Wake up unexpectedly. Feeling restless, I decided to go for a walk. Maybe it was the fever, or perhaps I had sweated too much in my sleep. Either way, I thought a bath would help, so I headed to the large communal bath.
"What's the matter? Up at this hour?"
Yata-chan and Toki-san were enjoying a drink under the moonlight in the open-air bath.
They were soaking their feet in the water, completely bare…
Their pale, naked bodies bathed in the moonlight were breathtakingly beautiful.
There was no reason to feel embarrassed at this point. I admired them briefly, then rinsed off and sank into the hot water.
"Come here."
"Excuse me."
They gestured for me to join them, so I waded over, the water rippling softly.
Once I got close enough, I sank in up to my shoulders and let out a deep sigh.
"Here, have a drink."
I held out my hand, and smoothly, a small sake cup was placed in it. A stream of warm sake followed, poured directly from a tokkuri flask.
"Thank you. I'll have some."
I downed the drink in one go. It was good sake—smooth and rich.
With an empty stomach and a weary body, the alcohol seeped through me.
As I exhaled, a soft "Fuhh…" escaped my lips.
"What's wrong? You look like you've just remembered something unpleasant."
Yata-chan peered at me, as if reading my thoughts.
"I just… started recalling some things."
There was no need to hide it, so I spoke honestly.
"Oh? Anything new?"
"Just some memories from the past… but they don't really matter anymore."
In this state, my past self had already been fully accepted. My old name, my memories—they all seemed meaningless now.
"Yeah, that's how it is."
Yata-chan poured me another drink, as if to say, "Don't overthink it, just drink." I obediently took another sip.
"At the very least, we're happy you're here. So who you used to be doesn't matter."
She chuckled heartily.
"That's the conclusion, huh?"
This was a world where being a man alone was enough to be welcomed. It could have been anyone.
My mind drifted back to my past—a reality where my sense of self-worth had been steadily chipped away. But if this "worthless" version of me was fine here, then maybe everything was okay.
"By the way, it's not just because you're a man. It's because you are you."
Suddenly, I was pulled into a tight embrace.
It was Toki-san.
Unlike Yata-chan, she had a noticeably fuller figure, and the softness pressing against me caught me off guard.
Was this normal physical distance here?
No, judging by how Misago had acted before, it seemed like people here liked keeping things close.
"As of now, there's no man more wonderful than you. You are one of a kind. Misago, Hachikuma, even this lovestruck fool of a mother—everyone feels the same way. You should know that."
She was being very extreme. Also, the way she spoke about Yata-chan was downright harsh.
"Tch, that's my line to say."
Yata-chan sighed dramatically. Fair enough.
"Wait, this is only our second time meeting, isn't it?"
"I've heard a lot from the others. I probably know more about you than you do yourself. I am a doctor, after all."
She wasn't the least bit apologetic about it.
"At the very least, your past is a part of what made you who you are today. And let me tell you—if you weren't you, Tsugumi would have thrown you out on the spot. She's done it before to men who weren't worth her time. The fact that you're welcomed here means you're far better than that. Take pride in it."
Yata-chan was giving me her full approval.
"Maybe the guy she kicked out was just garbage?"
"You're more valuable than you think. I'll make sure you fetch a high price."
Yata-chan smirked mischievously.
"Please go easy on me."
I didn't mind being seen as something to be displayed, but I'd at least like some control over it.
"Relax. All anyone knows is that you're here and that you bring good fortune. That's all they need to hear. Everyone involved has been strictly instructed not to say anything more. Whether you act or don't act, you're safe."
"That's… cunning."
I muttered in disbelief. How was that supposed to be reassuring?
"If anything were to leak, everything would fall apart. If anything happened to you, the losses wouldn't just be ours—it would be on the perpetrator and even the other guests. A jury would surely take our side, and the damages in both criminal and civil cases would be astronomical."
"Wow…"
That wouldn't stop an irrational lunatic, but it seemed they had every legal safeguard in place.
"And if some idiot does show up, Hachikuma will handle it. We'll protect you if needed."
"That's unnecessary. I can take care of myself."
"Coming from someone who just let himself be embraced by a near-stranger, that's not convincing."
Yata-chan gave me a deadpan stare.
Toki-san was still holding onto me.
Honestly, I had no reason or desire to push her away, so I didn't.
It wasn't unpleasant, after all.
"Look who's talking…"
I couldn't help but retort. She was one to talk, considering she seamlessly invited me to a mixed bath on our first meeting.
"If there was actual danger, I would run."
"Good. That's the best option."
"It'd be worse if I got hurt trying to fight back."
As a man, I wanted to be able to fight, but I wasn't comfortable striking a woman. Running was the better choice.
If it came down to it, I'd prefer to neutralize someone without causing injury.
"…Hmm, it's getting a bit chilly."
Yata-chan shivered slightly before slipping deeper into the water.
Then, just like that, she pressed herself against me.
Toki-san was already clinging to me.
Now this was… quite the situation.