Kirlia stood frozen at the edge of the clearing.
She looked even smaller than usual under the merciless moonlight.
I couldn't read her. Not really.
Those huge eyes just stared, shimmering with what I could only guess was shock.
Maybe disgust.
Maybe horror at what she'd stumbled into.
She was trembling, or at least it looked like she was. Her whole frame seemed to shake in tiny, unsteady pulses.
The frilled edges of her dress quivered.
I forced air into my lungs.
"Kirlia…" My voice scraped out hoarse and low, barely louder than a breath. "We didn't mean for you to see this."
The words hung there, clumsy and useless, doing nothing to erase the scene she'd just walked in on.
I pushed myself up slowly, keeping every motion careful and unthreatening. My hands stayed low, shielding what I could.
"This is something adults do when they love each other very much," I said, softer this time. "It's okay. You're not in trouble… I promise."
Her head tilted, just a fraction. The nervous pulsing glow of her horns steadied a little.
She took one tiny step forward. Then another.
Her gaze drifted from my face to Meowscarada, then to Lopunny nearby, fur still damp and mussed. Kirlia's eyes lingered on the shining trails that hadn't yet dried.
A deeper flush spread across her cheeks. One small hand drifted back to her own belly and pressed there lightly.
When she was close enough. Those huge eyes lifted to meet each of ours in turn.
A soft, quivering sound slipped from her. "Kir… kirliaaa…"
Lopunny's ears snapped upright. Her eyes widened for a split second, surprise flashing across her face.
Meowscarada's tail stiffened, eyes narrowing sharply as something like shock rippled through her posture.
I blinked, confused…
Kirlia repeated it, even softer, voice wavering more now. "Kirlia… kir… liaaa…"
My eyes darted toward Lopunny. For a split second her face still held that flash of shock, eyes wide, ears stiff.
Then it melted and soon… expression softened completely.
Surprise gave way to a warm, gentle smile that reached her eyes and made her ears relax forward.
She looked happy... Like something truly wonderful had just been said.
I wondered what Kirlia had actually said.
Lopunny turned her head toward me then she made a series of small gestures, finally ending with a soft "Lopuuun~," followed by a tender hugging motion, paws drawn close to her heart.
Meowscarada gave one slow, certain nod. "Nyaa."
The meaning hit me.
She wanted to be loved like that too.
Shock rolled through my chest like cold water. My breath caught. For a second I couldn't move, couldn't think. I just stared at Lopunny's gentle smile and Meowscarada's nod as the words sank in deeper.
Kirlia.
I turned toward her slowly.
She was still standing right between us, small and still, those huge red eyes fixed on me.
Hands clutched the frilled hem of her dress, fingers twisting the fabric nervously.
Waiting for me.
My mind spun.
What should I do…?
Part of me wanted to refuse. To step back, to say no, to keep this line firm and this whole thing already felt like it had crossed too many edges.
I could end it here. Apologize. Walk away.
But then memories flickered, uninvited.
Lopunny and Floragato had looked at me with those same quiet, hurt eyes. The times I'd almost turned away because I wasn't ready, because it felt wrong, until I realized refusing would hurt more than accepting ever could.
But they were different. They had been with me longer. We had built something real, something steady.
Kirlia and I had barely begun. Nothing solid yet. Nothing that justified crossing into this.
What if the others didn't want her included?
What if saying NO now would make her feel rejected the way the others once had?
Or worse, what if saying YES changed everything between all of us in ways I couldn't take back?
My throat tightened.
Kirlia's hand tightened on her dress hem. Her eyes never left mine.
Waiting…