After the door closes and Ichigo disappears from sight, the anger that had so suddenly taken hold of you dissipates without a trace. It's immediately replaced by crushing sorrow and regret as you sink into the couch.

I shouldn't have said that... but, why can't she just understand where I'm coming from? I only want her to be safe. I don't want to control her.

You sigh and rest your head in your hands. A picture falls from your pocket to the floor below. In it Ichigo smiles brightly, wearing the traditional Japanese kimono she'd found in your room. You pick it up gingerly.

"I only worry because I love you. You know that, right?" you ask the photo.

The girl in the image continues to smile at you but doesn't reply. You stare at the still for several minutes before the door opens. Adopting your commander persona, you quickly return the photograph to your pocket and turn to greet the newcomer.

Kana stands in the doorway. "It's time for our meeting with the doctor over the Maternal Ward," she says. You hadn't been quick enough to gather yourself it seems, as she adds, "If you aren't up for it, I can take care of things."

"No," you groan as you stand up. "I still have a job to do. And do me a favor–" Before you can complete the request Kana cuts you off, speaking in a manner unlike her. "I didn't see anything. Not you talking to a picture, or Ichigo storming off."

"Thanks," you say with a nod, and follow her out of the room.

Ten minutes later the two of you, along with Kokoro and a heavily pregnant girl named Shouko, find yourselves in one of the Garden's conference rooms. You're all seated across from a woman who appears to be in her early thirties, with blonde hair tied back in a bun, wide-rimmed black glasses, and a white lab coat over a beige turtleneck. She wears black stockings to go with her skirt and small heels. You could recognize the woman anywhere, but to those who couldn't, her identity is made clear by the tag on her coat pocket: Doctor H. Levesque.

"Doctor Levesque," you say to bring the meeting to a start. "As you are aware, this Garden is now under our custody. We've asked you here to discuss your future."

The woman looks particularly unphased considering she is basically on trial. She sips from her coffee before putting it back on its saucer. Staring directly at you, she says, "I recognize you. You were a product of my ward, yes?"

"I was raised at this Garden," you reply. "Interesting," Levesque narrates. "Could that be what caused you to return?"

"Please try to stay on topic, doctor," Kana turns the conversation back in the intended direction. "You were responsible for the operation of the Maternal Ward and its Nurseries until two days ago, is that correct?"

"I was," she agrees. "And I would very much appreciate it if you were to return me to my work. All this fighting is beyond me. My true intention is to see humanity reach its peak. The Maternal Ward and Nurseries are merely a means to that end."

Doctor Levesque pauses and looks at Kokoro. "Take you, for instance, my dear. The father of the child in your womb was chosen from thousands of candidates because of the expected outcome. By picking and choosing with this method of selective breeding, all traces of disease and birth defects can be eradicated in several generations. You will carry to term in only seven months, an improvement of 22% over natural means."

Kokoro looks as though she wants to be sick as the doctor continues. "Not only is your term shorter, but the child will have the best possible genetics. They will grow up to be stronger and faster than any traditionally conceived human could ever dream to be. Surely you see the potential of this. Why allow nature to dictate humanity's future when we can mold it with our own hands?"

"Doctor Levesque," Kana says with venom. "If you ever treat Kokoro, or any of your other charges, as livestock again, I will personally see that you are shot. Do I make myself clear?"

Doctor Levesque calmly takes another sip of her coffee. "You clearly do not understand the necessity of my work."

"What I understand is that–" Kana is nearly over the table by the time you catch her by the waist and hold her back. "She's a monster!" Kana shouts. "We can't let her go back!"

Having downed the last of her coffee, Doctor Levesque sets the cup back on the saucer. "Your situation is quite simple as I understand it," she states. "You have no notion of how to run my ward or see to the well-being of those under my care. Without me the children are doomed."

Kana seems to have regained at least a smidgen of self-control and takes her seat once more. Meanwhile, Kokoro raises a question. "Doctor Levesque, if I could ask something." She smiles. "Of course, dear," the woman purrs.

