Whenever my heart skipped a beat at one of Himari's unconsciously adorable moments, she immediately managed to ruin it.
"Ara, ara~ Honestly, staring at me so intently... Even a pure and innocent beautiful girl who's long grown accustomed to everyone's admiring gazes would feel embarrassed, you know. But since it's understandable, and since it's you, Sensei... I'll make a special exception and forgive you this time."
"...How about we talk about the Monster MAX instead?"
To be honest, after everything Himari had said, I was actually starting to look forward to it.
Besides, sharing the same can of drink with Himari in the clubroom, where Rio might be watching us...
Just imagining it was enough to get me excited.
Himari looked equally eager.
"You're right. No time to waste, let's verify just how delicious it really is. Once we drink this, no matter what work awaits us today, we'll surely be able to finish it all smoothly."
Monster MAX itself probably didn't have that kind of miraculous effect.
But the mental boost from sharing it with Himari probably could produce something close enough.
So obviously, she liked me more, didn't she?
Just as I was about to pull the tab, Himari suddenly stopped, as though she'd remembered something.
For a moment I thought she was about to stay true to her frail-girl persona by claiming she was too weak to open it and asking me to do it for her.
Instead, she smiled with a nostalgic, relieved expression.
"Oh my, I remembered. We absolutely can't forget this. The club members taught me the proper way to drink Monster MAX."
"The proper way?"
I asked curiously.
Himari wore a smug grin.
"Fufu... You do it like this."
Then, right before my increasingly horrified eyes, she gripped the can firmly with both hands, gathered all her strength, and began shaking it violently up and down.
"Wait, Himari."
I hurriedly stopped her.
"What are you doing?"
"Please... wait."
Even her voice made it obvious how hard she was concentrating.
"If you shake it... with all your strength... haa..."
Her hands, covered by black gloves made of some unknown material, moved so fast that they left afterimages in the air together with the can, making it impossible for me to stop her.
"It strengthens... the power... inside Monster MAX..."
It's not the power inside that's increasing, it's the pressure!
Can't you already hear the ominous sounds coming from inside?
"Compared... to just drinking it normally... whew..."
She sounded exhausted but stubbornly refused to stop.
"It tastes... five times better... that's what everyone says...!"
"Does 'everyone' include Chihiro!?"
"Chihiro-chan... of course... yes..."
She'd been tricked, hadn't she? Completely fooled by those mischievous kids.
One of Millennium's only three holders of the Omniscience Degree in history, yet she'd accepted such an obviously baseless claim without the slightest suspicion?
Just as I was about to point that out, the power inside Monster MAX seemed to reach its limit, and Himari finally noticed something was wrong.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
Pop!
With a deafening pop, the carbonated drink burst straight through the weakened opening at the top of the can. Like an underground spring finally finding an outlet, it erupted skyward. The tremendous force sent the can flying from her hands, spinning through the air while soda rained everywhere, drenching the still-dumbfounded Himari from head to toe.
One drop even landed on my lips.
I licked it away.
It really was delicious.
"Ah... ah..."
Himari blinked and muttered,
"No, this... this isn't exactly unexpected. It is a carbonated drink, after all."
Then she seemed to sink into deep thought.
"So... was believing it would taste better worth challenging it despite knowing the risks...? Or should one accept one's own weakness and be content with the status quo...? What a difficult question. Rather like life itself."
Instead of pretending to ponder profound philosophies to cover up your embarrassment, wouldn't it be better to grab a towel first, Himari?
A little while later, after using the towel I handed her, the sweet-and-tangy scent of soda still lingered around her. Dark wet patches stained her white clothes.
But more than that, something else troubled Himari.
"I've more or less wiped everything above..."
She shifted uneasily.
Her leather shoes stuck together with a tacky sound before separating again. The soda that had slipped past the blanket covering her legs had soaked the inside of both shoes.
"As for below..."
She looked troubled.
"I can't really reach with my hands... What should I do?"
It might have sounded like she was deliberately playing up her character, but Himari's frail health and limited mobility were undeniable facts. There was a genuine reason she relied on a wheelchair in daily life.
Even so, hearing her say that in front of me made me feel like she was hinting at something.
I unconsciously swallowed, moistening my dry throat.
For some reason, I suddenly found myself wanting another taste of that limited-edition Monster MAX.
"...How about I wipe them for you?"
"...Eh? Ehh!? Sensei... you're going to wipe them for me?"
Himari's eyes widened in surprise, as though she'd never imagined I'd make such a suggestion.
"Th-that..."
Had I misunderstood?
After a brief pause, I spoke righteously.
"Himari, feeling all sticky like that is uncomfortable, isn't it?"
"Well... that's certainly true..."
"It'll even interfere with your work afterward, won't it?"
"...If it affects my senses while I'm working..."
She lowered her head shyly, her voice becoming softer and quieter.
"Could that Gehenna rumor really be..."
I pressed on, even flattering her.
"And if someone else saw you like this, wouldn't it damage the image of the super-genius, pure, frail, beautiful girl hacker you've worked so hard to maintain?"
Blushing furiously, Himari hurriedly stopped me.
"Se-Sensei, please stop... I understand already...! Your desire to touch the feet of this super-genius beautiful girl has been conveyed to me! I... I-I'm... okay with it!"
What a mood killer.
And yet...
She had actually guessed right.
The ingredients from last night's dinner and Ako's authority seemed to undergo some sort of chemical reaction, catalyzed by Himari's bashful expression.
The delicate fragrance that naturally lingered around her mixed with the sweet scent of the soda.
Honestly, it made my mouth water.
Perhaps sensing my burning gaze, Himari stammered,
"I... I'm someone who's like a flower on a lofty peak... It's my fault that you'd develop such... desires... ah... ahaha..."
After a couple of awkward laughs, she took a deep breath, as though she'd finally made up her mind.
"Anyway... I'll leave it to you!"
"You can count on me!"
I straightened up and declared confidently.
"W-wait... your voice's too loud... eeek..."
Living up to Himari's expectations, I carefully washed every corner of both of her feet.