Development

We lay under the shade of a tree nearby, looking at the leaves and the clear blue sky that had no clouds. The weather was pleasant, with mild winds blowing. But we were sweating. Well, Emma was sweating. I barely had any sweat.

She huffed as she looked at me with disbelief.

"How the… heck do have so much… stamina."

[That's what she said!]

Holding back a chuckle, I managed to reply normally.

"I ran a lot."

'Damn it, Iris. Not right now! Good one, though.'

[Hahaha. Alright, sorry. I'll leave you be now. Just wanted to get that out of my 'System'… Get it? XD]

Oh, how much I liked her puns and jokes. They complimented my taste in such overused, sometimes lame, but often cultured jokes so well. We were really suited for one another. Definitely, a match made in heaven. She was, after all, made specifically for me and by a 'God', so it wasn't just empty words.

Moving on from that, my words reminded me of the harsh training regimen I had followed till now to get to my maximum physical potential.

"Right… that crazy strength and stamina training or something. But I train daily too, and I did most of your training, minus the stupidly long runs. And I'm 3 Tiers higher than you. How do you STILL have more stamina than me?"

"I… ran a lot?"

"…"

She gave me a deadpan look.

"Hey, you're still better at swordsmanship than me, though. No need to be so harsh on yourself."

I spoke with a kind smile.

"… Are you trying to annoy me?"

She looked at me, her face clearly expressing her annoyance at my words. Even though I had said that to make her happy.

She probably was pissed that she had to use the moves from Maximus style along with mana and brute strength to 'overwhelm' me and still lost due to her lower stamina. Though she didn't know that I didn't go all out with my strength. Just till Tier 2 strength.

Gone were the days when she used to thrash me with just her basic techniques.

I gave her a smug look to further annoy her.

She looked cute when she was annoyed.

"Humph."

She turned her face away in irritation, but not before she gave me a 'Humph' and a pout. While I was not a big fan of Tsunderes in general, Emma was the kind I didn't find annoying. She didn't go all offensive and physical with even a little tease. Most of the time, she just adorned a cute frown or sometimes a cute annoyed pout.

It was funny and adorable.

The developers of Cryotopia had worked really hard to make Emma from the game a likable character, and the real Emma had inherited all of that likability, and more since she was a living breathing person and not a complex mish-mash of code.

"Hey."

I called out to the pouting beauty.

"What?"

She didn't turn but still replied.

"You remember the first time I asked if I could train with you?"

"Yeah."

She replied plainly.

"You got pissed at me for disturbing you."

"Hmm."

"You even tried to hit me once for that."

"… Sorry."

"Nah, it's all good."

"I was scolded by mother for that."

"Haha, you did."

I smiled at the amusing memory. Apparently, someone saw that and decided to report that to my mother, who later scolded Emma and that led her to allow me to train with her. And that's how we became training buddies. Emma was annoyed at first, but she later started feeling comfortable with me, seeing how crazy my training seemed to get. From 10 push-ups to 200 towards the end.

Not a whole lot had happened in the past 2 years except for a few special events, but I had created quite a few memories with my new family. They were MY memories, not someone else's. It was odd to say this, but I didn't feel that weird anymore, living here with a new family. The place was very cozy and comfortable, even if a bit boring at times due to the lack of internet, video games, and anime. The boredom allowed me to be more productive, even.

…

We stayed lying on the grassy floor for a while, under the pleasant shade of the tree. Emma was now much calmer, and her breathing was even. I was looking at the clear sky, musing on my memories of this world.

I turned my attention back to my 'partner' who was just beside me. She too was doing what I was doing– looking at the clear sky, lost in thoughts.

I sneaked my hands and grabbed hers.

She jolted, then turned to look at me inquisitively.

"What?"

"What?"

I parroted, innocently. It annoyed her a bit.

"What the hell are you doing?"

[Something lewd.]

"Something very lewd."

I murmured, falling into Iris's flow. Luckily, Emma didn't catch that.

[LOL. XD]

But it pleased my other companion.

"I'm holding your hands."

I replied, this time for real.

"I can see that. Why?"

She deadpanned.

I just smiled in response.

"Just because."

She tried to separate her hand, but I tightened my grip.

"Ugh, what the hell do you want?!"

She replied, this time more angrily. But she wasn't using her full strength to get rid of my hands. So, it gave me an indication that she didn't mind it that much. I just needed to keep pushing a bit like that.

As for why I was doing this, the answer would be: Just because. I felt like doing it. Since I wanted to have a romantic relationship with Emma, I couldn't let our relationship stay the way it was. I had started doing these random and sudden actions to break her barrier and stop her from seeing me as a simple younger brother. And it had kind of worked.

Nothing too crazy though. Since I was in no hurry. With her, slow and steady did the job. Occasional, some pushes were needed, but if I was too forceful all the time, she might start hating me. Well, probably not, since that was the reaction of 19-year-old Emma from the videogame, for the MC, inside the Academy. This Emma was different and I was not MC, but her brother, but I wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. I was fine with this slow and steady pace.