"Why are you doing what you do?" Kokoro asks softly with her hands folded over her chest. "Is it because you want to make sure that all of the children are healthy? If something like that's the case I could forgive you, even though I wanted my child's father to be someone else. Because that would mean you were doing it for a good reason, even if it's cruel."

Doctor Levesque is silent as she appraises the situation. You can nearly see the gears working in her mind to formulate the answer that is best suited for appeasing the assembled jury. Finally, she pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and speaks.

"Everything I have done has been with a purpose. The children in my ward are all safe and healthy. The mothers are given adequate housing, nourishment, and the best medical care we have to offer. You may dislike my methodology but you cannot deny my results. There have been no premature births, birth defects, or complications with any pregnancies in my ward."

Having spoken her piece, Doctor Levesque sits back in her chair. "I have nothing further to say. Render your judgment."

Doctor Levesque is left to sit by herself in the room as the jury convenes in an adjacent one.

"I say we throw her in a cell and lose the key," Kana begins the discussion. "What she did to those girls is beyond cruel. We can't acknowledge that, lightly rap her knuckles as punishment, and let her stay in her position."

Seeing that Kana is still past rationality, you turn to Kokoro and Shouko. "What do you two think?"

"Personally," Shouko says, "I don't really see why everyone is so mad. The Maternal Ward has been my home for several years now and I've never had to worry about anything since coming here. There's no tests to pass or battles to fight."

You would like to say that Shouko's words shock you. But they really don't. Upon living in captivity for long enough, it wasn't uncommon for the captives to become dependant on their captors.

"The only thing I want is to know where my twins are," Shouko continues. "I know they're here, but after they were taken away I haven't seen them since. I'd rather raise them myself if I could, even if I have to stay here and have more."

"You will never be forced to have another child," you promise her. "That I swear. If you meet a boy someday and decide to have one that'll be a different story, but the day we arrived was the day it ended."

"Thank you," Shouko nods. "What do you think, Kokoro?" she asks.

"I don't think Doctor Levesque feels bad for what she's done," the blonde admits, "but she did take care of us. What she said about that is true."

You cut to the heart of the matter. "What do you think we should do with her?"

"I think we need her," Kokoro answers honestly. She rests her hand on her stomach. "I want my child to be healthy, and without the doctor and her staff it'll be much harder. So, what if we let Doctor Levesque stay in charge but she has to report to someone? That way she can't do anything bad."

Shouko laughs. "You think someone like her would take orders?" You shrug in response. "She did from APE. So I don't see why she couldn't from us. It doesn't seem she particularly likes APE, they just wanted what she did."

"Kokoro, are you alright with being the person to overlook this?" you ask. "M-me?" she gasps in surprise. Kana, who had been listening silently, chooses now to return to the conversation. "You have a strong sense of what's right and wrong and you need to be here for care anyway. Your friend could help."

"Don't go volunteering me for–" Shouko begins to protest, but Kokoro grabs her hands and squeezes them tightly. "You would help me, wouldn't you?"

Shouko stares at her for a moment and sighs. "Yeah, I'll help you."

"It's settled then," you conclude. "Doctor Levesque will be allowed to continue running the Maternal Ward and Nurseries under the strict supervision of Kokoro and Shouko. In the meantime, we can start to find a way to get along without her. I don't want to depend on that woman any more than we have to."

Kana nods approvingly. She then looks to Shouko. "Make sure she tells you where your twins are. They have to keep a record of it somewhere. And help the other girls find theirs as well."

It is then that an urgent knock comes at the door. Kana raises her voice to be heard. "Come in,"

A panting Hiro stumbles through the opening. "(Y/N)!" he shouts. "Delphinium's at the training ring, and she's lost control!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Stepping out into the spring morning would normally be a pleasant experience for you. Sadly, this is not one of those times. Across the Garden, you can see that the circular walls of one of the training arenas have risen. An ear-piercing howl followed by an echoing crash confirms that an exceptionally angry wolf is contained within.

After reaching the ring you immediately head for the observation chamber. Typically it would be occupied by a team of analysts and a combat instructor, but given the recent change of authority in the Garden it is instead staffed by several parasites. Screens for displaying the vitals of each participant in the match hang from the walls and ceiling, as well as other relevant data. Through the glass at the room's front, the entire ring can be seen thanks to it being near the top of the structure.

