Who am I?

"Please just kill me." Lyra and I had just gotten out of the bath and changed into our school uniforms, at which point I finally realised what I had done. I screamed into my pillow, feeling all the embarrassment catch up to me, questioning if some spirit possessed my body. 

"Well, that's the one thing I can't do. Otherwise, we won't be able to take any baths together." The bed slightly bounced as Lyra sat right beside me. 

"Urghhh that's the point. Whoever you were just in the bath with wasn't me!" I never knew I could be so bold and I could imagine Lyra feeling uncomfortable since she literally rejected my advances. 

"Come on, don't be like that. I really enjoyed that side of you, but we also have class today." Lyra was right, but I still needed an excuse for my actions. Essentially, I was in denial. 

"Hmmmm." It was hard to come back from that since I don't actually disagree and I'm glad Lyra was being considerate. 

"How about this? What if I ask your mother before we leave today if it's okay that I move in. That way, we can enjoy each other's company all the time." 

"Wait right now? I thought you were still thinking about it?" I shot up from the bed, looking at Lyra with a bit of shock, as she was on the fence about it not too long ago. 

"Yeah, I kind of decided just now, fuck it, why not? I've wanted to leave my parents' place for a while now and well… I want to protect you every step of the way." Hearing Lyra's reasoning made me want to cry right then and there, as if they were the words I needed to hear. 

"Really?" Although I wanted to be the one to protect Lyra, as it stands right now, I am still extremely weak. I hardly knew anything about magic still, so I needed to get through this semester at the very least. 

"Yes, as you've already seen and experienced, I don't think the bullying will stop. So if we can establish that we are inseparable, then I'm sure the snobby nobles will stop." Lyra gave her thought process and it made sense. If they are never given the chance to harass me, then in theory, they should leave me alone. 

"Have I said I love you yet? Like, really, really love you." Uncontrollably, a tear fell down my cheek since, before I ate the apple, I never thought I would have such strong feelings for someone. It would feel like a crime if I hadn't yet, but last night felt like a blur.

"Hmm, I don't know, but I don't mind if you whisper it in my ear." Lyra had a smirk and leant in close so I could. She also acted as if I had already done so and she was trying to make me say it again. However, I wasn't opposed to it and with how much she is doing for me, it's the least I could do.

So, plucking up what little courage I had, I leaned in close to her ear. 

"I love you~." My hot breath and voice clearly sent tingles down Lyra's spine as she almost let out a moan. I quickly backed away out of embarrassment, as once again I was being bold. 

"Waoh… Let me reward you before we go. It's beginning to get harder for me to hold back." Lyra's face was completely red and I saw the blatant lust in her eyes as she suddenly started crawling towards me on the bed. 

Pinning my arms down, she leant in right into my fox ears like I did to her. 

"I love you too~" Feeling my brain tingle like crazy, I shut my eyes to savour the moment, but then Lyra began to make out with me. I let it happen because I didn't really have a choice, but ever since this morning, tensions have been high. 

*Huff, huff* "Didn't you say we have school?" As much as I wanted to go on, we were getting short on time. 

"Just a little more~." Lyra had now become the lustful beast, but it would all come to an end as the handle of my door began to turn. Quickly jumping off me and sitting to my side like we were just hanging out, we quickly wiped our mouths and fixed our clothing. 

"Are you two awake? Breakfast is about to be re- Oh your both up." Kurumi peeked her head in slowly as she spoke and was a little surprised to see us awake. 

"We'll be out there in a second." I hoped my face wasn't red, but I could see the smirk forming on my mother's face. 

"Ohh~ okay, food is on the table so don't take too long." Quickly shutting the door, It's like she knew exactly what was going on, which is the last thing I want. I can't bear the thought of my mother imagining the things we are doing behind closed doors. 

"Your mother in itself is her own danger." If Lyra was going to live here, then there was a whole new threat of being walked in on. Although she seemed very supportive of us being together, it was still extremely embarrassing for both of us. 

"You can say that again." Getting up from the bed, I walked over to my desk and grabbed my hairbrush since my hair was most likely a mess. 

"I kind of like your hair when it's messy and down." Lyra watched me tie up my hair, but I stopped in my tracks right as I was putting it in a ponytail. 

"I-it gets in the way, so I tie up, but if we are alone together, I-I guess I could have it down." I didn't want to say no, as it made my heart flutter hearing that she likes my hair, but I don't know if I can handle my hair in my face as I'm not used to having long hair. 

"Fine by me." Lyra smiled while she also did her hair but with magic. It amazed me as she applied a tiny amount of water and used wind to take out all the knots. 

"Wait, you can use water too?" As far as I knew, people just have 1 affinity and in Lyra's case, Ice.

"Yeah, I can use any element. Although, not very well, and just simple applications like doing my hair. It takes a bit of practice, but everyone can if you put in the effort." Getting another piece of world lore, it would make sense why the academy hasn't said anything that suggests we can't go into a certain field because of the magic we use. It would just be better if we did something more suited to our affinities.

"Is it just like the basic 4 or any element?" Next was the extent of the elements and whether would it be possible for me to learn ice. 

"Hmm, maybe? It would be really hard to do so since technically my ice is the next step up from water." Lyra didn't quite know the answer, but it was enough. It seems any element that isn't the basic 4 branches off of them and without the right aptitude, it's impossible to learn them. 

"I see, well we should probably go eat before my mother thinks we are doing something." I didn't want to be taken as such a horny daughter by my mother, so I wanted to hurry on out. 

"Haha, me too." I could also imagine Lyra didn't want to be labelled as well and suddenly have whatever impression my mother has of her dropping to the depths of hell. 

* 

<Just before leaving for the Academy>

"So, when is the girlfriend moving in Saki?" With about 15 minutes to spare before we left, my mother suddenly came downstairs from her room, asking the question. 

"Eh? What?" I didn't know how to respond, as I didn't think it was a question I should be asked. 

"Today." Lyra spoke up for me, instantly jumping on the opportunity despite not being asked. 

"Woah, slow down. Really?" However, even my mother was thrown back by Lyra's serious answer. It seems like it was just an attempt to tease, just like how she jokingly said Lyra seduced me. 

"I mean, if it's okay with you, I don't mind." Lyra averted her gaze as she realised that my mother was joking. 

"Saki… What kind of girl did you pick up? I feel like things are going too fast for me, so please tell me she isn't manipulating you or something." Kurumi rubbed her forehead, as even for her, Lyra was too much. 

"No, no, no… she isn't. She just has no sense of pace and I suck at saying no." I came up with the most reasonable half-truth, which I did expect my mother to accept. 

"You sound just like me, ahem… Let me think about it first and I'll tell you once you come home."