It's early in the morning when you go to meet Kaina again. The weather's as nice as it can be, in Terminus City. A shift in the prevailing winds has blown most of the smog and air pollution seaward. The sun shines, the sky's radiant blue, even the concrete urban sprawl looks cleaner!
Well, that last is probably because you're in the corporate sector of Terminus City today.
High-rise buildings shoot up like trees all around you. Towering glass-faced skyscrapers shimmering with neon lights. Awe-inspiring marvels of architecture built for a mundane purpose – to house the thousands of corporate rats teeming around this neat, orderly plaza. The streets are tidy, in this sector of the city. The sweeper-bots are out in force. Even the air's cleaner, filtration drones cycle through the skylanes above on a regular basis.
It's to be expected. The CEOs who run this city'd like to pretend that they rule over a city carved from white marble and plastered with alabaster. Midway District gets the most funding out of all the districts in Terminus City because all the CEOs and corporate suits work here.
Overhead, you watch as a series of armored Air Haulers sets down on a nearby skyscraper's helipad. The VTOL transports disgorge pallets laden with supplies, surrounded by armed guards. Mendesdyn Security. The world's largest private military corporation, one of the leading corporations in Terminus City. The city's main security and defense guarantors, responsible for funding and equipping the Terminus City Police Department…
Hmm. Nothing but a particularly well-armed snake in this den of snakes.
You turn now, dismissing the sight. You didn't come here to spy, or observe, or catalogue weaknesses.
You came here…
… Because this is where the absolute best dessert cafe in Terminus City is. And it's near Central Park!
It's time to go pick up your lovely date and stop worrying about silly corporations and their silly plots. Kyah~! You can't wait!
In fact… There she is! Right there! You wave happily, practically bouncing on the balls of your feet as you bound up to Kaina's side.
"Kaina~!" You cheer. Gosh, she's gotten even cuter since the last time you've met her! Has it only been a week? Ooh, the curve of her cute lips, the way her eyes widen as she looks up from her phone and stares at you…
Ah~! She's an angel. An angel! A cool, ethereal beauty's looking at you! And then there's her cute, stoic smile~!
"Alice. It is good to see you again," Kaina says, her cute white blouse fluttering in the wind. Ah, she's even wearing the clothes you picked out for her! Maybe the underwear too? Hee~! Oh, she looks so adorable. So much healthier, so nice-looking, you just… You want to eat her up! Ah, you love her.
You love her, you love her, you love her…
"… Is there something else I was supposed to say…?" You hear Kaina ask. Your love fidgets, shifts her weight uncomfortably.
Oh no. You were too busy fangirling over your love! Ah, now she's all self-conscious. She's blushing, clearly wondering if she said something wrong… That flustered side of her is cute too! Hnngh, how can a girl be this cool and this cute, and this effortlessly pretty… So unfair!
Not that you mind~
"Nope!" You reply, sticking out your tongue playfully. "You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sorry! I just got distracted by how cute you looked!"
"… I see…?" Kaina's eyelashes flutter. The poor dear looks flustered. Poleaxed, more like. It's like she still can't believe you're calling her cute. Like some part of her is in constant denial that she is cute, in a dorky, endearing sort of way!
Well. You'll just have to apply all the positive reinforcement in the world to get Kaina to see herself as cute!
"Now come on, we've got a fun day ahead of us!" You cheer as you take Kaina's hands between your own and start dragging her off.
You've got a full day ahead of you! There's not a moment to waste!
--
Hmm~!
Dessert~!
"Ah, so good~!" You say, your words muffled a bit by the delicious ice cream you're spooning into your mouth. You're taking dainty bites out of this sundae that's in front of you. You'd get brain freeze if you ate it too fast! Besides, sweet things have to be savored slowly~!
An array of colorful desserts is laid out in front of you. Tall multi-colored ice cream sundaes, dripping with decadent syrup. A platter of buttery shortbread cookies topped with jam and chocolate filling. Sweet, light macaroons containing all sorts of fillings. And drinks too~!
