Isis-san’s back-scrubbing—taught to her through Alice’s meddling, nonsensical advice—was truly overwhelming. My consciousness flickered so many times I felt as if I were drifting through the cosmos.
One thing was certain: I made a solemn vow to whack Alice with a toy hammer later.
Even though it felt like a major event had already wrapped up before I’d even set foot in the water, I forced myself to rally my spirits—or rather, I regained my composure and sank into the tub.
“...Wait, that’s right. This...”
“...Kaito? What’s that?”
“Ah, it’s a sample of bath salts from Kuro’s Trading Company. To put it simply, you add them to the water for a floral scent.”
“...I see... Amazing. I’m looking forward to it.”
The bath was styled after an open-air bath, but the water itself was just regular water. I decided to use the additives to set the mood. Ideally, I would have preferred a true hot spring formula, but given how obscure hot springs were in this world, that type of product didn't exist yet. These were from the first line released by Kuro’s company: the Noble’s Bath Series. If they proved popular, they might develop more varieties, eventually leading to something closer to a real hot spring experience.
Accounting for the size of the tub, I added several packets. After a quick stir, the water changed color, and a soothing floral fragrance drifted through the air.
“...A lovely scent.”
“Yeah, it is. Let’s get in.”
“...Mm.”
With the salts mixed in, I joined Isis-san in the water. Despite the barrier surrounding us, the open-air design still provided a wonderful sense of freedom. The stars were exceptionally clear tonight, and framed by the distant mountains, the view was breathtaking.
“...The stars are so... beautiful.”
“They are. Although, it might be a bit too bright to see them properly. I’ll dim the lights a bit.”
With a quick word to Isis-san, I stepped out for a moment and adjusted the magic tool near the entrance. Leaving it just bright enough to see my step, I returned to the tub. The starry sky looked even more vivid now—it felt like a truly extravagant experience.
“...Hehe.”
“You seem to be having fun, Isis-san.”
“...Mm. When I’m with Kaito... everything is fun. Even the smallest things... make me so happy.”
“...Isis-san.”
“...I’m happy we can bathe together. I’m happy to see these beautiful stars. I’m happy just because you’re here... Even without thinking about it... I can’t help but smile.”
As she spoke with such genuine joy, her expression seemed more radiant and beautiful than the stars themselves. A surge of affection welled up inside me. Finding ourselves alone in such a perfect atmosphere, I gently wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. Isis-san leaned into me happily, and I felt the warmth of our bare skin touching beneath the water.
“...I don’t quite know how to say it, but I feel the same way. It’s hard to put into words, but being able to share this sense of joy and happiness... it’s wonderful.”
“...Mm. Knowing you feel the same... it makes me so very happy.”
“Isis-san.”
“Kaito... Mm...”
I tightened my arm around her slightly and leaned in, drawn to her as she turned toward me. We shared a kiss. The sensation of our lips meeting was indescribably sweet and pleasant.
When we finally parted, I kept my arm around her as she leaned against me, and we turned our gaze back to the sky. While the stars were magnificent, being able to enjoy them together brought me a far deeper sense of fulfillment. It was a strange sensation; even though I was already incredibly happy, I felt that feeling grow with every passing second.
I was certain Isis-san felt the same, just as I was certain she knew exactly how I felt. Our hearts were so deeply in sync that we didn't need words to feel the weight of our connection.
“...Kaito.”
“Yes?”
“...Once more... may I?”
“Of course.”
“...Kaito... I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Isis-san.”
Enveloped in a profound happiness that seemed to soak into the very depths of our souls, we pressed our lips together once again.
Serious-senpai: “...I’m sorry... I’m... starting to melt.”
???: “She melted?! Do you just liquefy when the sugar content gets too high? Your interesting ecology has way too many weird patterns!”