A hot spring—a place to soak in mineral-rich waters while gazing out at a sprawling vista to wash away the day's fatigue. One might even call it the very soul of the Japanese people.
So why was I already so utterly exhausted before I had even stepped into the water?
I was drained. Ein-san, the ultimate hidden threat, had used her own body as a sponge to wash mine. It was a blatant, calculated assault on my rationality.
But... I had survived. It was undeniably one of the greatest trials I had ever faced, but I had fought through to the end.
If I said this out loud, a Buddhist monk might take a running start just to punch me, but I felt as though I was on the verge of attaining spiritual enlightenment. Somewhere around the halfway point, I could have sworn I saw the far side of consciousness.
Of course, now that it was over, I was simply left agonizing over the lingering ghost of her touch on my skin...
At any rate, I was finally finished washing and managed to sink into the water. The thick, milky-white spring was on the hotter side, and it seeped soothingly into my weary frame.
"Haaah..."
Hot springs really were wonderful. As a college student living alone, I'd never had much of a chance to visit one, but I was quickly realizing how much I enjoyed them.
Perhaps because I had just survived such an extraordinary ordeal, I felt a strange sense of mental clarity. Or perhaps my spirit was so thoroughly spent that I simply didn't have the energy to sweat the small stuff anymore.
"...Here! This one's for Kaito-kun!"
"...Hm?"
"A rubber duck!"
"...O-Oh, thanks."
Kuro handed me a small children's toy designed to float in the bath. Right, were Kuro and Isis-san playing with these while they waited for me?
Looking closer, I saw Kuro had a yellow duck while Isis-san had a white one floating in front of her.
"...My duck... is the strongest."
"Hey, mine won't lose either!"
I didn't think these toys were meant for combat, but it was such a heartwarming sight that I didn't care.
As I watched them splash around, I looked down at the toy Kuro had given me. Mine was brown and a bit more slender than theirs... Wait, was this even a duck? It looked more like a goose.
"Kaito-sama, would you care for some sake?"
"Eh? Ah, thank you. I’ll have some."
While I was idly watching the two of them, Ein-san approached, floating a tray across the water. On it sat a sake bottle and a small cup. This was exactly what I needed. As expected of Ein-san, she knew me well.
I thanked her and took the cup, and she poured the sake with a fluid, practiced motion.
Taking care not to spill a drop, I took a sip. It was dry and potent, but with a wonderfully crisp finish. The warmth spread from my tongue to my throat, then settled in my stomach. It was delicious.
"...This is great. Is it Japanese sake?"
"Yes. It was brewed at Noin's request, but I prepared it today thinking it might suit your palate as well, Kaito-sama."
I see. So Noin-san preferred Japanese sake even when it came to alcohol. That certainly suited her.
"I have also prepared servings for Chrome-sama, Isis, and Shaltier."
"Thanks, Ein!"
"...Thank you."
Ein-san produced another tray from seemingly nowhere, and Kuro and Isis-san drifted toward us. Their tray held a wine glass and a regular cup.
"You're having wine, Kuro?"
"Yeah. I'm not a big fan of dry spirits. I much prefer wine."
"What about you, Isis-san?"
"...I... am not good... with alcohol... so... juice."
I see, everyone had their own tastes. I wondered about myself—I liked most things, but I usually struggled with anything that had too strong an odor.
Well, setting that aside...
"...Alice, how long are you going to stay under?"
"......"
The one thing still bothering me was Alice, who remained submerged. Apparently, the earlier accident had left a deep scar on her psyche, as she didn't even offer a reply.
"...I'm sorry for being so careless too. I'll treat you to a meal sometime to make it up to you."
"......"
"Fine, fine. I’ll do it, so just come up already."
The moment I mentioned food, a single hand shot out of the water with three fingers raised. I took that to mean she was demanding three meals, and when I agreed, she finally surfaced.
Alice only let her head emerge from the bridge of her nose up, keeping her chin tucked deep underwater. Her face was a vivid, unmistakable red, and her blue eyes looked dazed. In spite of myself, I thought she looked a bit cute.
"...Uugh, I've been defiled. Kaito-san, please take responsibility."
"...I have many things to say about that, but first... a duck has made landfall on you."
"......"
By some cosmic coincidence, the yellow duck Kuro had been floating earlier was right where Alice surfaced, and it was now perched daintily on top of her head.
When I pointed it out, Alice silently swiped the duck away and sank back into the water up to her nose. She was clearly mortified.
I couldn't help but let out a wry smile at her reaction—a side of her that felt quite fresh compared to the others—until...
"Hup!"
"Wha—!?"
Kuro climbed onto my legs, which I had been stretching out in the tub, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
What are you doing, Kuro!? It was true that she’d been sitting on my lap a lot lately, but I’ve told her a dozen times that there is a massive difference in destructive power between doing it while clothed and doing it while naked! Ah, so soft... no, that's not it!
"Ehehe, I'm right here with Kaito-kun~"
"K-Kuro, get off..."
"...No fair... I want to, too..."
"Isis-san!?"
Desperate to get Kuro off me, I moved the hand that wasn't holding my sake cup, but Isis-san grabbed it before I could.
She immediately hugged my arm, her soft, smooth body pressing flush against my skin.
This was bad. Very, very bad. I had finally managed to regain some semblance of composure, and now this... With Ein-san on my other side, I was completely pinned.
With my brain feeling like it was about to boil, I tried to shift my body in a desperate struggle, but that only invited a greater catastrophe.
"Hyah!?"
"Eh? Ah, s-sorry!?"
"K-K-Kaito-san!? Where do you think you're touching!? Just how much more do you intend to humiliate me!?"
"N-No, it wasn't on purpose!"
My foot had brushed against something soft and squishy. Alice’s entire body spasmed instantly.
The position of my foot, her reaction, and her words—I knew exactly what I had just touched. No, stop! Don't think about it!
Emptiness! My mind must become a void!
"Hm? Oh, did you want a turn too, Shaltier?"
"Huh? Kuro-san? What are you—"
"It’s okay. Kaito-kun has long legs, so there’s plenty of room for both of us... There!"
"Myaaaah!? K-Kuro-san!? Let go! No, noooo!"
As Kuro spoke, the sensation of soft skin against my legs doubled. This was a disaster.
"...Hmm, Shaltier... are yours actually bigger than mine...?"
"Hyah!? Where are you touching, Kuro-san!? No, stop, ah... wait..."
A scene of absolute depravity was unfolding right on top of my legs. My spirit was being ground into dust. Someone, please... help me...
Dear Mother, Father—How should I put it? I think my rationality has finally reached its limit. I honestly don't know if my self-control will snap first or if my brain will simply shut down from the heat. Either way—I am cornered on all sides.
Emergency Mission
Victory Condition: Blow up Kaito in the hot spring without anyone noticing. Defeat Condition: Emitting even a microscopic presence. Making a sound louder than 0.1db. Breathing. Moving the body by more than 1mm. Blinking. Success Reward: The otherworld-life enjoyer explodes. Defeat Penalty: Being finished off by his guardians.