kscans

Chapter 764 - should we do?

After wandering around town for a bit, our youthful hearts were captured by a fast-food joint we stumbled upon. With our souvenir of Hakone burgers—a meal that felt somewhat mismatched with a hot spring resort—we returned to the inn.

A total of seven servings. As for the missing maid, if she didn't come back, either I or Toshiki could just finish hers. The high-class hamburgers, which from a normal person's perspective came with a rather staggering price tag, were a hit with everyone. Mission complete.

I was observing the two 'young ladies' to see if they could eat the high-class meal without a knife and fork, when Sora-san scolded me—

"Hmm?"

Our stomachs were full. The next logical step, a thoughtless choice unique to a hot spring inn, was to hit the baths. Just after we unanimously agreed to temporarily disperse...

Someone knocked on the door of the guys' room, which the girls had just left.

Toshiki and I were getting our things ready to head to the large public bath. We exchanged a look—did someone forget something?—and since I was closer, I went to the door...

"Oh, my. Welcome back?"

"Yes, I've just returned."

Standing in the hallway was the maid who had vanished so briskly this morning. She was practically glowing for some reason. I wonder where she'd been.

...And...

"Um... what is that?"

The moment I opened the door, a mysterious paper bag was thrust towards me.

I didn't need to check to know she was telling me to 'take it.' I knew that, but her unfathomable smiling face was so unnerving that I hesitated to reach out.

I voiced my caution.

"Hee hee... It's a present."

"What to do. That should sound lovely, but it's only making me more anxious."

"Now then, I have a small matter to attend to, so if you would please accompany me?"

A foreboding response, followed by a complete dismissal of my reaction. It was her usual pace, which was precisely why I should have been on high alert...

".........Alright. My friend, I leave this to you. Go on ahead."

"That's not the face of a man who just got invited somewhere by a beautiful woman... Right, got it."

Escape and resistance were both futile; that much was crystal clear. After taking a deep breath, I turned and showed my resolve, only to be met with an exasperated half-smile.

◇◆◇◆◇

—Where are we going?

—Somewhere nice.

After that wonderfully concise exchange, we were less than ten steps from the guys' room.

From a typical guy's perspective, the room of a pair of beautiful sisters would certainly qualify as 'somewhere nice,' I thought, giving her a sidelong glance as I obediently followed her in...

"Ah... honestly, Itsuki-san? What is this all of a sud—...Huh?!"

Greeting us was none other than Sora-san, whom I had just seen off with the older girls. Even my pushy friends had apparently had the decency not to invite a refined and graceful young lady to the hot springs with them, so her presence wasn't surprising.

But her actions were beyond strange.

The girl, who had her back to us as she faced her luggage against the wall, turned around at the sound of her sister's presence and, in the next instant, let out a startled shriek, frantically crumpling up something to hide it.

I didn't even get a glimpse, so it remains a mystery. But more importantly, it was probably a bad idea for me to have so casually followed the maid inside.

Judging by her reaction, she hadn't been told I was coming, and if I'd thought for a moment about Itsuki-san's usual behavior, I should have realized that was a possibility.

And so, I turned around to make my exit—

"My, and where might you be going?"

"Anywhere that isn't off-limits to men..."

But alas, my rabbit-like escape was not to be. She grabbed me by the collar and I was immediately apprehended.

Does this maid understand that depending on what Sora-san was messing with, a major incident could have occurred? I'd appreciate it if she didn't underestimate a young man's purity and consideration.

...Well, since we couldn't just stand here dithering forever...

"Um, so, what did you need? I was about to go for a bath—"

"Yes, precisely. I was hoping you would have a bath."

"............Right. ...Right?"

I didn't get it. So, assuming the rustling sounds had stopped because she was done putting away her luggage, I turned back and surveyed the room, trying to read the situation.

In here were a confused me and one smiling maid. And then there was Sora-san, her cheeks slightly flushed from agitation or something else, looking utterly bewildered.

And in my hand was one paper bag, labeled a 'present.'

And behind the now-facing-us girl, probably because she'd hidden it in a panic without thinking, was the edge of an identical paper bag peeking out of an open suitcase.

"......................"

Silent thought, deep contemplation, and then, revelation.

I opened the gift that had been shoved into my hands and found a bundle of cloth. Oh my, what wonderfully water-repellent fabric—

"Hssss...—Wait just a damn minute, you maid."

"Rest assured, I have already obtained permission."

"Permission for what?"

"Permission... to bathe... while wearing swimsuits."

Even an idiot could figure out what that meant, given the circumstances.

"Forgive my rudeness, but are you insane?"

"Well, I believe the hot springs are bubbling away year-round."

"I'm not in the mood for maid jokes right now. This is taking the joke too far—"

"Oh? Do you really think I would be joking when it comes to my beloved 'little sister'?"

"Y..................................................es. Yes, you absolutely would."

"Hee hee."

"Don't you 'hee hee' me, this is a bit much—wait, seriously, wait, dammit!"

And so, the battle began. This time, I couldn't just let myself be swept along by the flow. I lunged for her without hesitation or mercy... but my hands grasped only empty air.

Unfortunately, this was reality.

My stats, which were all sub-zero by avatar standards, were useless here. I had no skills, and there was no way a layman could do anything against a maid who, based on her words and actions, was likely some kind of real-life master.

Thus, the outcome was inevitable...

""......................""

With a series of fluid movements—a slip, a thud, a click—Itsuki-san made her swift exit, leaving behind a boy and a girl exchanging horribly awkward glances in a circle of hell.

As usual, we read each other's minds, grasped the situation perfectly, and thus could do nothing but continue our shared silence. But we couldn't just stand here like this forever.

"............"

"......................"

"...................................."

"............................................"

We couldn't, but neither of us could move or speak.

Seriously, what do we do? I get the stupid maid's playful intentions, but this time she's really gone too far. My head was too full of confusion and shock to think straight.

Yes, I understood her intentions—in other words, she's telling us to get in together, isn't she?!

That's not okay. No, it's definitely not okay.

""—....................................""

It's not... okay... but.

Why can't I look away from her?

Why is she, her face growing redder by the second, pinching the edge of the paper bag behind her back?

"..., ...Ah... U-um, j-just... for reference... I'd like to ask... something..."

This was probably the point of no return.

If, at this very moment, I had turned around and reset the situation, I could have avoided the hopeless heaven-and-hell that was about to follow. This was the last chance.

"Haru... um... a-are you... My... my swimsuit... (that sort of thing)... or..."

It was as if I'd turned to stone.

"...A-Are you... interested... in seeing it... at all...?"

I couldn't move.

As for my answer... well, having already been killed in so many different ways, it was—

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It's still daytime, so it's wholesome.