"Ah! We're finally back!"
"Ugh… I feel like I've been pickled."
"Pickled? Girl, you're basically marinated in Takumi-sama's scent."
"You are too—don't laugh at me!"
"Hehe… Artemis-sama too."
"Lante!!"
Artemis stomped her foot, cheeks blazing, equal parts furious and mortified—because she couldn't even deny it. The proof was literally clinging to her like a second skin.
"We're going back right now and taking a proper bath!" Artemis declared, eyes darting away from Takumi like she was afraid one glance would pull her back under. "And this time—absolutely no interruptions."
Every time they tried to wash clean, Takumi would "help," and somehow their bath ended with more… foam than it started with. They'd wanted to rinse off sweat, not end up even messier.
And the worst part?
Before Takumi, none of them had even touched the opposite sex.
Now they were all fallen—every last one—like a straight line of dominoes he'd flicked over with a grin.
"Artemis-sama, wait!"
Rethusa and Lante scrambled after her, and the rest of the girls followed too, lingering just long enough to say goodbye to Takumi with shining eyes and reluctant smiles.
Takumi just shrugged and headed for the Adventurers' Guild.
He'd taken the quest through the Guild, so he had to turn it in here. Artemis's crew had accepted theirs through an outside town; they'd already gotten paid days ago.
As he reached the Guild's doors, Takumi spoke into his mind-link.
"Hestia, Haruhime, Lili—I'm back. I'm just turning in a quest, I'll be home a bit later."
"Takumi-kun! You're finally back!!"
"Takumi-sama… Haruhime missed you…"
"Lili missed you too~"
He answered each of them patiently, then—very deliberately—pinged Lili again with a private request.
Stall them for a bit.
Because his date with Eina was happening today, and if Hestia showed up before he slipped out… there'd be war.
Lili, dressed in a cool, snug little outfit that absolutely wasn't casual, smiled like a fox who'd just found a chicken coop.
"Takumi-sama is so naughty… but Lili will help."
She hurried over and hooked her arms around Haruhime and Hestia before they could charge the Guild like an invading army.
"Haruhime, Hestia-sama—let's not barge in and bother Takumi-sama. We should go home and prepare a surprise instead."
They weren't living in the cramped old place anymore. Their new house was big. Their closets were full. And hidden among the normal clothes?
Victory outfits. Real ones.
Haruhime's ears perked up immediately, face turning pink. "You're right… I should prepare properly for Takumi-sama!"
Hestia bristled. "Haruhime! That's the kind of thing the goddess of the household is supposed to do. Don't butt in!"
Unfortunately for Hestia, she couldn't stop Haruhime's momentum. The two of them ended up half-competing, half-collaborating as they hurried home to get ready, while Lili stayed just close enough to keep the fuse from lighting.
Meanwhile, Takumi stepped into the Guild—and didn't see Eina at the counter.
Instead, the receptionist waiting there was her colleague, Misha.
Short pink bob, pretty face, a uniform that hugged her waist just right—and a tiny height that made her look more cute than stern. When her pink eyes met Takumi's, something playful flickered across her expression.
"Mmm~ so you're the boy who makes Eina's heart go all soft," Misha teased, voice light and devilish. "I get it."
Takumi coughed and forced the topic back onto business. "Miss Misha, I'm here to turn in the report."
"Mm-hmm, I know." Misha smiled and took the documents. "Eina took leave early. She's been waiting for you."
Then her eyes dropped down the page… and widened.
"Tree Labyrinth disturbance… caused by an ancient monster unsealing?" She flipped the paper slightly, as if the words might change. "And then… resolved."
She looked up slowly. "What do you mean, resolved?"
Takumi didn't bother dressing it up. He gave her the short version.
Misha went silent.
"..."
After a long beat, she exhaled. "So the rumors really were true. The hero who beat Zald…"
She straightened, professional again.
"The Guild will send a team to confirm the situation. The quest's final payout and difficulty rating will be adjusted based on the investigation." She slid a pouch across the counter. "Here's the advance payment. We'll notify you when the remainder is ready."
Misha might have been a flirt, but she was efficient.
Takumi pocketed the valis, gave a polite nod, and left.
Behind him, Misha rested her chin on her hand, watching his back like it was a piece of art walking away.
"…Yeah. I totally understand why Eina's obsessed."
Even from far away he was handsome. Up close?
It wasn't fair.
And if you added strength, kindness, and that "hero" aura… honestly, it was enough to make a normal girl feel dangerous thoughts.
"Mmm… I suddenly want to betray Eina," she murmured, half-joking, half-not, eyes sparkling with mischief.
…
Outside, Takumi tugged at his collar.
His clothes rippled and reshaped smoothly into a clean, casual outfit—like fabric obeying a thought.
"Cell-edited clothing is convenient," he muttered. "One idea and it changes styles. Only problem is…"
He glanced down at himself.
"…sometimes it feels like I'm basically naked."
He shook the thought off and headed toward North Main Street—where Eina was waiting at the corner, exactly where they'd agreed.
She'd clearly prepared for this.
No glasses. Her features looked softer, brighter, almost dazzlingly open.
A white blouse hugged her upper body; the bow at her chest was pulled taut in a way that made it struggle just a little, hinting at the soft curve beneath. A red pleated skirt flared out and then clung where it mattered, outlining a sweet, rounded shape that made Takumi's gaze linger before he caught himself.
Below the hem, her legs were smooth and plush, wrapped in matte, over-the-knee black stockings that bit into her thighs just enough to create that faint, tempting squeeze—soft flesh, firm line, the kind of contrast that made your mind go quiet for a second.
And when she saw him, Eina's expression brightened so honestly it almost hurt.
Takumi raised his hand and smiled, warmth in his voice.
"Eina—sorry to keep you waiting."
He stepped closer.
"Today… you look really beautiful."