(Biweekly Poll Winner) Fluorescent Flames - Chapter 3 (Raphtalia/Naofumi from Rising of the Shield Hero)

(This is a sequel of sorts to Fluorescent Flames, which focused on Filo. Why is this called Chapter 2, you ask? That's because Chapter 1 set up the next girl being Melty! She hasn't won any poll though... so you're getting the ending chapter before the middle! Regardless, you won't miss much from having that chapter absent.)

___

Raphtalia was not a fan of turbulent thoughts. They were a hindrance not only to her mental stability, but also to her role as her master's sword. Anything that hindered her ability to perform her role was a problem.

Of course, she knew she wasn't going to ever be perfect; she knew she couldn't be the ultimate warrior he deserved to have by his side, but she was striving to be the best she could be anyway. It wasn't like these issues had impacted any battles so far either… but she believed it was an inevitability, especially with how frantic they had been tonight.

Too many questions roamed within her mind.

Was she strong?

Was she useful?

Was she even liked?

She hated that she was having these thoughts.

The answers to them were all obvious, but doubts could be a horrible thing at times, even when she knew there was no reason to have them!

She had been through so much; the time for such thinking should have been over!

Raphtalia sighed.

She was lonely.

…which was odd for somebody who traveled within a party of four, but circumstances had changed a little.

On the plus side, she had found an effective method to suppress these troublesome thoughts, and that was good! The less that threatened her overall stability, the better.

Raphtalia slashed against the nearby tree, but stopped her blade mere inches before it could intersect with the bark.

She was practicing restraint. She needed to know how to wield her sword in such a way that she could use it for threatening without causing any injury. Truthfully, she didn't foresee such a scenario taking place, especially as it wasn't really their style… but it was a task that allowed her to gauge her improvements well, at least.

More than anything, its purpose was to serve as a satisfactory distraction from what was plaguing her thoughts, and it was doing that job decently.

Inadequacy was not a pleasant feeling to have. Even as she proved to herself she was skilled with the sword, she doubted her ability still… but above all, what troubled the most was something… arguably quite trivial in the grand scheme of things! Amusingly enough, it provided some moments of humor; how could that be the thing troubling her so much?! It was all so silly!

That didn't mean she didn't find it important regardless.

For the longest time, she had the longest crush on her master, Naofumi. Who could blame a girl in her situation? He was the one who pulled her out of a life of slavery and torment… and even if she was technically still classified as the former, it was only so Naofumi-sama could command them if he deemed it necessary, as well as provide them with a boost to their stats. Despite what their status as slaves implied, they were pretty much free to do as they pleased, and that was a life she treasured.

Though Naofumi was stern and critical at times, he was also kind when it counted. It was only natural that the intensity of her crush had escalated with time.

However, she knew it was fruitless to pursue anything more than what they already had.

But her view had changed very recently thanks to a certain event she had witnessed… or rather, eavesdropped on. It was also what had caused these escalated thoughts of inadequacy in the first place.

Naofumi treated Filo and Melty as well as he treated her, and on the surface, that was perfectly acceptable.

That didn't mean she hadn't noticed a lot less attention being given to her as a result. The party was expanding, so the shift was natural… but just because she understood why it was happening didn't mean she liked it!

This would have been something she’d be able to gradually come to terms with… but this particular event had changed everything!

She had woken up in the middle of the night thanks to some chatter. That alone wasn’t the unusual part-- it was what happened next that was!

Naofumi and Filo were talking to each other, but they were keeping their voices hushed. She purposefully didn’t stir, not wanting them to feel bad for waking up. As much as she tried to focus on the conversation, she still couldn’t tell what they were talking about, and ultimately, she decided she didn’t particularly care. Getting back to sleep mattered more.

But when she heard them start to get up, her curiosity was captured again.

…and that curiosity turned into confusion when she heard them start to leave!

A quick turn of her head to glance in their direction confirmed what she was hearing.

That was strange! She saw no reason for them to do such a thing, especially as nobody was (to their knowledge) awake to keep watch. She quickly and carefully checked if Melty was still asleep, and indeed she was.

Though she was curious, her general tiredness still prevented her from caring a whole lot about the unusual scenario she had witnessed. She was sure they had their reasons. Thus, she attempted to return to sleep… but found it difficult to do so! Lingering curiosity was more than enough to occupy her thoughts. She didn’t suspect anything strange was happening, and although she could probably ask in the morning and receive an adequate answer, that still wasn’t enough to empty her mind!

Fortunately, intrusive thoughts could not dwindle in her mind forever.

…but, of course, just as she was about to return to sleep, they returned.

Well, that was good! She was relieved to hear they were safe and sound. That meant she could finally go back to sleep, surely.

