Chapter Text
At the breakfast table, the Headmage, Azul, and Floyd were already seated. Though none of them showed it openly, they must have been quite worried; they had taken their seats more than thirty minutes earlier than usual. There, you and Jade reported that the cognitive therapy using the Tryst Potion had been a success. A collective sigh of relief filled the room as everyone looked at your arms, where the scars had completely vanished. Once a general policy was established—deciding that if you ever suffered from nightmares again, the Tryst Potion would be used to handle it—it was time for the usual breakfast.
Azul ate his salad, Floyd bit into a piece of toast topped with an egg, and the Headmage meticulously peeled and ate a croissant bit by bit. You happily ate your yogurt filled with fruit and oatmeal. Meanwhile, Jade’s plate was piled high with eggs, bacon, and a mountain of pancakes. Even though he ate elegantly with a knife and fork, the speed at which the pancake tower diminished felt like a magic trick.
After clearing his plate entirely, Jade lightly dabbed his mouth with a napkin and spoke in a tone as casual as if he were asking about today's class schedule.
"Azul, I will be staying at Ramshackle Dorm this weekend, so please see to the approval of my sleepover permit."
You were the one who nearly sprayed your milk in shock. You never expected him to declare it so boldly in a place like this. Seeing your face turn bright red, Floyd grinned as he caught on to the situation, while Azul looked utterly weary and annoyed. The Headmage, for his part, covered his ears and started chanting, "Ah, ah! I can’t hear a thing!"
"Jade-senpai."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Right now, I really want to use a 'Command' on you to make you shut up."
"Ooh! That sounds super handy!"
"Floyd, why are you being so positive about this?"
"I'd like to use that one, too."
"Not you too, Azul!"
"Now, now, everyone! If you don't finish up and get ready for class quickly, you're going to be late! Also, Prefect, please come to the Headmage's office later."
"Figures…"
You shot a resentful look at Jade. But the poised, handsome man simply narrowed his eyes in a delighted, joyful smile.
■□■
And so, the weekend you had both been waiting for finally arrived.
True to his word, Jade had "wrested" the sleepover permit from Azul. Fully prepared, he knocked on the door of the Ramshackle Dorm. After a brief moment, the sound of your light footsteps approached, and the door opened from the inside.
"Welcome, Jade-senpai."
A soft scent of flowers mixed with steam brushed past Jade’s nose. He noticed your hair was still slightly damp.
"Did you just get out of the bath?"
"I did."
Invited inside, Jade stepped into the dormitory. Your eyes fell on the large paper bag he was carrying.
"What's in there?"
"Our breakfast for tomorrow."
"Yes!"
Before heading to your room on the second floor, Jade stopped by the kitchen to stow the ingredients in the refrigerator. He moved with more confidence than the owner of the house, while you followed closely behind him.
"By the way, where is Grim-kun?"
"……I left him with Ace and the others."
"I see, I see."
A wide, genuine smile spread across Jade’s face. So, it really is going to be like that, he thought. When he turned around, he saw your cheeks were flushed a deep, lingering red. His smile deepened further, revealing the sharp, jagged rows of teeth he usually tried to keep hidden. Seeing this, you knitted your brows, perhaps thinking he was teasing you, and shot him a resentful look.
"…If you want, Jade-senpai, I can call him back."
It was highly doubtful that Grim would actually return, knowing Jade was staying over. Jade simply chuckled at your shy attempt to hide your embarrassment.
"On a side note, do you think Grim-kun’s meat would be classified as venison? Or perhaps, against all odds, there’s a possibility he tastes like tuna?"
In other words: If he comes back, I’ll eat him.
"Please don't try to eat my boss. There’s a limit to how much of a scavenger you can be!"
"But," Jade said, his brow drooping in a mock-troubled expression while the corners of his mouth curled upward. "Since I’ve been told to 'wait,' and it seems I’m not yet permitted to consume you…"
"……gh!"
You let out a low groan, your face burning even hotter with a deep, radiant flush.
Although you are glaring at him, both you and Jade are well aware that it is merely a way to hide your embarrassment.
"Honestly," you sigh, as if giving up. "I never said I wouldn't let you 'eat' me."
