The sun rose on their second day of training, painting the interior of the house in warm golden hues. Inside, the team was gathered around the small table, half-asleep, with messy hair and mismatched mugs of warm barley tea.
The smell of toasted bread, stew leftovers, and wildroot eggs filled the room.
Yuzu hummed while stirring the porridge. Hina passed out plates. Rika was already halfway through her second helping. Selena sipped from her cup with a smirk that said she was waiting for something.
Then it came.
Plop.
The back door opened, and in walked Lio, or what appeared to be a walking coat rack smothered in slimes.
A single Greenie, a bright green variant of the Slime with sparkling eyes and a mischievous smile, perched proudly atop Lio's head like a crown. Two more were hugging his sleeves. One clung to his boot.
"I-I can explain," Lio muttered as he tried to sit down at the table.
The Greenie on his head wiggled excitedly and plop! dropped directly into his bowl.
It squeaked in joy and immediately began eating.
"That...that slime eating your breakfast?" Yuzu asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes!" Lio cried, trying to rescue his toast. "He won't stop following me! I think he imprinted on me or something!"
Selena burst out laughing. "Congratulations. You've tamed your first monster."
Rika leaned back, grinning. "Or it tamed him."
The Greenie finished the porridge and hopped back onto Lio's head, curling up like a happy cat.
Lia and Lana peeked around the corner, then ran to him.
Lia: "He's so cute!"
Lana: "Can we name him?!"
"No!" Lio shouted. "He's not staying!"
The Greenie squeaked, eyes shimmering like a betrayed puppy.
Yuzu gasped. "You made him sad!"
Lio: "I DIDN'T MEAN TO!"
Everyone laughed. Even Red, entering the room with his usual silent stride, paused for a second when he saw Lio and his new "hat."
He said nothing.
But his lips twitched slightly.
Training resumed behind the house, same drills as yesterday. But there was a problem.
The Greenie wouldn't stop clinging to Lio.
Every time he swung the wooden sword, the slime bounced with him.
Whap! SQUEAK! Whap! SQUEAK!
The others had dropped to the ground laughing.
"You sound like a toy!" Rika howled.
"He's getting double the workout," Selena teased.
Red, arms crossed, watched the absurd scene as another dozen Slimes began bouncing toward the yard. Drawn by the Greenie's energy, they began circling Lio like adoring fans.
Yuzu tried to be helpful. "Maybe they think he's their king?"
Lio groaned, swinging half-heartedly. "I don't want to be King Slime!!"
One slime climbed onto his leg. Another onto his back.
Lio: "WHY ARE THEY CLIMBING ME?!"
Red finally spoke. "Finish your drills. If they get in the way, swing harder."
Selena nearly fell over laughing.
By the end of the session, Lio was buried under a squishy mountain of giggling slimes, only his arms and face sticking out.
The others gathered around, wiping tears of laughter from their eyes.
"Can we keep him like this forever?" Rika asked.
Yuzu blushed. "He looks kind of adorable..."
"HEEEEELP!" Lio cried, as the Greenie nestled into his hair.
That night, after sore muscles were soaked and bowls of stew devoured, the house finally quieted down. The others drifted off one by one. Selena read by lamplight. Hina braided Lia and Lana's hair. Rika sharpened her blade in the corner. Yuzu tried not to peek too much at Lio.
Lio, exhausted beyond belief, collapsed into his floor mat with a relieved sigh.
Lio: "Finally... peace."
He closed his eyes.
And then...
Squeak.
One by one, green slimes bounced through the slightly ajar window, forming a jiggling parade. The original slime perched at the head like a tiny general.
Lio: "No. No, no, no, NO—!!!"
It was too late.
With gleeful squeals, the slimes surrounded him, pressing into his sides, under his arms, on top of his stomach. One even curled next to his cheek like a cat.
Lio: "I CAN'T MOVE. I AM THE PILLOW NOW."
From her mat, Selena chuckled. "You brought this on yourself."
Yuzu giggled behind her blanket. "They really love you."
Lio: "I don't want their love! I want sleep!"
The Greenie on his head purred and sank deeper into his hair.
Lia and Lana peeked in with sleepy giggles.
"Night-night, Slime King," they said in unison.
Lio whimpered softly. "I hate my life..."
The green slimes jiggled in what could only be described as a lullaby rhythm, gently squishing into place.
And thus, Lio fell asleep.
Smothered by love.
And squish.