Shirayuki sat in the bathtub, humming lightly.
A few minutes later, Grass Wonder entered after undressing. Seeing the gentle curve of her chest and her slender, graceful waist, Shirayuki raised her brows slightly and quietly marveled that Grass Wonder's figure had become even better than before.
Compared to the past, seeing an uma musume's body no longer made Shirayuki blush or panic. After everything she had experienced, she had become much more composed, able to calmly appreciate such scenery without losing her head.
Seeing that Shirayuki did not show any special reaction, Grass Wonder could not help feeling a little disappointed. However, she quickly adjusted her mood and stepped into the bath.
Grass Wonder sat behind Shirayuki and pulled the girl into her arms.
"It feels like it's been a long time since we last took a bath together, hasn't it, Yuki-chan?"
"Mm."
After all, they were not in the same dorm room. Shirayuki often bathed together with Mejiro Dober instead. By now, she knew almost everything about Dober's body, including where she was sensitive and where she was not.
Today, Shirayuki had rarely come to Grass Wonder's dorm. And it was not only Grass Wonder there. El Condor Pasa was also outside the bathroom, boredly scrolling through her phone. Grass Wonder had originally wanted to send her away, but El Condor Pasa had overtrained today and was now lazing around the dorm in a daze.
Grass Wonder stroked Shirayuki's hair. Compared to a month ago, Shirayuki's body was clearly much softer. Grass Wonder gently held Shirayuki between her legs, as though she were holding a smooth, soft sponge.
"Yuki-chan… I know Yuki-chan is very busy, but sometimes, you should stop and spend time with me too."
As she spoke, Grass Wonder hugged Shirayuki more tightly and buried her face in the other girl's hair. Her nose caught a pleasant floral scent.
Hearing Grass Wonder's complaint, Shirayuki apologized.
Things had been appearing one after another like waves. Last time, when she had gone away for a month and finally returned, Grass Wonder had hugged her without saying a single word. It was only after a full ten minutes that Grass Wonder finally said, "Welcome back."
It was as if Shirayuki's month-long absence had worried her terribly.
And that expression of hers, shifting from happiness to relief, made Shirayuki involuntarily think of a wife welcoming home her husband after a business trip. There was a strong sense of a gentle, devoted wife and mother in it.
At this point, calling them ordinary friends no longer felt right.
Close friends… no, perhaps it was something even above that.
Shirayuki could not think of the right word to describe it. Even if the two of them lived together directly, there would not be any problem.
"Yuki-chan…"
As she called Shirayuki's name, Grass Wonder gently leaned closer to her.
It was rare to have a chance to be alone with Shirayuki, and Grass Wonder wondered whether she should finally tell her what she truly felt. She often told Shirayuki, "I like you, I like you," but in truth, it was not simply the kind of "like" shared between friends.
It was the kind of feeling that wanted to stay beside someone for a lifetime.
Last month, she had sent Shirayuki a selfie. A few days later, Shirayuki had sent one back. It was a picture of Shirayuki wearing sleepwear, seemingly taken just after a bath, with a faint mist still lingering in the photo.
Looking at Shirayuki in that clear, delicate state, Grass Wonder had found her feelings becoming harder and harder to ignore.
At that moment, Grass Wonder confirmed it.
She truly liked Shirayuki.
It had nothing to do with gender. What she liked was Shirayuki's personality, Shirayuki's character, and the care Shirayuki showed her. Honestly, even if Shirayuki changed completely right there and then, Grass Wonder felt she would still be able to say that she liked her.
But Grass Wonder was also afraid.
She saw Shirayuki as the most important person to her. But that did not mean she was Shirayuki's most important person.
There were too many people close to Shirayuki.
Spe-chan, Dober, Suzuka, and recently, Sky had suddenly appeared too.
Grass Wonder was afraid that if she said it out loud, a crack would appear in their relationship.
She did not think Shirayuki would place her above everyone else.
So rather than trying to reach for more, perhaps it was better to remain vague like this, doing all kinds of things in the name of friendship. At least this way, she could still call Shirayuki over to bathe with her. She could still touch and be close to her without hesitation.
Grass Wonder's hand gently stroked Shirayuki's shoulder as she quietly leaned against her from behind.
"Grass…"
"What is it, Yuki-chan?"
"It feels like there's something you want to say to me."
"There was, originally. But after thinking about it carefully, I feel that this is fine too."
"Hah…"
From outside came El Condor Pasa's impatient voice.
"Grass, Yuki-chan, are you two done yet? I need to take a bath too! Or why don't the three of us just squeeze in together?"
"Wait. We'll be out soon."
Grass Wonder hugged Shirayuki tightly and kissed her on the cheek.
Shirayuki had long since grown used to this kind of interaction. At the dance party, she had been kissed more than a few times. This level of affection no longer counted as much of a shock to her.
"Let's go, Yuki-chan. We should get out."
Grass Wonder lightly licked her lips and spoke to Shirayuki.
"I'm going to soak a little longer. I want to relax properly tonight."
As if she were in her own home, Shirayuki leisurely leaned back.
"In that case, I'll wait a little longer too. As for El… that girl isn't in that much of a hurry anyway."
"I feel like I just heard someone say I'm not in a hurry! I'm so itchy I'm going to die!"
"Wait!"
…
By evening, after comfortably finishing her bath in Grass Wonder's dorm, Shirayuki arrived at the trainer dormitory.
Grass Wonder seemed to have specially added some bath salts to the tub. Shirayuki smelled pleasantly fragrant, and the bath had felt even more relaxing than usual.
This was her second time visiting Grass Wonder's dorm. It was not that Grass Wonder was the only one who had invited her. Previously, there had been Spe-chan too. She and Silence Suzuka had once taken Shirayuki to the bathroom and helped scrub her back. Then there was T.M. Opera O as well…
In any case, Shirayuki was no longer limited to one dorm room. She could casually enter and leave many rooms now.
After becoming the Empress, many juniors had invited her to visit their rooms. Everyone looked at her with admiration, and Shirayuki had also shared many racing techniques from her own experience.
Of course, compared to racing, those girls preferred gossip.
Almost every time she entered a junior's room, they would naturally bring up her relationship with Chiya. Ever since being influenced by Shirayuki, Chiya had also become more and more handsome. Even without considering his status as an intermediate trainer, his face alone was enough to attract the attention of those juniors.
Whenever she chatted with them, those juniors would always ask whether Shirayuki and Trainer had some kind of special relationship.
After all, in their eyes, the handsome man and beautiful girl looked far too well-matched. Whenever they talked about Shirayuki, they could not help bringing up Trainer too.
In response, Shirayuki could only smile awkwardly.
She did have a special relationship with him.
Just probably not the kind they imagined.
In short, the Miho dormitory now felt like Shirayuki's home. She could go wherever she wanted. However, Shirayuki's favorite place was still here.
Opening the door, Shirayuki returned to the trainer dormitory and comfortably flopped onto the bed.
Nothing was better than her own room.
Fujiwara Chiya locked the door and returned to the bed.
Shirayuki made a victorious "banzai" pose. Fujiwara Chiya took off her outer clothes, then sat across Shirayuki's waist and began massaging her shoulders.