However, she still couldn't compare to Matsumae Ohana after all...
Though she didn't know exactly what it was about Matsumae Ohana that pleased their master so much, her figure was clearly better than Ohana's, or did Master... prefer someone smaller?
Fortunately, she had gotten along well with Ohana earlier. Since Ohana still didn't understand many things, she could guide her properly. At least she had some theoretical experience.
There were things Master wasn't comfortable saying himself; she could say them for him.
Yukino Chitose and Matsumae Ohana adjusted their partially undone kimonos slightly, at least looking more presentable, before flanking Hachiman downstairs.
Hayasaka Ai walked behind the three of them.
Just like when they had dinner earlier, Hayasaka Ai, as the personal attendant maid, would still be waiting on him even when soaking in the hot spring.
But soaking in the hot spring required bathing first, and at that point she'd have to seriously serve Hachiman and couldn't just be a doorkeeper maid who was barely necessary.
"Miss Oshimizu, could you come here for a moment?"
Watching Hachiman being ushered into the room by Yukino Chitose and Matsumae Ohana, Hayasaka Ai, who had been about to walk in through the door, suddenly stopped and turned to call out to a figure that had flashed past at the end of the hallway.
"!!!"
Oshimizu Nako, bun hairstyle, straight bangs, hair tied up to reveal her pale nape.
Suddenly hearing someone call her, especially Hachiman's personal maid Hayasaka Ai, she was completely stunned.
"Is something the matter, Miss Oshimizu? If not, come in and scrub Master's back. After bathing, you can join us in accompanying Master to enjoy the hot spring."
Seeing Oshimizu Nako in her orange waitress uniform staring blankly back without answering, Hayasaka Ai asked again.
"N-no..."
Meeting Hayasaka Ai's quiet gaze, Oshimizu Nako couldn't bring herself to politely decline. She could only shuffle her feet and follow Hayasaka Ai into the room.
She had clearly seen their master come downstairs with the two poster girls, Matsumae Ohana and Yukino Chitose, and had immediately tried to hide.
She hadn't expected to be called over to serve their master anyway...
"Touka's here too?"
Hearing the commotion behind her, Matsumae Ohana turned around and saw Oshimizu Nako shuffling in. She quickly introduced her to Hachiman.
"Master, this is Oshimizu Nako from Kissuiso. But Nako had been working as a waitress at Kissuiso for a while, unlike me, who only came to Kissuiso recently."
"There's also a girl named Tsurugi Minko who stayed behind at Kissuiso. Minko is a chef's apprentice learning in the kitchen, and she's close with Nako."
Although Matsumae Ohana herself hadn't been there long and had a distant relationship with the two former Kissuiso employees, Oshimizu Nako and Tsurugi Minko, with little interaction, everyone else was even less familiar with Nako, so she had to help introduce her at this point.
"Hello, Nako."
Hachiman looked at Oshimizu Nako, who had been pulled in by Hayasaka Ai and clearly had a soft, gentle demeanor, and gave her a slight nod with a smile.
Yukino Chitose was the protagonist from the "inner world" of hidden hot springs, while Matsumae Ohana, Oshimizu Nako, and Tsurugi Minko were the anime beauties from Hanasaku Iroha.
However, the personalities and experiences of Matsumae Ohana and the other two also leaned a bit toward the "inner world" side.
Matsumae Ohana, who grew up in a poor family environment; the shy and timid Oshimizu Nako, who didn't know how to refuse; and Tsurugi Minko, who worked in the kitchen and whom he hadn't met yet, she was also strong-willed and bad with people. It all sounded like the order in which they'd be dragged into things.
Under normal development, they would have gone through a noisy, bumpy process, each growing and gradually becoming close, understanding friends.
Though here, they could also become close friends who were honest with each other in another way.
"Hello, Master."
Seeing the faint smile on Hachiman's face, Oshimizu Nako's breath caught, and a blush involuntarily crept across her fair, delicate cheeks. She instinctively looked down, not daring to meet his gaze.
After a moment, she cautiously glanced up. Seeing that Hachiman wasn't paying attention to her, she quietly let out a breath of relief.
She was well aware that Matsumae Ohana, the granddaughter of Kissuiso's former landlady, had become the new Kissuiso poster girl.
But it was obvious just from hearing about it that something was off. When she saw Matsumae Ohana and Yukino Chitose being called away together by Kijou Suzuka to serve their master, she couldn't help but imagine that scene of serving their master, and worried a little whether Ohana was doing it willingly.
From the looks of it, the atmosphere between their master and Ohana seemed very harmonious. It probably wasn't anything forced, right?