Kaina sips on her coffee quietly. A pumpkin spice frappucino, topped with cream and just a touch of cinnamon.
… She hasn't stopped staring at you since you've sat down. Hasn't taken her eyes off of you, not even once. Hasn't said a word either, since after you placed your order. It's like she's content to just watch you eat.
Hmm.
Is that really the case? Or is it something else…?
"Hey Kaina, isn't this good?"
Kaina takes another slurp from her drink. "… I don't normally eat sweet things. I don't… I do not have a frame of reference…"
A cute girl who doesn't normally eat sweet things? What kind of… Oh right. Nothing but nutrient paste and water, that's what she said earlier.
"But are you enjoying yourself, at least?" You switch tangents.
"… How do I know if I'm enjoying myself?" Kaina asks.
"Hmm…" How best to describe enjoyment… "Well are you feeling, when you drink your coffee?"
"I taste… Pumpkin. Just a hint, every time I drink. I also taste processed sugar, every time I drink. The drink refreshes me. The mild stimulant of the coffee sharpens my thoughts. The cold of the drink makes my tongue tingle. It…" Kaina says, clearly groping for words. "… I think I like this drink. Even though it's cold, it makes me feel… Warm?"
"Then it sounds like you are enjoying yourself," you nod sagely. Clearly, you have excellent taste. "I almost wish I ordered one of those myself now..."
"…" Kaina stops sipping her frappucino, takes her lips off of the thick plastic straw sticking out the lid of her cup. You watch, eyes going wide as your love tries to h-hand you her drink!
With the same straw she was using sticking out of it!
"… Here. You can… You can have mine then," Kaina says stoically.
Kyah~!
An in-indirect kiss?! Does she not know what…
Wait.
Of course she wouldn't know what an indirect kiss means…
"…" Kaina looks down at her drink, then frowns. "… Are you not accepting my drink because I didn't swap out the straw? I apologize, I forgot to consider that it wasn't hygenic - "
"No, no!" You wail, swiping Kaina's cup out of her hands. "No, don't apologize. It's just… It's an indirect kiss, isn't it?"
"An indirect… Kiss?" Kaina tilts her head, looking very confused now. "I don't… I do not follow."
Oh wow, you've really got your work cut out for you here. What has this city been doing to your poor, innocent love? How many experiences has she been deprived of because of the ridiculous lifestyle she's been forced to maintain? Well, none of that nonsense anymore. Alice Takanashi, Void Heart is on the scene! You'll just have to teach your love about all the things she's been missing out on~!
"When you kiss someone on the lips, you're swapping spit residue, right?"
"Yes, I suppose that is the case," Kaina nods, following along for now.
"And kissing is an intimate act, isn't it?" You continue to explain.
"… Yes, I suppose it is?" Kaina asks, cheeks going a bit red as she begins to put two and two together. "So then…"
"So then, if you're offering me your drink like that, asking me to sip from the same straw you used… Isn't that really similar to a kiss?" Kyah~! You're actually blushing a bit as you finish explaining this. You thought you killed your shame ages ago! Buried it in the desert along with the rest of the corporate meat bags you went out of your way to slaughter!
You're a sultry seductress! You have no right being this shy and embarrassed about a… A…
Pointedly, you purse your lips and plant them directly on the straw of Kaina's drink. Your crush's eyes go wide, and her cheeks start reddening as you start slurping her frappucino loudly. Mmh. Pumpkin, coffee… And a hint of Kaina's sweet lips. Ah, just that hint's sweeter than any of the desserts you've snacked on today.
"Ah, that was good~!" You sing out as you finish. Hmm, how about… "Here, why don't you try it? See how that makes you feel?"
"T – Try it…?" Kaina stutters. Ah, she's so cute and innocent…!
"Have some of my ice cream!"
