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In the next second, the lazy smile on her face froze, replaced by shock and disbelief. She saw the mess of the sheets, the clothes—belonging to both of us—casually tossed on the floor, and saw her own naked body still marked with spots of dried semen and love juices from last night's frantic battle...
"Ah—!"
A short, sharp scream erupted from her! Her cheeks instantly turned crimson, all the way to her ears, even her white neck staining with an enticing pink. The composed, reliable Navigator persona vanished; in this moment, she was more like a girl caught doing something bad. Her eyes were full of panic and shame. She scrambled to grab the duvet to cover herself, but seemingly felt that wasn't enough, so she hurriedly picked up her clothes from the floor and, without daring to look at me again, nearly scrambled into the bedroom's bathroom, slamming the door.
Soon, the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom—likely washing her body and perhaps trying to wash away the crazy, out-of-control memories of last night, while cooling down to digest this sudden, perception-breaking night. I looked helplessly at the closed bathroom door, my heart a mix of emotions. Last night was indeed out of control, especially with the alcohol. I didn't know how a sober Himeko would view it.
After a while, the water stopped. After another while, the bathroom door opened slightly. Himeko had redressed, returning to her usual capable and elegant attire, her hair re-combed. However, the flush on her face that hadn't completely faded and her slightly dodging eyes revealed her inner turmoil. She walked to the bedside but didn't look at me, instead sitting with her back to me. She reached out and pulled the duvet up, covering my naked body, leaving me with only her gracefully curved back.
She stared at the wall, silent for a moment, then spoke in a low, complex, and haunting voice: "Trailblazer... what happened last night... is a secret between the two of us. Please don't mention it to anyone, okay? Just... act as if nothing happened." Her voice was light but carried an undeniable finality. Having said that, without waiting for my answer, she stood and quickly left the room, leaving me alone with her empty back and the lingering scent of alcohol and her body in the air.
"Just... act as if nothing happened?" I murmured to myself, a sense of loss rising in my heart.
The tangle with Himeko that night was like the most mellow wine—long-lasting and leaving a deep, indelible impression in my heart. The mature flavor, the honesty and vulnerability after drinking, and her charming demeanor when aroused made me crave the experience again. However, a sober Himeko had returned to her usual dignity and distance.
In the days that followed, I couldn't suppress the stirrings in my heart and tried to use the cover of the Penacony night to sneak to Himeko's door when no one was around, wanting to feel that warmth again. But every time, I was met with her stern refusal through the door crack, carrying an undeniable authority: "Trailblazer, please respect yourself," or "It's late, get some rest." Her tone wasn't cold, but her determination made it clear she didn't want that loss of control to happen again easily. I left disappointed every time.
But perhaps the madness of that night really had acted like a key to a long-sealed switch in her body; or perhaps she too couldn't endure the loneliness accumulated over the years and longed for even a moment's warmth. When I gathered the courage to sneak to her door once more, almost without hope, an answer came from within that made me overjoyed.
"Ahem..." Himeko cleared her throat, her voice carrying an undetectable awkwardness and bashfulness. "Today... Trailblazer, you performed well in the dreamscape... so, so just this once... I'll reward you a bit..."
The lame excuse almost made me laugh, but it was mostly indescribable surprise! I hurried into the room and locked the door behind me, as if afraid she would regret it the next second. That night, we embraced tightly again.
As our secret intimacies became more frequent, those grand excuses were no longer needed. A silent understanding formed between us. Whenever it was deep in the night and I sneaked into her room, locked the door, and gently embraced her from behind, she no longer tensed or tried to push me away. Instead, she would lean into my arms, slowly turn around, and look at me with those amber eyes—still shy but containing expectation—and proactively get intimate. Each reunion began with long, passionate kissing sessions where our tongues tangled deeply for minutes, exploring and savoring each other while our hands roamed.
Even more surprisingly, I found that beneath her professional, meticulous suits, the style of her underwear seemed to become more bold and sexy as our relationship deepened. From the initial conservative solid-colored cotton to lace edges, to now even alluring semi-transparent designs and strange straps... it was as if she were unconsciously, or perhaps deliberately, quietly satisfying my deep-seated preferences for her.
And so, our days in Penacony became exceptionally "full." By day, we were partners fighting side by side, adventuring and resolving crises in the dreamscape; by night, when other companions had fallen asleep, I was like an untiring traveler, quietly shuttling between March 7th and Himeko's rooms. Experiencing the distinct tenderness and passion of both a youthful girl and a mature, plump lady, my trailblazing life seemed to become richer and... more addictive.
Speaking of which, among the women of the Express crew, Black Swan was the last to develop an intimate relationship with me. It was on the night she officially decided to join the Express—a night full of subtle turns.
A new member joining the crew requires the unanimous consent of all old members. At the time, Black Swan had already gained the approval of Himeko, Mr. Yang, March 7th, and Dan Heng with her unique charm, deep wisdom, and help during the Penacony incident; only my final vote remained.
That night, having just finished my secret "reward" session with Himeko and returning to my room to rest, there was a gentle knock. I opened it to find the elegant, mysterious Memokeeper—Black Swan. She gestured for me to let her in, then closed the door behind her.