After savoring the expansive bath and drying her hair, Kaori stopped by Kaito’s room to inform him she was finished before heading to her assigned guest quarters.
The space was so vast it felt less like a bedroom and more like a luxury suite, meticulously prepared for a comfortable stay and outfitted with various magic tools.
(Wow, seeing it again, this room is incredible... it’s at least double—no, easily three times the size of my bedroom. Keeping a place this big clean must be a nightmare... Oh, but Illness-san and the others are Count-class High-ranking Demons. I suppose if they cast a Limited Status Preservation Magic after cleaning that lasts until the next time the door is opened, they don't even have to clean when it’s not in use?)
Kaito’s Home had been built as a replica of Lilia’s Mansion, meaning many of the room layouts were nearly identical. In other words, she was staying in a room designed by a Ducal House for visiting nobility. For Kaori, who considered herself a mere commoner, the sheer opulence was almost overwhelming.
(The bed is massive, and the room itself is so big... This is a bit much in its own way. It’s so spacious I can’t really settle down. I’m not the type who can fall asleep immediately after a bath, so I was planning to wait a while before turning in, but... what should I do? For now, maybe I’ll head back to Kaito-kun’s room once he’s done? I’ll send a Hummingbird so he can reply when he’s out...)
She intended to stay up for a while longer, but more than that, she felt restless and hoped for a bit of casual conversation. She dispatched a Hummingbird with a request for him to contact her once his soak was complete. Once the message was away, she sank into one of the room's plush chairs and let out a long sigh of relief.
(...How long do guys usually take in the bath? I’ve heard they’re faster than women—maybe forty-five minutes? Well, I’ll just relax for a bit. Today was fun, but there were plenty of surprises like the talk about Olivia-sama, and we watched three movies, so I do feel fairly tired. I have a feeling I’ll fall right asleep once I actually get ready and crawl into bed.)
She felt a certain weight of fatigue, but it was accompanied by a pleasant sense of satisfaction. Her day off had been far more fulfilling and enjoyable than she had ever imagined when she woke up that morning.
(Well, it’ll probably be quite late by the time Kaito-kun gets out of the bath, so we won’t be able to talk for long, but at least we can chat in his room... his room... wait.)
At that point, Kaori’s train of thought screeched to a halt. After a long, paralyzed pause, her mind began to spin again—though in a much more frantic direction.
(...Wait? I’m staying overnight at the house of a guy I’m very conscious of, visiting him at a late hour right after a bath, and I’ve even had a bit to drink? Isn't this exactly the kind of setup that leads to a "morning-after coffee" situation?! I-I mean, I'm sure nothing like that would ever happen with Kaito-kun, but regardless, haven't I done something absolutely outrageous?)
Considering the hour, she estimated it would be past 10:00 PM by the time she visited him. In reality, Kaito would finish his bath even sooner than she expected, making the hour slightly earlier... but it was well within the margin of error.
Despite the growing anxiety over her impulsive behavior, the Hummingbird had already been sent. There was no taking it back now. All Kaori could do was sit in the silence and wait for Kaito to finish his bath.
Serious-senpai: "Wha—B-But how?! A 'sharing-a-bed flag' right after the mixed bathing scene was canceled... Th-That's practically illegal! N-No, wait, how would it even lead to that? Given their personalities, there's no way they'd actually go through with it... Am I overthinking things? No, but... still!"