My frantic attempts at persuasion finally paid off, and Shiro-san agreed to withdraw her request for a push-down happening—at least for the time being. She also yielded quite easily to my suggestion that we use separate dressing rooms. I suppose what mattered most to her was the push-down happening event itself; the logistics of the dressing room were irrelevant in comparison.
Besides, she could change her clothes in the blink of an eye anyway.
With those thoughts in mind, I finished changing and pushed open the door to the open-air bath. I was immediately greeted by the sight of a magnificent Mount Fuji, bathed in the glow of a beautiful sunset.
Wow, this was even more impressive than I’d imagined. The mountain was visible with startling clarity—a panoramic view that truly made me feel like I was monopolizing Mount Fuji dyed in the sunset. It was breathtaking. Truly breathtaking... but wait. Why was it evening again?
(There is no need for concern. It simply appears as if it is illuminated by the sunset when viewing Mount Fuji from this specific location. It does not look that way from anywhere else. I am told the Earth God made this adjustment.)
Ah, I see. That was a relief... although, if that was the case, did the mountain really need to be glowing? Well, I suppose it was a bit late to be questioning that now.
Still, at least Laguna and the others wouldn't have to suffer from another stomach-churning mystery. The glowing Mount Fuji was probably enough of a headache on its own, so I was glad they wouldn't have to deal with a follow-up strike in the form of the time resetting to evening again.
That aside, Shiro-san was nowhere to be found. Even her explanation for my recent confusion had been delivered via that telepathic method where she spoke directly into my mind.
Since her wardrobe changes were instantaneous, she should have arrived before me. Wait... could it be that she was planning to show up late just so she could catch me off guard and make my heart throb when I turned around? Given her current obsession with romantic tropes, that was the only reason I could think of for her to enter after me.
But would it really work that well? If this were a surprise mixed bathing situation where I had no idea she was coming, that might be one thing. But here, I already knew we were bathing together. I was even aware that she was trying to force a situation she’d read about in a book, so I was mentally prepared. Under those circumstances, I doubted I'd have much of a reaction at all...
"Is that so?"
"Gah!?"
Or so I’d thought. Instead of coming through the dressing room door, Shiro-san appeared abruptly right behind me. Startled by her voice, I practically jumped out of my skin.
It had been a massive shock; she’d caught me completely off guard.
"Did your heart throb?"
"It did, but isn't this the wrong kind of throb?! That wasn't the romantic kind you were looking for! I was just terrified because you jumped out at me!"
"...That was a blind spot."
"No, please realize that sooner..."
As expected of her natural airheadedness, her desire to make my heart throb had taken precedence, but she’d accidentally veered straight into jump-scare territory.
"...Therefore, I shall redo it."
"Wait, what?! Calling for a Take 2 in this situation is way too much of a tall order!"
Was it even possible to give a genuine reaction when I was already expecting her to try again? I had zero confidence that I could provide a response that would actually satisfy her.
Despite my protests, it was already too late. Shiro-san vanished, leaving my shout to echo fruitlessly across the hot spring where the sunset shines in.
Serious-senpai: "...The next chapter looks like it's going to be a nightmare... Someone, please... swap places with me? Hello? Anyone? ???... Machina? Why is it that no one is around when I actually need them..."