If possible, Haru would've really preferred not to have this conversation with Lillie.
To him, this topic was more terrifying than a hundred thousand nerfs to Chi-Yu and a hundred thousand "YOU DIED" screen in Elden Ring combined.
Maybe—maybe—Lillie could accept Lana. Maybe she could even accept Iono. Heck, maybe she could even accept a few more people.
After all, Lillie had long since become "Poor Cuck'd Lillie." Adding more names to the list was just padding the numbers at this point.
But Lusamine? There was no way. No matter what, she would never accept Lusamine.
The others were like stacking defense stats and boosting base HP. Lusamine, on the other hand, was bringing out the scythe and a left-arm minigun—totally different playing field.
Unfortunately, what happened between Haru and Lusamine was already in the past. There was no going back now.
So, under Lillie's gentle gaze—so warm it could melt even the most frozen heart—Haru finally spoke again:
"The truth is… something did happen between me and Lusamine."
"I'd considered keeping it buried forever, but now that we're… like this, you have the right to know the truth."
"So even if I'd rather not say it, I have to."
Lillie, golden-haired and still unaware of how serious things were, tilted her head slightly and reflexively asked:
"You and her? Don't tell me you actually fought or something?"
She'd already harbored suspicions, after what she'd seen in that livestream—but that's all they were: suspicions. She didn't believe Haru would really do anything with Lusamine.
After all, Haru had barely spent a third as much alone time with Lusamine as he had with her.
What could even happen in that short a time? It's not like Haru was one of those protagonists with some succubus-level charisma—
Like, just brushing skin with a girl and BAM—instant brainwash into an XYZ-stacking primal beast or something.
Maybe there'd been a hint of flirtation, at most?
I mean, Lusamine was pretty popular with guys…
That's what Lillie told herself.
"No… I mean, if I have to put it bluntly… we did fight. But it was… in bed."
Haru's voice grew quieter and quieter, and in a panic, he quickly added:
"But it wasn't what it sounds like! I never meant for things to go that way!"
"Please believe me—yes, I'm at fault, but 99% of this mess is Mew's doing!"
"Lillie, none of us wanted things to turn out like this! If Mew hadn't been meddling, this never would've happened!"
Haru was spiraling now, rattling off excuses while frantically summarizing what had gone down between him and Lusamine.
"…"
The moment Haru said the words "in bed", the smile on Lillie's face froze solid.
Even though Haru scrambled to explain himself afterward, Lillie just sat there, stunned—like someone who just found out her mom had cheated on her with her own crush. Total ultra-space level trauma.
Wait… they actually did it?
Haru and Lusamine… did that?
And more than once?!
But—how? It hadn't even been that long since… How were they already playing meat-and-bones fusion?!
And through it all, she'd had no idea.
If Haru hadn't confessed on his own, she might never have known the truth.
Could it be that Haru really did have… the Greatsword Constitution™?
But if that were true, she should've been the one affected first! She'd spent more time with him than anyone!
She was the one who'd escaped Aether Paradise with him. She was the one who fell for him first.
So why… why did it end up like this?
Thoughts churned inside Lillie's mind, eventually settling into a quiet, bitter sadness.
She'd thought the worst was over. She thought all that was left was happiness.
But reality had sucker-punched her from orbit, slamming her back to the ground.
She'd never done anything wrong. So why did the world keep treating her like this?
Was wanting happiness a crime?
Just imagining how she'd been risking her life to save Haru and Lusamine, while those two were off doing the horizontal Ultra Space tango…
Lillie started to tremble all over.
"Um… Lillie? Say something? Anything? I'll do whatever you want…"
The longer Lillie stayed silent, the more panicked Haru became. The suffocating stillness before the storm was somehow worse than the storm itself.
If she just yelled at him—if she just lashed out—maybe he'd feel relieved.
Then, under Haru's tense, pleading gaze… Lillie finally opened her mouth.
"Haru."
The blonde girl reached up and gently cupped his cheek—her voice soft, terrifyingly soft.
"Wh-what is it…?"
"If I wanted to… use the same method to deal with that woman—you'd support me, right?"
As she spoke, her fingers subtly squeezed his cheek.
You're seriously calling her that woman now…? Yeah, these two were definitely headed for a showdown.
"I… I don't think that's a good idea. I mean, Lusamine's status is kinda…"
"Honestly, from my perspective, I have no reason to object. But I'm trying to think about what's best for everyone here."
"So when you agreed to team up with her to hurt me, was that for everyone's benefit too?"
And just like that, Lillie's smile vanished.
"Haru. Please leave. I'd like to be alone for a while."
"As for your cat—deal with her yourself."
"Until today, you'd never disappointed or hurt me. I hope you can keep it that way moving forward."
Lillie wanted to scream—to curse Haru and Lusamine both to the moon and back.
But her self-restraint was too strong. Even after mentally ransacking her entire vocabulary, she couldn't come up with a single curse worth saying.
And really, Haru and Lusamine's "incident" had taken place before she and Haru were officially together.
Haru had been single. Lusamine had been widowed for years. In that light, maybe it was understandable…
So she couldn't even be too harsh on either of them.
Physically punishing Haru? She just couldn't bring herself to do it.
So then what was she supposed to do?
Let go completely, and watch Lusamine and Haru flirt in front of her like nothing happened?
If it came to that, she'd probably go insane.
And she knew Lusamine was totally capable of pulling a stunt like that.
In the end, all she could do was come up with some kind of "punishment" to give Haru… and then forgive him.
But that punishment needed to stick. It had to be unforgettable.
And maybe… just maybe… she could consult with someone for advice?
She wasn't sure why, but a certain person's image popped into Lillie's mind.
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