Akira let out a long sigh as he walked out of the student council building after cleaning everything up.
Honestly, it hadn't taken much effort. If he was being truthful, he could have finished the entire cleanup in a single second if he had used magic. But Selena had stopped him.
"In school, do these things like a normal student. It's an experience too," she had said.
Thinking about it now, she wasn't wrong. So Akira had cleaned everything the normal way. Even then, he finished far faster than any ordinary student ever could.
With the work done, he left the student council building and headed toward the grand bath. It was a large structure located near the dormitory area, so he had to walk a bit, but it wasn't far. Just a few minutes on foot.
As he walked, something that had been bothering him surfaced again.
"Sister," Akira called out telepathically. "Are you busy with something? You usually talk to me normally, but recently you only reply when I ask for something. Is everything okay?"
Selena's voice replied almost immediately.
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just… remember the store function I told you about for the Star Soul System? I'm in the final stage, so I've been a bit busy."
Akira perked up slightly. "The store? Is it ready?"
"It's basically done," Selena replied. "Just some finishing touches, which I've already completed. It'll be updated soon, so don't worry. I'll handle it with an automatic update."
"That's good," Akira said. "But what currency are we going to use for it?"
"I'll tell you more later," Selena replied. "I'm still busy with the last adjustments."
"Okay," Akira said, letting it go.
By then, the bath building was already in front of him. It was large, far larger than what anyone would expect from a school facility, but considering it was built around a natural hot spring, it made sense.
He took out his newly issued ID card, scanned it, and entered.
The interior looked less like a school bath and more like a full-fledged hot spring resort.
Akira glanced around and muttered under his breath, "Hmm… fancy for a school. But I guess that's my family for you."
Akira entered the male section in a daze.
His mind was completely occupied with Iori's advice and the looming question of how he was supposed to face Erika. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, things he needed to say, but every time he tried to form the words, his thoughts tangled and fell apart before he could even begin.
Still lost in thought, he absentmindedly removed his clothes, placed them into a locker, and stepped into the bath area.
The first thing that caught his attention was the sheer size of the bath.
"Wow… that's so huge…"
His words cut off abruptly.
Because standing there, right in front of him, was someone he never expected to see.
Erika.
Akira froze.
At the same time, Erika turned toward him, and froze as well.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Akira's entire world narrowed down to the sight before him. A girl with waist-length blonde hair, milky white skin, and large blue eyes. Water clung to her skin, droplets slowly sliding down. There was no mistaking it.
His childhood friend.
Erika.
As for Erika, her expression shifted rapidly, shock, then deep embarrassment as her face flushed red, and finally, unmistakable rage. She quickly covered herself with her hands as she started walking toward him, each step radiating fury.
Akira's brain finally rebooted.
"W–Wait…!" he stammered. "I didn't mean that when I said big…! Not that it's not big, it is big…wait, what am I saying…! It's not like that, this was an accident! I'm innocent!"
He desperately tried to look away, but his gaze betrayed him, snapping back again and again despite his best efforts.
Erika stopped right in front of him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, YOU IDIOT!?" she screamed.
Her hand swung.
Akira's mind kicked into overdrive, the same way it did in life-or-death situations, but after a split second, he gave up.
"You know what", he thought calmly, "I deserve this. And… it was worth it."
Slap.
The slap connected squarely with his face, sending him flying backward into the wall with a heavy impact.
Meanwhile, in what was the actual the boys' bath.
Iori and Seichirō were already soaking in the hot spring.
Iori leaned back against the edge of the bath, shoulders relaxed, steam drifting lazily around him. With a satisfied sigh, he said, "Hope he liked my advice. Cupid of love—Sendo Iori style."
Seichirō slowly turned his head toward him.
"I still can't believe you switched the signs for the boys' and girls' baths," he said flatly. "Aren't you afraid you'll be killed?"
Iori waved it off without concern. "They're my younger siblings, right? They won't kill me."
Seichirō didn't miss a beat. "You wish."