Though she felt that the true owner of this hot spring inn could probably get plenty of girls willing to date him just based on his handsome looks alone, without needing to force anyone.
"Nako, come help Master bathe. You don't need to wear your clothes; if you're uncomfortable, you can wrap a towel around yourself."
Oshimizu Nako was still internally murmuring about Hachiman when she was suddenly jolted by Hayasaka Ai's cool voice.
She had almost forgotten, she'd been called in to scrub their master's back.
But at this point, she didn't even know how to refuse.
At the original Kissuiso, she wouldn't have had to do this kind of thing, of course. Waitresses were only responsible for cleaning, laundry, and other miscellaneous chores. In front of guests, they'd mainly just bring dishes over and meet normal guest needs.
But in this hot spring inn, which had now absorbed Kissuiso, her job as a waitress wasn't just about miscellaneous chores anymore...
Yukino Chitose had already taken Hachiman to the courtyard to check the small hot spring's setup, then turned and went into the bathroom to bathe.
Matsumae Ohana gave Oshimizu Nako a look that said "I can't help you" and quickly followed.
She had just been chatting very comfortably with their master Hachiman, but when it came to Oshimizu Nako... she didn't know how to help.
It wasn't just her who could redeem the hot spring inn through hard work, Oshimizu Nako and Tsurugi Minko also qualified. And working here wasn't just about redeeming the inn; there were also many important figures she had no concept of.
She didn't know if Oshimizu Nako and the others had their own thoughts like Yukino Chitose. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she probably wouldn't have known Chitose would go this far.
"..."
Looking at the room, now empty except for clothes scattered on the floor, Oshimizu Nako bit her lower lip, closed her eyes, and raised her hands to slowly undo the sash at her waist. Layer after layer of fabric slipped from her waist.
This waitress uniform of hers was troublesome to put on. Compared to a kimono, the only advantage was that she could dress herself.
Even though it was work hours, she had to take off her waitress uniform...
After taking several deep breaths, Oshimizu Nako realized she couldn't calm her racing heart at all. She could only wrap herself in a bath towel and walk barefoot into the bathroom.
The bathroom door was open. Stepping inside, she could see Hachiman with his eyes closed, resting his head in Yukino Chitose's lap.
Sitting on a small stool just like Hachiman, Chitose was working her hands through his soapy hair. Her own body was also wet, strands of jet-black hair plastered to her cheeks.
On Hachiman's left, Matsumae Ohana was carefully scrubbing his arm.
Hayasaka Ai knelt in front of him, holding a showerhead and thoroughly rinsing various parts of his body.
Front, back, left, right, only the spot on Hachiman's right remained empty.
Seeing this blush-inducing scene, Oshimizu Nako was actually a little relieved. She quickly clutched the white towel at her chest, knelt into the empty spot left for her, and followed the others in squeezing out body wash, rubbing it between her palms, lathering it up, and applying it to Hachiman's arm.
Though she was still shy, and this awkward, embarrassing situation was a first for her, as long as Hachiman didn't open his eyes and stare at her, she felt she could manage...
"How did Master lift Chitose so easily just now? He doesn't look that sturdy..."
Matsumae Ohana glanced at Oshimizu Nako, saw she was handling it fairly well, and looked down at Hachiman's arm, now covered in white foam from her scrubbing, murmuring softly.
Earlier, she had been too shy to look closely at Hachiman. Now, relaxed, she studied him carefully, feeling him out, and finally noticed something special about him.
When Hachiman had been "holding" Yukino Chitose, she had clearly sensed that strength. If Chitose's expression hadn't been one of pain, she might have thought Hachiman was bullying her.
But now, squeezing the flesh on his arm with her own hands, she found it wasn't as firm and rock-solid as she'd imagined.
Still, it was very nice to look at...
"Ohana, you... you're having a nosebleed?"
Yukino Chitose, hearing Matsumae Ohana bring up the "holding" incident, blushed and was about to change the subject, but then she gasped, staring intently at Ohana, who hadn't noticed and was still looking down.
"Ohana, you..."
Oshimizu Nako was also staring blankly at Matsumae Ohana, watching the blood trickle slowly from her small, delicate nose, looking utterly bewildered.
Though she also thought their master was very good-looking, with a lean, graceful body that made her a little biased while scrubbing.
But still, a nosebleed was a bit much.
Was Ohana... that innocent?
"Ohana?"
Hachiman slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at Matsumae Ohana, confirming that she was indeed having a nosebleed.
"No, no, you've got it wrong! It's a physical thing! I've always had a weak constitution since I was little, prone to nosebleeds. It's absolutely not because I saw Master's body!"