“...where have you two been?”

Raphtalia hadn’t noticed Melty had woken up at some point. Perhaps the young princess had been awake after all. Nevertheless, Raphtalia was happy about it; perhaps she’d receive some adequate answers that could satisfy her mind without having to be the one to ask them!

“I woke up and Filo was missing,” she heard Naofumi-sama answer hastily. “I went looking for her, and I found her by a nearby river. She had decided it was a good idea to wander off.”

…that was a strange response on his part… because it wasn’t the truth!

…right?

She knew they had talked a little before they left camp, so he was lying!

…right?!

Raphtalia was puzzled and worried. Was she remembering things correctly?!

“...okay… good night, then,” Melty sounded a little uncertain herself, but it was also equally possible Raphtalia was misinterpreting what was actually just a sleepy tone.

“Good night,” Naofumi sounded confident and not at all deceptive… which was putting even more doubt into her mind!

Raphtalia believed their return would signal an easier sleep… but now she was riddled with an incredible amount of confusion! That was not good for somebody who wished to sleep!

When she heard movement again, she started to believe it was best to give up the idea she’d be getting any more sleep tonight. The direction it was coming from indicated it was Melty this time. She was heading towards… Naofumi?

But why?

She wanted to look-- it would certainly yield revelations, but she was committed to maintaining the illusion of sleep. Perhaps he was already feeling bad he had woken up both Filo and Melty-- the least she could do was grant him some peace by making him believe somebody was actually getting some sleep! He had too many burdens on her shoulders as it was.

She heard them mumbling a bit, but the whispers were a little too far away for her to hear. Thankfully, they stopped after some time, and she didn’t hear anything that indicated they were heading off somewhere unknown like with Filo.

…and then the mumblings made their triumphant return… alongside a variety of other bizarre sounds.

Raphtalia couldn’t quite pick out what these sounds were.

But that was only because the volume was initially low.

Eventually, she realized what she was hearing.

Moaning.

Lots and lots and lots of moaning!

Melty was the culprit-- she was seemingly unable to hold back her voice any longer.

The question that remained was why Melty was making such noises? Was she in some sort of pain? Or was it… was it…

Raphtalia bit down on her lip.

Hard.

She knew what was happening.

She just didn’t want to believe it at first.

…because the truth was not exactly pleasant.

But staying in denial would have caused her even more pain in the long term.

All she could think about now was… why?

Not so much, “Why was he doing that with her-- and possibly Filo too?!”

More so, “Why hadn’t he done it with her?! Why wasn’t he doing it with her?!”

She was his first companion. She was the closest to him. She was the one he could count on the most.

Well, there was something about her that differentiated her from the other two…

…but c-certainly not! I-It wasn’t her fault she had leveled up in more ways than one!

If Raphtalia could scream, she would… but she had vowed to stay silent and immobile. It would be insanely embarrassing to reveal she was awake now!

So she endured-- endured the heightening of moans that should have been coming from her lips. She wasn’t sure why what they were doing was warranting so much noise, but Melty looked like she was having the time of her life…

She really did adore the princess, but right now… well, she wasn’t the biggest fan of the girl!

Filo as well, though she tried to hold back any negative thoughts regarding the Filolial as she wasn’t certain if they had done anything either… but it WOULD explain the earlier disappearances!

“N-Naofumi…!” Melty was borderline screaming at this point. She didn’t care about her volume at all anymore. “Ah… I’m going to cum… cum i-inside me… I want to feel it…! Cum inside the body of a princess…!”

Raphtalia was barely listening to them anymore. She didn’t want to hear Melty’s voice.

She just wanted to cry.

But then, maybe they’d hear her, so she didn’t.

Thus, her frustrations grew. She was madly jealous and upset!

But she knew it was her fault. Melty had made the move she was too scared to make. She had made silly and naive comments in passing, hoping it would get his attention, but she had failed. All along, a more direct approach was seemingly the answer.

She had lost her chance. Someone had stolen her master away from her.

But it made sense, didn’t it? Someone as legendary as the Shield Hero would settle for nothing less than a princess. There was no room in his heart for a simple villager girl. He was destined for greater things. She was not.

“You were too loud,” she heard Naofumi scold Melty. “You’re very lucky Raphtalia wasn’t woken up by that. I can’t imagine how she’d react.”

If only he knew…

“Well, you should be sure to include her too then. Then, you won’t have to worry,” Melty suggested, only to groan frustratingly soon after. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed how much that girl loves you?! I… I like you, Naofumi-- but tonight, Filo and I… we’ve been selfish, and done what was rightfully hers to do first… and we know you like her the most. You don’t have to lie.”

