“Aahhn…”
A troubled voice, tinged with a lewd color, echoed.
The one letting out such a panting moan was—
“Fueehh… This feels so good…”
Tsukasa said with a melted expression.
Currently, Keiichiro was visiting an Open-Air Bath with Tsukasa.
This place was a high-class hotel located near the Dungeon.
Tonight, the Adventurers participating in the Raid would be staying here.
Apparently, it was for Adventurers delving into the same Dungeon to deepen their fellowship.
Incidentally, there was no one else in the hot spring besides Keiichiro and Tsukasa.
At Tsukasa’s request, they had intentionally shifted their time to avoid others.
And that was—probably the right decision.
Keiichiro looked at Tsukasa.
Tsukasa was bathing with a Bath Towel wrapped around his body.
Therefore, the area from his chest down to above his knees was hidden by the towel.
Tsukasa was exposing more skin than usual.
Even so, his figure looked just like a young girl’s.
White, slender limbs.
His cheeks, flushed from the heat of the water, even exuded a certain sexiness.
If it weren’t for the complete lack of curves on his chest and his own declaration, one would only think a young girl had wandered into the men’s bath.
If he were to bathe together (?) with male Adventurers, it would undoubtedly lead to trouble.
“Ehehe… Still, what a generous client, huh?”
Tsukasa giggled softly.
It seemed the hot spring was very much to his liking.
“That aspect is her own way of winning people over, I suppose.”
Akino’s voice came from beyond the fence separating the men’s and women’s baths.
Though hidden by the fence, she was also soaking in the same hot spring.
“This hotel seems to have connections with her family, so it likely didn’t cost as much as we might imagine.”
“Is that so?”
“At the very least, compared to the good impression it made, it was a cheap expense.”
Keiichiro had heard from Akino that Jessica was currently studying management.
This hospitality for the Raid expedition.
Perhaps it also had the aspect of her learning how to manage her subordinates’ motivation.
How well could she handle Adventurers she was meeting for the first time?
Indeed, that would likely test her qualities as a leader.
Rattle, rattle…
As Keiichiro was pondering such things, the entrance to the hot spring opened.
It seemed another guest had arrived.
“Oops…”
Tsukasa said, seemingly unconcerned.
Although they had shifted their time just in case, it was possible other guests would visit.
Besides, Tsukasa was a boy. There was actually no problem at all.
So there was no need to panic, but—
“Fuu…”
The sound of padding footsteps.
Through the steam, a small figure came into view.
That girl headed towards the showers and began washing her silver hair.
(…Is that…)
Gradually, the steam thinned, and the girl’s figure became clearer.
A delicate body, white as snow.
It was unmistakably—Usui Tooru.
(Why is she in the men’s bath…?)
Keiichiro instinctively looked at Tsukasa.
He looked exactly like a beautiful young girl.
But he was male.
(A-Are patterns like this common among middle schoolers these days…?)
Keiichiro was currently 22 years old.
It had been many years since he graduated from middle school.
So perhaps this was just a generation gap, and it was normal for today’s middle schoolers?
(Should I… point this out?)
While he was thinking about it, Tooru, having apparently finished washing, was walking towards them.
“Heya.”
“Mm… Hey.”
Tooru exchanged greetings with Tsukasa.
It was natural.
Tooru showed no signs of abnormality either.
(She’s not flustered even after seeing Tsukasa… so that’s how it is?)
Times sure have changed.
Then again, half a century ago, Dungeons didn’t even exist in this world.
If so, it wouldn’t be strange if this kind of change occurred in just a few years—
“………………”
“………………”
Tooru submerged her body in the water.
And finally—their eyes met.
A silence that felt like an eternity flowed between them.
However—
“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!?”
The silence was shattered by Tooru’s scream.
Tooru shot to her feet.
Though I won’t say what, something bounced.
Apparently, regardless of her demeanor, in terms of a feminine physique, she was quite different from Yukiko.
“Wh-Why is there a man in here!?”
Tooru questioned him, looking like she was about to cry.
Her mask of impassivity had already been blown to smithereens.
“Whoa, this is the men’s bath, you know.”
Nevertheless, Keiichiro was not at fault regarding his contact with her.
He calmly stated the fact.
