Saeko Busujima: "Haruto probably isn't serious about doing anything."
Haruto Amakawa: "Mm. This is Sakurajima Mai, from the group."
Akame: "She went to your house?"
Haruto: "Yeah. I don't know why she came in the middle of the rain, but I figured she'd get sick if she didn't take a bath. She was wary I might try something, so to ease her nerves, I started a livestream."
Stella: "Honestly, I'd be scared too!"
Saeko: "I don't think Haruto would do anything reckless."
Stella: "What? Why are you defending him?"
She wanted to shout: You're the one he took advantage of!
Frieren: "Could this be what humans call… Stockholm Syndrome?"
Saeko: "No. Haruto only followed the rules of the trade. The terms were for 'body usage rights' once, and although he clearly still had the energy, he stopped after just one time."
It was Saeko herself who had sought him out afterward. That was why she defended him.
Still, such an explanation wasn't easy for others to accept.
Stella: "Ahhh, this group has been tainted!"
Frieren: "On the contrary, I find it admirable. To hold to the exact letter of a contract shows integrity."
Akame: "Yeah. A mutual trade is still better than one side forcing themselves on the other."
Sakurajima Mai: "…"
Watching the conversation spin in strange directions, Mai quickly cut in:
"…I'm going to take a bath now. Thanks."
Clutching her towel, she hurried toward the bathroom.
---
With the livestream still on, she knew Haruto wouldn't make any sudden moves.
Gurgle… gurgle…
She exhaled bubbles into the bathwater, staring at the ceiling.
How did it come to this?
Never in her life had she imagined bathing in the home of a man who lived alone. Especially not a man she thought of as a shameless flirt.
Her unease spiked when she saw Haruto rise from his seat.
"?!"
Mai's heart skipped—
but instead of approaching, Haruto opened a drawer, pulled out a packet of cold medicine, and set a kettle to boil.
All for her.
The realization softened something inside her.
---
Steam rolled out as the bathroom door opened. Mai stepped into the room, clutching a bundle of clothes.
Haruto's brows lifted slightly. His expression was amused, but the chat exploded.
Akame: "…Is that clothing?"
Stella: "What kind of outfit is that?!"
Frieren: "It resembles the imitation of a black rabbit. Perhaps intended to mimic weak prey as camouflage. I wonder if such a disguise would work on demons?"
Frieren went on, thoughtful as ever:
"I often conceal my magic power to trick demons with sharp senses, luring them into lowering their guard. Maybe a rabbit disguise could serve the same purpose."
Haruto smiled faintly. He knew exactly where her mind had gone.
Haruto: "@Frieren, don't overthink it. That's called a bunny girl outfit. It's a kind of lingerie."
Stella: "…"
Just as I feared! Way too suggestive!
Frieren: "Ah, so it's used in human courtship rituals."
She studied the screen with a scholar's curiosity.
"The material—silk and leather. The cut—tight, exposing much of the body. Clearly designed to accentuate physical appeal. By human standards, it must be very alluring, yes?"
Haruto: "Correct. It's very sexy."
Mai's cheeks flared crimson, burning hot as embers.
But before she could recover, Haruto's easy voice delivered a playful jab:
Haruto: "Too bad her chest isn't as big as Saeko's."
Mai's expression froze.
Of course he was teasing—but still!
Saeko: "Thank you for the compliment, Haruto-kun."
Mai: "??? TURN OFF THE LIVESTREAM!!!"
Frieren: "Wait. I wished to continue studying human mating behavior."
Mating?
Mai nearly collapsed from shame.
Luckily, Haruto ended the stream with a click while chuckling.
---
"Why didn't you just use the towel I gave you?" Haruto asked, curiosity plain.
"…."
Mai sat across from him on the sofa, towel clutched tightly over her outfit. She couldn't admit she hadn't worn underwear and felt the towel was too risky.
TV dramas often had accidents in such situations.
So instead, she put on her bunny girl outfit, forgetting how provocative it was, especially without any undergarments.
Haruto's gaze lingered for a second—Not hungry, not leering. More like a man cataloguing the world with detached amusement.
That somehow unsettled her more.
Realizing his angle of view, she yanked the towel tight around herself.
The sight vanished. Haruto only smiled faintly, as if he'd already gotten what he wanted: a fleeting glimpse of the "butterfly in flight."
He gestured toward the table, where a glass of water and medicine waited.
"Take these, then we'll talk. It's cold medicine. Nothing shady."
His tone was casual, easygoing, but his eyes gave nothing away.
"…."
Of course she knew it was only cold medicine—she'd seen him prepare it on stream.
It was just that her mind had been caught up on that single, mortifying glimpse.
"…Okay."
Her voice was small, a mix of shame and reluctant gratitude. She picked up the glass and swallowed the medicine.