest with herself. We're the representatives for Group 1. The Class Rep wanted in, but we managed to slide into the slot instead."
"...I don't even know where to start with that," I muttered. "Who's running this circus?"
"Asakura," Misa replied.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"