“Eh—?”
Tooru froze.
Perhaps organizing her thoughts, she remained rigid for several seconds.
But then she shifted her gaze slightly to the side and rebooted.
“—No! I won’t be fooled! There’s actually a woman bathing here! You’re the criminal!”
Tooru’s eyes landed on Tsukasa.
She had assumed Tsukasa was female.
—The mystery of why she hadn’t realized her mistake the moment she first spotted Tsukasa was solved.
“I’m a boy, you know~?”
“Eh…? That’s… a lie… right…?”
At Tsukasa’s words, Tooru was dumbfounded.
Forgetting even to cover her body, she clutched her head.
It seemed the fact was too hard for her to believe.
“Well then… wanna see…?”
Smiling bewitchingly, Tsukasa stood up.
Water droplets glistened on his smooth skin as he moved in front of Tooru—
“Showing a girl… is a little embarrassing, though.”
He lifted the hem of his Bath Towel.
His thighs were gradually exposed.
Slowly, but surely, the towel lifted towards the critical point—
“I-I-I-It’s okay! I’ll go check the entrance!”
As if delirious, Tooru leaped out of the hot spring.
She then stumbled back towards the changing room, nearly falling over.
Incidentally, a few seconds later, a voice could be heard saying, “I’m sorry, I made a mistake~~!”
The sound of hurried footsteps faded into the distance.
She had likely headed towards the proper women’s bath.
“Glad the misunderstanding was cleared up, huh?”
“So… what were you planning to show her?”
Keiichiro gave Tsukasa a half-lidded stare.
Even if he had continued lifting the Bath Towel.
Even if Tooru hadn’t run away.
How had he intended to resolve the situation from there?
“Don’t be like that. I was planning to properly show her my chest, okay? If I showed her below, that would actually be a crime, you know.”
“You… you’re surprisingly wicked.”
Tsukasa grinned playfully.
Meanwhile, Keiichiro let out a sigh and leaned back into the water.
“Buuut, I don’t really want to hear that from someone who was staring hard at a junior high girl’s chest.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Did you know? Girls are sensitive to gazes, you know?”
“Then that doesn’t apply to you.”
When Keiichiro said that, Tsukasa whined, “So cold,” and twisted his hips.
—The way his towel lifted, revealing his legs almost to the hip, was probably intentional.
“So, how was it?”
“Well… bigger than Yukiko’s, I guess.”
“Comparing her to another woman… My big brother is quite the scoundrel.”
Exchanging such conversation, Keiichiro and the others enjoyed the hot spring.
☆
“Earlier… I’m sorry for doubting you…”
The one offering the apology was Tooru.
She was sitting seiza-style next to Keiichiro.
Of course, he hadn’t forced her to do it as a sign of repentance.
Currently, Keiichiro and the others were eating in a large tatami room.
Gathered in this room were the host, Jessica, and all the Adventurers participating in the Raid.
Each was savoring the food, downing drinks, and enjoying themselves in their own way.
“Also… thank you for inviting me over here.”
Tooru said in a voice that seemed about to fade away.
—She hadn’t been here from the start.
Apparently, she worked solo and didn’t seem to know anyone else in this Raid.
Seeing her looking out of place at the edge of the hall, Keiichiro had invited her over.
“Many Adventurers are bad drunks. If you’re not drinking yourself, it’s better to stick with others who aren’t drinking.”
“…Yes.”
The reason Keiichiro had invited her was that the Adventurers near where Tooru had been standing were already quite drunk.
If she had chosen a seat near them, she would have ended up surrounded by drunkards.
Figuring she’d be anxious if that happened, he decided to protect her.
Fortunately, since the members of [Omokage] other than Keiichiro were minors, he also planned to avoid alcohol today.
Besides, Jessica was here, chatting amiably with Akino.
Even if someone got plastered, they probably wouldn’t dare bother the host.
In that sense, this spot should be a safe zone for Tooru.
“Uhm… umm……… Kageura-san, you’re quite knowledgeable about these things, aren’t you?”
Tooru glanced sideways at Keiichiro and said so.
Perhaps due to nervousness, her impassive facade was considerably cracked.
“Well… there was a time when I went to Dungeons whenever I had free time.”
