Saint's Prison - Chapter 119

The Echoing Call

Looking back now, she was always smiling.

The morning we walked hand in hand.

The afternoon she wore a daisy crown on her head.

The night we snuggled together looking up at the starry sky.

She was always laughing.

I once asked her why she always smiled like that. She lowered the corners of her eyes, seeming troubled, and said, “You might not understand, but…”

“I am happiest right now, at this moment.”

And with that, she smiled.

A lonely smile.

I still remember that smile.

And I probably won’t forget it from now on.

―― I probably can’t forget it

***

When I opened the door to my room, Amal was sitting on a chair, folding my clothes.

Our eyes met.

Amal gave a small smile. After carefully folding the tunic in her hand and placing it on the desk, she quickly ran over and hugged me with all her momentum.

“Welcome home, Andy-sama!”

Gurikuri.

The gesture of a puppy rubbing its face against my chest. Her usual marking. Well, that’s fine, but I think it’s a bit much to bury her face in my chest and take a deep breath. It’s a bit complicated, like she’s inhaling a dog.

“…Ah, yes. I’m home, Amal. Thanks for the passionate welcome. As always, I appreciate if you could tone it down a bit.”

“Impossible!”

“You answered immediately.”

“Yes!”

“Haa, you’re amazing in many ways.”

“Ehehe.”

“I’m not praising you, okay?”

Sighing, I roughly tousle her hair.

“Muu. Andy-sama, my hair is all messed up.”

Amal puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. Freed from the puppy, the Amal squirrel has descended. For now, I decided to try and appease her by gently massaging her cheeks with both hands. I’ve gotten used to dealing with the Amal squirrel.

“Wh, what are you doing?!”

“…Mm, I thought I’d try to cheer you up.”

“Uuu, Andy-sama is mean!”

Her cheeks puffed out even more. Cute.

“I’m not being mean at all. I’m always kind to Amal, aren’t I?”

Saying that, I gently pulled her cheeks. The fact that she didn’t argue against my words probably meant she agreed. Amal blinked in surprise. The corners of my mouth naturally lifted at the sight of the adorable girl’s actions.

“You were like a puppy just now, but now you’re like a little squirrel. How many acorns have you stuffed in your cheeks?”

“…Mmm, mukyu, fuu, nnn!”

In response to my usual line, Amal patted my chest gently. I could tell she wasn’t really resisting from the weakness of her pats.

“Andi-hyama! Fukyu. M-mou! Fande-sama!”

“Hahaha.”

“Faa, mukyu, funyuu. N, Andyu-sama.”

I figured it might be bad to overdo it, so I decided to let go of Amal’s cheeks. I gently stroked her slightly reddened cheeks as if to distract her.

“――Amal is so cute.”

“Nnn! Andy-sama is mean!”

She complained while looking somewhat happy. She seemed quite pleased to have my attention. She hugged me even tighter. This spoiled child. I stroked her head again, and Amal’s expression softened. It was confirmed that she forgave me at this point.

…She’s so easy to please.

“Andy-sama.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“…N, Andy-sama.”

My sleeve was tugged. The usual hint. I grinned at the gesture and bent down to lightly press my lips against hers.

“Ha. Amal really loves kisses, huh?”

“…Yes, I love them. Kissing, hugging, making love, everything Andy-sama gives me.”

Her arms wrapped around my neck, and she took my lips again as a follow-up. A storm of kisses rained down on me – chu, chu.

“N, I’m really loved, aren’t I?”

“Chu, chup, n… Yes, I love you. To the point of madness.”

“Ah, I appreciate it, but please, do it in moderation.”

“Impossible.”

Once again, she answered immediately.

“I see.”

“Hehe, my love is like an uncontrollable flood. Please resign yourself to it.”

“…A flood, huh? That’s tough. I’ll have to prepare Noah’s Ark so I don’t get swallowed by that wave.”

“Noah’s Ark. ――One for the two of us. Hehe, ah, that’s wonderful.”

Amal narrowed her eyes and stared at my face. Then, she wiped the saliva on her lips from me with her fingertip, and deliberately licked it off. It was a bewitching gesture that was not suitable for a 15-year-old girl.

――I shivered, and the back of my neck throbbed.

Trying to hide the chill, I held my neck and forced a smile.

“Well, let’s leave the playing at that. Amal, I’m hungry. I hate to ask, but can you prepare something to eat?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll get it ready right away.”

Amal obediently nodded and stretched up once more to steal my lips. This time, it was a deep kiss with our tongues entwined. My girlfriend was insatiable.

“N, chu, it’s really hard to part, but I have to go now.”

As she turned to leave the room, I called out to Amal’s back.

“You don’t say anything, huh…”

I threw that at her.

About Johanna.

I had carried her on my back. There’s no way Amal, who’s sensitive to scents, wouldn’t have noticed.

“――Yes. Because she abandoned her role. I’m jealous. But that’s it. There’s nothing more.”

“What does that mean?”

“There’s no point in talking about it anymore.”

The door closed with a creak.

“Amal…”

My voice calling Amal’s name bounced off the closed door, rolled over, and disappeared.