“Chapter 212: With Meirir 2”

    I take back what I said about Dyke being a good guy.

    – Uhh…………

    – …

    Even if the vapor was hiding a lot of her skin, I could easily make out her body.

    Speaking of which, this is the first time I’ve seen her naked.

    Might not be the time to be thinking about that.

    – Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-

    – I’M SO SORRY.

    Both of us are so flustered that neither knows what to do. We just turned our faces away.

    – W-Why are you here!? I reserved this bath…

    – What? I thought it was reserved for me.

    – …

    – …

    – “Come to the Bright Bath by yourself. I want to thank you” (Takaya/Meirir)

    – Did you hear about his parents too? (Takaya)

    – Yes. He convinced Roar and me to lend him money.

    – That little…

    So Roar, Meirir and I are paying for Dyke’s part…

    – I’ll get out of the bath. Feel free to enjoy your reservat-

    I was about to get up when Meirir grabbed my wrist.

    – Uhh…?

    – It’s fine. I’m submerged from below my shoulders. You can’t see anything anymore. Can we stay together a little longer?

    – …

    – What? Are you embarrassed about taking a bath with your old sis?

    Yes. I have never been more embarrassed in my life.

    But I can’t possibly back out now.

    – O-Of course not! I’ll stay here longer than you.

    – Oh, really now? It’s a competition, then~

    We just sat on the bath close to each other, looking at the sky.

    Not a single cloud. All the stars in the sky are tinkling…

    Yet they’re not the constellations I know.

    I really am in another world…

    – Takaya…

    – Hm? What? You wanna quit already? I’m just getting started.

    – Ah, you’re so dense. No, it’s not that.

    After a short pause, Meirir looked straight into my eyes.

    – …Do you want to see my birthmark?

    – !!??

    “Her birthmark is in a bit of a dangerous place”

    – W-What are you blushing for!?

    – Well…

    – It stands out a lot, so I always try to hide it.

    Meirir raised her ponytail and exposed the nape of her neck.

    It’s small, but compared to her siblings’, Meirir’s birthmark is bright red.

    – Is this why you wanted to come with us to Wols?

    – So, you knew…

    I might’ve been staring at Lyld and Myirin’s marks for way too long.

    – I know I’ve been cast under a shadow with so many girls in your life recently… But I’m still one of your friends.

    The distance between us disappeared to the point where our shoulders were now touching.

    – Takaya, do you know why we have this birthmark?

    – …No.

    It’s exactly because I don’t know that I’ve been so fixated on it.

    – Is it fine to tell an outsider?

    – Weellll~~ I probably shouldn’t, but if it’s you…

    Meirir readied herself.

    I’ll get to find out abou- Huh?

    A circle of white light appeared in front of us.

    – Is this…? (Meirir)

    – Yeah, it’s her.

    The magic circle, the light… There’s no way to mistake her.

    – Look at who we have here! If it isn’t my disciple Takaya! And he’s alone with a girl in a hot spring!? Boy, I’m glad to see you’re having a good time.

    – Grandmaster.