Huh?
Anon was stunned.
Tomori, are you saying that Kyo was like this back at the aquarium too?
It was one thing for this to happen at Kyo's own house, but at an aquarium—a public place—she had acted like this?
This… seductive yet innocent, like a spirit born from misty riversides, every movement carrying an effortless allure. Yet at the same time, her expression was laced with melancholy, her posture lazy, exuding the air of a delicate girl mourning the passage of spring.
Until now, Anon had never really understood the term pure desire—that paradox of innocence and sensuality.
But seeing Kyo now, she was starting to get it.
"But… isn't this way too embarrassing?!"
Anon couldn't help but cry out.
If Kyo had been like this at the aquarium, Anon would never dare take her there. The sheer number of weird stares they'd attract…!
"Mm…"
The bathroom door was only slightly ajar, with Anon standing firmly in the way.
Tomori, unable to see properly, crouched down, squeezing into the small gap beneath Anon to peek inside.
She studied Kyo carefully for a moment, then hesitantly spoke. "Kyo does seem a little different now than she was at the aquarium… but the feeling is really similar."
Kyo remained motionless, quietly leaning against the bathtub's edge.
One hand, still clutching the towel, was stretched outward, causing that side of her body to shift slightly. The movement exposed a glimpse of her underarm…
If Anon were to tug on the towel right now, and if Kyo didn't let go…
She could only imagine what else might end up being revealed.
Was Kyo just well-behaved, or was she really just that lazy?
Listening to Anon and Tomori whispering outside—thinking they were being discreet—Kyo actually heard everything crystal clear.
But she didn't interrupt.
Instead, after Anon voiced her confusion, Kyo chose to be completely upfront about her peculiar trait—answering Tomori's question for her.
"I just get a little more… excited when I'm surrounded by a lot of water. It happened at the aquarium, and it's happening now."
As she spoke about water, Kyo suddenly felt like staying in the bath a little longer.
She released the towel and pulled her arm back, no longer leaning against the edge of the tub, but instead sinking deeper into the water.
That movement—rather than concealing anything—actually made things worse.
For a fleeting moment, Anon caught a glimpse of the gentle rise and fall of Kyo's chest, previously hidden behind the tub's rim.
But it was only for a moment—because Anon immediately turned her head away, refusing to look.
Leaning back, Kyo lounged in the water, her entire body submerged except for her head.
"Though, really, for me, this much water isn't that much. But since it's enough to fully soak me, the effect is still pretty good."
"So… are you planning to stay in the bath a little longer?" Anon asked tentatively.
Kyo cast a small glance her way, a look that held no trace of offense—if anything, it carried a strange sort of amusement.
"Didn't I just say it? Anon, you dry me off. But if you don't move, I'll just keep sitting here, half out of the water, getting cold."
She's serious?!
Anon swallowed hard.
She was tempted, sure.
But she also knew that Kyo wasn't quite herself right now. If she took advantage of the situation, what would Kyo think once she was back to normal?
This was a trap—a deep pit lined with irresistible bait, just waiting for her to fall in.
"Kyo, just dry yourself off. Can you at least tell me where your clothes are? I'll go get them for you."
Anon's voice was shaking.
Kyo noticed immediately.
Anon had wanted to help—she was tempted—but in the end, she still refused.
Why?
…Kyo couldn't be bothered to figure that out right now.
Kyo slowly rose from the bathtub—
Tomori, startled, immediately ducked her head and quickly shifted her gaze elsewhere.
Water sloshed violently from the movement, spilling over the edge of the tub and splashing onto the floor.
Like a mermaid emerging from the waves, carried by the tide as it crashed against the rocks.
"My clothes are in my sister's room, across from mine. The smaller-sized ones are mine."
Kyo's bare feet touched the floor once again. She stood there without the slightest concern for the still-open bathroom door, leisurely drying herself off with the towel in slow, deliberate motions.
Even though her words were clearly meant for Anon and Tomori, the way she spoke felt oddly detached—like she was just talking to herself.
Her gaze remained fixed on the puddles forming beneath her feet.
"It doesn't matter if you grab the wrong ones. I can wear my sister's clothes too."
Hearing that, Anon quickly shut the door, instructing Tomori to stay put and keep an eye on Kyo—just in case something happened to her while she still seemed so out of it.
Finding the clothes didn't take long.
There was no issue distinguishing between Kyo's and her sister's, either—hers were noticeably a size smaller.
There wasn't even any need to consider outfit coordination, as every single piece was the same style—shirts and pants, nothing else. Even her underwear was all plain cotton.
Just as Anon casually grabbed a few pieces, she heard Tomori gasp from outside.
Rushing back, she found Kyo already stepping out of the bathroom, loosely wrapped in her oversized towel.
Fortunately, she didn't pull any more unexpected stunts. Taking the clothes from Anon, she simply returned to her room to change.
What a mess…
They hadn't even done anything, yet somehow, in just this short span of time, Kyo had finished her bath—while both Anon and Tomori were left drenched in nervous sweat.
Collapsing onto the living room sofa, the two of them finally noticed how incredibly soft and comfortable it was.
Kyo emerged from her room not long after.
Now that she was no longer in her "soaked" state, much of that strange, bewitching aura had faded.
She simply looked like a normal, refreshingly clean beauty after a bath.
…If not for the blank, slightly unfocused look still lingering in her eyes.
She made her way to the living room, pouring herself a glass of water before settling into a small single-seater chair beside the long sofa where Anon and Tomori sat.
Yet, after taking just one tiny sip, she placed the glass down, resting her hands on her lap, expression unreadable.
"Anon, Tomori. I have a question for you."
"Y-Yes?"
"If you poured your heart and soul into something—used every bit of effort you had—"
"Yet, from start to finish, you never got even a little closer to success…"
"What would you do?"