You take the spoon you were eating with, and... Put it in your mouth, making sure Kaina sees you licking the silverware with your dextrous tongue. After that? You take a scoop from your bowl, swirling up a bit of syrup as you go… Then you proceed to offer your spoon to Kaina. "Here, say ah-"
In a single motion that surprises even you, your love leans forward. Her mouth clamps down on the spoon. She pulls back, cheeks bulging slightly, having devoured your proffered treat in a single bite. She stares off to the side with her green eyes in an attempt to avoid your gaze, still blushing all the while. The rosy tint's all the more noticeable against her pale skin, contrasted against her blonde hair.
"… Tastes like Alice…" You hear Kaina whisper under her breath.
Kyah~!
So cute~! And enthusiastic too! So daring! She's learning so quickly!
"Do you want some more?" You smile, letting a bit of your old, sultry self seep through. Truly, you are a devil for tempting sweet, pure Kaina with deliciously decadent sweets the way you are.
"… Mmh. Yes, I would like some more."
Hee~!
--
Of course, the best thing to do after you've fed your love some delicious desserts?
Why, a quick outing to the park of course!
Terminus City's Central Park is a true oasis in the middle of this urban desert. A taste of natural beauty amidst the concrete jungle. The natural splendor of it all's certainly something to behold.
Hee. This is bringing back all kinds of memories from your youth. You used to play on a bed of flowers all the time when you were younger. You always regretted not being able to do so after you grew older.
Well. You'll have the opportunity to do so now. With your love!
"I did not realize you needed a corporate pass to access this area." Kaina mentions.
"Yeah, of course you would. You think the big-shot corpo who owns this place wants random people to just pop by his garden?" You huff. You had to pay an arm and a leg to get into this place! And you had to prove that you were, in fact, Alice Takanashi, CEO of Kyodyne Biotech! Gosh, what a ripoff. What a pain!
It's all worth it though. Anything to give your love the best date possible!
Ah, this is taking you back now. The sweet scent of grass, the rustling of leaves in the wind… You can even hear the chirping of birds, and the buzzing of insects. You have to admit, whoever did the engineering on this park did a phenomenal job.
This really is a beautiful place.
It's made more beautiful by the person you're with~!
… Wait, what's your love doing? What's Kaina doing? Why's she just staring off into the distance…
… Is that a statue of Infinity Princess right there? Right in the middle of the park's center?
"Hey, hey, are you looking at that statue over there?" You whisper in Kaina's ear but to no avail. The blonde girl wanders towards the park's center, clearly in a bit of a daze. You shrug and follow her. There's a roiling pit in the bottom of your stomach though. Ooh, you have a bad feeling about this…
Kaina's statue is just as cute as Kaina is. Actually, it's almost cuter because it's depicting a younger version of Infinity Princess! Mini-Infinity Princess! Ah, how cute! It's like you're looking at Kaina's baby pictures!
Whoever the sculptor was, they got her features spot-on. A younger version of Infinity Princess is depicted in a heroic pose, a still image cast in bronze. Her famous sword Ourobors is drawn, stabbed clean through the monstrous skull of a dead Kaiju.
"Infinity Princess Saves The World. To Commemorate The 7th Anniversary of Her Debut," you read out loud.
Right. You remember now. You remember the footage of Infinity Princess' debut well. You must've rewatched that footage a million times, and the story of her debut went viral and stayed viral for weeks on end.
It's a simple enough tale, after all.
At the very beginning of the Awakening, when Magical Girls were first being Pacted, when humanity was still being plagued by supernatural monstrosities… The world's largest Kaiju appeared in the Pacific.
Lokwyn. The Demolisher. Hundreds of meters of sinew, muscle, and scale. A reptilian monstrosity with skin impervious to conventional weaponry, with hideously radioactive nuclear fire breath that could turn skyscrapers to ash. A hundred thousand tons of hate, rage, and wrathful destruction. The only class-five Kaiju to have ever been recorded by the MGA.
The beast raged throughout the Pacific, toppling arcology after arcology, razing city after city. That hulking reptilian monstrosity was unstoppable. It swatted entire Magical Girl teams clean out of the sky. Burned a carrier battle group to cinders.