Then his expression sharpened slightly. "This time, you went too far. What if someone else got caught up in it?"
Iori shrugged, sinking a little deeper into the water. "Don't worry. Not many people come to bathe around this time anyway." He paused, then added casually, "Though… I guess you'd better go and change it back before we cause more casualties."
Seichirō let out a long, weary sigh. "I'm already in the bath…"
Even so, he stood up, water dripping from his shoulders, grumbling under his breath as he stepped out to fix the signs.
Back in the actual girls' bath.
Akira was kneeling on the floor.
Erika stood in front of him, arms crossed, looking down at him as if she were judging an unforgivable criminal. Both of them were now wrapped tightly in towels, steam drifting lazily through the air.
Erika's eyes narrowed.
"Depending on what you say next," she said coldly, "I'll decide whether to kill you or not. What the hell are you doing in the girls' bathroom?"
Akira immediately raised his hands. "No! I clearly entered the boys' bath, not the girls' one. I promise, please believe me!"
Erika frowned. "This is the girls' bath. What do you…"
She paused mid-sentence. "Wait. How are you even here? You're not a student yet."
Akira seized the opening. "It's Iori! He invited me and gave me the ID card. It has to be him. He must have switched the signs. Believe me, I swear I'm innocent!"
That did it.
Erika's expression shifted, not toward Akira, but toward realization.
She knew him well. Akira was an idiot, sure. And it wasn't the first time he'd rushed into the bath while she was bathing, but back then, it had been in his own house. This, however, was a public girls' bath.
There was no way Akira would do something like this on purpose.
Only one person would.
"…It seems I've been too kind to my brother lately," Erika muttered darkly. "Looks like I'll need to teach him a lesson."
Akira nodded fiercely. "Don't worry. I won't let him go either."
"Iori, is this your advice? Are you trying to kill me?Just you wait."
Erika shot him another sharp glare. "Don't just kneel there. Get out, now, before someone else comes in."
Akira scrambled to his feet. "O-Okay! Thank you…no, wait…I'm sorry!"
He turned to leave.
And froze.
At the same moment, Erika froze too.
From the dressing room beyond the bath, they heard voices, clearly approaching.
More girls were coming in.
A voice echoed from the dressing room.
"I can't believe you want to bathe at this time, onee-chan."
Another voice followed, cheerful and unconcerned. "You don't know, Hina-chan. The bath during this time is really empty. It'll be a new experience."
Akira and Erika looked at each other.
Panic was written clearly on both their faces.
They were in an extremely compromising position. If anyone saw them like this, both of them could forget about their public lives entirely.
Erika reacted first. "Quick, teleport, turn invisible, do something!"
"O-Okay!" Akira stuttered, trying to activate his magic.
Nothing happened.
Instead, his magic flickered and collapsed.
"…Magic disruption barrier?" Akira exclaimed. "What's that doing here!?"
Selena's voice echoed in his head. "It was installed to protect the girls. It prevents invisibility or magic-based peeking."
Akira swallowed. "Then what am I supposed to do!?"
"You have to hide…now," Erika said urgently.
Akira glanced around. "Where!? There's no place to hide here!"
Erika scanned the bath as well, her expression tightening.
Then her eyes landed on the hot spring itself, the cloudy water swirling gently with steam.
"…Go in the water."
Akira blinked. "What?"
Erika didn't answer.
She grabbed him without warning and dumped him straight into the water before stepping in herself.
From the dressing room, a voice drifted in. "What was that sound?"
"Maybe someone's already here," the other girl replied.
Akira sputtered. "What are you doing!?"
"Just follow me," Erika whispered sharply.
Then she asked, "How long can you hold your breath underwater?"
"About an hour, actually." Akira answered.
"Good."
She pulled him toward a corner of the bath and shoved him completely under the water. Before he could react, she pressed her foot down firmly on him, pinning him in place.
Just as two girls entered the bath.
The two girls who entered the bath were Yūki Haruna and her older sister, Yūki Kanade.
