Cian stirred awake, blinking against the golden morning light filtering through the trees. A soft weight pressed against his side—Shirayuki, still curled up against him, her breath warm and steady.
Then—
[System Notification]
"Good morning, Cian. You didn't make her sleep last night… but you sure kept her up."
Cian jolted. "H-Huh?! I was asleep the whole time!"
He turned his head slowly.
Shirayuki peeked at him through half-lidded eyes, her face flushed pink… but she didn't speak. Just a tiny sideways glance.
Cian's mind spiraled. "Wait—what does that even mean?! I didn't do anything weird, right? Right?!"
[System Notification]
"Statistically, your hand spent 42% of the night adventuring across thighs and pillows. Spoiler: One of those wasn't a pillow."
Cian: "I'm gonna uninstall you..."
Cian crouched beside the crackling campfire, gently stirring a small pot as steam curled upward into the morning air. The scent of simmering lake fish and forest herbs filled the campsite, mingling with the soft chirps of waking birds.
Behind him, the bed of cloaks rustled faintly.
Shirayuki hadn't moved much—curled up tightly, her soft white hair scattered like snow across the grass. One ear twitched lazily, and a faint, sleepy murmur escaped her lips.
She let out a slow, drowsy "mrrruuuh…" and rolled over once… then flopped back into the warmth like gravity had claimed her.
Cian blinked. "Still asleep? It's already sunrise."
[System Notification]
"Hmm. Curious. One would wonder why Shirayuki is so thoroughly exhausted this morning…"
Cian raised an eyebrow. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"
[System Notification]
"Oh, I dunno. Maybe someone kept touching her thighs and chest all night long in their sleep like a wandering octopus?"
Cian nearly dropped the ladle into the soup. "I WAS ASLEEP!"
[System Notification]
"And yet... the moans say otherwise."
He spun around, face flushed—but Shirayuki only let out a soft breath, her tail lazily thumping once beside her as she hugged the makeshift pillow.
Cian sighed, turning back to the soup.
Then came another notification.
[System Notification]
"Bond progress: 41%. Keep cooking and cuddling. A special skill may unlock soon."
"…What kind of skill?"
[System Notification]
"Secret. But let's just say it involves buns—maybe steamed. Maybe not."
"System, I swear—"
Just as Cian grumbled at the system's teasing, a soft rustle sounded near the bushes.
Ploop... plo-plop... ploop.
Something round and jiggly bounced into the clearing. It was a slime—small, translucent with a soft lavender hue, its big shiny black eyes blinking up innocently.
Cian tilted his head. "...Aww."
The slime blinked again.
Then—
PFFT!
A blob of goo shot out, splatting Cian square in the cheek like a lazy water balloon.
"ACK—!" He stumbled back, clutching his face. "You little—what was that for?! That didn't even hurt! Just... cold and gross!"
[System Notification]
"Enemy identified: Sleepy Slime — Not dangerous, just annoying."
The slime jiggled proudly as if it had just won a war.
Cian raised a stick dramatically. "Alright, now you've declared WAR."
He swung at it once. The stick bonked harmlessly against the jiggling mass, doing literally nothing. The slime wobbled, then slowly blinked again like, "Really?"
Just then, a tiny "phew!" sounded near the fire.
Emberlix popped out from behind a warm rock, her little nostrils glowing.
"Hrmm-chii!!"
Pew!
She sneezed a cute ember puff at the slime. It sizzled the air and startled the blob, which wobbled in fear, then jiggled away in retreat with a high-pitched "blrrbbrr!"
Cian blinked. "Whoa… Emberlix, you little hero!"
She puffed up proudly, wagging her tail like a lit sparkler.
[System Notification]
"Emberlix used: Ember Puff. It was super effective... in spirit."
[System Notification]
"Warning: You are now being protected by a creature the size of your boot."
Cian wiped the slime off his cheek. "And somehow I feel safer with her than the system."