"What in the hell is going on?!" you demand of the room's occupants. Multiple pairs of eyes snap to the door you've just walked through. None of them appear to have expected your arrival, but there is a sense of relief that seems to be exuded now that the commander is on scene.

"Commander!" a boy shoots to his feet. "She seems to have lost control of Delphinium, sir!" "I can see that much!" you seethe back. "What happened, and why is she in that FranXX?"

"The captain told us she had permission for an experiment, sir! We had just begun when she lost control of the FranXX," the voice comes from a girl behind you. You suppress the urge to facepalm. "Was she not anxious or different from the usual when she gave the order?" you ask. Ichigo would've been still upset from the fight when she got here. "She was, sir," the first boy says in response. "...Then did you not think that perhaps there was a reason for that? Like that she didn't have permission?"

"(Y/N), grilling them won't help the situation," Hiro reminds you. You growl in frustration but leave the cowering parasites be. Instead, you turn to the screen with Ichigo's vitals.

Her heart rate and oxygen intake are both elevated from normal levels but remain in the green, removing the immediate fear of something happening to her. The printouts of her neural activity are less encouraging. The measurements of her brain activity are all over the place, rapidly jumping from peak to peak as Delphinium thrashes in her cage.

"We need to get her out of there as soon as possible," you say, turning back to the room. "Suggestions?" The young woman is the first to offer. "Sir, wouldn't it be simplest to let the FranXX run out of fuel? Stampede consumes it at an accelerated rate. The FranXX was not full, so Delphinium will be out in less than an hour."

You shake your head. "Too long. She could hurt herself in the time between now and then." After the first suggestion had been shot down so quickly, no one else seems eager to offer up their own. You make your way to the door. "Right then, we'll do it my way."

After a moment of shock, Hiro catches up to you on your way down. Still out of breath, he asks, "(Y/N), what exactly are you planning on doing?"

"I'm going in there," you reply. "You're… what?" Hiro shouts. "You've gotta be kidding. You can't go in there while Ichigo's like that! She could hurt you without meaning to. What if she stepped on you? That'd be it!"

You stop beside an access door. "Hiro, Ichigo and I had a fight an hour ago, and a bad one at that. I said some things I shouldn't have, and because of that it's my fault that she's in there like this right now. If our only solution is to wait for Delphinium to run out of fuel, she could get hurt in the meantime and it would be because of me. I made this mess, so I'll clean it up."

With your reason brought to light Hiro concedes, likely because he'd do the same for Zero Two. "Do you have any idea how to stop her?" he asks. You shake your head as you step outside. "Nope, but I'll think of something."

The door slides shut and disappears back into the immaculate white wall. This leaves you locked in a steel ring with a mechanical wolf who appears to be suffering through one of the worst days ever.

You take a deep breath as the little voice in the back of your head reminds you once again that this plan is insane. However, a different voice reaffirms that what you are doing is necessary. You begin walking toward the middle of the ring.

You barely make it five feet before getting the feeling you are being watched. On the far side of the ring, Delphinium stares at you and gives a drawn-out snarl. In this form, her hearing and eyesight are both augmented far beyond that of a human's. It's likely a seasoned huntress such as her noticed you the moment the door opened.

You continue to walk forward as she eyes you. A few seconds later, Delphinium begins scratching at the ground with her right paw. At the same time, her hind legs tense and she draws low to the ground.

Without warning, she charges toward you like a shot from a gun. The arena is small enough that she can cover it in five massive bounds, leaving you a precious second to realize what the wolf has done and to get out of the way. You get two steps in before throwing yourself to the side as a flash of blue and white soars over you and into the wall. The world shakes as a result.

Dazed by the impact, Delphinium slumps at the base of the wall. Using this opportunity, you approach her while speaking softly. "Ichigo, love, I know I said some things earlier that I shouldn't have. I'm sorry. I was letting my concern get the better of me, and I became a control freak. You have every right to be upset with me. But please, come back. I don't want to see you hurt yourself because I backed you into a corner."