You turn your back to him and begin walking, leading the way. Jade follows slowly behind. He knows well that his prey will not run away. He has been invited to the Ramshackle Dorm many times before. This is your "nest," and Jade is the male invited into it. As a moray eel mermaid with a culture of "commuter marriage," this situation fills him with an intense, irrepressible excitement.
"Please, come in," you say, leading him into your private room.
While he let you escort him this far, Jade decides it is time to take the lead from here. He reaches out his arm to naturally wrap it around your waist, but you deftly slip past his hand and step half a pace outside the doorway.
"Prefect?" Jade asks.
"Just… wait a moment. I have to go… get ready."
"————"
The "preparation." Yes, that preparation. Jade had done his own research and understood that between two men, the person receiving requires various preparations. He had intended to handle those matters for you himself. However, it appears you have done your own research as well.
While he feels a tinge of disappointment that he cannot prepare you with his own hands, the fact that you are handling it yourself is proof that you are looking forward to the night ahead just as much as he is.
Jade smiles brightly. "Of course. Please, take your time."
With that, you vanish behind the door.
Left with a moment of idleness, Jade took a seat on your bed.
Poof.
Poof, poof, poof.
He absentmindedly checked the fluffiness of the duvet. Then, he moved on to perform a meticulous check of the pillow's fluffiness. It was perfectly fluffy.
You returned shortly after. It was much sooner than he had expected. The light sound of your footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door creaked open halfway. Jade glanced casually toward the entrance—and was struck speechless.
Long black hair spilled from behind the door's shadow. A lovely girl peeked out as if trying to hide, glancing shyly at Jade to gauge his reaction.
"Um… well… I feel like I might have gone a bit overboard. Please don't laugh if it looks weird, okay?"
Even your voice sounded higher, clearer, and more adorable than usual.
Laughing was the last thing on his mind. To be honest, he felt like he was dying. His heart might have even skipped a beat. Jade was completely frozen.
As he stared with wide, fixed eyes, the figure stepped hesitantly into the light. The hem of a milky-white pajama dress fluttered softly. The smooth, melting texture of the fabric clung to your supple limbs, faintly revealing your skin and highlighting soft bodily curves that seemed impossible for a man. You looked delicate and graceful—possessing what must be the most beautiful silhouette in the world.
Your neckline was slender, and your collarbones were clearly defined. The choker you always wore was gone. No matter how he looked at it, the person standing there was a young girl. A lovely girl whose features closely resembled yours.
A throbbing pain surged through the back of Jade’s head as he realized, with a sharp "Ah," that he had forgotten to breathe. He took a deep breath in and exhaled.
Seeing Jade suddenly start deep-breathing after being frozen, you—or rather, the girl who looked exactly like you—tilted your head in confusion. Your long black hair swayed with the movement. As you approached Jade with small, light footsteps, his attempt to escape reality reached its limit. He had to accept that this girl was, in fact, you.
You walked right up to Jade’s side. Your dress, embroidered to give weight to the hem, caught the air and billowed with the delicate fragility of a jellyfish.
"Jade-senpai?"
"Um…"
"Yes."
"That…"
"Yes."
"Wait… please, just give me a moment."
Jade managed to squeeze a plea for restraint from his throat, almost like a man begging for his life. He covered his eyes, his voice nothing more than a low groan. Inside his head, everything was in total disarray; he was, quite literally, in a state of panic. To find that the person he had fallen for, believing them to be of the same sex—the person he had intended to claim as his mate regardless—had appeared before him as a lovely young girl… he desperately wanted someone to understand the sheer confusion he was feeling.
"Does it… not suit me after all?"
"That is not the issue here."
He immediately dismissed your dejected question. It wasn't that. It wasn't that your outfit was strange or that you looked bad. Well, it certainly wasn't what he had expected, so in that sense, it was "your fault," but it wasn't that it didn't suit you. On the contrary, it suited you perfectly, and you were incredibly adorable.
"Jade-senpai, you're sweating quite a lot. Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I am fine. I am perfectly healthy, but to be honest, I am a bit confused by this unexpected turn of events."
He was putting up a front. It wasn't just "a bit" of confusion. He was profoundly confused.
"Confused?"
You looked down at Jade as he sat on the bed.
