Clovel - Premium Web Novels

Chapter 17: Blue Fox and Black Fox "Luke," Luna says before I can bolt. Her voice is softer than before, almost hesitant. "Can we eat together again?" I pause mid-step, caught off guard by the uncharacteristic uncertainty in her tone. There’s something ridiculously cute about the way she looks at me, like she’s genuinely unsure of my answer. My heart does a weird little flip, but then I remember Iris and her tendency to be... intense. Bringing Luna to lunch might be the equivalent of tossing a match into a pile of dynamite. "Oh, uh—" I stammer, my mind racing with potential fallout scenarios. Luna watches me expectantly, and I feel an immediate pang of guilt for even considering saying no. She’s trying so hard to connect. I’m probably her only friend, how can I push this cute black fox away? "Sure," I relent, trying not to imagine Iris’s reaction already. "Let’s go." She stands up with an elegance that contrasts my bumbling awkwardness and I can’t help but notice the way her tail swishes excitedly behind her. It’s always her animal traits that give her away. Damn, she is really happy. I can feel my resolve melting, and a small smile tugs at my lips. She’s so cute. "Where do you want to eat?" she asks as we make our way down the crowded hallway. "Oh, um, outside sounds good," I suggest, trying to buy myself some time. Maybe out in the open, things won’t get too explosive. Luna nods, keeping pace beside me. Her usual intensity seems tempered by an uncharacteristic eagerness. I can’t believe I almost ditched her. What kind of friend am I? 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶 We reach the cafeteria, and I scan the area for any sign of Iris before settling on a quieter spot near the courtyard entrance. My nerves are on high alert, like I’m waiting for a storm to hit. And then, right on cue, she appears. Iris swoops in like a heat-seeking missile, her bright aura impossible to miss even without the wild platinum blue hair. Her eyes lock onto Luna with laser precision, and she’s by my side faster than I can blink. "Luke!" she exclaims, wrapping her arms around me possessively. "I missed you." Her gaze flicks to Luna, and I can practically feel the territorial vibes radiating off her. Luna just stares back, unflinching, while her tail swishes lazily from side to side. Iris pulls away slightly, a forced smile on her lips. "Luna. Didn’t know you’d be joining us." "I am," Luna replies, deadpan as ever. She doesn’t seem fazed by Iris’s presence or the implied threat beneath it. I brace myself for a potential showdown, but Iris surprises me by looping one arm through mine and gesturing toward our usual table with exaggerated cheer. "Let’s sit!" They propel me between them, so close I’m practically sandwiched by both girls. My brain struggles to keep up with the situation—and my heart isn’t doing much better. We settle at the table, and I find myself crammed on one side with Iris pressed against me like a second skin and Luna across, her eyes fixed intently on my face. It’s like being caught in some bizarre tug-of-war, except I’m the rope and there’s zero effort to pull. "Luke, you look flustered," Iris purrs, her tone dripping with mock innocence. She leans even closer, her breath warm against my neck. "Everything alright?" I can feel her fluffy tail wrapping around my waist and pulling me closer to her in a greedy showcase, pulling me further away from Luna. I nod dumbly, acutely aware of Luna’s piercing gaze and Iris’s overwhelming presence. "Yeah, just... hungry," I manage to say. "Oh!" Iris exclaims, reaching into a bag that seems to appear out of nowhere. "I made you a special lunch!" She pulls out an elaborate, heart-shaped bento, and I swallow hard. Luna cocks her head, watching my reaction with an intensity that makes me squirm. When the hell did she make this? Iris beams, sliding the bento in front of me. "Go on, try it!" Her enthusiasm is endearing and terrifying all at once. I pick up my chopsticks under their watchful eyes, feeling like I’m defusing a bomb instead of eating lunch. Each bite tastes deliciously homemade and dangerously loaded with ulterior motives. Luna eats silently to my side, her movements precise and measured. With every bite I take, her gaze shifts subtley to my face, as though gauging exactly what Iris’s cooking means to me. "I can make one for you too," Iris says suddenly, her voice sweet but her eyes sharp as daggers. Luna blinks, her expression unreadable. "That is unnecessary." "Oh, but I insist!" Iris presses, her tail coiling possessively around my leg now. "Luke looooves his home-cooked meals." Luna lifts her head slightly, her ears silently asking if iris’s words were true. I choke a little on my food, caught in their crossfire. "Uh, well—" "See?" Iris cuts in before I can finish. She leans closer, practically in my lap, and her hand starts trailing dangerously close to my crotch. "I know exactly what he likes." Luna’s ears twitch, and for the first time, I see a faint shadow of something strange flash in her eyes. It vanishes quickly, replaced by resolve. "mmm. I see" she states with finality. "So," Iris says, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. "How were classes this morning?" I freeze, knowing exactly where this is heading. Before I can deflect, Luna speaks up. "Luke told me what happened between you two," she says with a bluntness that makes my stomach drop. Iris’s lips curl into a knowing smile, and she giggles like Luna just handed her the best gift ever. "Oh?" Luna watches her with a steady gaze. "Sigh. I guess it had to be revealed at some point" Iris chimes, clearly relishing every second. She nuzzles against me, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "He’s my fated mate, after all." Luna’s eyes narrow slightly at that, and I brace myself for her response—but she says nothing. The tension hangs heavy in the air as Iris continues to cling to me like a determined vine. I don’t know what to say. I’m flustered and panicking, my brain a messy scramble of emotions and fear. How do you even begin to handle girls like this? Luna is silent, and her stoic demeanor is making me even more nervous. She doesn’t seem angry, but she doesn’t seem okay either. Her ears are twitching, her cool exterior cracking just enough for me to see that she’s processing. "I told him everything," Iris says with a triumphant lilt. "He knows we’re meant to be." Luna tilts her head slowly. "He told me you two didn’t proceed with the whole