MTM 70

Harto changed into human form to check if his companions were safe. Allen and Leon were still lying inside the sand cocoons, but fortunately, both of them were breathing properly.

Swish.

Zed seemed to have regained his senses and tore open the cracked sand cocoon himself to come out.

“Zed…!”

Harto ran toward him. He checked all over to see if Zed was hurt, then let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness… I thought it was going to be serious.”

When Harto lifted his head and smiled brightly, Zed stared at him for a moment and spoke.

“…You’re covered in blood.”

“Ah! S-sorry!”

He had completely forgotten that blood from the dying monstrous flower had splattered all over him. He had been too busy worrying about the others. Now that he thought about it, he was completely naked.

Harto crouched down in a hurry and rubbed sand over his face and body. His skin quickly turned white and messy, but he thought it was still better than blood.

“Do I look a bit better now? I’ll wash and change soon.”

He rubbed the bloodstains on his arm and spoke carefully, but Zed still did not answer. He only looked at Harto with his golden eyes. There was no way to tell what he was thinking from his face or his gaze.

Or maybe the monstrous flower’s fluid was still affecting him. Perhaps an antidote would be necessary.

‘If that’s the case….’

Harto slowly stood up. He wanted to put something on because the gaze made him uncomfortable, but something else mattered more.

“Zed, about that medicine you mentioned earlier….”

“Elixir.”

“Yes, that one. Could you share a little with me?”

He thought it would be best if not only Allen and Leon but also Zed took some elixir to neutralize any effects. Of course, that could only happen if Zed agreed. Harto wondered how he could persuade him.

“…….”

But Zed just stood there, staring at Harto. Seeing the change in those golden eyes, Harto began to feel awkward.

“Zed, um. Why are you looking at me like…”

“Monster. Have you ever kissed before?”

“……?”

The voice was so quiet that Harto froze for a moment. Then he came to his senses, scratched his cheek, and laughed awkwardly.

“I must be stupid. I think I heard something weird just now. Haha… sorry, Zed. Can you say that again? What did you just say?”

He added that maybe he was just too distracted, smiling brightly. Then Zed squinted and spoke again.

“A kiss. Have you ever done it?”

This time he pronounced every word clearly, so Harto could not pretend not to hear. He suddenly felt embarrassed.

“W-what’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden? Oh, or is this a qu-quiz or something? A riddle?!”

Harto smiled awkwardly, thinking maybe Zed was joking, but Zed’s face was more serious than ever. It was a demand for an honest answer.

“Uh… well… I…”

Harto had never been asked such a question in his life, nor had he imagined he ever would, so after hesitating several times, he confessed shyly.

“I… I haven’t….”

“Me neither.”

“Ah…!”

Harto’s eyes widened.

“Really? There’s something Zed hasn’t done too!”

Hearing that Zed was the same made Harto smile with pure delight. But for some reason, Zed frowned and stepped closer.

“It’s not that I haven’t.”

“Then…?”

“I just never had the chance. So you can give it to me.”

“T-the kiss…?”

Harto was completely flustered by the shameless request.

‘I-is that something you can just give like that…?’

Harto, who knew nothing about such things, rolled his eyes nervously. Then he suddenly noticed Allen and Leon lying inside the sand cocoon behind Zed and came to his senses.

Now was the time to think about his companions first.

“Ah, fine. I’ll do it!”

Harto shouted loudly on purpose, grabbed Zed’s arm, rose on his toes, lifted his head stiffly, closed his eyes, and pressed his lips softly against Zed’s pink lips before pulling away.

“Phew… there, that’s done, right?”

Harto’s forehead and neck turned red as he turned his head to the side. His lips had barely brushed against Zed’s, yet the place where they touched felt hot.

“…That’s not a kiss.”

Then Zed’s voice, tinged with complaint, reached him. Harto was surprised and looked at Zed again. Zed was pouting like a child who did not get what he wanted. The sight was so unlike him that Harto froze for a moment, then came back to himself.

“Th-then how….”

“Like this.”

Zed gave a short answer and slipped his arm under Harto’s armpits, lifting him.

“W-wait?!”

Harto’s view swayed as his body dangled helplessly in the air. Before he could even react, Zed’s face came close in an instant.

“…Mph!”

Their lips met. The soft lips touched and parted, then pressed together again. Through the slight opening that came from shock, a warm tongue slipped in.

“Ah…!”

Harto shuddered and pushed Zed’s chest, but the solid body did not move. Instead, Zed held Harto tighter in his arms and kissed him more deeply.

“Ugh, Z-Zed…!”

The wet tongue that entered his forcibly opened mouth moved roughly. When Harto groaned and struggled from the pain, Zed noticed and pulled back a little. From between their separated lips, rough breaths escaped.

“Haa, haa….”

While Harto gasped for air, Zed looked at him as if he could see through him. He breathed in the air Harto exhaled, then licked away the tear that had gathered at the corner of his eye. With that innocent face staring at him in shock, Zed took his lips again.

This time it was gentler. He had learned after one attempt that pressing too hard on the lips was not right.

“Mm, mh… uh…”

A sound much better than the clumsy first kiss rang out.

It was Harto, not Zed, who made that sound as their lips parted. Harto’s trembling eyes turned toward Zed.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

As if he already knew what Harto was worried about, Zed answered briefly and wrapped both arms around Harto’s waist. He drew him close and kissed him again, this time more slowly.

The third kiss was deep enough to steal breath. They shared air between them and explored each other’s mouths. Even though they had eaten no sweet fruit, the saliva filling their mouths tasted sweet as honey.

“Haa… sweet.”

At those words from Zed, Harto felt his body tremble from his shoulders to his toes. His head felt light, and his body seemed to float. It felt as if he really might rise into the sky.

Clink.

“……!”

Then he suddenly came to his senses when his fingers brushed against the cold ruby pendant. Harto realized that at some point he had wrapped both arms around Zed’s neck and shoulders.

“Z-Zed… huh, now, s-stop….”

Harto tried to pull away from Zed’s arms, but Zed ignored him. He brushed Harto’s soft cheek with his long eyelashes and left kisses along his lips, the corners of his mouth, and his chin in turn. It was an affectionate gesture, like a mother tending her young. Faced with such unrelenting affection he had never experienced before, Harto nearly cried.

‘B-but is a kiss… supposed to feel like being devoured?’

Zed bit softly his tender skin and released it, leaving Harto confused. At this rate, his lips would swell and the inside of his mouth would tear. It felt good yet frightening. Zed was not in a normal state right now.

‘I can’t let myself get swept up in this.’

Harto could not escape Zed’s arms, so he decided to use another method.

Click.

He moved his hand carefully and opened the pendant on the ruby necklace. Three elixir beads remained. Harto took them all in his hand and slipped one between Zed’s lips.

“Mmh? What…”

Zed opened his golden eyes wide. Harto pressed his lips to his and pushed the bead in. Just as Zed had done to him, Harto reached deep into Zed’s mouth with his tongue.