Kanzaki didn't drag Kamijou to some strange place, just into the interior of the shop.
It seemed that Kanzaki didn't have a specific destination in mind. Arriving at a place with no one around, she told Kamijou off before turning her eyes to the sliding shoji doors.
"Oh yeah, this resort has a bathhouse. It's hard for me to say it, but with all these going on nowadays, I didn't have time to bathe."
That was right, a seaside resort had a bathhouse. It was like building a simple toilet on the seaside, the purpose was to allow the visitors to wash away the seawater on their skin.
Kamijou turned back to look at the corridor he had passed through, and said, "However…do you really have time to bathe? If Angel Fall's completed, wouldn't it be too late?"
"You're right…"
Kanzaki hesitated for a while, and then continued.
"…I know I shouldn't have any personal feelings, but I'm really not used to seeing that child smile at me. I don't have that right at all."
Kanzaki said bitterly.
She seemed to be running away from something.
"…"
Kamijou remained silent. At the time when he attacked the Misawa Cram School, Stiyl had said that same thing with the same expression when he was talking about Index.
That should be a wound that must not be opened again.
Thus, Kamijou decided not to pursue further.
"Ah…anyway, why did you drag me all the way here to the bathhouse? Are you going to discuss tactics with me?"
"…"
Kanzaki shook her head slightly.
"No, I have a simple request; I just need you to keep watch over here. This bathhouse should be public like an onsen or a public bathhouse, right?"
Kamijou remained silent.
Of course, in this little seaside resort, the bathhouse wouldn't be sorted into men and ladies. There was only one bathhouse, and when a man entered, it would be a man's bathhouse; when a woman entered, it would become a ladies' bathhouse.
To everyone, Kanzaki was now Stiyl Magnus, so even when they saw Kanzaki's figure through the shoji doors, the other men may think "Ah, it's a man bathing!" and would rush in, especially that resort boss.
"…Are you thinking that this may be interesting?"
"You're thinking too much! I don't want to risk my life with someone who's wielding a nodachi!"
Kanzaki stared suspiciously at Kamijou before saying "Then I'll leave it to you". She then walked into the bathhouse, shut the shoji door and took off her clothes.
One could see Kanzaki's silhouette through the shoji door, and because it was impossible to see clearly, it would make anyone excited. Kamijou frantically shook his head to control his desire and turned his back around, gently sighing.
"Hi! Kami-yan! What are you doing here?"
Tsuchimikado suddenly walked in pompously from the other side. Since the blue sunglasses on his face were a disguise, he couldn't take them off even though it was nighttime.
"Oi, aren't others seeing you as some bastard idol who created quite the news recently?"
"Relax, it's alright that nobody saw me. This is how Tsuchimikado does things."
Tsuchimikado said casually.
To Kamijou, that guy's attitude wasn't any different from usual.
"…Sorry, Kami-yan."
"Sorry about what?"
Kamijou asked, only to see Tsuchimikado looking extremely serious.
"Actually, those dangers that Kami-yan went through, I knew all about them. The attack on the alchemist's fortress, the slaughter of twenty thousand clones and so on…I knew all about them, yet I didn't help you out, so I'd like to apologize to you."
"…"
"Besides, being powerless to help is completely different from being unable to help. I'm really sorry."
"Don't mind these small matters."
Tsuchimikado revealed a tired look, but Kamijou was rather casual in his response.
Tsuchimikado was rather surprised regarding Kamijou's attitude, but Kamijou didn't say anything more, because he felt that there was no need to explain further.
No matter what, Tsuchimikado was still Tsuchimikado, that fact wouldn't change at all. To Kamijou, Tsuchimikado was still his dorm neighbor and classmate.
"Hm."
Tsuchimikado chuckled.
"Alright, enough nonsense. We'll end the depressing stuff here. Let's get down to business!"
"Business?"
"That's right! It's the most exciting summer festival activity! The peeping on Kanzaki nee-chin's naked body contest!"
"What? Are you serious?"
"…Looky look, Kami-yan! The cell phones nowadays have camera functions!"
"Are you even listening to me? I can't just joke around with that Bakumatsu swordswoman! Once she finds out, I'll be slashed in half by that whatsoever family secret move!"
"…But on the other hand, you'll peep if there's no danger, right?"
"…"
"…Kanzaki nee-chin will definitely look great when she takes off her clothes!"
(Great!?) Kamijou inadvertently lost his breath.
He shook his head frantically, and said, "Bu…but…is this alright? Aren't you Kanzaki's comrade? You shouldn't betray her, right?"
Kamijou tried his best to stop Tsuchimikado, only to see Tsuchimikado's blue sunglasses flash.