As you near the end of your speech, you are just several feet from Delphinium. You reach out to touch her, hoping it will bring Ichigo back to her senses. However before you can, the wolf rolls away from you and jumps to her feet before running to the other side of the arena.

You fall over thanks to the tremors she causes while running away. As you dust yourself off, Delphinium watches you. "Alright," you groan, "I tried being nice. I apologized and now you're ignoring me." You swell in volume until you're yelling out at the top of your lungs. "I am sick of your shit! You hear me? Absolutely sick of it! So if you're going to be like that, just come at me!"

The canine needs no further provocation and runs at you once more. This time, you plant your feet and stand your ground. This'll work... or it won't.

"Delphinium, heel!"

The massive wolf stops herself mid-stride. Digging her claws into the earth, Delphinium skids to a stop no more than ten feet from you. Lowering her head as far as she can towards the ground, she glares at you over her snout.

This staring contest continues for the better part of a minute before Delphinium cocks her head slightly to the side and lets out a low whine. The FranXX lays down and holds her head out looking at you expectantly. After you fail to move, she lets out another soft call.

You are somewhat familiar with this reaction but are still shocked. "You want me to pet you?"

Taking the final few steps separating you from Delphinium, you reach out your hand and run it across the smooth metallic surface of her lower jaw. The ground shakes as she shifts to show you the underside of her chin. Following the cue you scratch, and a satisfied rumble comes from nearby. The loud thumping of her tail can also be heard.

"Good girl."

After several minutes of indulging Delphinium, you decide to try something. Backing away while still in view so as not to scare her, you stand roughly thirty feet from her.

"Delphinium."

Her ear perks and she jumps to her feet.

"Come," you instruct, waving her forward with your hand. She takes a small step forward, covering the distance between the two of you and waits patiently for the next command.

"Back."

Delphinium slowly backs up two steps.

"Back."

Delphinium backs up another two steps.

"Back."

Delphinium backs up, but this time continues to do so until you put your hand down.

"Sit."

The ground shakes as the blue wolf sits upright.

"Lie down."

The she-wolf crosses her front legs and lays her head over them, looking at you.

I can't believe this, she's perfectly trained. How is that possible?

"Delphinium, come."

She bounds over in a split second and stops beside you.

"Lay down and go to sleep."

Repeating her action from moments before, Delphinium lays down. This time, though, the light in her eyes grows dim. The hum of Delphinium's reactor fades, which leaves you in relative silence.

"Well, love," you say aloud, "looks like you were right all along."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Following the incident in the training ring, you move to pull Ichigo aside intending to apologize. Using the nearest available space that would be private, you lead her into a smaller storage room. Ichigo is still wearing her pistil uniform and sits down on an unopened crate, while you pace back and forth deciding how to start.

"Alright," you say, more to yourself than her. "Ichigo, I've got something to say and I would like to ask you to please listen until I'm finished." Your tone is serious and Ichigo's response is given in kind, only a concise nod.

You sigh. "Here we go. First, I'm sorry. I'll be saying that a lot in the next few minutes."

Rather than continuing to pace, you stand directly across from your seated partner. "I was wrong. I do realize that. Not just with how I acted, but with how I was thinking. I shouldn't have gotten mad like I did, and I especially shouldn't have tried to pull rank on you to win an argument. That was inappropriate of me as the commander, and even more so as your friend."

"As for the way I've been thinking… you're right. I did put you on a pedestal. It wasn't intentional, but it happened anyway. When I first arrived at Plantation 13, you put aside your feelings and accepted me. You saved my life that day we connected in Delphinium. Then, you treated me as an equal instead of a washout replacement who you took pity on. I never forgot that. Coming from the Replacement Division where I meant nothing to being a squad leader was something I wasn't ever really able to thank you for."

"After we became a couple, my feelings about keeping you safe only grew. APE had always taught me to keep my pistil safe, because that was what was expected of me. It was something I just had to do. But with you, I wanted to keep you safe because it mattered to me. And I still do."

You lower yourself to eye level with Ichigo. Her eyes are focused intently on you and show the faintest hint of tears.

