Before I know it, we're in her room...
"H-Haruka! Wait! I'm not—"
"Tsk, tsk, no time for protests," Haruka says, pulling open a large, closet door.
Inside, clothes fill every corner in a way that feels wild but intentional. There are sleeveless tops, crop tops, soft-looking sweaters, and shirts decorated with strange, striking art.
"Let's see…"
"Subject: Horikita. Physical specs logged. Aesthetic potential: High. Objective: Casual, but optimized for… let's call it 'social data-gathering.' In other words, I want you to look cute," Haruka mutters, more to herself than to me.
"Now, what to choose, what to choose…" Haruka says, her hand stroking her chin as she looks through the rows of clothes.
After a few seconds of intense analysis, she pulls out an outfit with a triumphant "Ah!" and presents it to me with a dramatic gesture.
"Here we are!"
Human clothes... they are nothing like what Master Lenah wears...
"Now, strip," Haruka says, as if it's nothing unusual.
"S-Strip?!" I squeak, clutching my kimono tighter.
"Right here? In front of you?!"
"Well, yes,"
"I need to ensure a proper fit. It's inefficient to have you get dressed only to discover the measurements are off. My room provides optimal privacy for this process. Now, let's proceed."
"I'm not doing that!" I tell her.
"Why not? We're both women, aren't we?"
"Unless your biological composition differs in ways not immediately apparent by visual scan. That would be fascinating data..."
"T-That's not the point!" I splutter, my face feeling like it's about to ignite.
"It's… it's indecent!"
"Indecent?" Haruka repeats the word, her head tilted in genuine curiosity.
"From a purely biological and functional standpoint, nudity is our natural state. Clothing is an artificial layer added for thermal regulation and social signaling. Removing it is merely a return to default settings. Logically, there is nothing 'indecent' about it."
I stare at her, dumbfounded.
What is she talking about?!
There's no way I'm stripping. I absolutely refuse.
It's already bad enough Kotori touched me like that… to have someone else see me naked… And especially someone as forward and analytical as Haruka! My body, my inverted nipples, my mole—she'd just…
No. Absolutely not!
"I said no," I state, my eyes meeting hers without flinching.
"I will not strip."
Haruka's gaze softens.
An unexpected expression crosses her face—not disappointment, but a look of understanding.
"Hmm. I see,"
"How about a shower first?" Haruka suggests, her tone softening into something more considerate.
"The infirmary facilities are adequate, but this is my personal space. The water pressure is superior, and I have a variety of soaps with superior data acquisition—I mean, scent—profiles. It would be a more efficient method of preparation. And it would provide you with the requisite privacy for changing."
I hesitate. A shower… it does sound nice. And the promise of privacy is alluring.
Still, this is her room...
I remember Kotori telling me about those things called 'cameras'...
(Does she... does she have one here?)
"You don't have any of those 'cameras' in there, do you?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
Haruka blinks, her head tilting in genuine confusion.
"In my shower?"
"Of course not," Haruka replies, her expression one of mild offense.
"Why would I compromise the structural integrity of a high-humidity environment with unauthorized electronic hardware? The risk of moisture incursion and system failure is unacceptably high. It's a logically unsound placement."
"So… no cameras?"
Haruka sighs dramatically, placing a hand on her chest.
"Horikita, I am deeply wounded by your insinuation. I would never be so clumsy with my technical implementations." She gives a short, dismissive wave.
I stare at her for another long moment, trying to gauge if she's telling the truth. Her expression is utterly sincere.
"...Fine," I relent.
"But you stay out here."
"Of course!" Haruka replies with a bright smile, gesturing towards the door that presumably leads to her bathroom.
"You'll find everything you need in there," Haruka continues, her smile so wide and genuine it disarmed my suspicion, at least for a moment.
With a final, suspicious glance, I quickly walk into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind me.
I lean against the door for a moment, letting out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
"Haruka is a strange human…"
"Hmph," I mutter to myself, taking a step away from the door.
The bathroom is... impressive.
Everything is neat, organized, and unusually clean.
Soaps with superior scent profiles, was it?
I sigh. With Haruka, everything is a little… odd.
Still, the thought of another warm shower is too tempting to resist.
After my last encounter and the exhaustion that followed, I feel sweaty and gross.
I strip off my ruined kimono and step toward the shower.
...