I Took A Succubus's First Time

Kouhei sank deeper into the bath, the steaming water enveloping him like a comforting embrace. The heat seeped into his tired muscles, easing the dull ache that lingered from the chaos earlier. It felt like an eternity since he'd last enjoyed a bath, let alone had the luxury of truly relaxing. His thoughts swirled around the fight—each moment replaying vividly in his mind. He hadn't expected to survive. Sure, Aria had shielded him, but the battle had come too close for comfort.

"I really owe Aria-san. And Hina-san too," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the soft ripples of water. His gaze dropped to his hands, calloused and rough—a testament to his desperate attempts to grow stronger. Yet, as much as those hardened palms represented his determination, the bitter truth gnawed at him. No matter how hard he pushed himself, the enemies they faced were always a step ahead. Every enemy they faced was leagues ahead of him. There was no way he could stand a chance against the kind of opponent that had tried to kill him earlier.

What chance did he really have against monsters like the one who'd tried to kill him? Or the one who'd unleashed destruction on the Sarushima Group's territory? If he ever found himself face-to-face with one of them, it wouldn't even be a fight—it'd be an execution. He'd be dead in seconds.

"I don't think I'll ever get strong enough," he admitted to himself, his voice low. "Maybe I can take down someone corrupted by a fallen angel, or some street-level thugs, but beyond that? I'm just a liability..."

Leaning back against the tub's smooth edge, he let his head rest against the cool tiles, staring blankly at the ceiling. Steam swirled lazily in the air, ghosting over his skin like a reminder of how fragile he was.

"I've come a long way since before... but it's still not enough. I want to fight beside them, to actually be of use. But let's be honest, I'd probably just drag them down." He sighed heavily, frustration bubbling inside him. "Even if I want to get stronger, there's a limit to what I can do. I'm human, after all."

The words hung heavy in the humid air, each one a knife twisting deeper into his pride. He clenched his fists beneath the water, his knuckles brushing the tub's ceramic bottom.

"I want to get stronger. I need to. But what the hell am I supposed to do? I'm just human."

That fact weighed on him like a curse. Unlike Aria or the others, Kouhei was painfully ordinary—no demon blood, no innate power, no magic to fall back on. Just a guy swinging a sword, barely scraping by.

Swinging a sword? Sure, he'd gotten better at that. But magic? Special abilities? He had nothing. All he could rely on was—

"Bonds," he realized aloud. "I can create bonds with others. I can make them stronger."

That was his role.

It wasn't the same as slashing through enemies with brute strength, but it was something.

"I can help them… with this ability," he murmured, a new determination taking root in his chest. "I won't run away anymore. I'll make this power mine. I'll use it to protect them."

Part of him still felt like he didn't deserve this power. Without this ability, Hina, Yuuna, Nagisa, as well as Aria probably wouldn't have spared him a second glance. But he was done letting that doubt hold him back. If this power was his, then he'd own it, he'd wield it. He'd use it for Yuuna and the others, no matter what.

As he silently reaffirmed his resolve, the bathroom door creaked open. His gaze snapped toward the sound, and his breath hitched when he saw who it was.

Yuuna stepped inside, her bare feet padding softly against the tiles. Her body was wrapped in a towel so snug it barely hid anything. The damp fabric clung to her curves, outlining the swell of her breasts and the dip of her waist. Her long hair, still slightly damp from her earlier rinse, framed her flushed cheeks. The tops of her breasts pressed against the towel, straining the fabric almost to the point of spilling.

"I'm here to bathe," she said matter-of-factly, her gaze steady. "Do you mind?"

Kouhei's throat tightened, but he managed to keep his voice even. "I don't mind."

Strangely, he didn't react the way he might've before. Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe it was the fact that they'd bathed together so many times before. He'd long since memorized every inch of Yuuna's body—the way her skin glistened when wet, the subtle rise and fall of her chest.

Still, he forced himself to stay focused. This wasn't the time to get distracted by thoughts of her soft curves or the bare skin peeking out from beneath her towel. Not after everything they'd been through today.

"Thank you," Yuuna said softly before stepping into the bathroom.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, she let the towel slide off her body without hesitation, revealing herself completely to Kouhei. There wasn't an ounce of shyness in her movements, as if this was the most natural thing in the world for her. Considering how many times they'd done this, it made sense she didn't feel the need to hold back anymore.

Her body was perfection itself, from her delicate neck down to her well-shaped toes. She was the kind of woman whose very presence could make any man's mouth water. Not a single ounce of unnecessary fat marred her toned, flat stomach, which struck the perfect balance—neither too soft nor overly muscular. Her golden hair framed her face like liquid sunlight, and her crimson eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to highlight her pearl-colored skin. Her breasts, full and firm, sat proudly on her chest, defying gravity despite their size.

Without breaking her stride, she dipped one foot into the bath, the water rippling softly as she stepped in fully. Her movements were unhurried, almost sensual, as she settled herself down between Kouhei's legs. Leaning back, she let her warm, bare skin press against his front, her body melding against his like it was meant to be there.

"Kouhei-kun," she murmured, her voice soft and languid as she tilted her head to rest it against his arm. Her eyes fluttered closed, and the corners of her lips curved into a faint, serene smile. "Are you doing okay now?"

"I didn't get injured, so you don't need to worry about me," Kouhei replied, his voice calm but steady. "Honestly, I'm more worried about you and Aria-san. I heard you burned through your mana earlier."

"I'm fine," Yuuna replied, her words soothing but resolute. Her crimson eyes opened slightly, catching the flicker of worry on his face. "My mana's already replenished enough. Thanks to our bond, it regenerates much faster now. Before, it could've taken me ten days to recover fully, but now..." She let her words trail off as her hand gently brushed against his arm. "Just being close to you makes it almost effortless. And besides, doing this speeds it up even more."

Just by being close to her, Kouhei's presence alone amplified Yuuna's mana regeneration, making it almost effortless for her.

"I'm happy you're worried about me, Kouhei-kun," she added, her voice carrying a warmth that sent a faint shiver down his spine.

For a moment, Kouhei fell silent. The only sound was the quiet sloshing of water as it lapped gently against their skin. Finally, after gathering his thoughts, he found the courage to speak.

"Yuuna-san," he began, his tone hesitant but firm, "you're planning to fight, aren't you?"

"It's something I can't avoid," she admitted, her voice steady but laced with a hint of resignation. "My brother doesn't like the idea of me standing on my own. He wants to destroy everything I've built. That's why he's declared a Faction War against me."

Kouhei frowned. It was the first time he'd heard the term, but judging from the tension that had hung in the air earlier during their discussion, it wasn't something as simple as sports.

"There's a chance we might lose," Yuuna continued, her words quiet but unwavering. "Souichiro's faction is larger, stronger, and more ruthless. If the time comes… we might not see each other again. We could die at his hands."

"Isn't there anything we can do to stop it?" Kouhei asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Souichiro isn't the kind of person you can reason with," Yuuna replied bluntly. "He doesn't compromise. I don't think anything will prevent this from happening."

Kouhei felt a wave of dread crash over him. The idea of losing everyone he'd grown close to—Yuuna, Hina, Nagisa, Aria, all of them—sent an icy chill down his spine. The helplessness gnawed at him, fueling a deep frustration he couldn't shake.

He wanted to scream, to fight, to do something, anything, to change the outcome. But no matter how much he wanted to protect her, to protect everyone, the bitter truth gnawed at him: he was powerless.

And that realization stung more than anything else.