"I love you. I love you more than anything in this world and I want to keep you by my side forever. But I was letting the fear of something happening to you take over from all the good things that can come from that. It was driving me to try and control you. That makes me not only a bad partner, but a failure as a person for allowing it to. You're free to do whatever it is you want to do, and I never meant to take that from you. From now on, I truly support you 110%."

Taking a knee, you grasp Ichigo's hands with your own. You then ask the only question that matters. "Can you forgive me?"

Despite having tears now visibly forming, Ichigo's iron gaze still manages to intimidate you. "You promise that you won't act the way you did again? And that if I say I want to do something, you won't stop me because it scares you?"

You nod. "I promise. I'll still caution you, of course, but I won't stop you."

Ichigo softens, but still isn't done. "You should know that I truly appreciate how you feel. Hearing you say that I matter more than anything else makes my heart race, just like anyone's would. But we aren't just anyone. As the ones in command of this rebellion, we have to put its success first. The lives of too many, both free from APE and still in captivity, rest on our decisions."

"I know. I finally understand that now," you say after dropping your head.

Unknown to you, Ichigo smiles. She then places her hands behind your head and gently guides it to rest in her lap. Softly, she strokes your hair and looks into your eyes.

"I love you," she says.

"I love you too," you reply.

Another thirty seconds tick by in the quiet room as Ichigo runs her hands through your hair. The feeling is indescribable and sends a jolt down your spine. Her lap is equally mysterious and comforting. You don't remember having done this before, but the softness and warmth are so inviting that the idea of leaving is too much to think about.

Ichigo shifts her weight and you can tell she is getting ready to stand.

"Um," you awkwardly whisper. Ichigo cocks her head. "Hmm?" "Could we stay like this, just a bit longer?" You are embarrassed to ask, but Ichigo's smile is so bright that the feeling melts away. "I suppose, but just for a bit."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hidden away in the lounge of the Garden barracks' common room, on a long futon in the corner along the wall, lies Ikuno and a book. She hasn't taken her eyes from the pages in hours, and the faint noises from the bustling Garden outside do not disturb her. The other residents of the barracks, in similar fashion, do not disturb her either. This is a familiar sight.

It becomes unfamiliar the moment a certain girl with wavy dark brown hair joins her in the room.

Ikuno didn't consciously register the fact that Naomi had come closer. She didn't hear her open or shut the door. She didn't hear her walk over to the corner in which she was nestled. And she definitely didn't hear her clear her throat in a subtle attempt to get her attention. It wasn't until the girl calls her name that she looks up.

"Ikuno."

Her head swivels to look at the new arrival, and she smiles a little after she finally sees who has interrupted her. "Hello, Naomi."

The girl in question sweeps a long wavy lock behind her ear and then motions towards Ikuno. "Do you mind if I sit?"

Ikuno pulls her legs closer as her response, and Naomi moves to sit down on the end of the futon. Once she's settled, she meets Ikuno's stoic gaze. "I wanted to thank you for being with me these past few days." Hearing that, Ikuno has to smile.

"Oh, I didn't do much. You're the one who took the lead with the other parasites. I was just along for the ride helping you."

Naomi shakes her head. "Really, it would've been much harder to help with all of the other injured parasites if you hadn't been with me."

After the Garden had been forcefully taken into custody by the rebellion, everyone went off to tend to a certain aspect of the repair process. Like it or not, they had been unable to win without casualties on both sides, and the Garden itself had been given quite a beating.

It was even worse for the parasites, who were caught off guard by the rebel attack when it happened. In the ensuing chaos, much of the Replacement Division rose up to fight against APE forces and assist the rebels with their plans. Many parasites lost limbs or their lives in the interior battles that followed.

Naomi agreed to help as a sort of therapist for some of the more severely injured parasites when the battle concluded. She empathized with the others deeply, thanks to her own injury, and was perfect for consoling those with great but not life-threatening injuries. Ikuno assisted her where it was needed, but she mostly acted as company while Naomi spent her days helping others find peace with their new bodies.

Ikuno thinks back to many of the parasites she's seen over the past few days. She knows how mentally exhausting the process must be for Naomi to do all day.