…there was a lot to process from that statement. Too much.

Raphtalia focused on listening, not wanting to miss out on any more important details. She could think things through momentarily.

“Do… do you really think that?”

It was rare to hear her Naofumi-sama sound so… uncertain… shy!

“Absolutely!” Melty was insistent. “In fact, why don’t I go wake her up and-”

“That won’t be necessary,” Naofumi seemingly put a pause to her plan before it could start. “She’s still sleeping. I want at least one of us to get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

Raphtalia still wasn’t sure what to think… but she knew she wouldn’t have minded that plan…

“...fine, but don’t forget her, okay?” Melty conceded, but didn’t want to entirely drop the subject. “She’s a little lonely in that area too, just like us.”

“...okay, I understand.”

The conversation came to a close after that. Raphtalia heard Melty take her leave, and after that, all she could hear was the ambiance of the night.

…that was it? It was over?

How was she supposed to sleep now?!

There was so much on her mind, but at least she had some time to properly think about it all.

…but not if her head was hurting!

Raphtalia knew she was in quite the predicament. There was no hope of slumber when she was incapable of clearing her mind, yet there was so much to digest that she didn’t know where to start!

All she could hope for was that her body would naturally just give in and force into sleep, but no such miracle presented itself.

She waited… and waited…. And waited…

And once she was done waiting, she carefully excused herself from her sleeping bed, quietly stretching her arms and legs. If her current level of fatigue wasn’t sufficient enough to return to sleep, then she’d have to physically exhaust herself further to force her body to rest.

It would also serve as a good distraction from everything she had witnessed.

Maybe.

Raphtalia grabbed her blade and quietly left, heading a little deeper into the forest, but not far enough that she’d be unable to find her way back.

When she next attempted to practice her restraint, she found her blade had ever so slightly sliced the tiniest part of the bark.

Recalling how she found herself in this situation had distracted her reflexes, it seemed.

She wasn’t that upset about it; the state of her thoughts made such an error an inevitability.

Feelings of jealousy were still prominent.

Self-doubt about completely unrelated matters had wormed its way in there too.

There was a smidge of hope; Melty’s words were not easily forgotten… but she wasn’t optimistic. The princess had probably realized she was awake and was saying nice words to mend her worries. She knew better. She was just Naofumi-sama’s sword. Nothing more. Nothing less.

That was fine.

…that was fine.

…

Raphtalia sighed and sat down beside the wounded tree. The darkness of the night shielded much of her vision, but at least the campfire was still a little visible.

Yet.. it still felt so far away.

She desired its warmth once more, yet she found herself unable to stand up again.

Filo and Melty were basking in that light, alongside Naofumi. They were close to him; closer than maybe even she was nowadays…

For better or for worse, she was startled from her thoughts when she felt water dripping down her cheek. She looked up, seeing nothing but the faintest silhouette of the canopy. It was starting to rain, but luckily, the forest was going to protect them from most of the downpour, assuming it didn’t get too bad…

Maybe it was best to warn the group-- they were in a slightly more open area, though was it really that necessary? They’d have realized by the time she’d return. She was useless. Not desired.

Not needed.

She glanced at the light once more.

…it was… brighter?

Raphtalia was happy for any anomalies. She knew her mind wasn’t visiting pleasant places, so anything to draw her attention was good.

…was it… coming towards her?

She was puzzled, but also more alert. She grabbed her blade and stood, though it wasn’t fun to do so. Regardless, she had to prepare for the worst. This could be an enemy attack.

As the light got closer, she realized that someone was indeed heading her way.

Luckily, she soon recognized who the individual was, and with it, came so much relief.

“Here you are,” a voice called out to her… but not just any voice. “It’s a little tricky to spot you in the dark, you know. Have you been training?”

“...Naofumi-sama,” Raphtalia greeted her master… but her tone lacked the usual enthusiasm. “I am sorry. Did I wake you?”

“I was already awake,” he answered, toning down the brightness of his shield. He had used it as a light, but there was no need to keep its intensity now that he had located her. “How many hours?”

“...how many hours?”

“Of sleep,” he elaborated. “Give me a guess.”

“...a few, I’d say,” she wasn’t sure where this conversation was going, but she answered to the best of her ability.

“So you heard what happened, then,” he concluded. Raphtalia realized he wanted the answer to an entirely different question altogether, but didn’t want to directly say it. “I thought so. That makes things a little easier, I suppose.”

She said nothing.

Not even when he approached her, enough to illuminate her face.

But when she felt his finger touch her cheek, wiping away the raindrop that had landed on it, she felt her emotions flare up.

He felt… warm.

“I’m sorry, Raphtalia,” he apologized.