The "secret" you had mentioned once before—until this very night, Jade had assumed it meant you were "someone who had lost their life once in your original world." But he realized now that he must have been wrong. The true nature of the secret you wanted to tell him—after he told you he didn't care if you were a man and wanted to be with you anyway—was that you were actually a girl.
"Grrrrgh…!"
Jade looks like he wants to clutch his head in his hands.
Now that he thinks about it, the version of you he met in the dream was exactly the person standing before him now. You had your long black hair tied back, and while those oversized clothes completely hid your silhouette, you were smaller, more youthful, and your voice was clear and high. Back then, Jade had simply brushed it off with a casual, "Oh, I see, you're just a fry."
He wants to punch that past version of himself with everything he's got. You lost your life in that world and came here; there's no way a growth spurt could have happened in between.
"Jade-senpai?"
"…………"
When you call his name, the tone is the same as always, yet the pitch is high and sweet. His throat hitches. The person he fell for—even believing you were a man—is still just as adorable and beloved as a girl.
"Um…"
"Yes?"
"……May I hold you?"
"Go… ahead?"
You close the distance with light, quick steps as Jade loosely opens his arms and knees. He wraps his arms around your back, being extremely careful with his strength. He has held you several times before. You've even slept in the same bed.
And yet, his arms feel like they have far too much room.
A girl's body is thin, soft, and feels incredibly fragile. A shiver runs down his spine at the sensation of his arms and fingers seemingly sinking into your soft skin. He feels a flash of anxiety, wondering if you even have bones or if you're made of something shapeless, because you are just that soft and warm.
Even your height has "shrunk." You were already small for a man, but now you are much, much smaller. Even with him sitting on the bed and you standing, your eyes are almost level. Your slender waist looks like it might not be much thicker than one of his thighs. He’s starting to doubt if you even have the same number of internal organs as he does.
"…………Prefect."
"Yes?"
Jade groans, pressing his forehead firmly against your shoulder.
"Tell me… do you have any more secrets left?"
His voice sounds truly resentful. You tilt your head, gently stroking the back of his "admirable, round head" as he sulks.
"Well, yeah, I think that's the last big one. I mean, there are plenty of things I haven't mentioned or forgot to say, but…"
After all, you are two people from different worlds—one an'otherworlder,' the other a mermaid from the deep sea. It will take a long time to share everything.
But as you notice Jade’s incredibly awkward reaction, a sudden realization hits you. No way. Could it be…?
"Um… this might be a long shot, but… Jade-senpai, did you seriously not realize I was a girl!?"
"…………"
Jade’s eyes wander aimlessly. He remains dead silent, choosing to say nothing and instead just rubbing his forehead against you in protest.
"B-but we met in the dream! I was clearly a girl back then, wasn't I?!"
"………………That's not it."
"What isn't?"
"I…"
"Yes?"
"I thought you were male."
"Well, yeah, that was the magic I was under."
"So, I assumed the version of you I saw in the dream was just a 'fry.'"
"A fry?"
"I thought you were small because you were a fry who hadn't hit puberty yet, and that you were only more adorable than usual because you were a fry."
"I need a moment to process this."
You entered a period of silent deliberation. Jade waited solemnly for your verdict. To call a male a female is a distinct insult; by that same token, mistaking a female for a male—regardless of intent—is incredibly rude. If you had become angry and lost your mood, Jade was prepared to spend the entire night praising your loveliness with every word at his disposal. He was content even if the night ended right then and there.
"Jade-senpai."
You gave a light tug on the hair at the back of his head. Jade knew this was a signal to look up. When he slowly raised his eyes, he saw that your gaze was fixed and your face was flushed. Stained to the tips of your ears with a bashful crimson, your slender, delicate arms wound around his neck.
"……Am I too childish? Do I not… put you in the mood?"
Instead of answering with words, Jade tightened his arms around your fragile waist, pulling you close as he pressed his lips against yours almost like a bite, pinning you down onto the bed. He thought the sight of your black hair spilling across the white sheets was a masterpiece.
"……What do you think?"