"And why are your hands so soft?"

She changed the subject, feeling my perfectly fine hands.

"You used to have callouses."

"I did. I think drinking those potions when I was sick healed it or something. But I'm sure they're gonna come back as I practice my swordsmanship more."

"Hmm."

Emma replied, and then looked at her free palm, grimacing a bit seeing the numerous callouses she had.

"Mine are pretty ugly."

She remarked, casually.

But I was a bit surprised by her casual remark. The older Emma from the game would've never said that. She looked at those and bruises later on in the timeline with pride.

'Guess she's still not there yet. But then again, she's much younger and also not the same. I should stop comparing the two so much.'

As much as it was interesting and amusing, it felt somewhat distasteful to compare the two at the moment. This Emma was special because she was real and also my supposed family. I couldn't just compare her to a fictional R18+ version of herself. So, I shook those thoughts out of my head and focused on reality.

"Hey, they're not ugly."

I squeezed her hand that I was still holding in reassurance as I looked at the pretty red-haired girl straight in her eyes when she turned to look at me when she heard my words.

"They're the proof of your hard work and training. Even though everyone calls you a prodigy, and rightfully so since you definitely are one. You still train daily and are not delusional enough to think you're fine just because you're born into nobility and have a Gold grade foundation.

I don't know about others, but I personally think that makes you very attractive…"

I had somewhat hoped these cheesy lines would earn a reaction like "W-What? Y-You think I'm a-attractive?!" followed by a deep blush and raise in affection.

But alas, the real world wasn't as convenient. Not even this one which was literally inspired by a freaking Eroge—

[+5 Affection with the user from Emma.]

… Well, maybe it wasn't a complete miss.

She didn't stutter or blush, but she was certainly pleased by it.

"Thanks."

I felt her hands giving in and wrapping my own.

I smiled at the slow but steady progress.

"Don't mention it. I truly meant it. You're a very hardworking girl and I am sure you'll make (your) father proud."

Her hold tightened at the mention of her father. It was always a very sensitive topic for her. But at least today she was more happy than sad hearing me mention him.

"… I hope so."

She muttered a barely audible reply.

We didn't speak much after that, but I still held on to her hand as we lay there in silence.

After 15 minutes or so, she finally broke the silence as she turned her face towards me again.

"Why are you still holding my hands?"

"Why not? Can't I?"

I replied, not looking at her, but focusing on her next words.

"It's weird, you know. Holding hands. We're not kids anymore."

"We don't have to be kids to hold hands, you know."

I retorted.

"… Fine. Do what you want, you baby."

I didn't reply to her provocation, but instead, I turned and lay on my side, still grasping her hand.

She looked at my face for a second, then turned her face to the other side.

I smirked at her cute and bashful reaction, seeing her status showing she was feeling a bit shy.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Then why did you turn your face?"

She turned her face back, with a neutral look.

"Happy now?"

"Mm. Yes."

I don't remember when I started becoming so comfortable being with beautiful girls. The 'Me' now had quite a few changes from myself when I transmigrated 2 years ago.

A big part of it was Iris's existence which pretty much helped me get quite comfortable with the idea of having a female friend. Her presence and a few other things also helped tone down my… initial excitement about the whole Harem and Eroge situation.

Not to say I wasn't as horny as I was then. In fact, I was hornier. But I had much better self-control now. I still relished the idea of a Harem, but I wasn't as desperate for it as I was back then.

'Character development, huh?'

Not sure if I should've been proud of that minor improvement or be sad that I was so desperate back then that I had needed such a thing.

Probably both.

I smiled subconsciously, forgetting for a moment that I was face to face with a certain read-head.

"Why are you smiling?"

Emma raised an eyebrow inquisitively. That brought me back to the present.

"Hmm, I don't know. You're pretty cute even from this close."

My random cheesy remark worked well this time as Emma's eyes widened a little in surprise as her face gained a minor blush.

"W-What? What the hell are you even saying to your sister, you dummy?"

"Can't I? What's so wrong with that?"

She paused for a moment, seemingly not having an answer for that.

"Whatever. Don't say stuff like that."

"So I shouldn't say the truth?"

"Just don't talk like that, okay? It's not okay."

"Hmm. Okay."

I didn't argue, didn't feel like arguing more. My tight grip on her hands loosened as I turned back to look at the clear sky.

Emma who had also turned her face away peeked on me when she felt my grip loosen.

She separated the hands and I held back a sigh.

'Welp, maybe next time…'

Then I felt her fingers intertwining mine. Her small but firm hands felt a bit rough, but they still felt nice.

I smiled at the development.

Not saying much, we stayed laying, holding hands, feeling each others' slightly warm hearts in the process.

***