She chuckled uneasily. “F-For what…? You haven’t… done anything wrong…”

“For making you cry,” he clarified.

“H-Huh? That was just… the rain though…”

She wasn’t sure why she was protesting, but her desire to do so evaporated immediately when he suddenly pulled her into a hug.

The warmth intensified. Her heart started to pound. She felt… safe again.

“Raphtalia, I love you.”

Those four words repeated in her mind over and over.

Just like wherever they showed up in her dreams.

…ah, that was what was going on, wasn’t it?”

“This is a dream… right?” Raphtalia asked… still a little doubtful… and for once, she hoped those doubts would bear fruit.

“It isn’t,” he hastily answered. “I… am sorry if I have been neglecting you. Love has been… a complex emotion for me as of late, as I am sure you know… but I am done withholding my feelings. You, above all else, are special to me. I understand this now.”

The way he spoke to her was bewildering.

He didn’t sound unsure of himself… but he definitely sounded bashful… and a little… frightened…?

Strangely enough, she wished his arms weren’t around her-- at least just for a moment! She wanted to see his face-- to see that crimson blush…

“Raphtalia,” he called her again. “I love you.”

…had he forgotten he had already said that?!

Her heart couldn’t take more of it!

“Y-You already t-told m-me that…!” she embarrassingly scolded him, barely able to speak… but she had to! She had to answer him, lest he misinterpret her lack of response.

That would be bad!

So, so bad!

Horrendously bad!

Bad bad bad!

Raphtalia took a long, deep breath. She needed one. Sorely.

Now wasn’t the time to panic!

It would be okay-- she had rehearsed this so many times already; she just had to add a ‘too’ to the end! Easy!

“...Naofumi-sama…” she mumbled. “I… ah… l-love y-you t-t-too!”

She knew her confession was full of stutters, but she didn’t care. She had communicated her feelings. That was what mattered in the end. The hard part was over!

…that didn’t mean it wasn’t embarrassing beyond belief though!

Naofumi smiled, pulling her into a deeper hug. He had technically confessed to both of his other companions already, but the love he had for them was not the same as it was for Raphalia. He cared for them as one would a daughter or younger sister…

…uh… maybe not, actually.

He had to resist the urge to scoff, for Raphtalia would assume the gesture was directed at her, rather than himself! He wasn’t sure if that was a good comparison to make after what he had done with them.

Ah well.

“I’m glad,” he answered her. “But nevertheless… I am still sorry. I haven’t treated you well.”

Raphtalia had no idea what he was talking about!

He treated her sublimely. He fed her. He cared for her! Whenever he was around her, she didn’t feel lonely anymore. What more could she ask for?

“You don’t need to apo-”

“I do,” he interrupted her. “And I want to show you how much you mean to me… will you let me?”

“I…”

“You know what I’ve done with Filo and Melty already,” he continued. “Both were very much spurs of the moment, I assure you… but it did at least teach me a lesson-- that you, above all else, are the most special person to me… so…”

Raphtalia giggled.

He hadn’t noticed it, but he was treading the same grounds a lot! She was pretty sure he had said that exact line before! It was probably even word-to-word!

He had rehearsed what to say, hadn’t he?

That was cute!

She couldn’t blame him. How would one adequately confess to a woman after possibly impregnating two others immediately before, especially when the woman in question knew what he had done!

“It’s okay,” Raphtalia reassured him, noticing he was trailing off a bit. He wasn’t the type for speeches, but she had to commend him for doing his best. “Think of it this way-- you’re just saving the best for last, right?”

The comment was a bit egotistical on her part… but a little cheekiness would dampen the tense mood a bit; it was invigorating in a way to have her heart beat so much, though she was a bit worried about the frequency!

“That’s one way to put it,” he laughed a little. “But yes, you’re right.”

Good! The awkwardness had shrunk quite a lot!

Now all they had to do was move to the next part.

…the next part… which was… uh…

“...Raphtalia?”

“...y-yes! I k-know!” Raphtalia stuttered. “K-Kissing comes next… b-but you d-do know that m-might make me p-pregnant… r-right…?”

Raphtalia couldn’t believe what she was saying! She felt awfully silly!

Of course he knew that!

Everyone knew that!

“...uh… what do you mean?”

Wait, he DIDN’T?!

“N-Naofumi-sama…!” Raphtalia had never felt so embarrassed in her life! “How do you not know?!”

“That’s… not it,” his response was weird. “Kissing… does not make somebody pregnant.”

…huh?

Raphtalia was confused.

Very confused!

