(Chapter 23) High Attack, Paper Defence
"Ugh... Louise... don't do this..."
Facing Louise's sudden advance, Anna was initially bewildered but quickly regained her composure. She endured an indescribable sensation and managed to evade Louise's hands.
"Eh... I just wanted to touch a little. Is that not allowed, Senpai?"
Louise immediately put on a disappointed junior act, appearing even more delicate than usual.
But Anna knew exactly what Louise was thinking!
‘Louise definitely doesn't just want to touch a little!’
She recalled the Bloody End simulation, where she was in this very guest room, facing a locked door, and then drank the sleeping tea...
‘If I just don't drink the tea, wouldn't that solve it?’
Anna suddenly realized a key point from that time and felt a surge of confidence.
‘So, as long as I stay serious and explain my thoughts to Louise, even if she might still... continue to touch me, just a touch... wouldn't hurt, right?’
‘And Louise is such a cute girl, it doesn't seem like a loss for me…’
‘No, no! Anna Strya! How can you think like that! You're a righteous female knight! How can you succumb to such simple desires!’
"Eh... Senpai, what are you thinking about now?"
Like a kitten, Louise leaned close to Anna, stood on her tiptoes, and gently blew a breath near Anna's ear, instantly snapping Anna out of her thoughts and making her stammer.
"Lo... Lo... Louise! What are you doing?"
"Just thought that Senpai is super, super cute right now..."
"E... even if you say that!" Anna stepped back several times but felt her back hit something.
Unconsciously, had she been backed into a corner?
"Senpai, letting me touch a little... wouldn't be a problem, right?"
Seeing Louise approaching step by step, Anna suddenly thought of Louise's usual behavior in reality and the simulator—Forget it! Let's try it!
Anna closed her eyes, and the words she wanted to shout out turned into a shy whisper:
"Louise, you're also very cute... you know!"
She struggled to voice her impression of Louise, emphasizing the last word, and Louise regretted saying something so inappropriate.
‘If I'm wrong, wouldn't Louise get even more excited?’
However, Louise stopped in her tracks upon hearing Anna's words, which Anna noticed even with her eyes closed.
"Louise?"
"Se... Senpai... you said I'm... cute?"
‘Isn't this even more stammering than I was earlier?’
Anna tentatively opened her eyes and saw Louise with a completely red face.
She was fidgeting, completely unlike the little demon who wanted to touch earlier, as if she had transformed from a little demon into a pure maiden.
Seeing Louise like this, Anna's brain short-circuited for a moment, then quickly reacted.
‘If I don't do something now, Louise might revert to her earlier state! Can't miss this opportunity!’
Thinking this, Anna stepped away from the wall and walked straight towards Louise.
Then, just like in the simulation, Anna's arms encircled Louise's slightly petite body, holding her tightly.
"Such a cute junior, can I hug you?"
Anna felt her heart racing, even sensing the pulse in her neck throbbing with her heartbeat, and sweat beading on her forehead.
She could even feel Louise's heartbeat as they hugged.
Although their heartbeats were accelerating, they seemed to synchronize, pulsating together in harmony.
After an unknown period of hugging, Anna wanted to release the long-held embrace, but as she was about to let go, she felt her clothes being tugged.
Anna was startled and looked down at Louise, who was also staring at her.
Now, Louise had completely shed her little demon persona, reverting to the soft and cute appearance of their first meeting.
Her watery eyes, like a child unwilling to leave her parents, stared straight at her.
"Senpai... could we... hug a little longer?"
Her words were so soft they were almost inaudible, and as she spoke, Louise gently leaned against Anna.
"Then... a little longer."
Anna couldn't bear to refuse Louise's request and gently placed her hands on Louise.
‘So Louise's personality is really what I thought…’
Like an onion, the outermost layer is the soft and cute junior image, and peeling that away reveals a little demon side.
But if you take the initiative, you'll find that the little demon side is just a facade, and deep down, Louise is still that delicate little girl.
‘How should I describe this... high offense, paper defense?’
Anna remembered that Louise was just an adult, still a cute little sister...
Thinking this, Anna couldn't help but tighten her embrace.
By the way, Louise still has that unique floral scent, which Anna really likes.
This second embrace lasted for who knows how long, until Louise reluctantly spoke:
"Senpai, can I hug you more?"
"Louise, you can hug as long as you want."
Knowing how to handle Louise now, Anna gave her a gentle smile.
‘Although it's a bit sneaky and doesn't align with my principles... can I still consider myself adhering to the knight's code if I hug Louise like this?’
‘Although, given that I often read nighttime readings, I might not be the best fit for the knight's code either…’
"Ugh... you're so sly!"
Louise complained, then buried her face in Anna's bosom, took a deep breath, and broke free from the embrace.
"That wasn't necessary, you know?" Feeling Louise's face against her chest, Anna blushed again.
"I don't care, that's the interest for Senpai saying such sly things!" Louise reverted to her cunning, carnivorous little demon persona, though the lingering blush on her face was quite noticeable.
Standing in front of Anna, Louise looked at her and opened her mouth:
"Senpai, do you like girls..."
"What?"
"...Never mind."
‘I heard it, you wanted to ask if I like girls, right?’
Seeing Louise almost ready to make a move, Anna inwardly sighed in relief.
‘Although Louise is also very cute... but if we confirm our relationship now, what if Helga comes... it feels like something unexpected might happen?’
This was a possibility suggested by Anna's occasionally accurate intuition.
Realizing this, Anna subconsciously glanced at the simulator.
Still on cooldown.
...Better not gamble with reality, let's maintain the status quo for now.
Anna, whether intentional or not, seems to have unexpectedly become a heartless playgirl.