He pulled his lips away just enough to ask, his breath ghosting over your skin. Even as he asked, he had no intention of letting you speak an answer. He immediately pressed his lips to yours again, slipping his tongue into your mouth—which felt even smaller than before—and drinking you in. The strength of your arms as they tightened around the back of his neck, as if begging for more, was surely all the answer he needed.
■□■
The next morning, you woke up well past noon, the sun high in the sky. There was no "morning glow" to speak of—in fact, you had been thoroughly devoured until the birds started their dawn chorus. You had truly been through a harrowing experience.
"Mmm…"
You groaned, shifting restlessly beneath the duvet. Every part of your body ached. Your legs and hips throbbed with a pain akin to intense muscle soreness, and you furrowed your brows in a daze. The stinging sensations were undoubtedly from being bitten. Your arms, your neck—it felt as though he had bitten you everywhere, almost as if to overwrite the tooth marks from that dog once and for all.
At first, he had been incredibly gentle, carefully opening your body with consideration for the fact that everything was new to you. But from that point on, he had simply done whatever he pleased. At one point, fearing for your life, you used a "Command" without his prior consent for the first time in your life. It wasn't that it was merely painful—you had felt plenty of pleasure—but it had become so intense it was agonizing. And frankly, the gap in your physical stamina was far too wide.
Gasped and breathless, you uttered "Stop," using your Command because you desperately wanted Jade to halt so you could rest. Yet, the man hovering over you paused only for a moment. He tucked a stray lock of his black hair behind his ear and smiled. It was a smile brimming with sensuality, his pale features flushed with heat and glistening with a light sweat.
Then, under that beautiful smile, he quickly uttered:
"Hygrophorus flammeus f. rubrisporus."
It was the first time a "safe word" had been invoked in your play, and you couldn't believe he had actually used one to bypass your command. To make matters worse, he continued without listening to you at all, even demanding you praise him. While being gnawed on by a runaway carnivorous moray eel who wasn't "admirable" in the slightest, you were forced to tell him, "You're a good boy for saying your safe word."
It just didn't feel right. You had a strong suspicion that this wasn't how the relationship between a Dom and a Sub was supposed to work. You delivered a solid headbutt to the chest of the man who was undoubtedly already awake and holding you.
"Are you awake?"
"I am now…"
"Would you like some water?"
"Please…"
Your voice was thin and raspy, a direct result of the endless sounds you'd been forced to make. In stark contrast, Jade sat there looking utterly satisfied, his skin practically glowing with vitality. This radiant Jade gently supported your back, helping you sit up. Though you had drifted off toward dawn in a state bordering on unconsciousness, you found your body had been cleaned and you were back in your pajama dress. Jade must have taken care of all the "after-cleanup" while you slept.
You took the glass of cold water he offered and drank it down, your throat working rhythmically. The water had a refreshing hint of lemon. It felt as though it was soaking into every parched corner of your body. Glancing to the side, you saw a pitcher filled with water and sliced lemons, beads of condensation forming on its surface. He must have prepared it so it would be ready whenever you finally woke up.
"Breakfast is ready as well. Would you like to rest a bit longer?"
"I'll eat. I'm… starving."
After the grueling "exercise" you were forced into last night, you felt as though you’d burned through at least 5,000 calories. Looking up at Jade, who had already stepped off the bed, you held out your arms.
"Carry me."
"Fufu, as you wish."
Jade’s eyes crinkled with profound delight. Just as you requested, he slipped his arms under yours and hoisted you up effortlessly. Even if you are on the smaller side, you are still a sixteen-year-old girl. You blinked in surprise at how easily he lifted you.
Actually, your request to be carried was meant to be a minor act of petty revenge—a small attempt to fluster him after everything he put you through last night. You hadn't expected him to pick you up so lightheartedly. He shifted your weight to one arm, bouncing you slightly to settle you against him just as one would a small child, and began carrying you downstairs.
"My lovely one is quite spoiled, isn't she?"
"That’s because someone pushed me to my limit…"
"Oh? What a terrible moray eel that must have been."
"A confession…"
Trading banter, you were carried to the kitchen table. Since only you and Grim live in the Ramshackle Dorm, you usually eat in the kitchen rather than the dining hall.
"I'll have it ready in a moment."
"Okaaay."
