The World Is Mine For The Taking

Johanne slowly walked toward me, each step filled with a quiet yet unmistakable resolve, and without a word, she wrapped her arms around me in a warm, enveloping hug.

"I thank you," she whispered, her voice soft but firm.

"For what?" I asked, blinking in confusion.

"For making me realize that I am a woman," she said, her voice trembling just slightly—like she was holding back something deeper.

I didn't really think I had done anything that deserved her gratitude.

Not enough, at least.

She was the one who made the choice.

She walked her own path, found her own truth.

I hadn't done anything that could warrant her thanks. I hadn't guided her—I'd merely been there.

"If not for you," she continued, her tone growing emotional, "then I wouldn't be standing here in a dress like this. I wouldn't have found the courage to be seen as a woman in anyone's eyes… I wouldn't have been able to face my father. If not for you, then…"

Her voice trailed off as she leaned forward without hesitation—and pressed her lips to mine.

"I wouldn't even be able to do this," she murmured against my lips.

Her actions caught me completely off guard. She was bold—surprisingly so.

I never expected her to take the lead like that.

Even as the kiss ended and she pulled back, her cheeks glowed with a vivid blush. Her eyes searched mine with vulnerability and something deeper… something intense. The atmosphere around us was heavy, thick with a kind of sexual tension that crackled in the silence. The air itself felt hotter.

Yeah… I knew where this was going.

"Uhehehe~" came an unexpected giggle, breaking the moment like a needle to a balloon. The strange laugh echoed from the corner—Tris, the ever-observant fujoshi, was watching us with sparkling, mischievous eyes. Her sudden giggle felt out of place… and honestly, a little creepy.

"Ah…" she muttered when she realized both Johanne and I were now staring directly at her. "S-Should I… go out?"

"T-That won't be necessary," Johanne said quickly, her voice just a bit flustered.

It was obvious Johanne wanted something to happen between us, but it wasn't exactly easy to follow through with Tris sitting there watching.

Then again, Tris had already seen us have sex before, so it wasn't like she was new to it. Still… it was awkward. Even more so this time. But for some reason, Johanne didn't seem like she wanted to send her away.

"But well," Tris said, waving her hands slightly and stepping back, "I should probably leave. I mean, I can't just stand here and interrupt when my OTP is about to have their super romantic moment, right? I'll step out."

She began making her way toward the door, trying to slip out with as much grace as possible.

But just as she was about to exit, Johanne suddenly reached out and caught her hand.

"I-It's okay, Tris," she said, holding her gently. "I wasn't really going to do that… Well, not now, at least. I don't think it would be appropriate."

"I don't think it's really that inappropriate," Tris replied, shrugging with a playful smile. "Something like that is an expression of love, right? Something sacred, something that should be shared between two people. Not something for someone else to watch. Of course, I'd love to have more material for my novel, but… I get it. Some things are just meant to be private."

She gave a knowing grin.

But Johanne wasn't smiling. She had a more serious look in her eyes.

"Tris… do you… love Leon too?" she asked.

The question hit like a thunderclap.

Tris's eyes went wide—her pupils dilated like someone caught off guard by a punch she never saw coming.

"Eh~? W-Why would you ask something like that?"

"Well… I'm just asking," Johanne replied calmly. "Because after what happened with the Earl, it felt like your eyes haven't left him. Even earlier, you kept asking me questions about him… so I had to wonder."

"W-Wait, am I really that obvious?" Tris stammered, letting out a nervous laugh. "I didn't even notice… Hehehehe…"

Well… I did feel her gaze lingering on me earlier. A lot, in fact. So Johanne wasn't just imagining things.

"W-Well, if I had to answer…" Tris started, fidgeting with her fingers. "I'm not sure I can. But… after what I almost experienced back then, something as traumatic as that, I guess it makes sense if I did grow to feel something toward Leon."

"I could say I felt something… but calling it love now would be jumping the gun," she added. "It's not like feelings like that just appear overnight."

Yeah, falling in love wasn't something that happened instantly. It needed time.

Johanne gave her a soft, understanding smile. "It's pretty easy to tell you're in love with Leon, Tris," she said gently. "Your eyes… they're different when you look at him. It's not the look you give anyone else. It's… more. It's not the same look you've always had."

Tris looked away again, this time more flustered than before. She reached up and held one of her arms as if she didn't know what to do with herself.

"Hehehe…" she chuckled nervously.

Then her eyes flicked over to me again—and when our gazes met, she immediately turned her head away.

She crouched down, as if trying to hide herself, and brought her hands up to her face, covering her cheeks.

"Nghhh…" she whimpered, her voice muffled by her palms.

"I don't really know," she said at last, her voice strained and thick with embarrassment. "I think I love Leon too… but I don't think I should. I mean…"

Johanne crouched down beside her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder, her tone warm and comforting.

"You don't have to worry about that," she said softly. "It's okay to love Leon. And I don't mind if you want to pursue that love, too. I'm not the only woman in Leon's life, after all. So… if you want to join, I really wouldn't mind."