* * *

Just imagining it made my heart pound.

At least the hero’s piercing gaze finally shifted, letting me relax a little.

“I’ve heard rumors.”

R-rumors?

“A lot of people seem to be talking about you.”

Damn it.

That’s because I have so many connections…

Why did I have to be so sociable before this?

Everyone knows me, and now that I’ve been hanging around with Zerbin, it’s only natural people are gossiping about me.

Getting close to Zerbin is an achievement no one else has accomplished.

Thinking about that still made me giddy.

The hero came all the way to my house, worried about me. Just for me!

“What kind of conversation am I even having with Zerbin, who came all this way to see me…?”

To be fair, I am a bit of a loose character.

If Zerbin claimed he’d heard all the rumors about me, I wouldn’t have much to say in my defense.

I’m a man who clearly desires well-built, physically attractive men.

I want to make those gossiping near the hero regret ever talking about others’ preferences!

But that’s not the issue right now.

The important thing, obviously, is the hero standing right in front of me.

“B-but what does my liking fit guys have to do with this? You don’t have to go out of your way to satisfy me!”

Sure, I got hurt because of Zerbin, but that was because I made him mad first.

And the crying?

That was just from happiness.

There’s no reason he needs to console me for that.

“Who said anything about just satisfying you?” Zerbin replied.

“…”

Wait… what?

“Do you… want to do it with me?”

What do you mean, do I want to do it?!

It’s not even about me—it’s about him wanting to feel satisfied.

What kind of person, who I thought hated everyone and detested physical contact, says something like this so casually?

I was utterly stunned.

Zerbin glared at me, his sharp eyes practically asking, ‘What part of what I said didn’t you understand?’

Alright, fine.

Let’s say, hypothetically, Zerbin isn’t as averse to forming relationships with others as I thought.

Even so, why me, out of all the countless other people he could choose?

I’m weaker than him, I say stupid things every time we meet, and I’ve only ever managed to make him incredibly angry.

There’s nothing about me that could possibly appeal to him.

“Why?” I ended up asking.

Zerbin furrowed his brow.

It was a perfectly reasonable question, but he still seemed annoyed, which made me a little scared.

“Because I’m curious,” he said after a brief silence.

Curious? That’s all?

“Never… done it before.”

Ah. So that curiosity was literal curiosity?

The assumption that Zerbin might be casual about intimacy with others was immediately discarded.

“Oh, you’ve never done it before…”

But then, why me?

The noble, fearless hero’s first partner is supposed to be… me?

Is this really okay?

Sure, Zerbin might be incredibly skilled and powerful for his age, but he’s in his late twenties—nearly thirty, even.

If he’s gone this long without sleeping with someone, it’s likely because of his personality, which keeps everyone at arm’s length.

It’s not like he couldn’t find a partner if he wanted to.

And yet, despite all that hesitation about intimacy, he’s willing to do it with me here on this rickety old bed?

Isn’t this just setting him up for a bad memory?

“Earlier.”

As I hesitated, Zerbin spoke again.

“It didn’t feel that unpleasant.”

Earlier…?

When I mistook him for someone else and pinned him down?

Not just pinned him, but touched his chest and abs, too?

Unlike before my regression, when I touched him by mistake, my hands this time had been entirely intentional, even blatantly sensual.

Most people would be upset if someone unexpectedly groped their private areas.

But his response was entirely unexpected.

When he told me not to apologize, was it because he didn’t feel all that uncomfortable about it?

“You seemed pretty used to that sort of thing…”

Well, yeah, but still.

“It doesn’t seem like a bad idea to try.”

So… because I seemed comfortable and he didn’t feel much aversion, he’s decided I’d be a good first partner?

That’s… too casual, isn’t it?

Maybe Zerbin’s dislike for people made him reluctant about relationships, but his physically healthy body might have felt otherwise all along.

Maybe he would’ve reacted to anyone touching him—and it just happened to be me.

Still, if he truly wants it, I’m not about to refuse.

I’ve lived a wild enough life that one more encounter isn’t going to change anything.

If he wants it, I’ll gladly go along with it.

Besides, if Zerbin discovers the joys of intimacy, it could even benefit me.

He might start seeking it out with others, breaking his aversion to human contact.

I wouldn’t have to keep twisting his arm to meet my friends or come up with excuses to get him to interact with someone.

The problem is… can I actually satisfy Zerbin?

Setting aside the thought of whether someone like me even deserves to sleep with the hero, I can’t forget how much he hated even just greeting my friends.

Encouraging him to seek out others for intimacy would probably be digging my own grave.

Zerbin, who’s had minimal physical contact with anyone, probably thinks his lack of discomfort with me is an unusual thing.

He’s likely determined not to waste this rare opportunity.

It’s not common for a man in his late twenties to have never had s*x.

And if everyone around you is doing it except you, it’s natural to be curious.

“…Fine!”

If it’s for the hero’s new experience, I’ll offer myself up! I’ll make sure Zerbin becomes so hooked on the pleasure of intimacy that he’ll want to do it again.

Who knows? Maybe…

Physical connection could turn into an emotional one!

“If you’re okay with someone like me, I’m fine with it too.”

That said, I’ve always been the one taking the lead.

Would Zerbin really let himself be on the receiving end, considering his personality?

I’ve never been on the bottom, but… well, what choice do I have?

My personal preferences don’t outweigh the lives of countless others.

“If that’s the case… I’ll lie down first.”

I spoke, thinking that if Zerbin didn’t know what that meant, I could explain, and if he did, we’d proceed.

He didn’t respond.

It wasn’t unusual for him, but it still left me unsure of what to do.

His cold gray eyes stared at me in silence.

Did something about my suggestion displease him?

Probably.

I was faintly starting to pick up on his moods without him saying a word.

But what?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I don’t know.

I decided to test the limits of our newfound closeness and pressed him.

If he didn’t want to answer, he’d stay silent like usual.

I might as well ask without holding back!

“It’s different from before.”

Wow, he actually replied.

For a moment, I was thrilled—until he mentioned “before,” and my heart lurched.

Before, as in… when I had pinned him down?

So now he’s asking why I’m the one lying down this time?

Well… sorry for underestimating you, but does Zerbin even understand what it means to “lie down” in this context?

Does he realize it involves putting something in a certain place?

And that, since it’s not the usual reproductive organ, the first time might hurt?

If I’m going to teach him the joys of intimacy, isn’t it better for him to take the lead?

But explaining all this feels like I’d be insulting him.

Then again, he’s so sexually inexperienced he might not have any idea where things go between two men!

Zerbin hasn’t just avoided men—he’s never been with a woman either.

He’s utterly untouched!

In the end, I decided to feel him out gently.

“I’m usually more used to being the one… um, in charge. But being on the receiving end can feel awkward and painful the first time…”

Zerbin’s eyebrow twitched.

“So, you’re saying you’re confident you can satisfy me even if you’re not used to it?”

Why does his noble voice still sound so amazing, even when he’s saying things like this?

And worse, he’s right.

“Uh, no…”

It’s my first time down there too, so I’m bound to be clumsy.

I’ll try my best to satisfy Zerbin, but no guarantees.

Anyway, I’ve confirmed that Zerbin knows exactly what “lying down” entails.

If he didn’t, he’d have asked instead of snapping back at me.

“Put it in?” he’d say in his characteristic curt voice, short and to the point.

So… so Zerbin really is suggesting this of his own volition, intending to embrace me?

Just thinking about it makes my head spin.

That proud, arrogant hero—offering himself to me?

Spreading his legs willingly?

It doesn’t make sense!

It can’t make sense!

Is this really Zerbin Batista himself?

* * *