There are joys in this world that make you forget home entirely.
Amid the hazy steam, Raiden Ei stood barefoot in the bathtub, staring at Raiden Mei, who had already slipped out of her clothes outside the tub. Her expression remained calm and serious as ever.
But inside…
I can't take this anymore… Why is it that even with a puppet body now, I still feel like I'm about to get a nosebleed?!
"They really are exactly the same…"
Raiden Mei muttered under her breath, clearly troubled as she looked Ei over.
"Because Lady Narukami created me using her own body as the template." Ei looked at Mei with utmost seriousness. "So naturally, my body should be identical to yours as well."
"But…"
Mei's face flushed crimson as she glanced toward certain more private areas.
"Why would anyone making a puppet… include those parts too?"
"Those parts?" Confusion flickered through Ei's eyes, and she immediately prepared to give a serious explanation.
"No, no need. I already know what you're about to say, Ei, so please don't."
Mei hurriedly cut her off before letting out a long sigh, forcing herself to regain composure.
"Ei, next… I'll teach you how to bathe properly. And which places you're supposed to wash carefully…"
Under Mei's practically hand-over-hand guidance, Ei nearly ascended straight to heaven.
And later that night…
Ei sat quietly on her bed. On another bed not far away sat Himeko.
"Looks like it's just the two of us tonight." Himeko reclined lazily against the bed, propping her head up with one hand while gazing at Ei with a gentle smile.
"Mhm."
Even hearing the slightly teasing tone in Himeko's voice, Ei's expression barely changed.
"Feeling sleepy yet?"
"No."
Ei lightly shook her head and answered seriously, "As a body personally crafted by Lady Narukami—"
"Alright, alright, I know already." Himeko sighed helplessly.
"Ei, then… try closing your eyes and thinking about nothing. Or…"
"Or?"
Ei looked at her curiously.
What exactly was Himeko planning?
"Or try some of this!" Himeko pulled a bottle of vodka from the bedside cabinet. Under the warm light, the amber liquor shimmered softly inside the glass.
"What is that?"
Even though the sight of it already made Ei's head hurt a little, she still kept up her innocent, puzzled expression.
"It's alcohol. Helps people drift off before they even realize it." Himeko's golden eyes remained warm and earnest.
"I figured instead of struggling to experience sleep for the first time, we might as well just drink ourselves silly. Maybe you'll pass out immediately."
"Understood."
Ei agreed, though internally she was already mourning her fate.
Looks like there's no escaping this tonight. She really didn't like drinking. The dull ache afterward was awful.
"Then give it a try." Himeko pulled out a couple of small glasses, had Ei sit beside her, and poured them each a drink.
"See how it tastes."
"Mmh… cough, cough… What a strange taste."
Ei had only ever tried beer, rice wine, baijiu, and sparkling wine before. Vodka was completely new to her. The moment it went down, it felt like a line of fire burned from her throat straight to her stomach.
"You'll get used to it if you sip it slowly." Himeko casually downed her own glass in one go.
Watching Himeko tilt her head back to drink, Ei noticed the elegant line of her neck and the subtle movement of her throat as she swallowed. A faint blush spread across Himeko's cheeks afterward, and Ei found herself staring blankly before nodding.
"Okay."
So the two of them sat on the bed, drinking glass after glass together.
Except…
As time passed, empty bottles began piling up near the foot of the bed.
Himeko's entire face was flushed red now, her usually cool and dashing beauty softened into a drunken, almost seductive charm.
Meanwhile, Ei's cheeks were only slightly pink.
"Hic~" Himeko let out a drunken hiccup and wrapped an arm around Ei's neck, grinning hazily. "Never thought… your alcohol tolerance would be this good…"
"The taste of alcohol… is quite unusual," Ei murmured softly, pretending as though she truly had no experience with it.
There was no way she actually believed Himeko was drunk.
Even she wouldn't get completely wasted in front of someone she'd only just met, especially someone with such a special identity.
"Haa…" After nearly eight bottles of vodka shared between them, Himeko's head slowly drooped.
Then, without warning, she casually stripped off all her clothes.
Ei watched calmly, though her eyes now held a trace of confusion.
"Himeko, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing…? Obviously getting ready for bed…"
As she spoke, Himeko slipped off the last of her shorts, then immediately wrapped her arms around Ei's neck and pushed her down onto the bed.
"?!"
Ei struggled to lift her head in shock, staring at Himeko, who was now clinging to her like an oversized body pillow.
Those soft, snow-white curves squished directly against her face.
A sweet scent mixed with alcohol flooded her senses.
For the first time all night, the alcohol finally hit Ei.
"Himeko?"
She tried to stay calm and call back some shred of Himeko's awareness.
But Himeko's breathing had already evened out.
"She fell asleep…"
Ei's face grew hotter and hotter, especially with Himeko hugging her tighter by the second and one leg draped possessively over her body.
Neither of them had bothered covering themselves with a blanket.
Meaning Ei had a completely unobstructed view of Himeko's entire body.
That entire night, Ei never managed to fall asleep.
She had never imagined her first night staying in the Valkyrie dorms would turn out this scandalously intimate.
Until the next morning.
The moment Ei sensed a shift in Himeko's breathing rhythm, she opened her eyes.
Only to find Himeko hugging her tightly face-to-face, wearing an amused smile full of anticipation, clearly eager to see whether her prank had worked.
"Honey~ Gimme a kiss."
As she spoke, Himeko leaned in directly, lips approaching Ei's as though she truly intended to kiss her.
"…."
Ei stared back at her in confusion.
Just before their lips could meet, Himeko stopped, leaving less than half an inch between them. Ei could even feel the warmth of Himeko's sweet breath brushing against her face.
Then instead, Himeko planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Mmm… So soft~"
…That's it?
Ei felt deeply disappointed.
She'd already mentally prepared herself to lose her first kiss.
Next time, could you just commit already?!
--+--