The blue-haired teenager continued his way. He pushed open the bathroom door and stepped inside, closing it firmly behind him. Without hesitation, Arvin stripped off every piece of clothing, placing them in the laundry basket until he stood completely naked.
He then walked to the corner of the room, specifically to the washing area. Arvin took some water and splashed it over himself, letting the cool water refresh his body as he began to bathe. He scrubbed himself with soap until clean, washing away the last lingering traces of sleep.
It took him only a short time to clean himself. Once finished and having rinsed away all the suds, Arvin intended to soak. He wanted to relax his muscles in the warm water for a while and enjoy a moment of peace in the morning before resuming his busy routine.
With his body still wet and dripping, Arvin walked casually toward the large bathtub.
However, his footsteps came to a sudden, rigid halt.
Standing right in front of the tub, Arvin froze. His eyes widened in absolute shock at the sight before him.
Inside the tub filled with warm water, Yonna was soaking. The woman had apparently been there all along, frozen in a harrowing silence caused by the sound of splashing water and Arvin's naked form.
Now, at such close proximity and without any barrier between them, Yonna could see every detail of Arvin's naked body as he stood right in front of her.
Time seemed to stand still within the steam-filled bathroom. Arvin stood immobile at the edge of the tub, while inside the water, Yonna froze, her eyes wide with shock. She stared directly at the man's body, which was now fully exposed without a single thread of clothing.
For an ordinary person, this situation would surely trigger hysterical screams or overwhelming panic. However, that did not apply to Arvin.
Instead of panicking, shouting, or hurrying to cover himself with a towel, the blue-haired teenager simply let out a long, weary sigh. His facial expression remained flat and composed. With a casual gait, as if Yonna weren't even there, Arvin stepped into the spacious tub. The warm water rippled instantly as his athletic frame submerged, taking a spot right next to Yonna.
An awkward, suffocating silence immediately filled the room. No one dared to speak.
Beside him, a visceral sense of awkwardness gnawed at Yonna's mind. The green-haired woman pulled her knees tightly to her chest, trying to submerge herself as deeply as possible beneath the surface of the water. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently it felt as though it might explode.
Throughout her life, she had never seen the naked body of another teenage boy except for her own brother's when they were children. Now, that explicit sight was presented with startling clarity right before her eyes. Her face was flushed a deep crimson, and she felt as if she wanted to simply vanish from the world right then and there.
Seeing Yonna looking so tormented by the situation, Arvin finally decided to take the initiative.
"Yonna..." Arvin called out, his voice deep and calm, breaking the stifling silence.
Yonna flinched slightly, looking at Arvin hesitantly from behind her knees.
"There's no need to feel so awkward or afraid." Arvin said casually, leaning his back against the rim of the tub. "You know well enough that I have absolutely no interest in women. So, rest assured! I will never look at you with lust, let alone do anything inappropriate to you."
"Besides, even if you were a man with a cute face, I still wouldn't just pounce on you here!" Arvin continued while slowly closing his eyes, beginning to relax his muscles as he enjoyed the warmth of the bathwater.
Hearing such a blunt and logical explanation, Yonna swallowed hard. "B-But..." Yonna stammered, her voice still trembling with nerves. "I-I'm still not used to seeing another man's naked body directly like this..."
"Don't give it a second thought!" Arvin cut in quickly, his eyes remaining closed. His tone carried an air of absolute practicality. "If this were the afternoon, we could certainly take turns using the bathroom. But on a busy morning like this, it's far too difficult for us to waste time waiting for each other. You have to prepare for work at the Merchant Guild, and we have to get ready for the academy. Our time is limited in the mornings. So, just get used to the dynamics of this house, Yonna."
Arvin's words sounded incredibly rational, piercing through the fog of Yonna's panic. The woman blinked slowly, processing her brother-in-law's words. Miraculously, seeing how relaxed and indifferent Arvin was, Yonna began to feel that her own panic was perhaps a bit excessive.
Yonna took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and attempted to act normally following Arvin's lecture. Her tense posture gradually began to relax.
Uniquely, the intense awkwardness that had previously made her want to die evaporated without a trace. She stretched her legs out in the water. She found herself able to act naturally, like family, despite the fact that they were both completely naked in the same tub.
"Is my brother going to the academy today?" Yonna asked, attempting to strike up a conversation to fully dispel the remaining tension.
Arvin opened his eyes, looking at the woman's beautiful face, which had finally regained its composure. "Yes, you and he will be heading to the academy a bit later than the usual start time." Arvin answered. "Since you are currently his guardian, you must accompany him to handle everything when meeting the Academy Dean."
Yonna nodded understandingly. "Alright, I'll go with him and make sure everything is settled."
The atmosphere had just returned to a state of peace when, moments later, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed. The bathroom door was pushed open.
Allen stepped in, intending to join his husband. However, the pink-haired youth's footsteps came to an abrupt halt. His eyes bulged to their limit at the sight before him. His husband and Yonna were soaking in the same tub together, both completely naked.
"W-What are you two doing?!" Allen cried out, his voice a mix of shock and a sudden explosion of jealousy. "Why are you bathing together naked like that?!"
Arvin looked at his first spouse calmly. "This is my fault." Arvin replied without hesitation, taking full responsibility. "I suddenly walked in while she was already soaking. Since we have to get to the academy, I had no choice but to bathe here with her to avoid wasting time waiting."
"But that doesn't mean you should just show off your naked body to others like this!" Allen protested, his voice rising until it echoed off the bathroom walls. "Just imagine, if my naked body were seen by others so freely, how would you feel?!"