Between the accidental mixed bathing and everything else, I was starting to believe the bathroom was out to get me. I’d encountered so many sudden incidents in there that it seemed less like coincidence and more like a hex. Then again, it felt like Alice was laboring under the same spell.
It seemed that every single time we shared a bath, some kind of disaster occurred—usually in a way that left Alice mortified. She really had it rough.
This time was no different; the see-through towel incident had been a total catastrophe. But after Alice had finished trembling with rage, she had reached into a spatial rift and swapped the offending item for one that was perfectly opaque.
"Ah, you changed it."
"...Yes."
"You look incredibly embarrassed... but I swear, I haven't looked since that first surprise."
"No, well... it’s not that... I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. It’s just that it was so unexpected, I was dying of shame. But in a weird way, since my shyness reached its limit, I think I’ve come full circle. I feel... somewhat calm now?"
"A blessing in disguise... maybe? At any rate, I'm just glad it didn't end with you fleeing the room."
I could see what she meant. Coming full circle was a real phenomenon. She looked more composed than she had moments ago; while clearly still bashful, she wasn't trying to run away or hide anymore. It felt as though she had simply resigned herself to the fact that what happened, happened.
I was glad I hadn't been abandoned in the tub, but the resulting atmosphere was thick. I wasn't sure what to do with myself.
Although it had been an accident, there was no denying the fact that I’d seen her perfectly in that transparent state. My heart was thumping against my ribs with enough force to be audible. As Alice had noted, the initial shock had been too great for me to think clearly, but now that the surprise had faded, I was becoming intensely aware of her.
"Um... this atmosphere is a bit much, isn't it?"
"It really is. It's so awkward... I can't settle down at all..."
"Anyway, look... I'm sorry."
"Ah, no, it was an accident. It wasn't your fault, Kaito-san... so it's fine. Really."
The air between us felt heavy and electric. We were both hyper-aware of each other. It was restless and uncomfortable, yet in its own way, the mood was undeniably romantic.
The strange tension made me bashful, and I could feel my face heating up. Every time I looked at Alice, the image of her from moments ago flashed through my mind, making it impossible to hold a normal conversation. Yet, despite the awkwardness, I had a sudden intuition—a visceral sense that if I was ever going to make a move, the time was now.
Even though she was embarrassed, Alice was relatively composed and wasn't panicking. Given the way we were both focused entirely on one another, I felt like this was the best moment to let myself go with the momentum.
Suppressing my own nerves, I gently reached out, placed a hand on Alice's shoulder, and pulled her close.
"Ah... Kaito-san?"
"Alice, look at me..."
"Au... Y-Yes. Um, p-please be gentle..."
I rested my other hand against her chin and tilted her face up. Sensing my intention, Alice closed her eyes. I leaned in and kissed her—not the fleeting peck we’d shared earlier, but a deep, lingering kiss.
"Mhn... Nnh..."
I embraced her slender shoulders a bit more firmly, savoring the sensation of her lips—which were warm from the bath—and the meltingly sweet air between us. After a long moment, I pulled away and spoke to her in a soft, gentle voice.
"We shouldn't stay in the heat too long. Let's get out and head to the bedroom."
"..."
At my words, Alice gave a silent, small nod, her face turning a deep, vivid crimson.
Machina: "Yes, yes! Thanks to my assist, things have reached a perfect level of sweetness! Well, anything further than this would run into age rating issues, so we'll probably skip ahead to the morning... but I'm certainly looking forward to the morning talk after their relationship has deepened! Right, Serious-senpai?"
Serious-senpai: "..."
Machina: "I wonder... when the view is just a sea made of sugar, can you even call the horizon a horizon anymore?"