At night, Shichen was sitting alone in the bathtub, soaking in hot water.
The water wasn't that hot, but for him it was just right. It felt like every pore in his body was opening up, letting the fatigue leak out.
He wasn't really the type who loved long baths, but every time he actually took one, he could feel just how good it was.
Before and after getting in were two totally different moods.
After all, "not liking baths" and "not knowing how to enjoy a bath" are two different things.
When people are tired, wanting to take a hot bath isn't without reason—even if he wasn't ordinary anymore.
"Shichen, how's the water… temperature?" came Kurumi's slightly stiff voice from outside the bathroom.
This was obviously her house.
Yes—right now, Shichen was in Kurumi's bathroom, soaking in her tub.
Egged on by Sawa, Kurumi had remembered very clearly that her best friend had already "advanced" before her, while she herself had only gotten as far as a kiss. She didn't really understand how, but in the end she just couldn't refuse her best friend's suggestion.
Shichen, of course, didn't mind. He wasn't especially expecting anything to "happen" with Kurumi; he was just going with the flow.
Tonight, he also happened to have no one at home sharing his bed.
Since Sawa had invited him to stay, he stayed. After all, he had just pushed her a bit too hard during the day; it was only right to keep her company.
Sawa probably didn't have a little girl's fragile "what if he leaves me" anxiety, but Shichen prided himself on being a decent man; he always felt he should give a newly-bloomed woman some sense of security.
In this case, the "culprit" staying close was probably the best reassurance.
The only problem was that Sawa might not need reassurance at all—she might be interested in "round two."
"The temperature's perfect," Shichen replied softly.
The pleasant heat around his whole body was making him sleepy. The tub was large enough for him to stretch out comfortably.
Kurumi's family was well-off; naturally, they cared about quality-of-life things like a proper bathtub. Crouching cramped up in a small one was never comfortable.
He wondered if the two girls ever bathed together.
If their relationship was that close, Shichen was pretty sure he'd eventually end up invited in too. A three-person bath, one on each side, smooth skin against him… he'd already had a similar experience with Kaguya and Yuzuru.
But different people meant a different kind of contentment.
What he liked was each of them being themselves; every one of them was special. So even doing the "same thing" with each never felt repetitive or boring.
Every time felt like the first time.
Like falling in love all over again.
"I-I see…" Kurumi's voice came again from outside the door.
"Kurumi, want to come soak with me?" Shichen teased.
"Wh— o-of course not!"
"That's a shame. I really do want to bathe with you. Who knows how long I'll have to wait."
"You… You already did that sort of thing with Sawa and still have the nerve to ask me to bathe with you!" Kurumi's tone was full of wounded resentment.
"You of all people should know how fickle I am," Shichen said frankly.
At this point, with so many people around him, he couldn't pretend to be some pure, single-minded romantic anymore.
Honesty was more important now. He needed to be straightforward about himself—even from the first meeting.
Whether they accepted that or not was his problem, one he'd have to work to solve.
When he met someone he truly liked, he wasn't the type to back off just because she didn't accept him right away. That only made him more determined to find a way for her to accept him.
Call it domineering, call it unreasonable—ever since he came to this world and met all of them, it was impossible for him not to act on his possessiveness.
If he'd only met one or two familiar girls at the start, maybe he would have stayed "proper."
But now, having met more and more of them, with his desires growing and his possessiveness fully awakened, there was no going back.
"You really can say that with a straight face…" Kurumi muttered by the door.
"So, are you coming in?" he asked again.
"I…"
Her shyness wanted her to refuse. But the image of her best friend beating her to it made it hard to say no.
Inside, she was completely torn.
"I really do want to bathe with you, you know. It's fine even if you wear a swimsuit," Shichen continued coaxing.
"...Who wears a swimsuit in the bath?"
"Because you're embarrassed."
"W-Who's embarrassed!" Kurumi shot back immediately.
"Then come in here with me."
"T-That's… that's not the same."
"With our relationship, do we still need to worry about this kind of thing?"
"I've never bathed with you before…"
"I've already seen you in a swimsuit, you know. And everything has a first time. Where did that boldness from when you first transferred go?"