Matsumae Ohana blinked in confusion, wiped her nose with the back of her hand, and upon seeing it wasn't bleeding much, wasn't too worried. But seeing Hachiman and the others looking at her strangely, she felt a sense of dread and quickly explained.
This physical issue of hers had always been there; it's just that the timing of this nosebleed was off.
Now she looked like some kind of lovesick fool.
"Ohana, if you just admitted that you got excited seeing my body, I'd be much happier."
Hachiman looked at the flustered Matsumae Ohana and smiled.
"No way! I don't want to be a pervert! I admit you're very, very good-looking, Master, better than any guy I've seen in Tokyo, but I'm not some lovesick fool!"
Matsumae Ohana denied it loudly without hesitation.
Knowing full well that Hachiman was fickle and still liking him, she could call herself devoted and unwilling to give him up.
But if she got a nosebleed just from seeing his body, that would make her a complete pervert, a degenerate.
"Better than any guy Ohana has seen?"
Hachiman was a little taken aback by her words and turned to look at Oshimizu Nako on his other side.
"What about you, Nako? Do you think what Ohana said is true or false?"
"Th-this... I've never been to Tokyo. I haven't met many people around Yunatori, but indeed, indeed you are very good-looking..."
Oshimizu Nako hadn't expected Hachiman to turn and ask for her opinion. But seeing him looking at her, she could only suppress her shyness and stammer out her feelings.
The moment she finished speaking, Oshimizu Nako immediately looked down, biting her cherry lips while pressing a hand to her chest.
The sound of her heartbeat seemed loud enough for her to hear.
Though she wasn't as dramatic as Matsumae Ohana and her nosebleed, she had to admit that Hachiman was indeed very handsome, and his body was attractive too. Just watching the occasional smile on his face made her feel like she was being captivated.
Maybe that was why, despite being nervous and shy, she hadn't hesitated too much before coming in to scrub him...
"I see..."
Hachiman looked at Oshimizu Nako, who was exceptionally shy and didn't dare look up, then glanced at the girls around him, all more or less looking a bit different. He nodded thoughtfully.
The magical girls he had assisted were all different from ordinary people. His own body had naturally been elevated through each act of assistance.
But normally at school, he didn't have much opportunity to notice this, he was either in the middle of assisting, or on his way to assist someone.
There were quite a few girls who approached him with special motives, and quite a few who simply craved his body.
If he met an "inner world" female lead, he definitely would have assumed she was already a pervert, easily trained into being his exclusive property.
After all, he had abilities like succubus attraction, awakening, and various other traits that could influence others.
He hadn't expected that he could truly make pure-hearted girls' hearts flutter just with his looks.
Hayasaka Ai, who had been silently watching, glanced at the thoughtful Hachiman and the three girls who had quietly lowered their heads, continuing her actions unhurriedly.
Did she really pull Nako in for no reason?
Oshimizu Nako was so innocent and shy. Once pulled in, she wouldn't need to do anything, just some intimate skin contact with their master, and she'd gradually fall for him on her own.
As long as their master didn't actively abandon her, the traditionally introverted Oshimizu Nako would likely convince herself.
Though she still hadn't figured out how to bring Oshimizu Nako into Kaguya-sama's camp and help her push things forward...
Say that everything she did was on Kaguya-sama's orders? Have Nako go harass Kaguya-sama with a vengeful attitude?
She didn't see any problem with that. As long as Kaguya-sama could successfully improve her relationship with their master, being harassed was fine. As long as the outcome was good, a slightly曲折 process didn't matter.
But with Oshimizu Nako's personality, it didn't seem likely that she'd actively harass Kaguya-sama.
Yukino Chitose and Matsumae Ohana, the two poster girls; waitress Oshimizu Nako; and maid Hayasaka Ai.
Four people at four positions, some standing, some kneeling, taking turns scrubbing and swapping.
Perhaps because the earlier nosebleed incident had been too embarrassing, everyone fell rather quiet. Matsumae Ohana was less casual too, afraid she'd start bleeding again if she talked too much.
She didn't think she was a pervert, but she did have a weak constitution and was prone to nosebleeds when stimulated.
Plus, this was her first time experiencing such an intimate scrub-down. If she didn't hold herself back, she really would become a degenerate who bled just from looking at Hachiman's body.
"Master, we're, we're done washing... Should we get into the hot spring now?"
After scrubbing for a while longer, Oshimizu Nako noticed that Matsumae Ohana and the other two were tacitly not ending this back-scrubbing session. The four of them kept swapping positions and repeating the washing over and over again.