Ryuji and Yumiko returned to the room to eat after buying some simple pasta and fish dishes together. He felt it was a little cute that she cleaned the room. Even taking the time to fold his spare clothes.
"Yumi, how are you feeling?"
"I am a little tired. You were so intense during training that I felt shocked."
Yumiko's ears and tail flopped as she chewed the soft fish and butter sauce, swallowing a mouthful of pasta together before asking. "Are you in a bad mood?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Your eyes are more intense than usual like there's a vicious glint in them today."
If normal, Ryuji might feel bad or upset when mentioning his eyes.
Yet when she spoke, it was always to his face and filled with honesty. From their brief encounters, he knew this woman was a light masochist, meaning the fierce glint was something she loved.
"That so? Just a little fired up, I suppose."
He smiled and continued to eat the delicious food.
This room felt much cosier than the inn he spent last night with the party, and the scent and sensation of Yumiko's fur touching him gently in the warmth made it even more enjoyable.
As they ate silently, Ryuji's mind became slightly restless, thinking of many things that happened in the last few days. His hand absentmindedly reached out and petted Yumiko's fluffy ear.
"These dungeons are more dangerous than we thought..."
"Did something happen?"
Ryuji told her about the kobold and black wolf that almost killed him with the first blow, then irregulars copying the words of Paul, Shelia and Alicia. She listened attentively with concern on her face before sighing heavily.
"This is very worrying." Yumiko scratched her cheek while her tail wrapped around his arm, biting her lips as she spoke. "You should keep away from the dungeon for a bit. Stay here at the academy or practise with me. It's safer..."
"Are you worried for me?" Ryuji rubbed his finger along the side of her delicate chin, her cheeks blushing as she looked at him. Her pretty face nodded, but that increased his desire to become stronger if not for his growth but to protect this woman.
There was a feeling of worry that he might lose her if she didn't become stronger. He couldn't guarantee to protect her.
"You're going to do the opposite, aren't you?"
Yumiko seemed to have spent a lot of time trying to understand Ryuji, her eyes always gazing at him sincerely, watching his actions secretly, and she realised something.
When his mind fixated on something, no amount of pleading could dissuade him.
"Then won't you come with me, Yumi?"
"Eh!?" Yumiko's eyes opened wide in surprise.
She had not expected this question, and her ears and tail shivered in delight as he smiled.
"I need to practise, but leaving you here alone makes me worry you I might never return."
Yumiko's body trembled as Ryuji stroked her fur. The feeling of his hand made her forget the worries she had before and instead felt happy. "If you want me to join you, I would love to. But I am not that strong, you know?"
"Of course. You are my partner, after all. We need to spend as much time together as we can."
The moment he finished speaking, Yumiko squealed like an excited fox and hugged him tightly, letting out all her emotions and frustrations.
"It felt so lonely without you. I didn't want to be alone; practising without you is boring. I wanted to feel your heat, smell your scent, and taste your lips!"
She kissed his face repeatedly as she spoke, and Ryuji knew she had a lot bottled up. He wondered how much this fox had suffered alone.
The other students were nasty toward her when she went to training alone. However, she wouldn't tell Ryuji about this because she didn't want him to become enemies with them just because she and he held it against her.
"I'm sorry for leaving you alone," Ryuji apologised.
He then held her cheeks with both hands, his eyes narrow with loose lips.
"I felt that if we were so close together, I couldn't control myself. Although I know you are an attractive woman, I felt learning about you was more important because this calamity star was making us feel bound."
"No, don't apologise..." Yumiko laughed.
"Ryuji, it is not the calamity star's fault. I have already told you this. Maybe it has a part to play, but everything we feel and do is our decision. I already felt attracted to you before I became your maid. You appeared with such a rugged body and acted nothing like the other soft students.
Beastkin women like aggressive and assertive men." Yumiko giggled and held her hand to her cheek, smiling at Ryuji.
"Ah... really!?" Ryuji felt stunned.
It seemed the time apart gave her a chance to think about things more than he did, and the adult inside her added a strange allure to her that Ryuji couldn't resist anymore.
"Plus, it would have happened eventually, but you are much more exciting and charming than any of the boys here at school. Your looks may be top-class, and those eyes make me wet when you scowl, but you are right. I want to know you, not just the man I am looking at, so thank you for not rushing to push me down, haha..." Yumiko's voice sounded mature and focused while her tail tapped his thighs.
She then took a breath before continuing. "It made me happy to feel treasured, but don't forget, I am an adult woman with needs. You don't need to baby me like a teenage girl. I can learn about you and handle physical relationships simultaneously."
"Ah... I see..." Ryuji's ears turned bright red.
"Is something wrong?"
"N... no, haha..."
Yumiko realised he was speechless, feeling embarrassed at her words. "Ah, but don't misunderstand... I've only used my fingers to make myself feel good, not penetration... I am sure it's as good as those girls; I do stretches and... Awawa..."
Yumiko covered her mouth, turning her face away while Ryuji's lips curled up into a smirk, revealing a faint smile. "Why did I tell you that... Stupid me!"
"That's okay," Ryuji replied as he pulled her hands from her face and embraced her. He could feel a difference from before as they relaxed in each other's arms. "Let's just go at our own pace. I was a little too stressed for nothing. I will just be myself and forget the whole twin calamity thing."
"You asked if we were a couple before..." Yumiko asked while squeezing him.
"Yeah...?"
"I wonder if you will be my boyfriend? Even though I'm supposed to be an adult, I'm immature and lazy."
"Haha..."
Ryuji found her confession cute, not realising her lazy lifestyle wasn't the best in some aspects, but that wasn't enough to deter him. His heart seemed to burn brighter than ever as the fluffy fox beside him licked his cheek lovingly. "Then, today is our true day one?"
"Fufu, It's my first time having a sexy boyfriend. I am so excited, but I think we should take our bath now." Yumiko kissed him again before the two separated and started cleaning the table. Then, Yumiko prepared the bath for both of them.
On his first night back, Ryuji felt determined and focused.
He ignored the outside factors and focused on his day-to-day life with Yumiko. Neither rushing nor taking it too slow, he learned more about her than she did him.
So, he reached into his backpack and pulled out the beautiful shimmering ring.
"Yumiko... this is for you."