act" Iris’s grip on me tightens almost imperceptibly. There’s a flicker of hesitation before she answers. "Of course. He just needs time." To say I feel like an object would be an understatement, but there’s also something oddly thrilling about being at the center of their attention. Luna’s tail wraps around my other leg slowly, deliberately, coiling inch by inch. The sensation is soft and unexpected, sending a jolt through me. She’s never done anything like this before. I’m surprised and confused, my eyes darting between both girls as they engage in some kind of silent, possessive tug-of-war. Iris looks down, finally noticing Luna’s move. Her eyes flash with a mix of irritation and disbelief. "Oh," she says, her voice almost a growl. Luna keeps her gaze steady, her ears twitching slightly as if daring Iris to challenge her newfound boldness. "Luna," I start, unsure how to navigate this new development. My heart races wildly in my chest, caught between panic and something else I can’t quite name. My voice trails off as Luna leans forward, her eyes boring into mine. "I’m staying with you until this is settled," she declares with a quiet fierceness that leaves no room for argument. Iris lets out a high-pitched laugh, though it seems more strained than usual. "Staying? How cute." She pulls me even closer, her mismatched eyes daring Luna to make a move. "Luke doesn’t need you confusing him." Luna narrows her gaze but doesn’t back down, her tail tightening slowly around my leg. The pressure is gentle but firm, and I shiver despite myself. Man, what the fuck is my life. "Girls," I say weakly, trying to maintain some semblance of control. My voice cracks under the intensity of their standoff. "This is..." "Perfect?" Iris supplies, her smile too wide and too bright. Her hand finds its way back to my thigh, fingers trailing with dangerous intentions. Before I can respond, the bell rings, a merciful reprieve that cuts through the tension like a lifeline. "We should head to class," Luna states, standing up with an elegance that makes my predicament feel all the more surreal. Iris pouts, giving me one last squeeze before releasing me from her clutches. "Don’t be late, Luke." Her voice is playfully threatening. We part ways temporarily, and for once, I manage to make it through my next classes without incident. It feels almost normal—except for the undercurrent of dread I can’t quite shake. Every time someone glances at me in class, I’m half expecting them to deliver a message from Iris or Luna. When classes finally end, my relief is short-lived. Iris is waiting by the door of my classroom, her voluptuous figure impossible to miss. She’s leaning against the wall with cool detachment, but as soon as she sees me, her attention sharpens. "Ready to go home?" Iris asks with a sultry lilt, her eyes promising plenty of after-school activities. I’m about to answer when a shadow looms behind me, and I turn to find Luna there like an unexpected storm cloud. Her presence is sudden and unyielding. "He promised to train my magic after school," she states, her voice as direct and unmistakable as ever. I blink, trying to play catch-up. "I did?" "You did," Luna confirms, her ears twitching slightly. Understanding hits me like a ton of bricks, a flashback to yesterday when I’d told her we’d finish the lesson later—right before Iris dragged me away. Of course she remembered. Unlike me, she was not easily distracted by cleavage, wild hair and a lot of ass. Iris’s smile tightens dangerously, but she recovers with impressive speed. "Training? How adorable." She pushes off the wall with fluid grace, closing the distance between us in an instant. "Why don’t you train at our place, Luna?" Iris suggests with a sweetness that could rot teeth. "I can help Luke with his... focus." Luna’s eyes narrow. "Luke is fine without your help." "Oh, but he likes my help," Iris counters, her voice dripping with insinuation. They’re going at it again, and I’m the damn ball in their game of keep-away. My brain is screaming that this is a bad idea, but my mouth betrays me. "Maybe we can all study together?" Both girls pause, their eyes locking over my head like they’re sizing each other up for a duel to the death. Finally, Luna nods. "Acceptable." Iris beams, victorious. "Perfect! Let’s go, Luke." They both latch onto me in unison, and I swear I hear a growl rumble through the hallway as we head towards the magic grounds. Everyone looks at me weird. Of course. Iris already did her little show this morning, and I am sure every single soul in this school knows what happened. How could they not? Iris has been the most desirable, popular girl in the whole school. If that was not enough, here I was. Walking with another beautiful fox girl. Luna is on my left, her long strides keeping pace with mine effortlessly. Her tail swishes behind her like a dark banner, occasionally brushing up against me. Every touch sends a shiver that she can’t possibly be unaware of. By the way, what’s up with her? She suddenly seems so... affectionate. A thought crosses my mind as I wonder. Maybe she’s?— No, no. There’s not way. Iris is on my right, pressing close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off her body as she walks with her usual bounce. She interlocks her arm with mine, leaning in to make absolutely sure she’s monopolizing my attention. Her smile is a sweet mixture of triumph and daring as she pulls me closer. We reach the magic grounds, and it’s packed with students. A few look up as they pass by, some with curiosity, others with poorly concealed envy. Iris surveys the crowd and giggles louder, clearly enjoying the attention. "Quite the audience we have," she remarks, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "They are irrelevant," Luna states bluntly, but I catch her glancing around, her expression a mix of uncertainty and defiance. "Let’s find somewhere private," Iris suggests, tugging on my arm and leading the way through the throng of students. I can almost feel the daggers coming from every single pair of eyes focused on us. Luna follows closely, sticking so near that I swear she’s trying to fuse to my other side. Her presence is as unwavering as her determination, and I know she has no intention of letting Iris have me all to herself. We slip into a smaller, secluded section of the grounds where the noise from the main area fades into a distant hum. Trees arch overhead, their leaves rustling in a gentle breeze that contrasts with the tension between my two companions.