"Ha! You're too naïve! I'm the spy of the Anglican Church's Necessarius, Tsuchimikado Motoharu! Known as the backstabber! The resident of the liar village is yours truly!"
"Wah! I don't want to suffer together with this sort of person!"
Kamijou continued to protest, and Tsuchimikado said impatiently, "Cheh, such a boring guy. Kanzaki nee-chin nearly wanted to take your life, so it's no wonder that you're afraid of her. However, she's not really that scary! Kanzaki nee-chin's really cute!"
"C-cute…?"
"Yeah. You know, I came to Academy City after I finished middle school, and before that, I was in London all the time. At that time, I was one of the few who spoke both English and Japanese at the same time, and Kanzaki nee-chin, who just joined the Anglican Church at that time, understood only Japanese at that time. It was really interesting to see her so nervous and mime when she was questioned by the English!"
Tsuchimikado knocked on the wall slightly.
"At that time, I was the only Japanese person in Necessarius, so once she got an English letter, nee-chin would often look to me for help with a puzzled look on her face, she was so attractive at that time!"
"…Really unbelievable, to think that you could be relied on in some instances."
"Forget about that, let's peep! Cute nee-chin!"
"And you're holding a camera phone, aren't you a little too much?"
"Kami-yan, you should be more honest with your lust!"
"And why are you so enthusiastic? You should be tackling those girls who're younger than you, right? Aren't you called the siscon-sergeant?"
"Oi, stop using that nickname! Do you have any proof!?"
"No normal person would really love a little sister who's not blood related, right?"
"WAH! Who…who LOVED the little sister! Who told you that!?"
"Even if the law doesn't forbid it, you can't just do anything you want, right?"
"Do…do…do anything? What do you mean by that?"
"Eh? Why are you so nervous? Hold on, Tsuchimikado…don't tell me you really have feelings for your little sister…"
"STOP IT! STOP TRAPPING ME WITH THESE WORDS! ONE MORE WORD, AND I'LL KILL YOU!!"
Tsuchimikado forcefully clinched Kamijou's neck, intending to make him shut up. At that moment, the floor let out a light cracking sound, and Tsuchimikado hastily retreated through the shadows like a ninja, disappearing without a trace.
(Ah, if we were to be seen just now, it'll make the headlines— 'Idol grabbed a boy's collar'.)
Kamijou casually thought as he turned towards where the footsteps came from.
"Hi! Onii-chan, what are you doing here?"
It was Index and Mikoto.
No, they were his mom and cousin, it was just that they assumed Index and Mikoto's appearance.
"Eh? You finished eating already?"
"Ara ara, it's not that, Touma. It'll take a while before dinner's done, so we're here to bathe."
At this moment, Mikoto turned to look at the shoji screen.
"…Onii-chan, is anyone inside?"
"Ah, ya…that's why I'm standing guard here."
"Stand guard? What do you mean by that? Isn't it onii-chan's friend inside? You two can bathe together!"
"Eh?"
Mikoto's words confused Kamijou.
About five seconds later, he finally realized what she had meant.
That's right. To them, Kanzaki was now Stiyl Magnus.
"Hold…hold on a minute! I never said that I wanted to bathe! Besides, does the law say that friends have to bathe with each other? I can go in when he comes out—!"
"If we have to wait for two rounds, the dinner will soon come and go cold! Since you two are both guys, there's no problem! Hurry up and go bathe!"
"WAHH! Hold…hold on…really—AAAHHHH!!"
"Alright, alright, hurry up and go in!"
Without any hesitance, both of them slid the door open and mercilessly tossed Kamijou Touma into the changing room.
Inside.
Right in front of Kamijou's eyes.
An indescribable Kanzaki was standing there.
If she was someone who took quite some time to bathe, maybe there wouldn't have been a tragedy when Kamijou got thrown into the changing room, since there was a door separating the bathroom and the changing room.
Just at that moment, Kanzaki walked out of the bathroom, completely naked as she reached back with both hands to tie her wet hair while holding a ribbon in her mouth. Maintaining that position, she looked like she was frozen.
PA! At that moment, the door slammed shut behind Kamijou.
"…"
"…"
The silence in the sealed room exerted a heavy pressure. If Kanzaki were to cry or go into a rage, Kamijou would have known what was to come next, but she didn't show any expression at all, not even attempting to hide. She just reached out for the thin black nodachi that was leaning on the corner of the wall.
Kanzaki's eyes looked as shiny as obsidian; they were trying to say something.
(Any last words?)
"Is—"
Even if he made an apology or an excuse, he would die either way. Now all confused, Kamijou let out these words, "—Is this a new-style katana comedy action film?"
The next second, the black nodachi swung without hesitation.