After we finished our meal, Hina, who had disappeared for a moment, offered to help with the dishes, but there was no way I was letting her.
Hina might have said it as a joke, but on second thought, it was safe to say her birthday this year started today. And it's absurd to make the birthday girl do chores.
Once I finished the dishes, Hina led me somewhere.
...It was the bathroom. One with the tub already filled and a bath bomb dissolved in it.
The sense of déjà vu I felt was surely because this situation felt like a repeat of the day Nagisa devoured me.
The toothbrush I had used before was still there. As I was brushing my teeth, I remembered the cake I'd brought and paused.
Hmm... I'll just brush my teeth twice.
I was about to avert my eyes from Hina as she carefully took off the pajamas she had just changed into, but I stopped myself. Worried that Hina might be hurt, I slowly took in the sight of her.
...Yep, this really feels like I'm committing a sin.
Honestly, if I were biologically male, this might have been a splash of cold water to the face, snapping me to my senses. But I'm a girl, and my feelings for the kids are largely based on the platonic side of things, so it's fine, right? I tried to grant myself a pardon with that logic.
I quietly approached Hina, unfastened the locket around her neck, and placed it beside the sink. Seeing her still wearing the gift I'd given her, never forgetting it, filled my heart with joy.
Thanking my lucky stars that I had at least packed a spare set of underwear, I, too, began to shed my clothes, layer by layer. But then, I noticed Hina, who had left her underwear on, watching me with a strange look in her eyes.
"...Hina-chan, why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's just... I guess it doesn't feel real that someone as perfect as you could like me... S-Sorry. I stared too much, didn't I...?"
"Hmph. I don't think there's anything to be sorry about. Our Hina-chan, who's full of desire to do even more than this. If you're going to be shy all day... yep, that might be a little disappointing."
"That's mean, Mika. This is... my first time..."
Ah. Aah.
No, that's not what I meant to say...! Why did I suddenly turn into MesuMika? This is a genuine misunderstanding. (TN: MesuMika is a fan-nickname combining "Mika" and "mesugaki" (a Japanese term for a bratty, provocative female character), often used to describe a more lecherous or teasing version of Mika.)
"U-Um, Hina-chan. Please don't misunderstand. I, um... well."
...Ah. Trying to say this out loud is ridiculously embarrassing. For real.
"I-I'll tell you after we get in. It's just too embarrassing to say. Yep. Just know that I wasn't trying to tease you..."
Somehow, I finished undressing before the hesitant Hina and submerged myself in the water. Not long after, Hina entered the tub as well... but as she was about to sit in front of me, she seemed to realize her horns would be in the way and tried to sit farther away.
"Ahaha, so that's how it is. It's okay, you can just lean back."
"...It won't bother you?"
"I'm pretty sturdy. But it would probably sting if I got poked, so let's be a little careful☆"
As I said that, I gently fiddled with Hina's horns, but there was no particular reaction. It seemed there was no sensation there.
That made me wonder if Hina, like Nagisa and me, had a sensitive spot near the base of her wings. But I decided to find that out slowly, later.
With Hina sitting more on me than in front of me, I held her, and her scent was palpable. The height difference between us made it a little difficult to hug her tightly in this position, but if I lowered my head a bit, it was about level with the nape of her neck.
"Hey, Hina-chan."
"W-Wait a second. Mika, talking right there is a little..."
The water sloshed as Hina fidgeted. I wrapped my arms around her waist, a silent signal for her to stay still.
"You heard about this from Nagi-chan, didn't you?"
I scooped up some of the bath-bomb-infused water with my hand to show her.
"Ngh... Th-That's, I mean..."
Seeing Hina's reaction, it seemed my guess was correct. Which meant...
"Nagi-chan knows, doesn't she. Or she might have even helped."
"A-Ahh."
"Hmph. How much did you hear? Hm?"
"N-Not a lot, just a little..."
"Liar. Was it really just a little?"
"..."
"You acted all weak, saying it was your first time, but you actually heard everything from Nagi-chan. Yep, I see..."
Even after provoking her this much, would Hina really remain as passive as usual? I was getting a little curious. In that case, maybe I should...
"Mika, why do you keep teasing me...?"
"Wo—w."
"I like your gentle side more, but you're being so mischievous today... I mean, I think it's okay because it's you, but still. Since you did something wrong today, please be gentler..."
"Ahaha, if you put it like that, I have nothing to say... Hina-chan, want to try turning around?"
Hina had hit the nail on the head, and I felt too bad to provoke her any further.
I had only wanted to draw out that competitive side she sometimes showed me. But perhaps because this was tied to Hina's craving for affection, there was no room for competitiveness to intrude.