Well, if that was the truth, then at least she didn’t need to worry about Filo and Melty getting pregnant too…

That was what he was doing with them, after all. She had heard the sucking sounds when he was with Melty. They were going at it with some really intense kissing! She didn’t need to see it to know what was going on! She still wasn’t sure how the princess was able to moan so loudly and clearly, but she supposed someone of her status had learned some techniques.

That did beg the question though.

If kissing wasn’t the cause of pregnancy…

“...h-how do you get… pregnant… then?” she was so curious!

Naofumi took a long, deep breath. He needed one. Sorely.

This was not the conversation he was expecting to have today.

He released himself from the hug, confusing his companion even further. She looked at him with a pondered expression. He had to speak soon-- she may start thinking she had done something wrong, and that wasn’t good!

“Okay… let me explain…”

He wasn’t ready.

No one could ever be ready for such a conversation.

This was going to be embarrassing.

…but it had to be done!

___

Raphtalia had been sitting by the tree for some time.

She was sulking.

She wasn’t particularly sad-- more so frustrated.

At herself.

She.

Had.

No.

Idea!

Naofumi had told her to take her time processing the information as he took a quick nap by another tree.

She hadn’t even fully thought about the things she had heard him doing earlier yet… and what she thought was happening wasn’t even close to the truth!

Her mind was mush!

…and yet…

…she had never been more curious about something in her life!!

He had explained everything.

She now knew what sex was. She knew why it was done (that’s how girls got pregnant?! THAT had to go in THERE?!) but also knew it was done for other reasons outside its intended purpose.

It was sometimes done as an expression of love-- a way to make your special somebody feel good, and show how much you cared about them.

Intimacy.

She knew the word, but she couldn’t think of it the same way anymore!

It was baffling that Melty knew about it while she didn’t!

Well, she was a princess… so her education was probably superior…

But still!

And Filo?!

Well, Filo probably didn’t know the terms-- she just had the urges. Naofumi-sama seemed to be most embarrassed when explaining why she had crawled all over him all of a sudden, begging for his… p-pe… pe…

No… that word was too embarrassing to say!

…d-di…

No, not that one either.

…c-cock?!

…it was a miracle she was able to say that. It was only because of the single syllable, however!

…wait, that wasn’t right-- dick had a single syllable too.

Oh, she could say that too!

…

Raphtalia squealed and covered her ears in shame.

…she wasn’t sure why!

It wasn’t like doing that would make her unable to hear her thoughts!

…she took a deep breath.

And another.

And another.

And another one, for good measure!

Clarity. It was somewhat there. Thank goodness!

Her stability wasn't all there yet, but she did know she was done waiting and dawdling! On one hand, she didn’t want to disturb Naofumi-sama’s slumber… but he did say to wake him up when she was ready to speak again!

She. Could. Do. This!

Probably!

No, definitely!

Did she know what she was waltzing into?

Not really!

But…

If it was with Naofumi-sama…

…then it would be okay, wouldn’t it?

Yes!

Of course it would. She trusted him, more than anybody! He would treat her body with respect and dignity.

…it was meant to go into there?! WHAT?!

That was crazy! Crazy, crazy, crazy!!

…no.

No freakouts! She needed to think less about how strange this was and be more accepting of it! She needed to think more about how it would feel good-- how it would make her feel loved.

She was just scared because it was a new concept to her. That was all.

Raphtalia took one final deep breath.

She felt ready, which meant she had to act, lest her confidence fade and she miss her opportunity.

It wouldn’t be so bad anyway. Filo and Melty had endured-- no, loved it!

So would she.

She stood, curled her fingers inwards to form fists, and clenched them hard.

“N-Naofumi-sama…” she muttered as she approached him, shortly groaning in frustration after she noticed he didn’t stir. She wasn’t speaking loudly enough! “N-Naofumi sama!!”

That was too loud!

“...hmm?” he was woken up by the outburst, and fortunately didn’t seem startled by it. “You alright?”

“Y-Yes! Absolutely!” she mumbled… realizing she had to tell him that she was ready… ready for… ready for… ready for…!

Naofumi stood and made his shield shine once more, giving him a clear view of her expression. “...you don’t look ready.”

“I am! I am, I am, I am!” Raphtalia was insistent. Naturally, she didn’t sound convincing in the slightest. That wasn’t good! She was tired of sounding so… like this! Where was the confidence? All she felt was bashfulness, and a smidge of frustration that wouldn't stop expanding at a rapid pace. “Just… a little nervous! But I'm r-ready! Naofumi-sama… I… know I s-said this before, but… I love you! A lot! So much! I… can’t even begin to describe how much I love you, so please, please… show me what it’s like… to love…”

Raphtalia couldn’t believe she was able to speak her mind in the end, but it prompted quite the satisfying sigh of relief! A well-deserved one, as well.