"Back then…"
"Yeah. Did you forget what you were like when you'd just transferred here and met me?"
"That was… I was just too excited. I'd finally found you again."
"Well, this counts as another reunion, doesn't it?"
"I…"
"Really not coming in? I'm looking forward to it, you know. I won't do anything to you."
"Shichen… are you really looking forward to it?" Kurumi asked suddenly.
"Very much so," Shichen answered seriously.
"Then…"
"Well then, if you won't, I will," another voice cut in—Sawa's.
Kurumi jumped, whipping her head around to glare at Sawa standing beside her. "Why do you walk around without making a sound?"
"You were just too focused," Sawa replied meaningfully.
"Mind your own business!" Kurumi snapped, flustered.
"If you don't want me to, then you just stay here."
Sawa smiled, then pushed the bathroom door open.
"Wait! You… huh? Where are your clothes?" Kurumi finally realized Sawa wasn't wearing anything.
Sawa's bare back and pale curves were right in front of her.
And her skin… it looked better than before—soft and clear, almost glowing.
Even though they hadn't bathed together, living together for so long meant Kurumi had seen plenty. Compared to before, Sawa's skin really had changed—now it looked so soft it might drip water, with a faint sheen of light.
Kurumi couldn't help thinking her best friend's skin already looked better than her own.
"Who wears clothes into the bath?" Sawa tossed back, walking inside without looking back.
"Wait!" Kurumi rushed forward on instinct and grabbed Sawa's wrist, just inside the doorway.
Compelled by something, she turned her head slightly, sneaking a glance through the crack. But all she could see was Shichen's head— He was looking at them, smiling.
The second their eyes met, Kurumi panicked; strength left her hand.
Sawa easily tugged her inside along with her.
"If you want to come in, just say so."
"W-Who wants to!" Kurumi turned bright red, standing with her back to the tub and refusing to look in Shichen's direction, frozen like a statue.
"Ahh, Kurumi really is shy," Sawa sighed, shaking her head as she sauntered over to the tub.
She really sauntered—chest gently swaying, legs moving in smooth, confident steps.
From where he sat, Shichen could see everything, clearly.
He'd seen her before, of course.
But Sawa doing a full "runway walk" like this, intentionally showing off what was supposed to be private, felt different.
He suddenly felt a little thirsty.
Reaching the tub, Sawa lowered her head, looking at Shichen sitting in the water, and smiled.
The water was still crystal clear.
She hadn't really gotten a good look earlier; she'd only had… "hands-on experience" from certain angles.
She'd only stolen a glance then and hadn't paid attention.
Now that she looked carefully, it really was a bit shocking.
And somehow, she'd still managed.
"Your eyes are a bit too direct, you know?" Shichen couldn't help saying, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Hehe~ What's wrong with that?" Sawa grinned, lifting one leg to step into the tub.
Splash—
Water rippled loudly.
The sound snapped Kurumi's attention back; she turned around just in time to see Sawa's other leg go in as well.
"Sawa?!"
"What's wrong?" Sawa sat down beside Shichen in the tub and looked over at her.
"You… you just… went in like that?"
"How else would I go in? Who's as shy as you?"
"…"
Kurumi had no comeback.
"Besides, with the kind of relationship I have with Shichen, what's there to be embarrassed about?"
"…"
"Is the water a bit cold?" Sawa suddenly asked.
"I can heat it up a little," Shichen replied, letting golden flames flicker into his palm before he sent them into the water at his feet.
The temperature rose at once.
"Much better now," Sawa sighed contentedly, resting her head on Shichen's shoulder and closing her eyes in comfort.
Kurumi stared blankly, feeling a restless heat rise inside her.
Her best friend was really going all-out; she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Like I'm scared of you!"
Kurumi gritted out the words and began taking off her uniform.
"Don't chicken out halfway," Sawa said, opening one lazy eye to tease her.
"As if I would!"
Kurumi quickly took off her vest, then her blouse and skirt.
Her pale curves showed for a moment—
And she still wasn't done.