And then it set its eyes on Terminus City. The city was thrown into chaos by its arrival; eight hours after it'd made landfall it'd already laid the whole of Eastview District to waste. A nuclear response was authorized, and the city was to be evacuated...
And then a hero appeared.
A knight in shining armor, trailing rainbow light, fire blazing in her cool, green eyes. An ethereal beauty who danced about the battlefield with effortless grace, her blonde hair fluttering behind her like a cape. The fastest, strongest, coolest heroine to have ever existed.
That's when Infinity Princess made her debut.
Nothing Lowkyn did could harm Infinity Princess. She shrugged off its feared nuclear fire breath, blocked its monstrously destructive tail sweeps… And responded in kind with her own attacks. Her own devastatingly effective attacks. One punch from her mighty fist was all it took to stagger the beast. A swing of her razor-sharp sword, and its limbs were crippled.
And then she sword-beamed Lokwyn in the face and blasted the beast's disintegrating corpse into space.
All without a single speck of fear in her eyes.
And that's how the world was introduced to Infinity Princess, the coolest, most beautiful heroine of them all. The girl who Pacted in the ruins of her school to kill the monster that was menacing her city.
… In hindsight, rewatching that footage? That's the moment you started to fall for Infinity Princess. Every Magical Girl your age fell in love with her. That's the moment a whole lot of people fell in love with her. She's ridiculously popular overseas, especially in the USNA.
And look what their 'love' has done to the poor girl. Look at how the damnable sense of duty she's been indoctrinated with is killing her soul. You watch Kaina stare at her statue, unease filling your mind. There's an unreadable look on Kaina's face, a sudden cold weariness that's seeped into her features. She twitches as you walk up to her, hands beginning to ball into fists.
… Shit.
"Hey," you say gently. "… You alright?"
"Nnh," Kaina replies, stirring as you speak. Is that a yes or a no? Ugh, you can't tell…
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"… Nnh," Infinity Princess – no, Kaina Shikinami shakes her head slowly.
Double shit. This is not what you set out to do. At all.
"… Bad memories," Kaina mumbles. "'M sorry."
"Alright, let's just get you out of here then. Okay? We can leave if you want; we don't have to stay here…"
"… Want to spend time with Alice," Kaina murmurs shyly. "… It's okay. Just a statue. Statue's wrong too."
"What?" You laugh.
"… Skull's too small. Lokwyn's skull was bigger."
Heh. It definitely was.
The two of you proceed deeper into the park, leaving the statue of the girl you love behind. You make a mental note to have your maids steal that statue later. It's an image of your love, and a well-crafted one at that, so of course you're not going to destroy it… But it made your love sad. And you can't have that.
Hmm. Maybe have your maids shoot the kneecaps out of the idiot who decided to put that statue here too? Possibly, possibly…
Kaina clutches at your hand, seemingly unaware of how tight her grip's getting. Her knuckles are white, and she's biting down on her lip. Her green eyes are unfocused; she's in a bit of a trance. Bad memories, huh?
Yeah, you should've expected that much. She might not have been afraid fighting Lokwyn but… She couldn't have possibly been happy in that moment either. Her whole world was burning around her.
You know the feeling all too well…
Well. Hopefully, this should cheer her up.
At last, you finish walking to your real destination. You find yourself standing… In a field of flowers.
A field of lilies, to be more precise. A riotous spray of colorful flowers, fully in bloom. White, orange, pink… You sniff, inhaling the sweet scent of these flowers. Ah, this is what you came here for. This sight, right here.
"Hey, hey," you laugh. "Isn't this great? You're not going to see this many lilies anywhere else in the city! Maybe not in the entire world!" You pick a flower, do a little twirl, grin brightly. It really is nice to see this all in bloom. You hold a hand up to your face, tucking a lock of your hair behind your ear as you rummage through your purse. "Hold on, lemme get my phone, I wanna take a photo… Hey, Kaina?"
"Hmm?" Kaina blinks. Your love's just… Standing there again, watching you frolick amongst the flowers.