“Okay,” he seemed convinced. “How do you want to do it?”

“...w-what do you mean… how?”

“It’s like I said before-- what position do you want to do it in? For example, do you-”

“P-Please don’t repeat what you said…!” she interrupted him, and for good reason! Hearing him describe all the elaborate positions was beyond embarrassing! She had no idea sex was so complex!

However, she did have a position in mind… but she didn’t believe she could adequately word what she desired.

Demonstrating it, however? That she could do.

Hopefully!

But first… she had to do something very, very important, before anything else!

It was something she had fantasized about far too much, and it was time to finally experience one of her dreams come true!

“Naofumi-sama… I… don’t want to do anything,” she said. “Not until… you kiss me…”

“...ah…” he mumbled, concerning her for a moment. Was… he actually not interested in kissing her? Was he even attracted to her? Was he even-

The invading negativity was dispersed as quickly as it formed. Naofumi’s minimal response was for a specific reason-- he was entranced by her and what she was saying!

But he didn’t let that hold him back. Upon hearing her request, he lunged at her messily, encapsulating her in an equally messy kiss.

The feeling of his lips against hers-- it made her heart rush!

Yet… hearing her own heartbeat was not worrying her for once.

It felt smooth and gentle. They weren’t perfectly aligned, but that didn’t matter at all. All that mattered was that this was finally happening!

Raphtalia closed her eyes and relaxed, letting him dig his lips a little into hers. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she let him guide the kiss… though she soon learned he wasn’t particularly experienced either! The kiss concluded without much movement, but the little smooching sound that came from the separation filled her with glee.

It was difficult to say if that technically was a kiss, and not more so just a simple intersection of lips… but she didn’t care either way. It made her feel amazing!

“...you okay?” he asked… after quite a bit of silence.

“Y-Yes… w-wonderful, even…” she shakily answered with haste. “C-Could you… k-kiss me again…?”

“Of course.”

So he did.

The second kiss had far more grace than the first. The tension of the first kiss being over had calmed the both of them, and this time, Raphtalia experimented with kissing back. She had an idea of what to do, and since her level of inexperience was similar to his, it didn’t matter if it was a little sloppy as they’d just be learning together.

No longer were feelings of inadequacy plaguing her. If they were, she’d be worrying a lot about her technique and whether or not she was making him feel good.

But she knew better. She was making him feel good, and she knew she was accomplishing this because he wasn’t pulling back. She knew this because she thought the same way in return.

When the second kiss concluded (only out of a necessity to breathe), they soon found themselves locked in a third (after recovering). No permission was needed. They wanted each other. They needed each other.

Raphtalia honestly lost count over how many kisses they engaged in. The only thing with a higher count was the number of times her heart had beaten.

“...Naofumi-sama…” she muttered, feeling awfully out of breath… but such a rush had never felt so good! “I want more…”

“...do you want to…?”

“Yes…”

Naofumi shivered. It wasn’t because of the cold air. It was her voice.

He had never, never heard Raphtalia sound so… lustful!

He liked it.

“...what position?” he was a bit blunter this time, figuring there wouldn’t be as much embarrassment now that she was in the mood.

“Mmm… ah…” she pondered for a moment.

“Take your time,” he didn’t want to hurry her.

“I… am not sure how to explain it… so just watch, okay?” she requested. She approached the tree she had been training against and lifted her skirt, pulling down her underwear hastily. She then rested her hands against the tree and leaned her body back a little, granting him easier access to her rear.

How she was able to do that without any hesitation was beyond her.

But she knew, more than anything, that the idea of his… cock… being inside her… pussy… well, it was still embarrassing, of course, but the notion was also exciting!

This position resonated with her for one simple reason. She was bound to make a lewd face, and she wasn’t quite sure if she was ready for him to see that! Because he wouldn’t be able to see it, she’d be able to be just a bit calmer, which hopefully would make things easier!

That was absolutely the only reason.

It certainly didn’t have anything to do with how exciting the thought of being ravaged by her master from behind was. Absolutely not.

She had only learned about sex, after all!

When he explained what dominance and submission were, she hadn’t reacted at all. Not a single chill had run down her spine when she heard that some girls liked to be completely dominated by their partner. It certainly didn’t send an amazing chill down her spine.

Not a single one!

“Do you… understand?” she asked curiously and shyly.

Unfortunately, her wiggling tail was already communicating her inner excitement; it had a habit of communicating her real feelings whenever she wanted to keep them hidden!

“Yes, but before I do anything-- are you sure you want this, Raphtalia?” he asked one last time.

“If it’s with you, Naofumi-sama… then I’ll do anything…”

The only reason she could even respond so well was because she did not want him to back down!

