After saying that, Yukino slowly turned and began taking off her top.
When she noticed Haru staring at her, her face flushed red. "Turn around!" she snapped.
"You're going to bathe with me anyway. Why does it matter?" Haru said, though he turned his head.
He understood her feelings. Even he would feel awkward if someone kept staring at him while he was changing.
From behind came the faint sound of movement. After a few seconds, water splashed in the tub, and Yukino's familiar scent quietly filled the air.
Haru turned back and saw that she had even held a towel over her chest. He couldn't help but smile.
Yukino ignored his glance, easing herself into the bathtub. "Aren't you curious why I suddenly decided to join you?" she asked softly.
They had bathed together before, but it had usually been Haru's initiative. Yukino had always reluctantly agreed, her face red.
"I'm curious," he replied, "but more than that… aren't you worried about being seen by senpai?"
Haru admired her flawless skin and long, straight legs underwater. Truly, she was a feast for the eyes.
"Senpai is busy," Yukino said, lips curling into a small smile as she recalled something amusing.
"She's still a rookie in filming. She started later than us, so she's run into quite a few difficulties."
Haru nodded, understanding. "She's running into a tricky problem but can't bring herself to ask you for help, so she's frustrated?"
Yukino's smile widened slightly. "She did ask me at first. I explained everything carefully, but… she started too late and didn't fully grasp some things. And you know I can't stand incompetence."
Haru chuckled.
He knew about Yukino's intolerance for idiots. When someone couldn't learn or didn't have the patience, she would get genuinely annoyed.
But right now, she was smiling. That meant her 'dislike for incompetence' wasn't fully triggered.
Most likely, she had remembered a personal issue with Utaha and taken the opportunity to tease her.
As a result, Utaha wouldn't ask for help, and Yukino could enjoy the satisfaction.
"When I came out, she was sitting in the room with a scowl, legs crossed, bouncing one foot," Yukino continued.
Haru pictured the scene and nodded. "She does that when she's impatient."
"That's why I felt justified in coming to bathe," Yukino said, letting out a slow breath.
There was something comforting about being enveloped in the warm water. No matter how many times she experienced it, it never grew tiresome.
Haru admired her for a moment, then asked quietly, "So… she probably won't come out for a while?"
"Yes. She's tackling a difficult problem… Wait, what's with that look?"
Yukino's eyes flicked to Haru, suddenly noticing the gleam in his gaze.
It practically screamed: Perfect chance for a sneak attack.
I never thought about sneaking! Yukino's face flushed, a mix of anger and embarrassment.
Haru said nothing, only smiled, and she had to take a deep, controlled breath. "What do you want to do?" she asked.
Haru gestured toward her lips.
Yukino's cheeks turned crimson. She clenched her fists in frustration, then relaxed. "I don't want senpai to see anything like that," she murmured.
"Then I'll lock the door. That way, even if she comes, we'll have time," Haru said, already moving toward the door.
Seeing his eagerness, Yukino couldn't help but cover her face, feeling both shy and helpless.
She knew she wasn't good at these things. And since she neither liked nor disliked them, Haru had never forced her. If she didn't agree, it was over.
She touched her lips, thinking: Am I really that… tempting?
…
After the bath, Yukino wrapped herself in a bathrobe and went to the living room first.
She used a towel to dry her wet hair, glancing toward the bedroom from time to time.
It seemed quiet inside.
She decided to hold off on drying her hair and go check.
Whether it was from earlier, when she had been amused at his reaction, or the relaxing, slightly embarrassing bath, her mood was completely at ease.
She was genuinely happy.
When Yukino entered the bedroom, she saw Utaha sitting at her desk, deeply focused. Under the desk, her black stockings-covered legs twitched incessantly.
"You're not done yet?" Yukino asked casually.
"Yeah, a bit troublesome, but I'll finish tonight. I plan to shoot on location the first day of the break… Huh? You're taking a bath now?"
Utaha put down her pen and finally turned, her tone pausing for a moment.
Yukino calmly said, "I usually bathe at this time. Is that strange?"
Utaha's eyes went blank for a moment.
Then her mind clicked. Wait, didn't he just go to the bath?
Yukino nodded.
"So… you two were together?" Utaha asked, staring intensely.
Yukino's calm expression didn't waver. "Given our current relationship, I'd be surprised if you found it strange."
"No, I mean…"
Utaha stood up.
She was naturally taller than Yukino, and at this moment, her curiosity burned so intensely that even her presence seemed to tower over Yukino.
Her gaze locked onto Yukino, sharp and unyielding, and her voice carried an almost teasing lilt: "So… did you do it together?"
Yukino: "…"
What I fear most is the sudden concern of friends.
This line of lyrics suddenly perfectly fits Yukino's mood at the moment.
She didn't see irritation on Utaha's face, only curiosity and concern.
Which could only mean… there was more to come.
As expected, when Yukino remained silent, Utaha continued, her tone teasing: "In that case… do you even have the energy for tonight?"
Yukino had just decided to end this embarrassing topic when Utaha muttered, almost to herself: "If it were only me, wouldn't it be torture for you just watching from the side?"
"Senpai, you can shut up now!"
Yukino interrupted coldly.
It was a strange feeling. She had come in a good mood, fully prepared to be interrogated.
Yet she hadn't expected Utaha's words to be so explosive and direct.
'Do it together'?
Was that something anyone could hear for free?
As for whether she had energy left tonight… Yukino didn't even want to think about it.
At any time, she could confidently say that she was stronger than Utaha in battle.
That was the confidence of Yukinoshita Yukino!
"You don't look that tired," Utaha continued, still muttering to herself. "I guess he held back on you."
Yukino took a deep breath and said coldly, "Senpai, is that all you have in your head?"
"It's you who brought this up first."
"You're funny. Did I ever say anything like that?"
"Yukino, do you even realize what you're saying? Late at night, while I'm handling serious matters here, you sneak off to bathe with him, then show up in front of me as if nothing happened. Isn't that basically announcing to me that you went sneaking around?"
"..."
Yukino froze for a moment.
She realized her rival's logic… made sense.
The problem was, she had no intention of bragging about such a thing.
Sure, she had sneaked around before and didn't mind doing it, but she would never boast.
Just then, she felt a movement along her leg.
She focused, looking down, and saw Utaha smirking mischievously, poking her leg with a finger.
Then she heard the playful question: "Weak legs yet?"
Yukino paused for two seconds before moving her hand.
She was about to use a joint lock!
"Wait, don't come over!"
~~~~~~~~~~