Is she having another sad moment? Oh no.
"Kaina, what's wrong?"
"…" Kaina blinks slowly, fixing you with her piercing eyes. "… You're beautiful."
"S – Sorry?!" You stammer. Hold on, did she just say what you thought she said?
"… You're right, I think... This is beautiful." Kaina smoothly replies.
Oh. Well, that's a bit disappointing. Is that what she meant? Eh, you'll just have to give it a bit more time perhaps. You're getting along pretty well as it stands… And it might be nice to take a slower approach with this girl. Press too hard, and who knows what might happen. Sure, you'd prefer to jump right to the sexy times, but…
… There's nothing wrong with a quieter moment here and there, especially if it's with the girl you love.
You sit down now, kneel amidst the flowers… And pat your thighs invitingly. "Hey, hey, come here!"
"… Why?" Kaina asks.
"So I can give you a lap-pillow, silly. Geez, not every girl's going to offer to do this for you, you know~!" You tease.
Ah, that adorable look of confusion on her face is as cute as ever~! "A… Lap pillow?"
"Yeah! Come here and lay your head down in my lap! Come lie in the flowers with me! It'll be relaxing, trust me!"
"…" Kaina wavers. "… Okay."
You cheer as your love ambles up to you, awkwardly stepping through the colorful lilies. She sets herself down stiffly, with jerky motions, gingerly laying her head down in your lap. You watch, enraptured as Kaina nuzzles her cheek against your smooth thighs, sniffing once.
"… Smells like Alice…" Your love murmurs drowsily, her eyelids beginning to droop. You reach down now and smooth a feathery, silky lock of her hair out of her face. Hee~!
Your love's got her head in your lap… And you get to play with her hair! You get to see her adorable face in profile! Oh, this is the best, the best! This is soothing! This is healing! You can feel all your worries slip away!
Now, just how long will Kaina want to doze like this…
--
Kaina Shikinami only pretends to doze in Alice's lap.
In truth, though her breathing is measured, though her reactions are subdued? Even though her muscle movements are currently being kept to a minimum?
Kaina's mind is awhirl. She's in a state where she can't sleep or doze off right now.
She just… Can't stop thinking about Alice.
Alice surrounds Kaina. Alice's soft thighs, her sweet smell. Sweeter even than the flowers. Alice's smile, Alice's warm laughter…
… The way Alice looked, backlit against that endless field of lilies, brushing her hair out of her face… Kaina squeezes her eyes shut, trying to curtail her flinches as Alice's soft fingers gently pet Kaina's head. The motion's soothing. It almost lulls Kaina into a sense of complacency.
Mitsuko would've said that Alice almost looked like she was a flower herself. That's how pretty Alice was. Mitsuko studied literature, Mitsuko had a flair for these kinds of things…
Strange. It doesn't hurt when Kaina thinks about Mitsuko for the first time in a long time. Not at all. Kaina shifts, bumping her cheek against Alice's warm, welcoming thighs. She sniffs, inhaling Alice's intoxicating scent. Phantom tastes of Alice's lips tingle on Kaina's tongue. Alice, Alice…
… It's nice to think about Alice. This is something Kaina's growing to discover. It's… Warm. The emptiness, the terrible sense of nothingness Kaina feels when she's in her civilian guise… It all goes away when she's with Alice. When she does things with Alice. When she watches Alice.
The world doesn't feel so cold with Alice.
When Kaina Shikinami walks through the streets with Alice, she does so with the knowledge that one person, at least, acknowledges her. She doesn't have to worry about… About not saying the right thing. Doesn't have to worry about… Not knowing anything at all about talking to people or carrying out a conversation.
Kaina Shikinami can close her eyes and pretend that she's just a regular girl when she's with Alice.
… Except that's a lie, isn't it?
It's just a lie Kaina's telling herself. Because the truth is, Kaina's the Magical Girl known as Infinity Princess. There's a statue of her in this very park. Kaina's been… Lying to Alice this whole time. Using her to try and fill the void Kaina constantly feels in her heart every single day. Clinging to a girl who deserves better than Kaina with all the desperation of a drowning sailor at sea.
