While she washed my hair, I lightly scrubbed my front and rinsed off. As if timed perfectly, Illness-san finished her meticulous work and thoroughly rinsed my head with a shower magic tool.
"There we go... You're all clean now..."
"Thank you."
I turned around to thank her as she finished, but that was a mistake. It was only natural, but since she had been washing my hair, Illness-san was standing right behind me.
And while I was sitting, she was standing. In the process of washing my body and hair, it was inevitable that she would get somewhat wet herself.
What caught my eye as I turned around was Illness-san’s chest. Her sheer bathing garment had become wet and clung to her skin, making the sight even more provocative.
This was extremely dangerous. To begin with, Illness-san’s usual style was virtually ironclad when it came to exposing skin. Today was the first time I had ever seen her show anything other than her hands and face. The sense of immorality from seeing what was normally hidden was overwhelming.
Just as I felt my thoughts—which should have calmed down by now—beginning to spiral into confusion again, Illness-san suddenly shifted her gaze toward the tub.
"...So this is a bath additive... It has such a lovely scent, doesn't it..."
"Yeah, I like this fragrance too. Oh, that’s right. If you’d like, Illness-san, why don’t you try it out?"
"..."
Upon hearing my suggestion, Illness-san wore an uncharacteristically blank expression. A split second later, I felt the blood drain from my face.
I had spoken reflexively, but I had completely chosen the wrong words. No, the words themselves weren't necessarily wrong. I was just slightly lacking in my explanation. The intent was fine, but the timing and situation were a disaster!
If I had said this in my room after getting out of the bath, my meaning would have been clear. I would have meant, "I have some of the prototype left, so would you like to use it for your own bath later?"
However, saying it right now, inside the bathroom... no matter how you sliced it, it could only sound like an invitation to get into the tub together.
This is bad, this is bad! This is a total sexual harassment move. It wouldn't be surprising if she was completely repulsed. I-I have to explain myself immediately—
"Well then... since you were so kind to offer... I shall join you..."
Wh-whaaaa!? That worked!? She gave me an OK!?
And though she had looked stunned for a moment at my unexpected remark, her reply had been almost instantaneous. I’d suspected it for a while now, but... isn't Illness-san way too indulgent toward me?
At this point, I felt like she might agree to nearly anything I asked of her.
"Well then... I shall wash up a little as well..."
"Ah, okay."
Though bewildered by how easily she had accepted my blunder, I decided to get into the water first and wait. I certainly couldn't bring myself to offer to wash her back.
Besides, I didn't really know how one was supposed to wash over a bathing garment, so it would have been a problem even if she'd said yes...
I soaked in the water, sitting with a strangely stiff posture due to the tension. Eventually, I heard Illness-san's voice from behind me.
"Excuse me..."
"Y-Yes. Come on in."
Feeling excessively nervous as I gave my awkward reply, Illness-san stepped into the tub. Wait... she’s close. She’s practically right next to me! In fact, we were so close our shoulders were almost touching.
"I see... this is quite interesting... It seems to have moisturizing and relaxing effects..."
The sight of Illness-san as she spoke—extending one hand from the water and using the other to lightly stroke the hot water into her skin—was incredibly elegant and sensual.
She possessed a natural refinement in every casual gesture. Even though she was petite, she radiated the aura of a sophisticated, adult woman.
"Personally, I feel like it's a bit like a milk bath. Even if the smell is completely different."
"Yes... It might be somewhat similar... Many people dislike the smell of actual milk baths, so perhaps they modified the scent while keeping the properties similar out of consideration..."
"...Come to think of it, don't nobles often use scent bags in the bath? I didn't really see them much at Lilia-san’s mansion, though..."
"Yes... Herbs and flowers are frequently used. Some houses even have their own original scent bags. However, Lilia-san doesn't exactly care for them. Or rather, she dislikes the scent mixing with the body oil she applies after her bath, so she rarely uses them."
"I see..."
The pleasant scent I occasionally caught from Lilia-san... I had wondered what it was. She didn't wear perfume except for outings or evening parties—perhaps a lingering habit from her time in the Order of Knights—and it was different from the smell of shampoo. So, it was her body oil.
As I pondered that, I happened to glance to the side, and my eyes met Illness-san’s. Her skin above the water was slightly flushed, and her beautiful eyes were focused and clear. She was so stunning it took my breath away.
"Kaito-sama? Is something the matter?"
"N-No, I just thought you were beautiful... Ah, no, I mean..."
I panicked at the words that had reflexively escaped my mouth. I felt like I was making way too many slips of the tongue today. Was I really that nervous?
In contrast, Illness-san gave me a small, knowing smile.
"Kuhi... thank you. You are also very wonderful, Kaito-sama."
That composed, mature response was truly just like her.
Serious-senpai: "Gwahh!?"
???: "S-Serious-senpai just sprayed sugar from her entire body and had a sugar explosion!? Just how bizarre is this woman's biology? Turning into a pillar of sugar, having sugar explosions..."