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"So warm… this feels amazing…"
Anna Yanami leaned back on the sofa, both hands pressed against her stomach. Her pretty face was full of that lazy, satisfied glow you only get after a great meal.
"Have some tea, rinse your mouth."
Blake poured out a few more cups of barley tea and handed one to each of the three girls.
"Thanks, Blake."
Yanami got up, took the cup, and happily drank half of it in one go. She was just about to sink back into that cozy, content feeling when Blake spoke again:
"It's already past eight. When are you heading home?"
"Huh?" Yanami blinked in confusion, then belatedly grabbed her phone. The moment she saw the time, her eyes went wide. "H-How is it this late?!"
"It was already past six when you came over," Blake said calmly, taking a sip of tea. "I spent an hour cooking, plus the time we took eating. Eight o'clock makes sense."
"No way, I need to get home fast. If I stay any longer, my mom's going to worry…"
Yanami gulped down the rest of her tea in one go and jumped to her feet. But almost immediately, a troubled look crossed her face.
"But… how am I supposed to get back like this?"
Her clothes had mysteriously vanished. There was no way she could go home wearing just a bathrobe.
"I'll go get some clothes for you," Yamada Elf said, raising her right hand and volunteering without hesitation.
"Thanks, Elf, but wearing someone else's clothes feels kind of weird…" Yanami shook her head lightly, then suddenly changed tone. "So I'll just wear Blake's instead."
Yamada Elf: "…"
Wait, that's even weirder, isn't it?!
"As expected, that gluttonous sea otter has been plotting something against Blake from the very beginning!"
Sagiri puffed her cheeks slightly and muttered under her breath.
"Um… Blake's clothes are way too big. Would they even fit you?"
Yanami clearly picked up on the faint hostility in Sagiri's tone, but instead of getting upset, she smiled brightly.
"It's fine. I used to wear Blake's clothes when we were kids."
A direct hit.
Against the overwhelming power of a childhood friend, what chance did a stepsister even have?
"Blake~" Yanami clasped her hands together and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please, just lend me a couple of outfits."
"…"
With both Yanami and Sagiri staring at him, Blake felt a headache coming on. Meanwhile, Yamada Elf sat off to the side, completely uninvolved, leisurely sipping her tea.
After hesitating for two seconds, Blake finally made his decision.
"I'll go get them."
They'd grown up together, after all. There was no way he could just ignore her.
"Hehe, thanks, Blake."
Yanami's face immediately lit up with a radiant smile.
A moment later, Blake came back downstairs with two pieces of clothing.
"I'll go change in the bathroom."
Yanami took the clothes, waved, and walked into the bathroom.
Click.
The door shut softly.
After making sure it was locked, Yanami let out a quiet breath. Her gaze then fell on the clothes in her hands.
"I'm about to wear them anyway… taking a quick sniff shouldn't hurt, right?"
Her cheeks turned slightly red as she lifted the clothes to her face and took a discreet sniff.
"…Mm. Just laundry detergent."
Her expression quickly shifted to disappointment.
"Oh right, the towel!"
Her eyes darted around until she spotted a plain black towel hanging on a hook.
"A towel this simple and boring… there's no way a girl would use it, right?"
Muttering to herself, she reached out and took it down.
She glanced around the bathroom.
A single toothbrush and cup. A pair of men's slippers. It was obvious that this bathroom downstairs was used only by Blake.
"Well, I'm in the bathroom anyway… no one's going to find out…"
Blushing, Yanami lifted the towel toward her face.
Knock knock.
A sudden knock made her freeze.
"Yanami."
Blake's voice came from outside the door.
"Ah—!"
Caught in the act, Yanami panicked. The towel smacked straight onto her face.
"Cough, cough!"
She hurriedly pulled it off, her face burning with guilt, her voice stumbling.
"W-What is it?"
Standing outside, Blake said, "Your mom called. She's probably asking when you're coming home… want me to pass you the phone?"
"Y-Yeah… give it to me…"
She instinctively agreed and reached for the door.
But just as she opened it halfway, she suddenly noticed the towel still in her hand. She immediately slammed the door shut again.
Bang!
"???"
Blake was left standing there, utterly confused.
"Blake, wait a second!" Yanami's face was blazing red as she hurriedly hung the towel back. "I'll be done in a moment!"
(Did he see anything?)
(He definitely didn't notice… right?)
(If he did, I might as well just hold my breath and die of embarrassment—!)
After putting the towel back, Yanami pressed a hand to her chest and took a few deep breaths. Once she'd calmed down a bit, she finally opened the door again.
"Yanami… why is your face so red?"
Blake sounded puzzled.
"Cough… it's kind of hot in the bathroom…" Yanami fanned herself awkwardly, then quickly snatched the phone. "I'm calling my mom now. Don't eavesdrop!"
"…"
Ten minutes later, the bathroom door finally opened again.
A blue-haired girl stepped out, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, black casual pants, and a baseball cap. One hand rested lightly over her chest.
The once sweet and sunny girl now gave off a cool, almost dashing vibe.
"The clothes are a bit big, but they fit well enough," Blake nodded in satisfaction. "It's getting late. You should head home now."
"Um…" Yanami hugged herself lightly, looking at him with pitiful eyes. "It's already so late… what if I run into something dangerous on the way?"
"So?"
"So… can you walk me home?"
"…"
Faced with her pleading look, Blake couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Thankfully, their houses weren't far apart. It wouldn't take long.
"Let's go."
Blake put on his shoes, and the two of them headed out together.
The moonlight was soft.
A cool night breeze drifted through the quiet residential area.
"It feels like it's been forever since we took a walk together at night," Yanami said, her hands clasped behind her back, her voice light again.
"Yeah, it has been a while." Blake kept his hands in his pockets. "So, coming over again tomorrow?"
"Of course I am!" Yanami spun around, her soft blue hair swaying in the breeze. "You wouldn't go back on your word, right?"
"No, I wouldn't." Blake shook his head. "I was just wondering what you want to eat tomorrow."
"Huh—really?!" Yanami leaned in suddenly, eyes sparkling. A faint, sweet scent drifted from her with the breeze. "Can I make requests?"
Blake raised two fingers. "You get two dishes."
"That's so few…"
"Now you only get one."
Clap.
Yanami instantly clasped her hands together and bowed deeply.
"Oh great and merciful deity, please allow me to take that back!"
"....."