"I'm sorry you had to step up for this," says Ikuno. "Nobody should have to shoulder the weight of everyone's pain this way. I know it's hard on you."

"Hard like my injury?" Naomi asks. The girl motions to her missing arm. "This has made my life harder, yes, but I've also learned a lot thanks to it. I just wanted to make the transition easier for some of the other parasites." She smiles ruefully. "I think I owe it to them, you know? I can help some of them through this, which was something I never had the option of. But they can, and I should be right there with them."

Naomi waves any further words off with a flick of her wrist. "But we've got time to ourselves now, so let's not linger on things like that. What are you reading?" She indicates the book Ikuno has closed in her lap.

Ikuno glances at the cover and runs a hand over its smooth surface. "It's called 'The Razor's Edge.' I found it in one of the storage rooms and our library at Haven doesn't have it. I thought it'd be a good opportunity to read, since I can't back at home."

Nodding to herself a few times, Naomi stares at the cover for a few moments before speaking. "Isn't that by Somerset Maugham? The book about Larry and his search for enlightenment?"

"You've read it?" says Ikuno, taken aback. "Of course," the other girl replies. "Doctor Franxx has quite the collection, and I used to spend quite a lot of time with it back at his facility."

Ikuno hadn't taken Naomi to be someone very into books. As such, this is definitely a surprise. "How are you able to read them, though? Isn't it difficult with your arm?" she asks. It was the main reason she was so shocked in the first place.

"Of course it is," she says flatly, "but this is the doctor's facility we're talking about. Freya has every book in his collection scanned into a massive databank. With the holographic projectors she uses or by simply putting it on a screen I can easily read anything I want, despite only having one arm."

It takes a couple seconds for Ikuno to fully visualize Naomi sitting on a chair somewhere, intent on a golden holographic book in front of her before she comes to a complete halt. Her eyes sweep instantly from where they had wandered to the girl sitting in front of her. Naomi sees a hunger in her gaze that she hasn't seen before.

"You mean…" Ikuno begins, "...that Freya has a massive collection of books that I've had no idea about?"

Naomi watches her for a second before covering her mouth and giggling. "I guess it does! I'll show you how she does it once we get back home." She gives Ikuno a broad smile and her eyes soften as she thinks about it.

Suddenly, the nearby window behind Naomi becomes much brighter. In a rare moment of direct sunlight, becoming free from the clouds for just a moment, the golden rays from the retreating sun brilliantly outline Naomi's hair. I never noticed how pretty she is, thinks Ikuno to herself.

"I'd like that, Naomi," Ikuno says quietly. "I'd like that very much."

And in that moment, for the first time in a very long while, Ikuno's heart throbbed just a little for someone who was not Ichigo.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hours after your heart-to-heart with Ichigo, you return to the commander's quarters you had begun to call your temporary home. Today's events had been a whirlwind, but in the end everything turned out for the better.

As the door to the suite opens it becomes immediately apparent that Ichigo hasn't arrived or is already in bed, because the lights in the lounge are out. Stumbling through the room in relative darkness, you find your way to the bedroom.

The lamp has been left on by your side of the bed and the covers are pulled back. Soft rays of moonlight pour through the window on the other side of the bed and the drapes sway ever so slightly from the cool breeze drafting in. This is further compounded by the scent of scent of strawberries that lingers over the dimly lit room. However, Ichigo is nowhere to be found.

Something's not adding up.

The strawberry perfume is Ichigo's favorite, but she wears it sparingly because there's no way of getting more. That fact that it's been sprayed about the room, therefore, is odd. The lighting is another giveaway. Ichigo would sometimes leave the lamp on for you before she slept, but she always closed the drapes and window. She hates the cold just as much now as when you'd originally met, so allowing it in is out of the usual.

After thinking about these things together it becomes clear the room has been staged, but for what you haven't yet figured out.

You take a seat on the bed beside the lamp and ponder. This leaves your back to the window. The night's breeze catches you off guard with how chilly it is, causing a shiver to run down your spine. To keep the cold from getting worse, you decide to climb under the covers and wait for Ichigo to return. However, first you must undress.