Hina turned around and placed her hands on my shoulders. I liked this position because our eye levels were more or less aligned, allowing me to fully enjoy the gaze from her beautiful, cool, amethyst-like eyes.
Hina's undone hair, soaked with water, hung limply. With one hand, I gently caressed her back, and with the other, I stroked her hair.
"You worked so hard again today, Hina-chan."
"It was really hard..."
"Yep, yep, I know. Everyone should appreciate how hard our Hina-chan works, but they just keep piling on more work. They're so mean, aren't they?"
"Huuu..."
"It's been especially hellish recently... really."
"...Yeah."
"But it's mostly over now. You did so, so well during all that time, Hina-chan. I'm proud of you."
"Then, as a reward... give me a chu..."
With a flushed face, Hina didn't hide her embarrassment, yet boldly stated what she wanted.
As expected, our Prefect Team Leader-nim deserves to be cherished with love at all times.
***
The time that could be described as 'bath time' but was read as 'indulging Hina's desire to be spoiled' passed.
Wearing bathrobes, we sat side-by-side and watched a movie for a while. It was a romance with a soft atmosphere, and since the couple was also a girl-girl pair, it felt a little strange.
At some point, Hina rested her head on my shoulder and fell asleep, her breathing even, so I decided to stay still for a while. I hadn't even had a chance to mention the cake; at this rate, we might not get to eat it today.
"...Ah, ah?!"
I don't know how much time passed. Hina woke up with a start, looked around in a panic, and then relaxed when she saw me.
"...I'm sorry. When I'm by your side like this, I think I unconsciously relax too much."
"Ahaha. That's actually a nice thing to hear... Yep, it means we've gotten that much closer."
I placed a light kiss on Hina's forehead and checked the time.
"Hmm, it's only 10 o'clock. If I keep waiting, I feel like I'll fall asleep without saying anything... Can I be a little shameless and say an early 'Happy Birthday'?"
"If it's you, it's okay... Mm. *Because* it's you, it's okay."
My dear Hina, who would probably agree to anything I say. I'm sorry for being a three-timing piece of trash... I really do love you a lot... but I'm still sorry..!
"Then, though it's a little early..."
I took out the present I'd packed from the handbag I'd left nearby. It wasn't anything too special, but I'd picked out something I thought Hina would like.
"Happy birthday, Hina-chan. Here's your present!"
Hina stared blankly at the gift I held out, then reached out her hand, and...
"Eh?"
...grabbed my arm instead of the gift.
"...The present is pretty. I like it, Mika."
"Ah, no. I'm not the present... though I can give myself to you if you want... yep..."
"It's a joke. Thank you."
Hina gave an awkward smile and took the gift from my hand. But my thoughts had already drifted in a slightly different direction.
Right, right, I like it when she's a little more assertive like that...
"...Mika?"
"Ah, yes?"
"I'm not sure why you're suddenly acting like that, but... I'll wear this well. But only when it's just the two of us."
"Ahaha. I'm glad you like it. Yep, but why only when it's just the two of us?"
"...You're not asking that seriously, are you?"
Of course I wasn't. The t-shirt Hina unfolded had a photo printed on it of the two of us holding hands in one of Trinity's gardens. It was from when Hina visited a while back.
For the record, Ako sent me the picture. I was about to ask her why she keeps stalking us, but the photo was so beautiful that I held my tongue. But seriously, how do you keep taking these candid shots without us knowing, Ako? It's getting genuinely scary now.
"...I'd like to receive my other present soon."
"Other present...? Ah."
Hina, her face flushed, shyly averted her gaze and stood up, her fingertips gripping the collar of my robe. Without a word, I followed her as she walked toward her room. *Click.* The living room light went out.
"You know you never told me what you were trying to say earlier, right?"
"...Ah, that's right."
"I think it's okay if you don't say it."
Hina pulled my hand sharply, laying me down on the bed. It happened so suddenly that I was a little taken aback.
"Mika, what you want... I think I'm starting to understand."
Hina's bathrobe slid to the floor. Behind her, her once-limp wings spread wide.
The devil among devils, who had resolved to make an angel fall, was there.
Hina, who had been looking down at me as if she had bewitched me with her palm placed beside my face, suddenly hung her head low.
"...I might be a little clumsy."
"Hmph. It's okay, Hina-chan."
I wrapped my arms around the neck of Hina, who remained cute until the very end.
The distance between us slowly closed, and just before our lips met,
at a distance where our breaths mingled, I whispered in a voice that was barely audible.
"If you're too clumsy, you know... I can just eat you up instead."
The gentle look in Hina's eyes, who had caught my words without fail, began to exude a chilling coldness.
That night, Hina did not relinquish the lead, not even until the moment she fell asleep from exhaustion.
***