Kanade was the first to notice Erika. She tilted her head and smiled. "Oh? It's Eririn. Huh, you're alone? I thought you were talking to someone."
Haruna followed her gaze and bowed politely. "Oh, it's Sendo-san. Good evening."
Erika straightened instinctively, slipping into her role as the dignified vice president. "Ah, the Yūki sisters. Good evening. I was just… talking to myself. Haha."
"Hello. How are you? I am under the water. Please save me. Uwuwuwuwu," Akira's voice echoed miserably in her head.
"Shut up", Erika snapped back telepathically, pressing her foot down a little harder.
Kanade frowned slightly. "Eririn, why are you standing way over in that corner?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Erika replied quickly. "I just felt like standing here. Hehe."
Haruna looked at her more closely. "Sendo-san… are you alright? Your face looks really flushed."
"Oh, it's nothing, Haruna-san," Erika said, forcing a smile.
"Wait, is that Haruna?" Akira's voice whispered excitedly in her mind. "I haven't seen her for years. Let me look…"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT TO LOOK AT A NAKED GIRL!?" Erika screamed telepathically.
"W-Wait, that's not what I meant…!" Akira tried to explain.
Too late.
In her panic and anger, Erika stomped down harder than before.
And accidentally stepped on something she really, really shouldn't have.
Akira died.
A muffled scream escaped from beneath the water, distorted and echoing through the bath like the wail of a restless spirit.
"WHAT HAPPENED!?" Erika shouted telepathically, panic surging through her.
Selena's voice answered after a brief pause. "Well… It's just… don't worry. He has a healing factor. He'll be fine."
Hearing that wailing cry, Kanade and Haruna both froze, their eyes widening as they looked around in alarm.
"W-What was that sound?" Kanade asked, visibly shaken.
Haruna glanced around uneasily as well. "Y-Yeah… what was that just now?"
Erika forced a laugh, her smile stiff. "I-I don't know either. Haha…"
Kanade shuddered. "Is it a ghost? Is this bath haunted?" She looked around nervously, shoulders tensing.
"It's probably just a pipe making some weird noise," Erika said quickly, waving it off.
Kanade blinked, then laughed. "Ohhh, I see! That's what it is, hahaha!" She relaxed immediately and began swimming around the bath as if nothing had happened.
Haruna sighed. "Onee-chan, calm down. Don't play around in the bath."
Ignoring her, Kanade suddenly swam up behind Haruna and hugged her from behind. "My Hina's body is amazing! Eririn also has a great body, but Hina is the best!" She laughed brightly. "Marry me, Hina-chan!"
"O-Onee-chan, stop it!" Haruna protested, flustered.
Erika could only let out a strained laugh as she watched the sisters' usual chaos unfold.
"That's not true," Akira's voice echoed weakly in her head. "Sure, I haven't seen Haruna in a while, but Erika's body is the greatest…"
Erika stomped down again, this time more carefully, and snapped back telepathically, "Don't say anything stupid. Try to get away from here first."
"How am I supposed to do that?" Akira replied frantically. "There's a magic disruption barrier here. It's not easy for me to use magic."
"I know very well you can figure out how to use magic here with your capabilities," Erika said telepathically. "You did it back when we were kids, remember?"
"That was a magic absorption barrier," Akira replied quickly. "This is a disruption barrier."
"But you can still overcome it, right?" Erika pressed.
"Kind of," Akira admitted. "But there are limits. I can't use external magic like teleportation or invisibility… but I can still use internal magic."
"Like what?" Erika asked.
"Transformation magic," Akira said.
Erika didn't hesitate. "Then do it. Anything, as long as you can get away."
She suddenly paused, realization striking her. "Wait. Then how are we talking telepathically right now?"
"We're using the system," Akira replied. "Not magic."
Erika waved it off mentally. "Whatever. Just transform."
"Using magic here is going to be tough," Akira warned. "I'll need to use a lot more power than usual. When I transform, there might be a bright light, so distract them somehow, okay?"
