CH 24

Seto was currently getting his hair washed by Satis, who was standing on her knees.

One would think that just rinsing it with hot water would be enough to remove all the dirt, but Satis used her hands to clean his scalp.

[Ah, please hold still. I can’t wash you properly if you don’t.] (Satis)

[Wait, err…] (Seto)

He was well aware that having her wash his hair was pleasant, but there was one more thing he also felt.

It was only at times, but it hit his back with every movement she made.

He did not dare say what it was.

If Seto himself became conscious of it, his sense of reason would completely crumble.

It felt soft and warm.

The springy sensation spread throughout Seto’s entire back, making it all too easy for him to imagine them despite facing forward and not seeing them.

[L-Look! We’re done now, aren’t we!?] (Seto)

[No, we’re not! We haven’t washed your body yet, remember?] (Satis)

[Ugh…] (Seto)

Bathing was a time of relaxation and bliss.

Yet here, it had instantly turned into a battle of nerves and reason.

But he could not possibly disregard Satis’ good intentions.

It was due to this situation that Seto was focusing on emptying his mind of all impure thoughts.

[I’ll wash your back, so you wash the front, okay?] (Satis)

[As you see fit.] (Seto)

[Where did you learn to speak like that…?] (Satis)

[Shiki soku ze kuu, kuu soku ze shiki… shiki fu i kuu, kuu fu i shiki…] (Seto) (T/N: he’s reciting the heart sutra)

[Wai-! Stop this! You’re freaking me out!] (Satis)

Seto was uttering what seemed to be a strange incantation.

Meanwhile, Satis washed every inch of his back.

He was covered in all sorts of scars.

Not only swords wounds, but also traces of torture.

Satis carefully washed his back that was so painful to look at.

It was too cruel a burden to bear for such a small back.

[…Okay. Now go ahead and wash the front.] (Satis)

[R-Right.] (Seto)

[Well, I should wash myself as well.] (Satis)

She then sat down next to Seto, and started pouring hot water over herself.

The boy carefully washed the front part of his body with his eyes thinly opened and his vision narrowed, as if he were meditating.

After a thorough washing, he went into the bath with his back to Satis.

This was the best choice for him, because otherwise, he would end up seeing her.

[Phew~! It feels so good. Seto, how’s the water temperature?] (Satis)

[Yeah, it’s good. It feels as warm as the water of the public baffs…] (Seto)

[Your tongue slipped just now. Then, I’m going in too.] (Satis)

[Eh!?] (Seto)

Seto was happy to hear it, yet at the same time, he felt in danger.

Her body was, to put it bluntly, too much for someone like him who was not used to women.

Even in her usual attire, Satis looked absolutely sensual, but here, that was even more the case.

For Seto, even this sort of development, which anyone would have envied, was basically an ordeal he had to overcome.

[Whew~! Bathing is such a pleasure. I would even say that it washes so many of my worries away I want to take one everyday.] (Satis) 

[I agree. …I’d like to take a long soak in it if I could.] (Seto)

[But aren’t you already in it?] (Satis)

[Err, right… I am.] (Seto)

He felt as if he was going to go crazy because of his own weakness of mind and guilt toward Satis, whom he could not help but stare at no matter how much he resisted the desire.

In the midst of all this, Satis was strangely unsuspecting and handled this situation with maturity.

Even though she felt quite embarrassed and nervous because she was conscious of Seto, she calmly enjoyed the bath without showing it.

Her cheeks did look flushed, but she could use the bath as an excuse for it.

I can tell that he’s staring at me a lot, but… Maybe I’m being a bit too assertive. (Satis)

Crap…! Calm down! …Wait. How do I calm myself down again? (Seto)

There was no conversation between the two, and a time of silence and warmth reigned.

If he stayed in the water any longer, Seto, who was losing his composure, would get dizzy first, which would affect their plans for tomorrow.

Needless to say, this had to be avoided.

Satis addressed him as if to warn him about it.

[Seto.] (Satis)

[Yesh…!?] (Seto)

[Why did you raise your voice like that? …I think you should start leaving the bathtub.] (Satis)

[O-Oh! Right! I’m stepping out. It was a nice bath!] (Seto)

[Ah! Make sure you wipe yourself dry, okay?] (Satis)

[I know!] (Seto)

He got out of the bathroom in a hurry, wiped himself as he was told, and put on freshly-cleaned clothes.

Satis was apparently also having her combat suit washed using a spell made exclusively for that, and there was a piece of clothing for her to wear after her bath as well.

It was the tube top he had seen her wear at the inn of Clay Shut.

The moment Seto saw it, his brain went blank as if he had been sparked.

[Take this!!] (Seto)

As he was about to reach out for it with his hand, the boy closed it into a fist and punched himself in the face.

He felt the pain and stimulation bring him back to his senses.

[Haah… Haah… That was too close.] (Seto)

[S-Seto!? What was that shout and noise!?] (Satis)

Satis expressed her worry from inside the bathroom.

[…It’s nothing. Don’t worry. …You’re safe now.] (Seto)

[Eh? Safe? …From what?] (Satis)

[You don’t need to know. …Only that I stopped a tragedy before it could happen. But it’s okay now. Be at ease.] (Seto)

[I-Is that so?] (Satis)

Seto walked unsteadily to the living room and sat down on the sofa.

He slumped into the comfy sofa with just the right amount of exhaustion.

Feeling the coolness peculiar to ness unique to the moment right after the bath, he leaned back on the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.

The fatigue he felt as if he had just completed a job gradually disappeared, and a sense of relief lulled him to sleep.

[…I think I’ll go to bed now.] (Seto)

Right after he got up, Satis entered the living room.

It was both the best and the worst timing.

Her body looked flushed, and she was in that outfit from earlier.

He was about to go to bed, but now the sight of her would be burned into his mind, keeping him awake.

[Oh? Are you already going to rest?] (Satis)

[Yeah, I am. Because I wanna be in perfect condition for our picnic tomorrow.] (Seto)

[Hm-hmm… Shall we sleep together again?] (Satis)

[Huh!? …G-G-G’night!] (Seto)

Feeling his body temperature rise up in one go, Seto rushed to his room upstairs.

[Oh dear… Was that too stimulating for him? …I wish he would get used to it, though. Well, I suppose I shouldn’t demand too much of a child.] (Satis)

Satis also went upstairs and was going to enter her room.

As she was about to open the door, she suddenly felt a gaze.

Seto peeked out from his room and looked in her direction.

Unlike how he usually behaved, he addressed her in a bashful manner.

[Erm… Thank you.] (Seto)

[Eh?] (Satis)

[I mean… for taking… a bath… with me…] (Seto)

After murmuring that, he slowly closed the door.

He just squeezed out his own words of gratitude.

It sounded pretty clumsy and inarticulate, but for Satis, it was enough.

In fact, she thought for a moment that she might have inconvenienced him instead, but when she heard his words of thanks, Satis smiled.

[“For taking a bath with me”, he says… Fufufu. What strange gratitude.] (Satis)

Satis also went into her room and laid in bed in preparation for tomorrow.

Seto could sleep in, but Satis could not.

She was going to be busy preparing lunch and other things.

She wanted to make this an unforgettable memory for both of them by putting all of her skills into cooking.

[Good night, Seto. …And sweet dreams.] (Satis)