"Guh...! They’re... they're huge...!!"
In the large public bath of the female dormitory where Melt lived, only three figures were present.
Setsuna wore a smug, self-assured smile as she spoke to Melt, who was staring fixedly at the naked chest of her romantic rival.
"Oh? Is something wrong? Were you hoping I’d falsified my measurements? If so, I’m afraid you’re out of luck."
"N-No way! I'm not disappointed at all! Like I said before, mine are definitely bigger!"
"Ngh...?!"
Refusing to back down against Setsuna’s provocation, Melt countered by pressing her own chest directly against the other girl's.
The two were now locked in a literal chest-to-chest confrontation. They gauged the size, weight, and texture of each other's "weapons," their expressions growing increasingly grim.
"...It seems you're a formidable opponent after all. Between your physical assets and how close you are to Yugo, I clearly can't afford to let my guard down around you."
"Same to you. They look like the real deal. But I won't lose that easily!"
Glare met glare at point-blank range as Melt and Setsuna let their pride collide.
The evenly matched battle showed no signs of concluding. Just as a hint of frustration and sweat began to appear on both their faces, a third party stepped in to end the dispute.
"Alright, that’s enough out of you two. I know the bath is the only place for this kind of thing, but knock off the pointless bickering."
"Ugh...?!"
"Ngh...!"
Anhel forcibly pulled Melt and Setsuna apart, an exasperated look on her face.
As she did, she boldly displayed her own chest, an act that seemed to drain the venom right out of the other two. To be more accurate, seeing her flaunt assets that clearly eclipsed their own caused their fighting spirit to wither instantly.
"If you're going to compete over the size of your rack and rear, I'll take you on. Though I’m pretty sure I’d win in both categories! Hahahaha!"
"A-Ann, your level is just cheating! You’re not just 'large,' you’re dynamite!"
"...I don't dislike your attitude of brandishing your weapons so proudly."
Melt and Setsuna each offered their own reactions to Anhel’s taunt, which came accompanied by a wink and a sexy pose.
Anhel let out a boisterous laugh that bordered on uncouth, sounding almost like a middle-aged man, before turning back to the girls.
"There’s no point in competing over breast or ass size anyway. If Yugo chose his lovers based on that, I would’ve been the first one he laid a hand on. The fact that he hasn't tells you everything you need to know. Quit this stupid fighting and let's focus on deepening our friendship."
"...Well, I suppose you’re right. Putting it that way, this really was a useless struggle."
"I'll back down gracefully out of respect for Ann’s face... no, for her breasts..."
Convinced by Anhel’s words—which, despite her playful demeanor, were actually quite sensible—Melt and Setsuna decided to follow her lead.
The three of them soaked in the bathtub together, steam rising around them as they began to talk.
"Mmm, baths really are the best! They don't call it 'laundry for the soul' for nothing!"
"I agree with that, but... why did you suddenly suggest we all come here together?"
"Because we’re going to be party members from now on, so I thought we should bond. If we women engage in 'communion in the nude,' our distance is bound to shrink, right?"
It was Anhel who had proposed the bath. She had invited Raiha and Claire as well, but both had declined.
Thus, only the three remaining members of the Yugo Group ended up bathing together. Melt and Setsuna still seemed slightly unconvinced by Anhel’s reasoning.
Flashing a wry smile at the suspicious glares directed her way, Anhel continued.
"At this hour, there shouldn’t be anyone else here but us. Since we don't have any magic items on hand, even if things get heated, it won't turn into a real fight. I'm sure you both have things you want to know about each other... To keep things from getting prickly, wouldn't it be better to just spill everything here?"
"...I see. I understand now."
In short, she was telling them to talk to their heart's content while literally naked.
The bath was the optimal setting for privacy while ensuring that arguments didn't escalate into physical violence. As Setsuna nodded in agreement, Melt threw a direct question her way.
"Um... do you really like Yugo? Or is it just that you think you can use him for your own goals, so you're trying to claim him while you can?"
"...And what about you, Melt Epee? Do you love Yugo?"
Setsuna didn't answer the blunt question, instead choosing to fire one back.
Melt’s face turned scarlet, but she didn’t look away. She answered with pride.
"I... I love Yugo. I might have kissed him on impulse before, but after staying by his side all this time, I can say it now with my head held high. It’s not just because he’s strong. I love him because he works his heart out for others and stays close to those who are hurting. That’s why I want to become a strong and kind person who can support him."
"I see... That’s lovely. You’re so straightforward. It makes me almost jealous."
Setsuna offered words of genuine praise. There was no irony in her voice; it came from her heart.
"I cannot say for certain that I love him as you do. There is a large part of my motivation that is purely calculating. That is why I feel that no matter what I say, I will only end up making you angry."
"I won't get angry. I want to know what my rival is thinking, and why she went so far as to suggest marriage... I want to know what's in your heart. So, please, tell me. I’ll listen to everything."
Melt spoke while looking directly at Setsuna, who had sounded a bit hesitant.
Setsuna took a small breath at the girl's serious gaze and began to quietly put her inner emotions into words.
"If you call it affection, I suppose it is. But if I were to more accurately describe the feeling I currently hold for Yugo... I believe it is yearning."