"Fine," Erika agreed. "On the count of three."
"Okay," Akira said.
"Three… two… one!"
Suddenly, Erika pointed dramatically in the opposite direction and shouted, "Look! It's a flying panda!"
"Huh!?" Kanade and Haruna exclaimed in unison, instinctively turning to look.
In that instant, Akira activated his magic.
When they turned back, blinking in confusion, they froze.
Floating in the water beside Erika was a small, white puppy.
It had snow-white fur, soft and fluffy, with striking purple eyes that gleamed faintly. Its tiny form bobbed gently in the water, impossibly adorable.
Erika stared at it.
"…Ghost?" she thought.
Kanade reacted first.
"Oh! It's a cute puppy!" she exclaimed, eyes lighting up. Then she narrowed them slightly. "But wait, Eririn, is this what you were hiding?"
Erika laughed awkwardly. "Haha… sorry about that. It's a friend's puppy. He left it in my care, and I couldn't just leave it alone."
Kanade tilted her head. "I don't really mind, but bringing a puppy into the bath is bad, you know."
"Sorry about that…" Erika said again, her smile strained.
Kanade waved it off cheerfully. "But he's cute, so I won't say anything! Since you're here, let me hold him, okay?"
Before Erika could react, Kanade lunged forward and scooped the puppy up, hugging him tightly.
"Wait…!" Erika reached out, but it was too late.
Kanade beamed. "He's so cute! What's his name?"
Erika froze for half a second, panic flickering across her face. "G-Ghost. His name is Ghost."
It was the same name they had used back when Akira took this form as a child.
"LET ME GO…LET ME GO!" Akira screamed telepathically. "YOU'RE SUFFOCATING ME, YOU MAD WOMAN!"
But Erika could only watch helplessly as the puppy-form Akira struggled weakly in Kanade's arms, his tiny paws flailing uselessly.
Kanade turned to her sister. "Look, Hina-chan! Isn't he adorable?"
Haruna, however, had gone quiet.
She stared at the puppy with a distant, unfocused gaze, her expression dazed. "…A puppy named Ghost," she murmured. "He… seems familiar."
Kanade blinked. "Huh? Have you seen him before?"
Haruna shook her head slowly. "I'm not sure. I don't think so… He just feels familiar."
Akira stiffened.
"Erika… wait," he asked telepathically. "Are her memories coming back?"
"Don't worry," Erika replied calmly. "She had the same reaction when she saw me again. It's not enough to bring her memories back."
"…Okay," Akira answered, forcing himself to calm down.
"Don't just stay there," Erika urged. "Run. Get out of here."
"Help me!" Akira pleaded. "She's crushing me, save me!"
Erika stepped forward quickly. "P-Please calm down, Kanade-san. You're crushing him."
She reached out, trying to take Akira back from her sister.
Kanade lifted him high above her head, laughing. "No way! I want to keep him a little longer!"
That was Akira's chance.
He twisted desperately in her grip, slipped free, landed squarely on top of her head, and, using every bit of strength his puppy body had, leapt away.
He flew straight toward Haruna.
Haruna caught him instinctively, arms closing around the small white puppy before she even realized what she was doing.
She stared down at him, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "He really does feel familiar… but where have I seen him before?"
Kanade immediately protested. "That's not fair, Hina-chan! You can't keep him all to yourself! Give him to me!"
She lunged toward them.
Akira panicked.
He wriggled violently in Haruna's arms, slipped free once more, and jumped again, this time straight toward Erika.
Erika caught him quickly, holding him close. "Calm down," she said gently. "He seems scared…"
Too late.
Kanade rushed toward her.
Akira saw her coming and felt pure, instinctive terror.
Before anyone could stop him, he sprang from Erika's arms, splashed into the water, and swam with all his strength toward the edge of the bath.
Without looking back, he scrambled out, dashed across the floor, and escaped the room entirely.
As he fled, only one thought filled his mind.
"Iori… thank you for the advice. But you're dead the next time I see you."