Stepping through the noren under the sheer pressure of Serious-senpai's momentum, I found myself in what appeared to be a dressing room... but there wasn't even a hint of separate facilities for men and women.
"...Senpai, doesn't it look like there's only one dressing room here?"
"Well, you and I are the only ones at this inn anyway, so it shouldn't be an issue..."
"Wait!? Senpai! Why are you suddenly trying to strip!?"
"...I mean, don't you usually undress before entering a hot spring? Clothed hot spring bathing is a bit too 'advanced user' for my taste."
Before she had even finished speaking, Serious-senpai began pulling off her skirt. I hurriedly called out to her, but she simply tilted her head, giving me a blank, puzzled look... It seemed she had left her sense of shame behind in a torture room somewhere.
"No, no, that's not what I mean... I'm a member of the opposite sex, and I'm right here. Shouldn't you feel at least a little hesitation...?"
"Huh? What exactly is the problem... Oh! I see!"
"No, it's not that."
"But I haven't even said anything yet!?"
Serious-senpai seemed to have realized something after observing me, but based on past experience, my true intentions probably hadn't reached her. She was almost certainly going to say something completely irrelevant.
"...Well, don't worry about it. I don't have any specific hang-ups about needing a muscular physique or anything, so I don't mind. There's no need for you to be embarrassed."
"Ah, I see. So you interpreted it as me being the one embarrassed to take my clothes off... Uh... Hmm."
Good grief. Is it me? Am I the weird one after all? Why was Serious-senpai so utterly composed? Was it really just that her sense of shame didn't exist?
"...Um, just to confirm... Senpai, you really don't have a problem with mixed bathing with me?"
"Why would there be a problem? Ah, right... Just as you're thinking, a mixed bathing event with me certainly has incredibly high prerequisites! My affection level for you would have to exceed 96 out of a maximum of 100 for a mixed bathing event to even trigger."
"It certainly sounds like a struggle if you have to raise it that close to the limit... So, how much affection have I earned so far?"
"5,000 trillion."
"...Excuse me?"
"Like I said, if the maximum is 100, then it's around 5,000 trillion."
...Doesn't a maximum value like that lose all meaning if it's broken to such an extent? It was a rather idiotic choice of a number, but... apparently, I had earned 50-trillionx the maximum level of Serious-senpai's affection. If that was the case, then mixed bathing should be a breeze... In fact, that level of affection was high enough that it wouldn't be weird if we were already married.
"...............Shall we go to the hot spring, then?"
I had plenty of thoughts on the matter—my brain was lagging in several areas—but if Serious-senpai didn't see an issue with mixed bathing, then I had nothing more to say.
Even so, it was undeniably awkward. I turned my back to ensure I didn't see her undressing, stripped down myself, and we headed out to the bath together.
The hot spring was an open-air bath. I couldn't tell exactly where we were, but the view was spectacular, overlooking majestic mountains and lush forests. After we both quickly rinsed off and stepped into the water, my chaotic thoughts finally settled, and I felt a wave of relief.
"Ahhh... a hot spring really is the best. Kaito, isn't this the part where you prepare some sake for your beloved senpai?"
"W-Well, I don't mind getting the sake, but... um... aren't you a little close?"
"Is there a problem with being close?"
"Is she invincible...? This senpai..."
Despite being in a hot spring together, Serious-senpai's sense of distance was bizarre. She sat right next to me and leaned against me as if it were her natural right.
I could feel the texture of her smooth skin against mine. The water was quite clear, so I felt that if I accidentally looked to the side, I might see something extremely dangerous. I kept my gaze fixed diagonally upward.
For the time being, I produced the sake she wanted, set it on a tray, and handed it over.
"By the way, isn't this bath a bit deep?"
"Eh? No, I think it's normal..."
"Is it a height issue... No, wait, it must be because my legs are too long and my torso is too short!!"
"Well, you're definitely petite, Senpai..."
She was taller than Kuro, but at about 150 centimeters, calling her petite seemed accurate enough. As I was mulling that over, Serious-senpai took a surprising action.
"Just a little more... Ah, I know. I'll just do this."
"Huh!? Wait, S-Senpai!?"
While my eyes were still directed diagonally upward, I heard her voice as if she'd just hit upon a brilliant idea. Immediately after, I felt something soft and squishy press against my thighs. I hurriedly looked down... and found Serious-senpai sitting right on my lap.
Is she an idiot!? She should have at least a little more hesitation! That area in particular is an extremely dangerous and delicate zone! This was an outrage on a level that even a lover would usually take several steps to reach!?
"Hmph, it's useless to protest! For the time being, you'll be acting as my height-adjustment chair!!"
"No, that is not the issue here!"
"Hmm?"
"Don't turn around! I'll see everything!!"
"Heeh? We're in the hot spring together anyway, so I don't see why seeing things would be a problem... You're a strange one. Oh, do you want a drink too, Kaito? I'll pour it for you."
"Wait, don't move around on my lap!!"
"...Sheesh, you're so picky."
"Your reaction makes it seem like I'm the troublesome one, and that's totally wrong!!!"
She was truly too defenseless—or rather, she was so completely no-guard that it was hazardous. Because Serious-senpai seemed so genuinely baffled by my reaction, the atmosphere made it feel as though I was the one being weird. It felt like a bug in reality.
Honestly, how do I even put it... It happens every year, but I always felt like I was being jerked around by Serious-senpai.
???: "For someone who complains about lovey-dovey stuff so much, you're certainly engaging in plenty of lovey-dovey stuff yourself, aren't you!?"
Serious-senpai (Affection Level 5,000 Trillion): "Nonsense. Given the relationship Kaito and I share, this level of skinship is barely more than playing around."
???: "No, no, naked physical contact is a pretty massive deal!? It was only okay because this was Kaito-san with his Reason of Orichalcum; if you had taken one wrong step, it would have turned into something much more intense, you know?"
Serious-senpai (Affection Level 5,000 Trillion): "If Kaito wants to do something, he's free to do as he likes. I personally don't have a problem with it at all."
???: "It's no use. This senpai's affection is so high that her range of tolerance has completely bugged out..."