Hot...
It wasn't just the warm spring water enveloping her entire body; it was also the scorching figure that pressed up against her.
Durandal hadn't known that Elysia could dance, and dance so beautifully at that.
Unlike herself, who hadn't matched her expression to the dance and music, Elysia perfectly blended her demeanor, movements, and the melody into one.
At this moment, she was like a true femme fatale who could topple kingdoms, seducing Durandal, the 'ruler' who only wished to govern diligently and strive for greatness.
Elysia leaned forward, stretched out her arms, and hooked them around Durandal's neck, just like when they were interrupted by Mobius earlier.
Except back then, they were lying down, while now, they stood in the water.
At this very moment, Durandal completely forgot there were over a dozen spectators around.
As Elysia's body drew closer to hers, her mind was wholly consumed by that interrupted kiss.
However, soon enough, Elysia shifted into another dance move.
She lowered her hands, gently pressed them against Durandal's shoulders, and then gave a slight push, using the momentum to create distance between them.
A look of wistful disappointment instantly appeared on Durandal's face—this push-and-pull was the most tantalizing torment.
Just as Durandal hesitated whether to chase after that mermaid-like figure, the music abruptly stopped, replaced by the sound of a different ringtone.
Elysia also halted her dance. She swam back to the edge of the hot spring, picked up her phone in its waterproof case, and looked at it. "Oops, I forgot to turn off the bedtime reminder alarm."
So, Elysia turned off the alarm and then glanced at Durandal, who was still in the center of the spring. "It's ten o'clock. Shall we continue?"
Hearing this, Durandal finally snapped out of her daze.
She finally remembered the occasion.
Shaking her head, Durandal looked at the others. "It's getting late. Let's end tonight's activities here. We'll continue tomorrow evening."
Actually, it wasn't just Durandal; the others were also left wanting more after watching their dance.
But Durandal had a point. It was late, and everyone had gotten up early to come here today, so they were all feeling somewhat drowsy by now.
Even though Durandal and Elysia's dance wasn't performed in its entirety, its brilliance was enough to make up for the shortened duration.
At the very least, everyone felt this talent show was quite excellent.
Thus, heeding Durandal's words, everyone began rising from the hot spring, each heading back to their rooms to rest.
--+--
In Room No. 3, Klein looked at Mobius, whose face was flushed, with a worried expression. She asked uncertainly, "Doctor... are you dizzy from the hot spring, or are you drunk?"
Klein thought it was probably the former.
As for the latter... didn't Mobius only have one cup of sake?
Could someone get drunk from just one cup?
Hearing this, Mobius merely shook her head. Her gaze fixed on Klein's red lips, and she suddenly smiled.
She stepped forward and just like that, placed her hand over Klein's mouth.
Klein trembled, freezing in place, not daring to move.
She didn't know what was wrong with Mobius.
"Klein~"
Mobius suddenly spoke, calling Klein's name.
Her tone was completely different from her usual one in the lab, carrying a mellifluous lilt that seemed to harbor emotions even she herself couldn't discern.
Klein didn't answer.
After all, if she opened her mouth, the sensation of Mobius's fingers on her lips would become even more pronounced.
Now, Klein was certain: Mobius was drunk.
She only hoped Mobius had good drinking manners and would simply pass out.
Taking care of someone who fell asleep directly was far better than dealing with a drunken mess.
"Klein, do you know what I saw this afternoon?"
Mobius's drunken eyes reflected Klein's puzzled face.
Seeing this, Mobius chuckled softly and removed her fingers from Klein's lips.
She pulled Klein over to the tatami, made her lie down, and then—under Klein's slightly trembling gaze—straddled her, slowly lowering her upper body.
Just as Klein thought something might happen and wondered if she should push the other away in time, Mobius suddenly frowned.
She looked at Klein's arms, stiffly placed at her sides, and finally noticed something amiss.
So, she lifted Klein's arms, making them wrap around her own neck.
After doing this, Mobius once again began to lower her upper body.
Just as the tips of their noses were about to touch, Mobius spoke again. "Elysia and Durandal were just like Klein and I are now, back then."
Klein: "...?"
After all that, it was just a reenactment?
Elysia and Durandal were in this very position this afternoon, just like she and Mobius were now?
Well... Klein wasn't surprised in the least.
After all, she worked in the same lab as Fuxi and Nuwa. She had heard more or less about any little rumors within the Schicksal organization from the two of them.
And the 'unspoken two or three things' between the organization's leader and vice-leader, she had heard no less than a hundred times.
Still, encountering Mobius personally acting out gossip through imitation was a first for Klein.
Just as Klein thought things would end here, she saw Mobius, who had paused midway, suddenly continue to lower herself.
It wasn't until her lips felt a strangely unfamiliar softness that Klein's eyes widened in shock.
Wasn't this supposed to be just a way to relay gossip to her?
What was happening now?
Klein's whole system crashed. After being stunned for a long while, she finally felt something was off.
Why hadn't the person on top of her moved for the longest time?
It wasn't that she was expecting something, but this really wasn't normal.
Carefully, Klein pushed at Mobius's shoulder. No response.
Then, gathering her courage, Klein pushed the other away outright. Still no response.
Only then did Klein discover, with a mix of amusement and exasperation, that Mobius had actually fallen asleep straight away.
After some effort getting Mobius settled, Klein looked at the other, tucked under the covers and sleeping soundly, and couldn't help but touch her own lips.
The soft sensation from earlier still lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.
The resistance she imagined she'd feel didn't seem to exist.
"Doctor, when you wake up tomorrow, will you still remember this kiss?"
The only response to Klein was the long, steady sound of breathing.
Patting her cheeks, Klein forced herself not to think about that kiss, nor about what would happen after waking up tomorrow.
"Time to sleep."
Once the covers are pulled up, no one else matters!
--+--