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While Bokue Keikain was in the Underworld enjoying some "aerobic bathing" with Venelana and Grayfia—
Back in the human world at Itogami Island's old school building, the aroma of dinner still lingered on the first floor.
From the kitchen came the clatter of dishes being washed.
Rias paced between the living room and hallway, one arm folded under her chest while the other hand held her delicate chin, thoughtfully surveying this house she knew like the back of her hand.
"Hmm... the layout really is a bit small overall. I'll have to get Bokue to help renovate later, preferably expand it more..."
"Rias, still researching renovations?"
Before the redhead could finish muttering to herself, the sound of running water stopped in the kitchen. Akeno Himejima emerged, drying her hands after removing her apron. Seeing Rias standing at the junction between hallway and living room, she couldn't help but smile.
"Mm..."
Rias wasn't embarrassed about having her scheming discovered. She just nodded seriously.
"I noticed this morning at school—this building's layout doesn't suit our current lifestyle anymore. Not just the furniture arrangement in the first-floor living room, but those alternating single bedrooms on the second floor need redesigning too..."
"Don't tell me Rias wants to make it one big shared room? Or just one giant bed?"
True to their years of friendship, Akeno immediately understood her thoughts, eyes narrowing teasingly.
"Makes sense though. Everyone's relationships have changed now. If we kept things as before, wouldn't poor Bokue-kun have to go door to door every night? That would be rather exhausting. Plus, the first room upstairs is Koneko's, and the old building's soundproofing isn't great. If others hear noises from next door and can't hold back, everyone rushing into one room fighting over him might damage our relationships. Better to just make one big room so everyone can be together every night—"
"Alright, alright, that's enough."
Hearing Akeno getting increasingly carried away, Rias blushed and cut her off.
Almost the second this topic ended, the sliding door at the hallway's end toward the stairs suddenly slid open. A pair of white cat ears poked out, twitching twice.
"Akeno-senpai, President, the water's ready. We can bathe now."
It was naturally Koneko poking her head out.
The white-haired girl had already changed out of her usual tracksuit, wrapped only in a bath towel around her petite yet developing figure, clearly ready for bathing.
Above her, Asia also poked her head out in similar attire, her saintly golden hair cascading like silk down her side as she tilted her head.
"We've already added the firewood. The water temperature is perfect if you go in now~"
"Thanks. You and Asia go ahead, Koneko. Akeno and I will grab our clothes upstairs and be right there."
Rias turned with a smile.
But the petite white-haired cat girl didn't immediately agree as usual. Instead, she continued:
"President Rias, there's one more thing..."
"One more thing? What is it?"
Rias had been about to head upstairs for clothes but stopped, puzzled.
"It's... Bokue-senpai..."
As if finding it too embarrassing to voice this herself, Koneko's usually emotionless face showed a faint blush.
"Since we've all moved here, I thought maybe we should invite Bokue-senpai to bathe together. And my sister too, of course..."
"Mm-hmm!"
Asia behind her also blushed but nodded firmly, showing she felt the same.
"Oh, you want to bathe together..."
Actually, Koneko didn't need to explain—Rias understood the moment she heard "Bokue-senpai."
Of course, she wanted to as well. But as the Gremory heir, saying such things aloud would seem too frivolous, so she emphasized "you want."
"Fine, I understand. Since I haven't changed yet, I'll go over now."
Speaking as if doing this for her peerage's sake, Rias cleared her throat.
"Akeno, go change first. I'll get Bokue and Kuroka and be right back."
"Got it, President~"
Akeno gave an OK sign with a smile.
So Rias quickly left.
Still at the bathroom door, Asia and Koneko exchanged glances. The naturally shy holy maiden suddenly let out a soft "ah" as if remembering something.
"Come to think of it, our bath here isn't very large. Won't it be too crowded with Bokue-san and Kuroka-san?"
"It's fine."
Koneko gave a thumbs up with a calm expression.
"Even if the bath is spacious enough, we'll end up squeezed together anyway."
"I-Is that so..."
Asia unconsciously imagined being "squeezed together," and warmth rushed to her head, turning her face crimson before manifesting as white steam rising from her crown.
Hiss—
"Just don't drain the water after we're done. Once we're all upstairs, she'll sneak out from the storage room and bathe by herself." Akeno said.
"I see, understood."
Getting a clear answer, Asia nodded obediently, then looked down at the white-haired cat girl.
"Then let's go in first. Hurry up too, Akeno-senpai."
"Mm."
As the bathroom door closed again, Akeno—who'd taken one step onto the stairs—stopped, as if suddenly remembering something, muttering to herself:
"Though if Kuroka-san and Bokue-kun bathe together too, afterward the bathwater should... well, probably won't be too much of a problem."
Meanwhile, at Bokue's apartment door, Rias—having successfully knocked—received an unexpected answer.
"Eh? Bokue went back to the Underworld to get something from my house? When did he leave?"
"About... yawn twenty minutes ago."
The black-haired cat girl inside covered her mouth, glancing at the wall clock.
Twenty minutes?
Rias was stunned.
"He's been gone that long? Why isn't he back yet?"
"Probably got caught by your mom for a chat~"
Kuroka said meaningfully.
"After all, her daughter's settling in the human world. As a mother, she'd want to ask about the situation and progress."
"I see, then... alright."
Though disappointing, this unexpected yet reasonable situation left Rias nodding helplessly.
But she added:
"Then I'll head back first. If Bokue returns early, Kuroka, please tell him and come bathe together too."
"Yeah yeah, got it."
Still that bored tone.
Only after the apartment door closed did Kuroka glance at the wall clock again, clicking her tongue softly.
"Probably... hmm, at least another two and a half hours."
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