Reaching down, you begin the process of removing your shoes. First the right, then the left. This is followed by the slow peeling back of your socks, which feels divine in its own right.

Your shoes removed, you sit back up and begin to unbutton your shirt. Your hands have just reached the top button when what little light the room had is extinguished. From behind, an unseen assailant has placed their hands over your eyes.

"I was starting to think you would never come," a voice purrs in your ear. Now aware that Ichigo has been present the entire time, more than likely behind the drapes, you are able to tame the fight-or-flight response that had kicked in. "You know me," you reply, "I've never been good at fitting to your schedule."

Behind you, Ichigo giggles.

"Hey, love," you say. "Would you mind moving your hands? It's much easier to take my shirt off when I can see."

Your ear twitches due to the rush of warm air over it as Ichigo whispers, "Well, why don't you let me?"

Still in darkness, you roll your eyes. "I'm perfectly capable of removing my own shirt. Now would you please–" You stop cold as the feeling of Ichigo pressing herself against your back strikes you. She's incredibly warm, and the smell of strawberries grows markedly stronger. Out of the corner of your eye you can see a lock of blue hair, a white hairpin, and finally Ichigo's head. She rests her chin over your shoulder and wraps her arms around you, taking the button from your hand.

Acutely aware of how quickly your heart is beating, you ask her something quietly. "What are you doing?" She smiles. "I'm helping you undress," she says. However, she seems to be equal parts helping you do so and admiring your physique. Once the first three buttons have been undone, a hand finds its way into your shirt and begins to run itself over your chest. It first feels your pecs before moving to rub on your well-defined abs.

"Ichigo," your voice is so faint it is nearly a whisper. "It feels good, doesn't it?" she purrs. The honest answer is yes. It absolutely feels good. However, Ichigo has never behaved like this before. It's making you nervous, in addition to causing a growing feeling of excitement.

You reach for her hand and take it by the wrist. Gently, you remove it from under your shirt. The jolt that courses through Ichigo's body and into yours lasts but a moment before she becomes stiff.

Still holding her wrist, you turn to face her and are surprised by what you find. Her nightgown is nowhere to be found, and instead of her normal bra and panties, Ichigo is wearing a new pair as white as freshly fallen snow. Intricate designs have been cut throughout the material, adding to the allure. Overall, it shows far more of her cream-colored skin than the original pair would have.

In addition to the change in wardrobe, Ichigo is wearing a hint of makeup. Blush applied to her cheeks makes them rosy, and hints of black eyeshadow increase her seduction factor. A glossy layer of pink lipstick adds the finishing touches.

Seeing this new look for Ichigo clears your mind of whatever thoughts it had held previously. "Uhh…" "Did I do something wrong?" she asks, biting one of her nails. Which, for the first time, you realize has been painted red.

Still dumbstruck, you say the first coherent thought you're able to piece together. "You must have been freezing behind the curtain."

Ichigo, who had been in the midst of babbling to herself, looks at you in confusion. "Huh?"

"I said, you must have been freezing hiding behind the curtain," you repeat without thinking. Ichigo's response is neutral as she gives you a blank stare while processing the information. She then begins to giggle.

"What's so funny?" you ask. Ichigo covers her mouth with her hand. "I work really hard to make myself look nice, and the first thing you say is that you're worried I was cold."

"Well, yeah," you reply without hesitating. "It's chilly tonight and I don't want you to catch…" Realization dons on you. "Oh… you weren't worried about being cold. You probably waited until the front door opened before hiding."

Ichigo gives an awkward smile and makes a small gesture. "Surprise."

"That still doesn't explain why you dressed like this," you continue. "...Couldn't it just be that I wanted to be attractive to you?" Ichigo asks. "But you're always attractive to me," you answer automatically. This earns a deep crimson blush from the girl sitting across from you as she looks at the bed sheets.

"Why do this though?" you wonder aloud. "Well," Ichigo says. "Maybe it's because I wanted something specific to happen. Something couples do…"

You cock your brow as if to say, "I have no clue what you're talking about." Ichigo huffs. "You are so dense sometimes."

