Volume 10 - CH 64

Mishima Haruka sits next to you

“Ohh! So this is what a public bath looks like huh!”

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Mitsuki stepped into the bath, her body wrapped in a towel.

Naturally, since it’s Mitsuki’s first time at such a place, Misuzu, her younger sister, also shares her excitement.

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“So this a public bath!”

“There are other customers besides us too!”

“They even have 3 kinds of baths here, Onee-sama!”

“Look, Misuzu! The water here is white!”

“Onee-sama! There’s a cold bath here too!”

“……….still.”

“……….yes.”

“Honestly, the bath back at our house is……”

“Still bigger isn’t it…….”

“Please stop scattering around your rich folks’ vibe!”

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Risa was looking at Mitsuki and Misuzu with a smile until now but she couldn’t help but retort their last remark.

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“How nice…….., the rich do have it all, don’t they……”

“And the bath back at the shop is so old that it takes a while before the water becomes hot too……….”

“You guys are overreacting!”

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Haruka and Sakuya who were so taken aback at the disparity between the Fukamori sisters whose house has a bath that’s larger than a public bath ended up comparing the bath at their own house to theirs.

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“Now now, wash your bodies first, it’s good manners alright.”

“Ye~~s.”

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As though she’s the mom of the group, Emi urges Mitsuki and Misuzu to the shower.

Everyone follows behind them.

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“Wow!? I’ve always wanted to try the shampoo that you’re using, Misuzu……”

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The shampoo that Misuzu brings with her is a very popular brand among women but it’s very expensive and out of reach for students’ pocket money. It’s the brand that Emi wants to try buying once she grows up.

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“Ahh, Misuzu doesn’t really know about brands but it’s something Misuzu usually uses though.”

“Doesn’t know about brands…….?”

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Emi was shaken by Misuzu’s remark.

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“Does Emi want to use it too?”

“Yes!”

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She was shaken but she immediately took Misuzu up on her offer.

From the tube alone, she can already tell that it’s way more expensive than the 1,000JPY shampoo she usually uses.

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“Ahh……..”

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Emi borrowed the shampoo from Misuzu with sparkling eyes and she thoroughly enjoyed its touch and frothy texture.

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“……..eh? Everyone brought their own shampoo?”

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Yoru who was clueless about the culture where everyone brings their own soap and shampoo to a public bath was visibly surprised.

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“I have sensitive skin so I always have to prepare mine.”

“Ah! Haruka’s shampoo is the same as mine right!”

“Yes, it’s cheap and gentle on the skin isn’t it.”

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Haruka and Towa began chatting about their shampoo.

Meanwhile, Seiko and Nodoka, who were nearby, were also chatting about theirs.

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“Yu, Yurika! What about you! You didn’t bring one either right!?”

“Ha?”

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In her hands, Yurika was firmly holding a basket that holds a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and even facial cleansing foam.

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“Wait! You brought all that but you usually couldn’t care less about split ends right!?”

“I put a lot of care into my body though? Can you not have some random image about me.”

“………..”

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The girl was originally a heroine with low girl power……..

Just like that, everyone proceeds to wash their bodies and get into the baths of their own choosing.

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“G, Good afternoon! Misuzu-san!”

“H….., Hi.”

“C, Can I sit next to you!?”

“Do whatever you want.”

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Isn’t it evening already though? Misuzu thought as Haruka slid into the bath next to her.

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“I, I’m Mitsuki-san’s classmate and w, we get along.”

“It would appear so.”

“S, So, I’ve heard a lot about Misuzu-san and I’ve always wanted to talk to you.”

“Chatting with Misuzu is only boring you know. Misuzu’s been a loner since recently after all……”

“Haha…….I’ve been a loner until I met Akechi-san and Mitsuki-san too…….That’s why I have so much fun right now! Don’t you feel the same, Mitsuzu-san?”

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Misuzu starts to blush and Haruka gazes at her with a smile.

When she met Misuzu for the first time she thought that she may be able to get along with Misuzu better than Mitsuki because of their similarities.

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“They are all wonderful people……compared to me, they are just dazzling.”

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Haruka wants to get closer to both Hideyori and everyone in the Western Army.

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“You’re being too humble. Haruka is wonderful too right? You’re not like Misuzu since Misuzu’s is just empty………Just until a while ago, Misuzu’s time was frozen in time after all.”

“…….it’s the same for me. I was so worried about my Gift that I felt like my life was just frozen in place and I was making myself as small as possible in class. It’s tough when I notice that everyone thought of me as creepy and stared at me……”

“…….right, it was the same for Misuzu too.”

“Even so, I’m happy that I can talk with Misuzu-san like this now!”

“……….”

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“We are exactly the same huh…….” Misuzu mutters under her breath.

Even though her older sister was only trying to save her, she allowed herself to get spoiled by that kindness. Misuzu hates herself because of that.

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“I heard that Mitsuki-san and Misuzu-san didn’t get along very well. Do you still have any bitterness between the two of you?”

“………Yes. of course. Misuzu and Onee-sama get along now but Misuzu feels that if the crest was to come back, the current Misuzu would be gone……”

“………”

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Misuzu’s worries are painfully clear to Haruka when she thinks about what would happen if her [Energy Drain] runs out of control again.

Mitsuki as well. She always acts cheerful in front of Haruka and everyone but Haruka can sense that she’s also worried about how she should interact with Misuzu.

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“It’s okay. The current Misuzu-san can’t hurt Mitsuki-san anymore!”

“………..Haruka.”

“Besides, Akechi-san erased that crest for you, right? It will be okay! No matter how outrageous he sounds, Akechi-san would never lie. It’s as simple as that.”

“………seems like Misuzu can get along with you huh.”

“Let’s be friends, Misuzu-san!”

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A friendship has blossomed in the bath.

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“O~i, Misuzu, Haruka! Let’s head out!”

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While Haruka and Misuzu were chatting about Mitsuki, the person herself came over and called out to them.

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“I like how you’re so full of openings, Mitsuki-san!”

“It feels like she’s focusing too much on perfection but she’s always missing the mark isn’t it? She’s always been like this………”

“………..wha, can you not talk like I wasn’t here!?”

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Thus Mitsuki became the butt of the joke…….

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Author Note: Next up, Emi’s demise in [Moon&Bell] Route.