No matter how much Louise thought of it, it was strange. Although many events went against the tide of the original story, this was a world built by the author for romance. Even a simple tease on a possible kissing scene was sure to get a thousand likes.

What was strange was that in this sweet world Dean and Claire, who had feelings for each other, could not be together. 

No. It was strange even if the world wasn't like this. People who liked each other should be able to have a normal relations.h.i.+p and experience both the sweet and bitter taste of love. 

Louise was pa.s.sing near the greenhouse with more green grapes that the caretaker had given her. She peered inside, hoping for Simon or Professor Hill, but there was no one.

“Sir Hesse?”

She called out for Hesse into the air, as he said he wanted to eat more of these grapes. However, he did not appear next to her with his signature mischievous smile.

“…Yes?”

An answer came from above. When Louise looked up, she saw Hesse wearing a male uniform and waving at her from a tree branch.

“Sir Hesse! That's so cool!”

“Really? Really?”

“Really. And you look younger too.”

“Oh, I hate that. Being a mature adult man is my only advantage.”

“I don't think that's your advantage. Anyway, it's very cool.”

“Oh, I feel like there's a tickle in my heart because Louise of the Greenhouse praised me.”

Smiling, he turned his eyes to look at Louise's grape basket.

“Is that for me?”

“Yes. It's the green grapes you love.”

Louis lifted the basket up towards the tree. Hesse pulled out a long wooden stick from somewhere and pulled in the basket.

“How are you here?”

Hesse scratched his nose as if he found it difficult to answer.

“Well…actually.”

“You didn't follow me after I got the grapes, did you?”

There was no answer to her playful joke. Normally he would have replied, "I came running because I smelled grapes from far away!"

“He was guarding me. You can step back now, Hesse. You didn't get a good night's sleep, so try to rest now."

A voice answered from behind Louise.

“President?”

“Yes.”

Louise looked at him replied lightly.

“Since your face looks sloppy and Hesse is allowed to sleep, I a.s.sume the court officials are not nearby.”

“Thank goodness the dean called the both of them in.”

“Oh…because of the kissing incident?”

As she spoke she looked up the tree and saw that Hesse was gone. As well as basket of grapes.

“I didn't know that would reach your ears."

Louise shrugged her shoulders and walked a step ahead, and Ian fell into step by her side.

“We came up with new guidelines for the students.”

“No kissing in front of me?”

“Similar to that, actually. More like no kissing at all.”

“That's a great guideline for history.”

“Right?”

Louise brought him up to speed about student council meeting. He listened to her tone and carefully observed her expressions, one by one. She didn't forget to interject with cheerful exclamations to keep the conversation pleasant.

“So is the student council running fine without me?”

“Does that make you relieved?”

“It does, thank you.”

Louise was a valuable pillar of the student council, and he patted her on the head.

“I am always grateful to you and other members. When this is over, I'll be sure to pay you all back."

“That's a nice idea. Everyone is handing out embarra.s.sing warnings about not kissing.”

“Even if you tell the students not to, it's not like they listen.” 

“Then I hope everyone can hide it well.”

Louise murmured anxiously, and Ian agreed.

"Well, there are a few suitable places where you can get away with it.”

“Such as?”

A broad smile spread across Ian's face. There was a s.h.i.+ver in Louise's spine, and she took a step back. 

Ian immediately stepped closer. 

Louise took another three steps back. Ian followed her yet again. 

Before she knew it, the cool wall of the building touched her back and she couldn't retreat any further. She had an ominous feeling.

“So…”

She raised her head. The building cast a deep shadow on Ian, and she couldn't clearly see his face.

“…I'm done with my business now.”

“But you haven't done anything yet?”

“Well, that's true.”

Louise stared up at him with a troubled look.

“But in front of you, that kind of stuff is prohibited. And I'm in front of you.”

Louise couldn't bring herself to say the word kiss.

“That kind of stuff?”

He was the devil for pointing it out exactly.

“I think I'm being extraordinarily patient even without the ban.”

“…D-don't lie. It wasn't that long ago.”

“Not long ago?”

“You asked me to give you a blessing!”

“But that's chaste and sacred.”

“W-well, but the officials will be here soon…"

He tenderly took both her hands and whispered in a soft voice.

“They're not coming.”

Her small hands twitched between his fingers.

“You're doing good.”

He pulled her pale hand towards him and kissed it lightly. Louise closed her eyes at the tickling sensation. Without her vision, her hearing became several times more sensitive, and she could hear her heart pounding against her chest in response to the brush of his lips against her skin.

“Raise your head, Louise Sweeney.”

She heard his heard whisper close in front of her.

“Please. Hmm?”

His voice was soothing or pleading, like he was waiting for something. She opened her eyes slowly and took in the sight of him. He had an unfamiliar expression on his face.

“It's okay for a while.”

“…T-that's what you say.”

Louise managed to speak, avoiding his gaze a little.

"It feels like I've become a person that constantly worries about you…"

"I feel more surprised that you are realizing this now."

"There's no way that's true."

"And why is that?"

"We've been together for a long time."

“And?"

"……I feel like you're somebody who just does everything he wants to do to me."

At Louise's reply he laughed out loud.

“D-don't laugh! Don't act like you're the victim!”

Louise lifted her head in protest, but he refused.

“Who's the victim? To be honest, it was always me.”

“Well, I didn't do anything.”

“You do.”

He spoke rather confidently.

“And you're still doing it. If you're trying to kill me, I want you to know that you're doing it right.”

As he spoke, the gap between them grew even smaller.

“I-I didn't mean it. I was so embarra.s.sed over there.”

“I know. It was cute…my fiancée.”

Their lips were almost touching when he said the last word.

"Ah–"

His soft voice, his breath, and even his lips were all within reach. He was as suave as before, but there was a hint of urgency in him. Maybe it was because they were yearning the same thing.

Louise clutched his hand tightly, and at that moment they tilted their heads to fit each other more perfectly. She gave a sharp inhale. Was it because of her painfully beating heart?

Ian dropped his lips away for a moment. Perhaps he was worried about the unstable sound of Louise's breathing, and he whispered gently, with his forehead still touching hers.

“You.”

He squeezed her hand.

“I wish you were a little less afraid of me…"

“I-I'm not afraid.”

“But you were just now.”

He shook his head, his voice a gentle murmur. He was worried that it sounded like he was putting the blame on Louise, so he changed his words.

“I won't frighten you.”

“I'm not afraid, really.”

“You are brave.”

When he finished speaking, their lips naturally fell into each others.

Louise stole a glance at Ian from underneath her lashes. His eyes were completely closed, as if this was the first time for him. Like he was yearning for her with all of one's heart and soul.

'…He'll get mad if he finds out I'm looking.'

Basrak. 

She heard a sound from over his shoulder. Louise looked carefully so Ian wouldn't notice. 

And came face-to-face with a surprised-looking young court official.