The night was long and full of delight. It was the liveliest the underground space had ever been.
Four people gathered around the game board. After some twenty rounds, the game had reached its peak, and everyone's distinct style was on full display. The board was covered with their respective pieces, creating a delicate balance of power and confrontation.
"Watch my lucky toss!"
In high spirits, Rangiku Matsumoto cupped the die in her palms, shaking it with exaggerated flair and even blowing on it for luck before letting it fly into the center of the board. The die spun rapidly before slowly coming to a halt.
A four.
"Yay!"
She scanned the situation on the board, a slight smirk playing on her lips. Between safely reaching her own finish line and actively knocking someone else off the board, Rangiku chose the latter without a moment's hesitation. An aggressive offense was simply her nature.
"Prepare for your doom, Toshiro!"
If she couldn't beat him at other things, surely she could best him at a board game. She picked up her yellow piece and smashed it into the blue piece ahead, sending it back to the base. The piece stood no chance against her deliberate assault. As she moved, her eyes sparkled with the light of a successful prank.
As long as the dice allowed it, she was always keen on sending others back to the starting line to begin anew. She was particularly attentive to Toshiro and Suō Tsukasa's pieces. The former was because she was usually suppressed in every aspect by the boy genius, and the latter was because Suō Tsukasa always maintained that calm, effortless composure. She couldn't help but want to see what expressions they would make when their pieces were sent flying.
"Hmph."
Toshiro withdrew his gaze and let out a nonchalant huff, long since accustomed to such treatment. It was his turn to roll. His movements were clean and efficient; he didn't even look at the die as he gave it a casual toss. It tumbled through the air and landed on the board with a light click.
A six.
"Oh?"
Suō Tsukasa's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Wait, wait, you've got to be kidding?" Rangiku's smile faltered, replaced by a sense of unease.
Just a moment ago, while knocking the blue piece away, she had also landed her own piece right at the entrance of the blue base. Toshiro ignored her mutterings. He first took the piece that had just been knocked down and relaunched it from the base into the track.
A three.
"Hold on—" Rangiku instinctively sensed trouble.
Toshiro raised his eyes and looked at her calmly. His gaze clearly said: My turn. Without a word, he picked up his piece and gently pushed the yellow piece blocking his path off the track.
"Tch, how unlucky." Rangiku curled her lip.
Karma had come quickly. Just a moment ago, she was gloating over knocking Toshiro's piece out, and in the blink of an eye, her own piece was sent back home.
"That's what they call 'what goes around, comes around,'" Toshiro said flatly. His tone was devoid of emotion, but the slight upward curve of his mouth betrayed his current mood.
"Heh—" Isane Kotetsu couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, but fearing it was impolite, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
It was her turn. She nervously picked up the die and took a deep breath as if performing a major ritual before gently letting it roll.
A two.
"Ah, only a two—" She sighed in slight disappointment, but she still carefully moved her green piece in a back-and-forth maneuver near the finish line.
"Isane-san is very steady," Suō Tsukasa remarked as he observed the game.
His red piece was exactly one space behind one of her green pieces. However, even when she had the chance to knock someone off, Isane rarely attacked actively, often choosing to move a different piece instead. Every step she took was exceptionally cautious, and she rarely chose to leap over others' pieces. Nevertheless, the dawn of victory was closest to her; two of her pieces had already reached the finish line, with only two remaining on the board.
"Hehe, safety first," she replied with a smile, handing the die to Suō Tsukasa.
"Then watch me."
Suō Tsukasa smiled in return and tossed the die, equally enjoying the simple pleasure of the game.
Time flowed by unnoticed. Finally, after several back-and-forth rolls at the end, Isane's final piece stopped exactly on the finish line.
"Done! I won!"
She clapped her hands in delight, a bright and joyful smile blooming on her face. No one cared about the strict ranking of winners and losers; they only cared for the happiness of the process.
"Congratulations." Suō Tsukasa began putting the pieces away.
"Next time I'm coming up with a new strategy!" Rangiku stretched her back luxuriously. Although she had the fewest pieces finished, she had undoubtedly knocked others off the most times, leaving her quite satisfied.
"Anytime," Toshiro said succinctly.
"Playing together with everyone was truly fun," Isane said sincerely as she helped roll up the game mat.
The game concluded amidst Isane's joyful declaration.
"Alright, alright, Isane, let's go! I'll take you to the hot springs to wash off that hotpot smell." Rangiku stood up, walked over to Isane, and pulled her up.
"Okay." Isane's face also filled with a look of anticipation.
As Suō Tsukasa packed away the game sets, he added a casual reminder, "Since you've been drinking, remember not to soak for too long."
"We know!" Rangiku waved her hand playfully and then intimately hooked her arm through Isane's.
The two silhouettes walked side by side toward the hot spring area, their laughter and low whispers gradually fading into the distance.
"Let's go wash up as well," Suō Tsukasa said, nodding to Toshiro.
After a quick wash, Toshiro returned to the main house, while Suō Tsukasa began preparing materials for tomorrow's breakfast. For a moment, he was the only one left in the vast space. Once everything was ready, he also prepared to return to his room.
Just as he turned and took a few steps toward the main house—
"Waaah—!"
"Isane, your skin is so smooth! It feels amazing!"
Rangiku's voice, full of unabashed wonder and laughter, drifted faintly through the bamboo grove and across the distance. It wasn't loud, but in the silence of the underground space, it stood out quite clearly.
Suō Tsukasa's footsteps paused slightly.
"Ran—Rangiku! You—don't just touch me like that!"
Following immediately was Isane Kotetsu's startled cry, filled with embarrassment and panic.
"What does it matter? We're all girls."
"And it really is incredible, just like fine silk! What do you usually use for maintenance? Tell me quickly!" Rangiku's voice was full of curiosity and mischief; she was clearly having a field day.
"It's nothing special—just normal care—ah, not there, it tickles—!"
"Let me feel again—"
The intermittent dialogue, interspersed with the sound of splashing water and Rangiku's irrepressible laughter, wafted over along with the wisps of warm steam. Suō Tsukasa stood where he was, his face devoid of any particular expression. Such a scene didn't even need imagining; it was already present in his mind. He only lingered for a few breaths before turning to go inside.
By the hot spring pool, it was exactly as Suō Tsukasa had suspected—a scene of chaotic merriment. Rangiku Matsumoto was submerged in the pool, revealing only her neck and the elegant lines of her collarbones. Her blonde hair was damp, with several strands clinging to her cheeks and the side of her neck, adding a touch of lazy charm. Her fingertips were still lightly brushing the water with lingering intent, a mischievous, brilliant smile on her face.
"You really mustn't do that next time!"
Isane Kotetsu's face was completely flushed, whether from the heat of the springs or sheer bashfulness. Her arms were instinctively crossed over her chest, guarding against her friend's overly enthusiastic touch. She looked every bit the naughty female rogue, showing the first signs of the woman she would become.
She possessed a heroic beauty quite different from Rangiku's. Now, moistened by the hot springs and the mist, her expression had softened considerably, radiating a distinct, healthy glow.
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