After finishing a few drinks at Iris’s bar, Kaori was shown to her assigned guest room before making her way to the bathroom to bathe.
To avoid any awkward incidents like walking in on each other, they had agreed beforehand that Kaori would message Kaito once she finished, and only then would he take his turn.
"It’s... massive."
Stepping into the bathroom after undressing, the word escaped Kaori’s lips before she could stop it. She had been warned that the bath was spacious, but seeing it in person was a different matter entirely. The room was grander than a standard public bathhouse, let alone anything found in a private residence. The scale was simply overwhelming.
(Wow, I knew it was supposed to be big, but this is incredible. And it’s so clean! Even these magic shower tools aren’t anything like the ones you’d find in a normal house. You can adjust the pressure and temperature so precisely.)
Admiring her surroundings, she let her gaze wander for a moment before moving to the shower to wash her hair and body.
"Let’s see... I touch the magic crystal next to this device, and..."
She had been told that there was a storage-use magic tool installed right next to the shower, and that she was welcome to use any of the shampoos or treatments kept inside.
When Kaori touched the crystal, a section of the wall slid open to reveal a shelf lined with a wide variety of bottles.
(There are so many kinds! Now, which one did Kaito-kun say he used? An orange bottle... Ah, this must be it.)
Since everyone living in Kaito's home shared this bathroom, there was a vast selection to cater to everyone's preferences. Kaori picked up the specific shampoo and treatment she had asked to borrow earlier.
(Come to think of it, I never asked if this was some kind of high-end brand. Maybe I should have looked into it... Well, too late now. I’ll just use it and not worry.)
In truth, it was probably for the best that she didn’t ask about the ingredients. The shampoo and treatment Kaito used were actually custom items crafted by Alice. She had originally planned to make specialized shampoo for the pets, but then decided she might as well make something for Kaito while she was at it. While the materials differed from the animal version, they shared one key luxury: they were infused with Nebula’s Fruit of the World Tree.
(Mmm, it smells wonderful... The lather is so fine and rich. It’s such a great shampoo. I’d buy this in a heartbeat if it were in stores, though it’s probably way out of my price range...)
Ignorance was truly bliss in this instance. Unaware of the legendary ingredients she was lathering with, Kaori simply washed her hair and body before stepping into the tub.
As she soaked up to her shoulders and stretched her legs out fully, a contented smile spread across her face.
"Nnn... yeah, a big bath really is the best. The sense of freedom is on a whole different level."
She murmured to herself, narrowing her eyes in comfort. After a while, a playful, happy grin tugged at the corners of her mouth.
(Oh, I can’t help it. I can't stop smiling... I keep thinking back to that conversation I had with Kaito-kun earlier.)
Her mind drifted back to the talk they’d had just before heading to the bar. When the topic of mixed bathing came up, she knew she shouldn’t have teased him so much, but seeing him react that way had made her so happy that she couldn't resist dragging it out.
She felt a little guilty about it, but the joy welling up inside her far outweighed the regret.
In Kaori’s eyes, Kaito was someone with vastly more romantic experience than her—a man who knew exactly how to treat women. He had frequently complimented her, telling her she was beautiful or attractive in that natural, effortless way of his. While that made her incredibly happy, a small part of her had always feared that he was just being polite, and that he didn't actually see her as a woman in a romantic or physical sense.
It didn't help that all of Kaito's lovers and acquaintances were world-class beauties. Most tellingly, Kaito had never shown even a hint of lecherous intent toward her. Even when he invited her to his house or suggested she stay the night, his motives felt entirely pure. He treated her as a dear friend, which made her feel safe, but a part of her found it a little frustrating that he didn't seem to see her "that" way at all.
That was why his reaction during the mixed bathing talk meant so much. Kaito—who always wore his heart on his sleeve—had been so flustered that his response was impossible to misinterpret.
(At the very least, he definitely sees me as a woman... as someone he could actually be attracted to. He was so conscious of it, and he looked so embarrassed...)
She didn't necessarily think he was in love with her yet, but realizing that she was someone he could feel desire for was enough. For Kaori, who adored Kaito but feared her own appearance wouldn't measure up to the women around him, that reaction was a massive boost to her spirits.
(Hehe, I’m hopeless... I’m acting exactly like a maiden in love. Well... I suppose I can’t really deny it anymore.)
With no one else around to see her, Kaori allowed her face to melt into a doting, silly grin, enjoying every second of her bath.
Serious-senpai: "Exactly like one? You are a maiden in love! And wait, my body is expanding again?! How many rounds of this 'sugar' energy are there!?"
Machina: "Next time, I think I'll pour chocolate over you before I eat you."