"I wanted us to… you know…" Ichigo's voice cracks and she covers her mouth in embarrassment. You find it extremely cute however and laugh. Your partner begins to pout, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away from you. In turn, you wrap yours around her waist and pull her over to you. You hold her tightly, and she gently places a hand on your forearm.

The two of you sit there for a moment, enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies. "You smell wonderful by the way," you whisper. "And that thing you were doing earlier felt amazing. How about I return the favor?"

Ichigo nods meekly over her shoulder. Starting just above her knee, you slowly trace your way up Ichigo's thigh to her waist. From there, you cup her hips with both hands and run them over your partner's curves. Gliding over the smooth skin of her stomach, your stop just below her chest.

Ichigo takes a sharp breath and looks up at you. She finds eyes that glow with hunger, and yet still await permission. She nods.

In the time the two of you had known one another, Ichigo had matured. Some aspects like her drive and leadership weren't visible to the naked eye. One thing that was, however, was the fullness of her chest. It wasn't large like Zero Two's or Kokoro's, but the firmness and softness of the mounds surely are second to none.

Ichigo lets out a slight moan in response to your kneading. She places her head against your chest and allows herself to be overtaken by the pleasure. You lower your head over her shoulder and initiate a kiss that Ichigo hungrily accepts.

Quickly you find yourself lost in the moment and your hands cease to move. Ichigo makes her displeasure known by putting hers on top of your own. She renews the cupping motion and adds to it with increased vigor.

It's only when the two of you break the kiss, both gasping for air, that you become aware that Ichigo's bra has long since fallen below her shoulders. Almost this entire time you've been fondling her bare breasts. It's a likely explanation of why she was so into it.

Ichigo spins to face you with a ravenous look. "Take it off," she orders and points to your shirt. You begin to fumble with the buttons, but it clearly isn't fast enough as Ichigo pulls the shirt from your shoulders. The lower two buttons are sent flying across the room, but you aren't given time to worry about that.

"Maybe we should slow down a bit," you say, grabbing Ichigo's hand before she can get at your chest. "We're sure this is something we should be doing?"

The look in Ichigo's eye fades. "I love you. You love me. When two people love one another, this is what happens. It's just like the books said."

This is the first you've heard of any such books, so naturally you have questions. "What books?"

"The… um… romance novels I found," Ichigo answers sheepishly. Despite your question being answered, her response only leaves you with more. "And when did you find those?"

"Does it really matter?" she shoots back. You shrug. "No, I just think it's cute that you have a hobby of reading sappy books."

You stand before Ichigo and bend at the waist. "M'lady, your humble knight in shining armor shall do whatever it takes to bring you happiness."

Ichigo covers her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter before launching herself at you. You manage to catch her, in a manner of speaking, though it's her who has really caught you with her legs wrapped around your waist. You find your arms around the small of her back for support while her hands cup the sides of your face, sharing a passionate kiss.

You spin for a moment to try and catch your balance before stumbling back in the direction of the mattress. You land on the sheets with Ichigo beneath you and a growing feeling of something from below. It would seem that Ichigo is also aware as you follow her gaze, however she doesn't seem the slightest bit surprised or frightened.

By now your pants have mostly come undone, so it's a simple fix to remove them completely. Likewise, Ichigo bucks her hips and slides her last remaining garment free.

The two of you are about to experience your first special moment together when a voice interrupts you.

"(Y/N), Ichigo, it seems that the two of you are about to consummate your relationship," a familiar AI narrates the scene before her, although her eyes are closed as she talks. "If you would like, I have a great deal of useful information on the topic. Methods of increasing fertility or stamina. Perhaps…" the voice trails off when she opens her eyes and sees the two very uninterested parties she had interrupted.

"Freya…!" Ichigo shrieks. "...Go away!" you finish.

Without a word, the AI blinks out of existence.

"That was a little mean!" Ichigo chastises you immediately. "Uh, we were kinda in the middle of something? Not something you invite guests for either," you remind her. Ichigo rolls her eyes dramatically and smiles. "Oh, that's right, we were interrupted from a certain something."

Ichigo extends her arms to you and grins. "Now, come to me!"