On the other side, inside the private hot spring room of Ivana and the others.
Ivana leaned against the edge of the pool, grinning mischievously, "At this time, that old man should already be soaking in the hot spring with Raiden Mei, right?"
Kiana sighed, "Ah~ I also really want to soak together with them…"
Fu Hua's whole face was flushed red, unclear whether it was because the hot spring was too hot or some other reason, "Um… couple hot springs seem like they're only for two people. Kiana, you probably can't go in…"
Upon hearing that, Kiana said disappointedly, "Then why don't they have some couple hot spring events for three people~"
Kiana's words instantly made the CPUs of everyone present overheat.
It was the first time they had heard of a term combining "three people" and "couple" together.
You could only say, as expected of Buggy, her brain circuitry really is far from ordinary people.
Ivana suddenly thought of something, clapped his hands and said, "Right! Because of some accident yesterday, old fossil, you didn't get to soak in the couple hot spring, right?"
"So today, old fossil, do you want to soak again with Raiden Mei after she and the old man are done?"
Fu Hua quickly shook her head, "I… I'll pass…"
Sirin immediately leaned over, "Fu Hua, since you're not going, why don't you give the opportunity to me?"
This attempt to seize the chance by Sirin naturally triggered a retort from Kiana.
"Sirin, wasn't the reason class president didn't get to soak yesterday actually because of you? You still have the nerve to say that?"
Sirin's face turned red and she said stiffly, "I… I didn't want that either!"
In the end, under Ivana's coaxing and Kiana's teasing, Fu Hua finally nodded and said, "If… if there's still time… and Van is willing to soak again… I can too…"
After saying that, she nearly sank into the water.
At this, Ivana grinned widely.
'Plan, Success!'
———
In the couple hot spring, mist rose around them.
Raiden Mei was submerged in the water, only half of her head exposed.
The warm water gently caressed her skin, but it couldn't compare to the burning heat on her face.
"Mei, relax," Van's voice carried a smile, "If you soak like this, it's easy to faint."
Only then did Raiden Mei realize she'd been holding her breath too long, and hurriedly raised her head.
Droplets of water slid down her hair, glistening under the moonlight.
"I… I'm just a bit hot…"
Van chuckled softly and moved a bit closer to her.
The ripples in the water made Raiden Mei's heart race. She instinctively shrank back, but ended up bumping into the wall of the hot spring.
Seeing Raiden Mei's shy appearance, Van teased with a laugh, "Mei, are you that scared of me?"
As he said this, Van pushed over a tray of delicate snacks. "Try it, I think it might be your taste."
The moment their fingertips touched, Raiden Mei felt an electric current pass through her body, a wave of tingling numbness washing over her.
Enduring the strange sensation, she carefully picked up a piece of the snack, a pink mochi decorated with sakura patterns.
Just as she bowed her head to taste it, Van suddenly reached out and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with his finger.
"There was some sugar powder," Van said with a smile.
This intimate gesture made Raiden Mei freeze, her face instantly turning bright red.
She only felt her mouth go dry, and in a panic grabbed the sake at the edge of the pool and poured it into her mouth.
"Wait, Mei, drinking alcohol in a hot spring will…"
Before Van could finish his reminder, Raiden Mei had already tilted her head back and downed it all in one gulp.
As the light sake slid down her throat, she immediately felt a fire ignite within her.
The hot spring's warmth made the alcohol take effect quickly, and her cheeks flushed red.
She felt a bit tipsy.
"Ugh…"
Raiden Mei gently shook her head, her vision growing slightly blurry.
Strangely, the nervousness she had earlier had mostly faded.
Taking advantage of the light buzz, she suddenly looked up and met Van's eyes directly, "Actually… I've always wanted to tell you…"
Amid the swirling mist, she slowly leaned closer to Van, close enough to feel his warm breath.
"You are… very special to me."
After saying this, she shyly lowered her head, only to realize that at some point, their hands had come into gentle contact under the water.
Van's fingers were long and warm, softly rubbing against her fingertips.
The hot spring water gently rippled, and under the moonlight flowed between them.
Raiden Mei could clearly see her own reflection in Van's eyes.
That reflection looked down with a flushed face, but couldn't hide her joyful smile.
———
In the changing room, Raiden Mei stared blankly at the mirror.
In the mirror, her cheeks were rosy, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
She gently patted her cheeks, but couldn't stop her heart from racing.
In her mind, the cold voice of the Herrscher of Thunder echoed again.
'Coward. You really let me down. I actually thought you could…'
Hearing that, Raiden Mei quickly interrupted, "D-Don't say any more…"
Just thinking of the romantic scene in the hot spring made her face flush all over again.
After changing her clothes and stepping out, Van was already waiting outside.
He handed over a warm bottle of milk, "Here, drink some milk after a hot spring soak. You'll feel better."
Raiden Mei was slightly stunned. The moment she took the milk, the warmth spread from her fingertips to the bottom of her heart.
"Thank you…" her voice was so soft it was barely audible.
The two walked side by side toward the hotel, and from afar, they saw Ivana lying on the sofa eating an ice pop.
"Yo, finally willing to come back out?" Ivana grinned and raised an eyebrow, "How was it? Did you have fun?"
Raiden Mei immediately blushed and lowered her head to pretend to adjust her clothes.
Van said helplessly, "Why are you the only one here? Where are the others?"
Ivana pointed with his lips, "All in the rooms."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kiana rushed out, "Mei! How was the hot spring? I wanna soak too! Why don't they allow three people to soak in couple hot springs!"
Sirin silently followed behind, puffing her cheeks as she stared at Van. Her eyes clearly said, "I want it too."
Taking advantage of the commotion, Ivana slipped into the room and dragged out a thoroughly red-faced Fu Hua.
Kiana's eyes lit up and she was just about to speak when Raiden Mei suddenly said, "Oh right, Van, didn't you say earlier you had something to tell the class rep? About yesterday's hot spring thing…"
Sirin, '?'
Van, '???'
Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Van thought, 'When did I ever say that?'
He looked at Raiden Mei in confusion, only to see her wink at him.
Then Van turned to the flustered Fu Hua, and understood immediately.
"Fu Hua, do you have some time later?"
"Mm…" Fu Hua nodded in response.
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