Behind him, Shirayuki stirred again with a sleepy murmur.
As the slimy menace fled into the bushes, Emberlix shook her tiny head with a proud chirp, then trotted up to Cian.
Before he could react, she hopped right into his lap, turned a slow circle like a nesting cat, and curled up. Her tiny, warm body gave off a soft heat—like hugging a sun-baked stone.
Cian blinked. "…You're really making yourself at home, huh?"
She let out a small, sleepy hmrr-chii, eyes closing halfway as her tail flicked lightly.
Chuckling, Cian picked a soft berry from their pouch and held it up. "Alright, little fire lizard. Here—reward for saving my pride."
Emberlix sniffed, chirped once, then gently took the berry into her mouth with both tiny claws. She munched happily, glowing faintly from within.
[System Notification]
"Emberlix has begun to trust you. She now sees you as a warm rock with snacks."
Cian raised an eyebrow. "That's... oddly touching."
[System Notification]
"Do not disappoint her. Or she'll steal your shiny things."
Cian: "…She's already better company than you."
The system didn't respond. Emberlix let out a warm puff of air and nestled deeper into his lap like a sleepy ember.
Behind them, Shirayuki's tail flicked slowly, still snoozing under the blanket of morning light…
Shirayuki stirred under the soft patchwork of leaves and cloth they'd laid out the night before. Her ears twitched once, twice—then slowly perked up.
"...Nnnhh..."
She let out the gentlest whimper of a yawn, tail rising lazily like a flag in the breeze. Her eyes blinked open, dazed and glossy with sleep.
Then she sniffed.
Her nose crinkled.
Another sniff.
Her drowsy eyes suddenly shot wide open. She jerked upright, blanket slipping off her shoulder, ears perked straight up in alarm as she looked—
Right at Cian.
More specifically... at Emberlix, still curled happily in his lap, softly glowing as Cian fed her another juicy berry with a dumb little smile.
Shirayuki's jaw dropped a little, her soft pink lips parted in shock. Her tail stiffened. One ear twitched.
She slowly turned to Cian, eyes narrowing—not in anger, but in... jealous confusion.
Cian glanced over and froze. "…Uhh."
Shirayuki tilted her head with a betrayed pout.
[System Notification]
"Warning: High levels of hedgehog-girl jealousy detected. Recommendation: Compliment ears. Or offer food."
Cian, sweating: "I swear she just jumped on me! She's like a... hot lizard pancake!"
Emberlix let out a sleepy hmrr and licked berry juice off her claws.
Shirayuki's eyes squinted harder.
Cian held out another berry. "Want one too?"
She didn't respond. She just pouted harder and huffed, cheeks puffing adorably as she sat down beside them—facing away, tail tapping the grass in quiet protest.
[System Notification]
"Harem flag... planted? Warning: One of them has quills."
Cian blinked hard. "Shut it. She's a hedgehog, and Emberlix is a lizard. This isn't that kind of game!"
Emberlix blinked innocently, curling her tiny tail as she nestled on Cian's lap. Meanwhile, Shirayuki stared, wide-eyed, cheeks puffed with barely-contained jealousy.
She scooted closer, then opened her mouth exaggeratedly.
"Ahhh—"
Cian raised a brow. "...You're not even hungry, are you?"
[System Notification]
"Feeding your hedgehog girlfriend before your fire-lizard daughter. Nice priorities, hero."
Cian sighed dramatically. "One more comment and I'm shoving you in a rock."
Still, he dutifully fed Shirayuki first. She chewed slowly, eyes locked onto Emberlix like a food-stealing rival, tail twitching.
Then Emberlix gave a soft hmrr and took her own tiny bite. She licked the spoon, then curled up again—seemingly satisfied.
Shirayuki puffed out her cheeks again, slid a bit closer to Cian, and plopped herself against his side with a thud. Her arms circled his waist possessively.
Cian looked down at her, then at Emberlix, then at the sky.
"This is my party... huh."