And Kaina – Infinity Princess – does despise liars.
Mitsuko had a thing about liars.
Liars… Alice's done nothing but tell the truth this whole time. Infinity Princess can tell when someone lies. There's a knowing to it, tell-tale signs in their voice, the way they talk, the way they flinch. Kaina might not know why people have to lie, but she knows when they do.
There was one moment earlier when Alice omitted information. A half-lie, when Alice first met Kaina, when Alice first called Kaina c-cute…
But everything since has been nothing but the truth.
Every time Alice calls Kaina cute… It's the truth. No falsehood in her motions, the way she hugs Kaina, the way she holds Kaina's hand to the point where all Kaina wants to do is desperately cling to Alice's hand, the constant photographs and texts Alice keeps sending…
The way Alice looks at Kaina like Kaina matters to her. Like Kaina Shikinami exists beyond the mantle she's chosen to immerse herself in. It makes Kaina feel… Good. Like she can do anything even when she's not Infinity Princess. It makes Kaina feel special. Warm.
… It makes Kaina feel guilty.
Because Kaina's lying, isn't she? She's lying, she's lying… And she doesn't deserve to have someone as warm and caring as Alice Takanashi in her life. Kaina – Infinity Princess – hasn't fulfilled her promise to Mitsuko. Every second of every day Infinity Princess isn't in the field, people die.
People always die in Terminus City. And there's nothing Infinity Princess can do about that.
A world where everybody's happy and nobody cries… It's a child's idea. A promise only two children would make. An idea that seems so very far away…
… Is it alright for Kaina Shikinami to be happy too?
… Is it alright for Infinity Princess to be happy?
Even if it means other people won't be happy?
Would Mitsuko want Kaina to be happy, even if it meant Kaina couldn't fulfill their promise to make a world where everybody could be happy?
Because a part of Kaina wants Alice. Wants to be with Alice. Wants to make Alice happy… Wants to be happy like Alice even if she doesn't deserve it…
"Wanna make Alice happy," Kaina Shikinami – no, Infinity Princess murmurs sleepily as she finally dozes off, snuggled in Alice's warm thighs, comforted by Alice's tender touches.
--
"Oh good, she's finally dozed off," you comment as you continue to play with Kaina's hair. It really is so silky and delicate, like strands of gossamer.
Hee.
Well, there go the next few hours of your day. Or however long it'll take for your love to wake up. Ah, she's so cute like this. So vulnerable too. Why, you could do anything to her, wicked villainess that you are…
… Except you won't. With the sheer amount of resistances Infinity Princess has? You'll need to be in a private area if you really want to try getting your hooks into this girl. And you'll need a lot of essence too, buckets of it. As it stands, you wager that you'd blow through the entirety of your reserves to effect the most minor of changes.
Which is just inefficient.
Nnh. No, preparation and privacy. They're going to be key if you truly want to corrupt this girl. In the meantime, you'll continue showering her with love and affection. Because of course you just… Want to shower your love with affection. She's a lovely girl who deserves all the best you have to offer~!
Ah, you're already looking forward to your next date! More forwardness, perhaps? Ramp up the lewdity some more? Oh you can't wait~!
"I love you," you whisper like a magic spell to your love as you give her the best lap pillow in the world. You let out a little whimper as you feel your panties begin to moisten. Ah, just saying it out loud's getting you all excited~! You check to see if Kaina's reacted in any way.
She has not. She's actually turned over to snuggle her face deeper between your thighs.
Hee. In that case…
"I love you, I love you, I love you…" you croon as you continue stroking your love's hair. "I love you, I love you…"
Hmm, maybe there is something you can do for your love. A few good dreams, perhaps? It'll require a lot of essence to power through her ridiculous resistances, but it's the most effective thing you can do on short notice...
--
Infinity Princess Corruption - 40/100 (10 from bounties, 20 from date quality)