This employee uniform... isn't it kind of mocking something?"
Looking at the short-sleeved shirt with the words "身体健康" printed on it, Patchouli couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her eye. (T/N: 身体健康/Shēntǐ jiànkāng means Good Health)
It was obviously a perfectly normal blessing, yet no matter how she looked at it, something felt off.
But since she had no other clothes to change into, she could only put it on with a dark expression. The originally loose clothing suddenly felt tight on her body.
The words "身体健康" now looked as if they had been brutally stretched and distorted beyond recognition.
Patchouli tugged at the hem of her shirt. Her face, already flushed from the bath, turned an even deeper shade of red.
She should ask the boss later if there was a larger size available...
After tugging the shirt down enough to barely cover her navel, she finally lowered her head and stepped lightly out of the bathroom.
Glancing at the living room on her way, she saw no sign of Rin and proceeded directly to her room.
However, the moment she opened the door and saw the two figures inside, she froze in place.
Yukari Yakumo had been about to greet her with a smile, but her pupils suddenly contracted sharply.
This woman... was hiding such a terrifying figure under those loose robes?
Previously, her size had been obscured by her relaxed loungewear, but now that she had changed clothes, it was like a beast had been unleashed!
While Yukari was momentarily stunned, Patchouli took another careful look around the room to confirm that, indeed, this was her assigned room.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Ahem, well... Patchouli, could we switch rooms?"
"You're a new guest, so you should have a more comfortable space. Meanwhile, Chen isn't used to large rooms, and I couldn't convince her otherwise, so..."
"It's fine, it's just a room swap. Which room was originally yours?"
Patchouli didn't really mind. As long as she had books to read, it didn't matter where she stayed.
Seeing how readily she agreed, Yukari's eyes brightened slightly.
"Our room is at the end of the hallway. I'll help you move your things over."
"Thanks."
"No problem~ I'll also set up a shortcut passage so you won't have to walk too much."
Yukari grinned and waved her folding fan. Patchouli's belongings floated up and disappeared into a gap in space.
Once everything was moved, the gap expanded to the size of a doorway, revealing a clear view of the new room on the other side.
Patchouli didn't overthink it. She simply nodded at Yukari before stepping through.
"Good night~ I hope you have pleasant dreams."
Yukari sincerely wished her well before closing the gap.
Patchouli stared blankly at the white walls, feeling a vague sense that Yukari was up to something.
After hesitating for a moment, she locked the door and windows as a precaution against any strange happenings during the night.
She even reinforced them with multiple magical seals before finally relaxing and settling down with a book.
★ Meanwhile, in the next room… ★
"Lift your head a bit. Rest it properly on the pillow so you don't wake up with a stiff neck."
Rin patted Marisa's cheek as he instructed, but all he got in response was a drowsy mumble.
After firmly pressing her head into the pillow, he tucked her in and headed toward the door.
Before leaving, he reminded her:
"Don't kick off the blanket at night. If you're thirsty, there's a water jug on the table."
"Since you're sleeping alone tonight, don't worry about snoring—go all out."
Click.
As the lights went out and the door closed, the room was enveloped in a tranquil silence.
Only the slow and steady rhythm of Marisa's breathing echoed in the air, and the overwhelming drowsiness gradually pulled everything into slumber.
But only three minutes later, Marisa's breath hitched. The instant her eyes snapped open, she was fully awake.
She had pulled it off!
She finally had the perfect opportunity to escape!
With a triumphant grin, she shot up from the bed.
The boss was too naive—did he really think she would make the same mistake twice?
"That damn sadistic boss... If I ever get the chance, I swear I'll tie him up, strip his shop bare, and make him experience what it's like to pass out from exhaustion!"
Muttering curses under her breath, Marisa climbed out of bed as quietly as possible, taking every step with utmost caution.
As she edged toward the window, her heart pounded with excitement—
"Tonight, I taste freedom Da☆Ze!"
"Congratulations."
"Heh, same to yo—"
Marisa's grin froze in place. A sudden chill shot down her spine, making her entire body stiffen.
As the room lights flicked back on, she turned her head with excruciating slowness, only to see Rin standing right there. His body blending with the shadow as light from the night sky doesn't seem to penetrate the darkness.
In conclusion, he had never left from the start.
"Bo... Boss, listen, I can explain—"
"I, I, I... I have a habit of sleep-talking and, um, sleepwalking...! You know sleep talk isn't reliable, right?!"
"You know me—I'm the most dedicated employee in this shop! How could I ever think of running away?!"
Rin remained smiling as he nodded along, seemingly agreeing with every word as he slowly approached her.
Just as Marisa was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he asked:
"All done with your last words? Because I'm about to start."
『 Sage ─ Tenfold Sensitivity Warm-Up 』
"Eeeeeek!!! HEL—"
The blood-curdling scream was abruptly cut off, sending shivers down Patchouli and Yukari's spines in their respective rooms.
It was as if Marisa's throat had been seized in an iron grip, silencing her completely.
Her eyes rolled back, and her trembling body collapsed straight into Rin's arms.
Just a single moment of contact, and the tidal wave of sensation nearly shattered Marisa's sanity.
"Guh... nggh... you..."
As the shop owner, Rin was naturally concerned about his employee's well-being as he pat her shoulder.
"Marisa, are you okay? Try to stay conscious. Look at me. Keep yourself awake. Don't let desire pierce your will, Marisa!"
As Rin gently cradled her face, his hands firm yet searingly warm.
It felt like being ensnared by a devil's grasp, the heat igniting a wildfire in her veins.
Involuntarily, her legs clamped around Rin's waist, and her forehead pressed tightly against his chin.
As she finally managed to catch her breath, his voice—like the whisper of a demon—echoed in her ear:
"Well, warm-up's over. Let's turn up the intensity."