Naofumi had talked about sex in a lot of detail.

He was honest about the good and the bad. She knew it would hurt, but she didn’t mind that. In the end, he wouldn’t hurt her anymore than he had to.

Raphtalia wasn’t used to feeling so many positive and negative emotions all at once… but positivity was winning the battle.

This was going to be a learning curve for her, certainly, but it was with the love of her life! What more could she ask for? It was going to be okay!

She heard some movement and noises from his end, indicating he was preparing himself. Her tail started to speed up, as if it was impatient and wanted to beckon him over quicker. She decided not to worry about it-- it wasn’t like she could control it, and perhaps… it would excite him…?

Raphtalia curled her lips into her mouth, trying her best not to pout. What was taking him so long? She wanted to feel-

The slightest touch against her sensitive pussy almost made her yelp in shock! The same sensation presented itself when he placed his hand on her butt.

“Raphtalia, this is going to hurt, so-”

“I-I’ll be okay!” she urged him, not wanting him to pause any longer. She was ready. She wanted this! She needed this! She had wondered for the longest time why she sometimes felt an awful itch down there whenever she was around him during his bravest or kindest moments… and now she knew! Deep down, her body wanted him as much as she did, and today, they would both find satisfaction. “Naofumi-sama… please… I can’t take it anymore…”

Naofumi acknowledged her desires hastily. He couldn’t take his time after that now, could he? Raphtalia felt his dick slide up against her, prodding her entrance for a moment before the head slipped in.

It felt… a little weird, but it was okay. It didn’t hurt, so that was-

Then, without warning, pain struck.

All he had done was sink in slightly more… and now it hurt…!

But… it was okay.

Raphtalia breathed deeply. It was painful, but she had experienced far worse before. Besides, it was fading at a good pace too.

“Raphtalia, are you alright?” he asked.

“Y-Yes… just give me a moment, please…” she requested, waiting a few seconds before she spoke again. “Okay… I’m ready…”

“That was quick,” he observed.

“D-Don’t tease me…!” she pouted. “I’m tougher than I look.”

“Right you are,” he agreed with not just his words, but with his actions too. Naofumi started to sink further into Raphtalia, scrambling her thoughts again. She could feel him opening her up, and while there was still a bit of pain, she was starting to understand why couples did this; pleasure was present, and it was gradually rising too!

…and that itch! It was finally being scratched in such an incredible way.

Raphtalia couldn’t resist. She moaned. Loudly.

She now understood why Melty had been so vibrant. It wasn’t kissing that had caused such an incredible reaction from her-- it was this!

“...ah… that feels… good… it feels good, Naofumi-sama…” she told him.

“I can tell,” he said. “Your tail keeps hitting me in the face.”

Usually, such a response would prompt a fun reaction out of her.

But… there was an urge.

An urge to respond a little differently this time.

“Then grab it,” she suggested. “You can… be rough with me, Naofumi…”

To say such things… it was so… so… naughty!

“...Raphtalia… if you say such things… then I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold back…”

“Then don’t,” she encouraged him. “I’m yours, Naofumi… so use me…!”

When this was all over, she’d probably need a week or two before she could look him in the eyes again, but that was a side-effect she was willing to deal with if it meant this night would be full of wonders.

Naofumi acknowledged her plea after a moment of contemplation. He was a little hesitant since this was her first time, but he was also very aware that she was extraordinarily strong.

Thus, he pushed in fully, not letting anything hold him back. Additionally, just as promised, he pulled on her tail. His grip was strong too, preventing it from wiggling crazily.

Raphtalia cooed in response, either unafraid to let her voice soar, or simply just not able to control it. Whatever the reason, it was a heavenly sound… and made him quite grateful they were in the middle of nowhere… though it did prompt the question if Melty or Filo would hear and investigate. He wasn’t too worried about that possibility though for obvious reasons, however.

Naofumi was initially planning to take his time with Raphtalia, but he knew she didn’t need nor desire the gentle treatment. Therefore, he hastily pulled out of her and slammed back in, testing the waters to see if she could take it.

The cry of joy she let out was her answer, and it was quite the satisfying one at that.

Thus, he accelerated at a rapid pace, wanting to hear those groans amplify, and indeed they did. Now that he knew she was content with sex, he put some focus onto how gorgeous she looked. Granted, she was still mostly dressed, but he was happy to marvel at how bubbly her butt was. He adored seeing how it jiggled every time he slammed into her, the vibration syncing with a new emergence of moans. It almost felt a little wrong doing this with her, but he had thought that exact same thing more than enough tonight!

