Actually, Yukinoshita Yukino knew it very well.

It was the lazy warmth of the afternoon sun when Nozomi suddenly dragged her away from the classroom. Deep down, she knew he was probably planning something mischievous. And yet—she followed him, albeit reluctantly, without much of a struggle.

Then, as expected, he pushed her gently against the quiet corridor wall.

Her breath caught.

Yukino's heartbeat quickened, her cool composure melting into a flushed shade of pink that touched her cheeks. It was happening again. That familiar tension. That tingling anxiety whenever she was alone with him. She didn't even realize when she had stopped resisting his antics altogether.

To Yukino, many of her first experiences had come through Nozomi.

Moments that left imprints.

Moments she wouldn't admit were exciting... but they were.

Like now—here, in school, in uniform, away from wandering eyes.

It wasn't that she didn't care what others thought. She was the top student, the graceful Ice Queen of Sobu High. Being seen in such an intimate position with Nozomi—the eccentric, the campus heartthrob with a chaotic reputation—was unthinkable.

She would never live it down.

And yet.

Even with the tool-cat supposedly keeping watch, she was still nervous. If someone saw her like this, if the gossip started...!

Still, she told herself it didn't matter. Nozomi was her fiancé. Their engagement might be a secret to most, but to her, it was set in stone.

Even so...! Her pride!

Thankfully, Nozomi didn't push his luck too far. He brushed his lips softly across hers, tasting the second lady's sweetness only for a moment before pulling back.

Then, as if that wasn't enough to make her knees buckle, he pulled her into his lap and held her close, saying nothing, simply basking in the quiet moment together.

That was when Nozomi realized something.

That constant itch, that low, simmering heat that used to burn whenever he got too close to Yukino—

It was gone.

The curse.

Gabriel's blessing had purified it.

Now, even as he embraced the girl he adored, even with her scent surrounding him, he felt... peace. Calm. Whole.

Rather than letting the dragon's blood consume him in desire, he wanted to be seen not as a reckless flirt—but as someone Yukino could truly trust and love.

In the silence, Yukino poked at his cheek with her finger.

"You're acting weird."

"Weird?"

"Yeah. You're not being gross today."

If it were any other day, Nozomi would've already been sneaking kisses down her neck, begging for something ridiculous. But now, he only smiled and pulled her in closer.

"Because I cherish you, Yukino," he said softly. "Back then, I wasn't myself. The dragon's curse was... clouding me."

Yukino blinked.

So, that's what it was.

No wonder.

"I thought you were just a hopeless pervert," she muttered.

"A pervert? Me? Wounded. Truly."

She stared at him for a long moment, those clear, intelligent eyes searching for any hint of deception.

"Then why are you back to normal now?"

Nozomi leaned closer and whispered like a child sharing a great cosmic secret:

"Gabriel."

"Gabriel?"

"Mhm. She and Raphael—the one with the, uh... generous proportions—they're actual angels. Real ones."

Yukino didn't even flinch.

At this point, she had seen enough absurdity with Nozomi that the existence of divine beings no longer surprised her.

"Anyway, I was stuck writing a script earlier, and Gabriel showed up out of nowhere. She offered to help, gave me a massage, and bam—angelic blessing. Curse gone."

Yukino nodded slowly, absorbing the information with grace.

Nozomi rested his chin gently on Yukinoshita Yukino's slender shoulder.

Even with the school uniform between them, her presence felt magical.

"You look like a princess, you know," he whispered, tightening his hold ever so slightly.

"And you sound like a simp."

"Do I?"

"A little," Yukino murmured, cheeks faintly pink. "But... I think I like you better this way."

Though she was dressed in her school uniform, to him, she looked every bit the part of a princess from a shojo manga—elegant, proud, and undeniably captivating. As he wrapped his arms around her petite waist, the soft warmth that greeted him made his chest flutter. The subtle scent of her shampoo drifted into his nose, instantly soothing him. Just holding Yukino like this… it brought him an inexplicable sense of peace.

"Yukino, is something wrong? Do you prefer me when I'm being a little naughty?" he teased, a sly grin playing on his lips.

"Bah, don't talk nonsense!" Yukino puffed out her cheeks in mock irritation, lightly swatting his chest. "You're better off like this now."

Though she tried to sound serious, the blush on her face betrayed her true feelings. Nozomi chuckled softly, the sound low and warm.

Her honesty meant more to him than she probably realized. He remembered his recent moments of impulsiveness—times when his body acted before his heart could catch up. The Dragon's Curse had stoked his desire, pushing him closer to the edge. But thanks to Gabriel's angelic blessing, the darkness inside him had quieted. He was calmer now. More… himself.

Nozomi's hand slid down her side and gently came to rest against her thigh, fingers brushing along the soft fabric of her knee-high socks. His fingertips met the smooth skin beneath the hem of her uniform skirt. Her legs, long and toned, were like works of art sculpted by the gods themselves.

There was a joke he'd once heard: "If you could play with these legs for a year, you'd never get bored." Nozomi, with all the pride in the world, could say—he fully agreed.

"Pervert… touching my legs again," Yukino muttered, her voice low and breathy as her cheeks tinted red.

Even in school, she often caught the eyes of passing boys glancing at her legs. But no one ever dared get this close—no one but Nozomi. This bold rogue didn't just look—he touched, teased, and relished in it with a brazenness that only he could pull off.

Yet, she didn't stop him.

Hearing the hint of affection in her voice, Nozomi chuckled with satisfaction. "I can't help it. Yukino's just too cute. The perfect face, the stunning figure—and these flawless legs? They're a national treasure."

"You always say things like that," she said, turning her head away slightly, trying to hide the amused smile tugging at her lips. "So cheesy… and dirty."

"Ahem! It's not dirty—it's passion! Pure admiration for my future wife!"

"Hmph. Every word that comes out of your mouth is perverted, you degenerate."

Nozomi laughed and suddenly pulled her closer into his embrace, pressing a gentle kiss against her earlobe. She shivered slightly at the sensation.

"No matter how obscene I get, the truth won't change. You're mine, Yukino. You're only allowed to marry me."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"I'm going to meet your Okaa-sama soon. I think I'm ready," he added with a determined tone.

Yukino's breath hitched. She pushed at his chest slightly, flustered. "Don't say things so suddenly… It's ticklish."

Nozomi held her hand with care, savoring the warmth of her skin and the sweet fragrance enveloping her.

"Is Yukino annoyed by me?"

"If I say yes, will you stop being like this?"

"Of course not. Now that Yui's busy clinging to Asuna-san, it's the perfect chance to spend more time with you."

Yukino let out a sigh of resignation and leaned her head against his chest.

"You're such a rogue... I take back what I said earlier. You're still the same incorrigible guy. You haven't changed at all."

Nozomi smirked. "Maybe. But one thing that will never change is how much I love Yukino."

"When are you coming over to Sakurasou again?" he added, voice hopeful.

Yukino's face turned red as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into his embrace.

"Let's wait until after you meet Okaa-sama. Are you really ready? She's... imposing."

Even though she had resolved to try and understand her mother and mend their strained bond, the thought still made her uneasy.

Nozomi nodded without hesitation. "Don't worry. I'll make sure the engagement goes perfectly. Because, Yukino... you're mine. And in this life, you're only allowed to marry me."