(Besides, back in the Demon Capital, I got plenty of practice avoiding trouble.)
In the Demon Capital, Keiichiro had been an object of ridicule and a convenient target.
Someone they never lacked topics to mock, and if he resisted, they could just beat him into silence.
That’s the kind of person he had been.
That’s why Keiichiro naturally ended up learning how to navigate situations to avoid getting caught up in troubles between Adventurers.
“If you have broad connections among Adventurers, there are usually older folks who teach you that sort of thing,” Tsukasa commented.
“…I’ve always done things alone.”
Tōru put a piece of sashimi into her mouth.
Apparently, it was delicious, as the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
—Though she quickly erased her expression as if catching herself.
It seemed her personality wasn’t fundamentally suited for acting.
“Ah…”
“What’s wrong?”
“No…”
Tōru looked somewhat restless.
Her chopsticks hesitated slightly.
This was—
“Oh my. Was there something you dislike?”
Perhaps noticing Keiichiro and Tōru’s exchange, Akino asked.
Tōru then gave a reserved nod.
“Mm… The Abalone is a bit… its appearance…”
“Ahh… I also find it a bit gross, so I might not like it either,” Tsukasa said, sticking out his tongue.
“Gross…? Aren’t Monsters grosser?”
“You just cut Monsters, right? Keiichiro-oniichan, are you going to pop an Orc in your mouth?”
“Why did you choose Orc…? I sense nothing but malice from that.”
Keiichiro’s mouth twitched.
Orcs.
Not exactly the face he wanted to picture during a meal.
“Well, anyway. If that’s the case, want to trade it for something of mine?”
“Eh…”
When Keiichiro made the suggestion, Tōru let out a sound of surprise.
“There’s no need to force yourself to eat something you dislike. If there’s something else you’d prefer, I’ll trade you.”
Normally might be one thing, but this was a social gathering.
There was no reason she should feel bad for only eating what she liked.
“Ah… Thank you very much… Um—”
Tōru gazed at the dishes laid out in front of Keiichiro.
Her gaze shifted.
Keiichiro read her expression—
“Then, this one.”
“Ah…”
Without giving her a chance to object, Keiichiro handed the chawanmushi to Tōru.
She looked up at him, slightly surprised.
—When Tōru had glanced over the dishes, there was a moment her gaze had briefly paused.
What she had been looking at then was the chawanmushi.
It was probably her favorite dish.
However, it was an exchange for something she disliked.
She would surely hesitate out of politeness.
Thinking that, Keiichiro had preemptively pushed the chawanmushi onto her.
“That split-second read… Onii-chan, what technique!”
“You handled that quite smoothly, didn’t you?”
Tsukasa and Akino seemed to have seen through the true nature of the exchange, smiling knowingly.
“Eh… Wh-what do you mean?!”
“Ufufu. It seems this subtlety is still lost on you, Jessica.”
“Wh-what is it—!”
Incidentally, Jessica didn’t seem to grasp the implication and was being teased by Akino.
Because Keiichiro had only ever seen Akino interact with her subordinates in a purely business capacity, seeing her chatting amiably with friends felt a little strange.
However, it was likely a welcome sort of strangeness.
“Well then…”
Looking formal, Tōru picked up the Abalone.
And then, as if offering it to Keiichiro—
“Kageura-san… Please eat my Abalone.”
she said.
“””…”””
Keiichiro, Tsukasa, and Akino fell silent for a moment.
Because, depending on how one heard it, it was quite a suggestive statement.
“I’ll give you my Abalone too, Kageura-oniichan. Fufu… Quite the decadent party, isn’t it?”
“Don’t laugh so suggestively. And stop trying to casually push yours onto me too.”
Keiichiro lightly pushed away Tsukasa, who was whispering in his ear.
That said, since Tsukasa had also mentioned disliking it, Keiichiro decided to take his Abalone as well.
In exchange, he passed some randomly chosen sashimi onto Tsukasa’s plate, but when Tsukasa blurted out, “Such a gentleman,” Keiichiro took back several slices.
“W-wait… what’s going on?!”
“Regarding this matter… I shall explain it in a few years, when it’s just us ladies.”
Incidentally, that’s what the ladies were discussing amongst themselves.
The Raid is about to begin.