“Naofumi-sama… Naofumi… Naofumi…!” Raphtalia cried out with the utmost joy. She couldn’t believe she could feel this good! It was such a unique form of pleasure! Satisfaction could be gained from many things; eating and drinking, having fun with others, and plenty more… but this… this was a form of gratification that felt unlike anything she had experienced before!

…she was going to get hooked on this, which wouldn’t be so bad if she didn’t have to share with two others…

…but even then, that sounded kind of fun too! It would be fun to see the antics they could get up to to make Naofumi flustered!

That could wait, however! Right now, she had him all to herself, and she couldn’t ask for anything more right now. It felt good. It felt good. It felt so good!

“I love you… I love you… I love you…!”

Raphtalia thought she’d feel embarrassed saying those words so messily and frantically. She wasn’t. If anything, it increased her joyful state to higher levels! She was so, so happy! It wasn’t just a physical itch being scratched, but plenty of others she didn’t even know needed scratching! Every thrust was pulsating such joyous feelings throughout her entire body, making her quiver with bliss. If it wasn’t for the strong grasp Naofumi had on her, she’d have probably fallen by now!

At this point, Raphtalia believed she had reached the pinnacle of this newfound pleasure, but her body was ready to prove her wrong. She could feel something building up within her, getting ready to burst at any moment.

“N-Naofumi… I feel… ah… I feel…!” she didn’t know what to say.

But he knew what she meant. “Me too, Raphtalia… do you want me to… fuck… i-inside…?”

If it wasn’t for the important question he was asking, she’d be losing her mind over the fact that she was making him feel so good that it was making him swear!

Inside…

Yes, inside…

She knew what that meant now. If he did that, he was going to impregnate her!

The thought of having a child with her beloved…

It had been in many of her fantasies before… so why not fulfill another wish? Besides, he had done the same to Filo and Melty! She did not want to be left out!

“Yeeessss… iiinnnnsshiiideee meeeee…!”

Her voice was a mess, but she didn’t have any energy spare to care.

Naofumi was happy to give what they both wanted. He wasn’t sure why he had even asked, considering how things had ended with Filo and Melty.

…it was just as well too-- Raphtalia was tightening up all of a sudden, and her grasp was not something he could easily pull out of. For once, her defense was greater than his! Nevertheless, it worked in his favor; her walls squeezed him relentlessly, bringing him over the edge in no time. Raphtalia’s virgin womb tasted her man’s semen for the first time, and without a doubt, it wouldn’t be the last time it was flooded with it.

Naofumi had filled up three girls within a single night… but he knew this one was the most satisfying of all. Filo and Melty were fun, but this one had so much love behind it! As Raphtalia cooed in delight and experienced her own breathtaking orgasm, one enhanced by his, he felt his heart begin to beat so frantically… or rather, more frantically! He hadn’t noticed until now just how much of an effect this woman was having on him!

It was a miracle Naofumi and Raphtalia were able to remain standing once he pulled out, but they managed to stay put together… just about.

“...you okay, Raphtalia?” he was more concerned for her safety than his. Her legs were wobbling a lot, and that was concerning, but she was at least able to pull her underwear back up… after waiting for his semen to stop leaking.

“I’m fine… I promise,” she sounded sure of herself, so he didn’t question it any further.

“Good, shall we head back?” he asked.

“Y-Yes… but… uhm…” she mumbled.

“Hmm?”

“Could I… hold your hand?”

…

“F-For support, I mean! I am a little wobbly, so this will m-make sure I don’t f-fall!”

Naofumi smirked, seeing an opportunity. “Oh, that’s the reason? Here I was, thinking you wanted to do it to be romantic. I was a little excited too…”

“W-Well, there’s that too!” she blurted out.

She hastily grabbed his hand, holding tightly and refusing to let go, but not before returning her blade to its sheath. She didn’t want to forget that in the middle of nowhere!

After a little bit of walking, they returned to camp, and by some miracle, their two other companions were still fast asleep. Naofumi wondered if they had gotten lucky… or maybe he had drained them too much for them to wake up…

Nevertheless, it felt wonderful to be by the warmth of the campfire again, and felt even better to return to bed.

“...hey,” he spoke quietly./

“Hmm?”

“Why are you sleeping with me?” Naofumi asked Raphtalia.

“Because you’re warm…” she answered, cuddling up to him further.

Raphtalia had decided she wasn’t going to let go of him for a while.

Well, he didn’t really mind. He felt warmer than he did when he initially woke up, but that didn’t mean he was against more heat.

There were bound to be some interesting conversations taking place in the morning, but all Naofumi cared about was finally having some undisturbed sleep. Surely, now that he had satisfied all three of these greedy girls, he’d be granted some peace and quiet…

He could only hope!