As you sat and waited, breakfast for two was laid out in the blink of an eye, the prep work clearly having been done in advance. He had even decorated the center of the table with flowers—he truly is a man who knows how to handle things.
The spread was a testament to how much he cherishes you: fluffy pancakes made sweet just the way you like them, creamy scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, yogurt, and vegetable soup. It was more than enough to make you feel thoroughly pampered and cared for.
"Itadakimasu."
"Itadakimasu."
You ate facing each other, the conversation drifting through harmless, idle topics. But suddenly, Jade tilted his head in curiosity.
"By the way… without that choker, how is it that we can still speak like this?"
The choker you usually wore served two purposes: disguising your gender and providing a translation spell. Without it, you shouldn't be able to understand the language of this world, nor should Jade be able to understand yours. Yet, your conversation was flowing perfectly.
"This is why."
You raised your pinky finger to show him a delicate rose gold ring sparkling there.
"This is a magical item the Headmage made for me—it has the language spell but is separate from the choker. I had to beg him for it."
Though he had made a face like he was swallowing something bitter, you knew exactly when to pull out the "Papa ♡" card. By chanting "Papa ♡" over and over, you managed to get your way.
"…………"
"Jade-senpai?"
"No, it’s just… I noticed you were wearing a ring I hadn't seen before last night."
He had assumed you had simply dressed up for the occasion. However, even if it was a functional magical tool, the idea of it being a gift from another man didn't sit quite right with him.
"One day, I will craft a magical item of that same quality and give it to you myself."
"Hehe, I’ll look forward to it."
Matching the craftsmanship of the Headmage would certainly take time. Yet, in a way, that promise was synonymous with a vow to remain by your side for just as long. You smiled, taking a bite of a crisp, juicy apple.
"Oh, that reminds me. Thanks to this ring, I’m actually able to attend school dressed as a girl now."
The Headmage had told you that you were free to do as you pleased. In a sense, this was a testament to the trust he placed in Jade. He likely foresaw that with Jade acting as your "defense mechanism," there was no risk of you getting caught up in trouble due to your gender, even if you stopped hiding it. After all, few would be foolish enough to lay a hand on the lover of Jade Leech—the mate of a merman. Merman love is notoriously fierce; it is widely known even on land, often as a warning, that a male of their kind will become unimaginably feral for the sake of his mate.
"But it seems like it would be a lot of trouble, so I think I'll stick to being a 'boy' for the time being."
"I agree with you there."
Jade took your hand and pressed his lips against the delicate ring. While he was fully prepared to scatter any "sparks" that might fly your way because of your gender, he couldn't deny his desire to keep his newfound treasure to himself for a little while longer. Among beastmen and merfolk, there is a natural tendency to be drawn to strong females. And you were a Dom—one who had only recently been rumored to be the "strongest". If it became common knowledge that this so-called strongest Dom was actually a girl, it was all too obvious that "small fry" would come swarming around you in droves.
"If you were to say you hated hiding it, I would tell you to do as you wish, but…"
"I don't mind, so I'll keep things as they are for a while longer."
As you talked, the two of you finished your breakfast. Then, once more, you reached out your arms toward him.
"Nfufu."
At your silent plea, Jade let out a gentle, throaty chuckle. He scooped you up again, his arms winding around yours as he began the climb back up the stairs to carry you to your room.
"I've prepared the bath for you as well."
"Y-you've thought of everything…"
"Indeed. I am a very devoted moray eel, after all."
"Then… if I said I wanted crepes for a snack, would you make them?"
"Of course."
"And if I asked for stew for dinner?"
"Certainly."
"Would you even help me with my homework?"
"Yes, I shall look over it for you."
"……Amazing. You’re doing everything for me, even though I didn’t use a single Command…"
At your words of heartfelt admiration, Jade’s eyes softened with a melting sweetness.
"How silly you are."
He pressed a light kiss against the corner of your eye.
"I don't need such Commands to devote myself to the female I love."
He doesn't pamper you because he is a Sub; he does it because he loves you and wants to. It is a kindness born purely from his own impulse to give you everything you desire.
You looked up at him, your dark eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.
"In that case… I suppose you don't need a reward either?"
"Oh, I most certainly need that."
At his blunt and immediate response, you couldn't help but burst into laughter.