"Okay… I must say, almost everything in this anime looks traditional, like a historical anime, but your castle? It's more… urban. Look at this bathroom—it's enormous. The bathtub, the toilet seat, this sink, even… everything—they're all so urban," I said, my voice a little shaky as Selene grabbed two blue robes from her mini closet.
I tilted my head, letting my eyes wander. The walls gleamed faintly with pale tiles, something that looked too polished for a world that was supposed to be ancient. Steam rose gently from a wide basin, carrying a clean smell that made me think of rice water and lavender. This place was more like a modern spa than the kind of old castles I'd seen in anime.
"Author Lee must be crazy," I muttered, watching her graceful movements. "First she made the villainess look exactly like her, and now… she's giving you some special… whatever this is."
Selene handed me one of the bathrobes, her expression unreadable.
I stared at it. "What… what do you want me to do with it?" I asked.
She didn't even blink. Instead, she gently took my hand, her cool fingers brushing mine, and slipped the robe over it. "Do you want to wash your hair in that dress? Put it on," she said.
My mouth went dry. And suddenly, I wasn't so sure if this was only about washing my hair… or something else. My heart picked up a little, beating against my chest in a way that made me press my lips together so she wouldn't notice my uneven breathing.
"Don't worry," she added with a soft smile that made me forget how to blink, "I'll change in the room, and you can change here." Then she left, her steps quiet, her robe trailing behind like mist.
She's changing too… oh god, please help me.
…
By the time she returned, I was already fidgeting. I sat at the edge of the stool, tapping my foot against the smooth floor, my robe clutched tightly around me.
"So… after washing my hair, what will you be doing next?" I asked, trying to sound casual but failing. My voice came out smaller than I intended, like I was asking something I shouldn't.
"I… I don't know what to do next," she admitted, her eyes flicking down as she prepared the basin. A strand of her silver hair fell forward as she leaned over, and she brushed it back quickly.
"What do you mean you don't know? You're the one with the manual!" I said, raising a brow, trying to act braver than I felt.
Her lips curved faintly. "It says a soft gesture of care will melt her heart… so I'm hoping my care—washing your hair—will melt your heart."
I scoffed, leaning back just slightly. The air between us felt heavier now. "Nothing… nothing can melt my heart. No matter what you do, my heart is like diamond. Hard, unyielding. Nothing can damage it.
Her head tilted, her eyes holding mine with a strange calm. "Well… we'll see about that. Okay, do you want the water warm, hot, or cold?"
I arched an eyebrow, lips quirking. "How are you going to get hot water when everything—including you—is cold?"
She smiled then, that little smile that made my chest tighten. "Just say the word, Kisaragi. Warm, hot, or cold?"
Huh… let's see how far she's willing to go to try to melt my heart.
"Hot. I like my hair washed with hot water," I said firmly, crossing my arms like it was a challenge.
"Very well, then." She snapped her fingers.
Ice stumbled in, carrying a barrel that sloshed with heat and steam. He placed it down carefully, bowed low, and quickly left the bathroom. My jaw nearly dropped. Wow. The answer is extreme.
Selene guided me toward the frozen stool by the basin, her movements calm, almost like she had done this before. I sat down, still clutching the robe at my chest, the fabric brushing against my skin. My breath slipped out in a quiet puff as her fingers brushed through my hair, loosening the strands.
The first splash of water trickled down, hot but felt warm against my scalp. I let out a soft breath, tilting my head slightly forward. The warmth spread slowly, chasing away the chill in the air. Selene's hands moved gently, slow circles against my head, careful not to tug. It didn't feel like just washing—it felt like… care.
The sound of the water, the faint rustle of her sleeves, the rhythm of her fingertips—it was strangely soothing. I could feel myself relax even though my heart refused to slow down.
I tried to distract myself, my voice coming out softer than I expected. "So… how do you even know how to wash hair like this?"
Selene's hands stilled for a moment, then moved again. "I learned it… from someone."
"Someone?" I repeated, raising a brow. I tried to sound casual, though curiosity tugged at me like a string.
"Mhm." Her voice dipped slightly, her fingers moving just a little slower, like the thought bothered her more than she wanted me to notice. But her face stayed calm, her smile steady. She wasn't going to show it.
"You're acting a little different right now." she said
"Different?"
"Yes different" she echoed, fingers threading gently through the ends of my hair, rinsing it with warm water.
"Oh," I said, closing one eye, trying to peek back at her. My cheeks warmed slightly, but I ignored it.
She leaned closer, her breath brushing faintly against my ear. "And I like this different."
Something in my chest gave way, and before I knew it, I smiled—a small one, but real. I quickly looked down so she wouldn't see too much.
"…But what if I act different because I don't belong in this world?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Her hands paused, fingers lightly pressing against my hair. "…What do you mean?"
I breathed in, then out, my chest rising and falling too quickly. "What if I were to tell you… that I'm from another world. Way different from here. Would you believe me?"
Silence filled the air, broken only by the soft drip of water sliding down into the basin. Selene's hands moved gently one last time, brushing the strands back from my face.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft. "All done. Your hair is all washed."
"Wow, that was quick," I said, trying to shake off the strange heaviness of what I'd just told her. I forced a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Okay, now done with the washing—" she began.
"Oh, thank goodness this is over," I sighed under my breath, shoulders loosening—
Then she spoke again. "Now it's time to bathe you."
What the hell did she just say?!