Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed through the dimly lit hallway, bouncing off the pristine black and white walls. The Yukine household maintained an elegant yet modern aesthetic, each room seamlessly blending into the next with a monochrome theme. The guest room was no exception.
An average-sized bed lay in the middle, its sheets crisp and undisturbed. Beside it, two small drawers stood with a sleek white lamp resting atop one. Across the room, a massive closet loomed on the far left, while a study table accompanied it on the side. A thick black carpet covered the entire floor, not a single speck of dust in sight.
All in all, it was like staying in a five-star hotel.
"You can also take a bath if you want... hehe." Mr. Yukine grinned, flashing a thumbs-up after opening the door to the guest room. His lighthearted tone, however, carried an undertone that made Hikari wary. He didn't question it, merely nodding in response.
"This is our guest room." Mr. Yukine smiled as if he hadn't just walked Hikari to it mere moments ago. "You can sleep here for the night."
"Thank you, sir." That was all Hikari could muster.
"The bath is already available. You can use it," Mr. Yukine added before turning on his heels and heading downstairs, likely to enjoy his late dinner. Hikari watched his retreating figure for a moment before shutting the door behind him.
Silence engulfed the space, giving him a moment to take in his surroundings properly. It was certainly a luxurious room—clean, well-furnished, and exuding a sense of tranquility. Even so, he found himself feeling slightly out of place.
After admiring the room for a bit, Hikari turned his attention to more pressing matters—his uniform. He needed to wash it. But then another thought struck him, halting his movements entirely.
Wait… if I take a bath first, I won't have a change of clothes. And if I wash my clothes first, I'll be standing around naked while waiting for them to dry. So what do I do first? Hikari contemplated as he paced back and forth.
An unexpected dilemma. He ruffled his dampening hair in frustration, running over his options. In the end, it didn't really matter which came first, the result was the same. Deciding to take a bath first, he reasoned that he could just wrap a towel around his waist while waiting for his clothes to dry. That seemed logical enough.
The moment he pushed open the bathroom door, his eyes widened. The place was massive. Large enough for at least seven people to fit comfortably, with still plenty of space to spare.
A grand bathtub stood proudly on the left side, already filled with steaming hot water. The scent of faint lavender mixed with the warmth in the air, creating an oddly relaxing atmosphere.
Stepping inside, Hikari allowed himself to sink into the tub, exhaling as the soothing heat embraced his worn-out muscles. It had been a long day—too long. This, at least, was a well-earned moment of peace.
He closed his eyes, letting his thoughts drift as the water worked its magic on his body.
But, of course, his peace was short-lived.
The door creaked open.
A figure stepped in.
Hikari's eyes snapped open in alarm.
"Waaaghh!!!" Hikari screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Kyaa! I'm so sorry, Hikari!" Mitsumi's panicked voice rang out as she froze in place, her hands immediately flying to cover her eyes. "I didn't know you were here, I just entered! I'm really sorry!"
Out of all the things that could happen, this?! No, this was too cliché to be real! Was he in some kind of ridiculous rom-com now?! Hikari felt like a piece of his soul died when Mitsumi opened the door in front of his face.
Hikari turned his head away instantly, face burning hotter than the bathwater. "It's—! It's fine! I mean, it's not fine, but—! Just go!" He floundered for words, the sheer absurdity of the situation making it hard to think straight.
Mitsumi, seemingly just as flustered, hastily turned on her heels and bolted out of the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving nothing but the sound of water sloshing against the tub.
Hikari sank further into the bath, covering his face with his hands. How did that even happen? He had been so caught up in marveling at the bathroom's size that he completely forgot to lock the door.
From downstairs, he suddenly heard a burst of laughter.
Enhanced hearing— activate.
"So, you just walked in on him while he was taking a bath? Hahaha!" Mr. Yukine's laughter boomed throughout the house. "As I thought, my daughter is super aggressive!"
"So, did you see anything?" Mrs. Yukine giggled.
"Eh?!" Mitsumi's voice cracked with embarrassment. "N-No! No! I didn't see anything!"
"In any case, that's a relief." Mrs. Yukine's tone shifted to something more serious. "I wonder if Hikari got angry."
"Probably not! Hikari isn't that shallow, and it was clearly his fault for purposefully not locking the door in the first place."
Hikari nearly choked on air.
Purposefully?! Where did Mr. Yukine get that idea?!
Groaning, he sank completely into the tub, gurgling under the water in frustration.
He stayed there for a moment before resurfacing, exhaling sharply. It wasn't worth getting worked up over. Mistakes happen. And, well… at least Mitsumi didn't actually see anything.
Just as he was calming down, footsteps echoed from the hallway above.
Probably Mitsumi… She must be coming to apologize.
Hikari hurried through the rest of his bath, quickly drying off before stepping out. As expected, Mitsumi stood right outside the door, eyes glued to the floor.
"Um, I'm sorry, Mitsumi!" Hikari blurted before she could say anything. "I forgot to lock the door, and I even yelled at you. I'm really sorry, it was all my fault."
Mitsumi lifted her head slightly. "No, I should be the one apologizing. I'm really sorry, Hikari, for barging in like that." She fidgeted slightly, face still tinted pink. "I didn't mean to."
"No, don't apologize. Next time, I won't forget to lock the door. That was on me."
A moment of silence passed before Mitsumi hesitantly asked, "Are you mad at me?"
Hikari shook his head. "Of course not! Why would I be? It was just an accident."
Mitsumi's shoulders relaxed at his words. "Thank you, Hikari."
A few seconds passed before she spoke again. "By the way… you only brought your uniform, right? What are you going to wear for the night?"
Hikari stiffened. Oh, right. He hadn't thought about that.
"I guess… I'll just wear my undershirt after I wash it."
Mitsumi hummed, then smiled. "I'll ask Dad to lend you some clothes. And while I'm at it, I can wash your clothes together with mine if you'd like."
"Eh?! Eh?!"
"Or do you prefer to wash them yourself?"
"Y-Yeah, I'll do it myself. I don't want to trouble you."
Mitsumi simply nodded. "Okay. Just wait in the guest room, alright?"
As she walked off, Hikari retreated to his room, wrapping the towel tighter around himself. He sat on the bed, the cool air sending a chill up his spine.
Knock.
"Come in."
Mitsumi entered, handing him a neatly folded set of clothes. "Here. Dad said you could borrow these."
"Thanks."
Just as she turned to leave, something shifted behind Hikari—a shadow.
A whisper slid through the air. "Meet me outside in less than an hour. I need to tell you something."
Hikari stiffened. That voice…
"Master Ryu?"