"No, Big Sis! You mustn't go in there!"
"Huh? Why does Tiny have to tell me that?"
Big Sis, clad in a peach-colored yukata, furrowed her brow and glared at Tino.
That gaze alone almost made her body shrink back, but Tino steeled herself and clenched her fists.
Behind Tino stood a single door leading to the outdoor hot spring. The great bathhouse had been destroyed in the dragon incident, but this inn was high-end enough that each room had its own private outdoor bath.
Tino had used hers as well — a wonderful hot spring spacious enough for several people even with limbs stretched out. It was narrower than the big bathhouse, sure, but lacked nothing in facilities, and no dragons came out of it. She'd actually felt guilty about how luxurious it was.
If they wanted to bathe in the hot spring, they could use their own. What Tino couldn't understand was why this mentor of hers would insist on using Mastaa's room's bath.
Well, she did understand, on some level. Big Sis was fond of Mastaa, and judging by her usual behavior, she was not the type to rein in her emotions.
But even so — this was impossible to overlook.
That was why Tino was here. She'd taken off the yukata Mastaa had praised her for, changed back into her usual outfit, and planted herself in front of the door.
Tino took one deep breath and spoke to Big Sis, whose eyes burned with a flame-like energy.
"Do you understand, Big Sis? Mastaa told me to stand guard!"
"Mhm. And? Step aside."
"I told Mastaa that Big Sis would never do something so shameless!"
In Tino's sensibilities, invading someone's bath while the opposite sex was inside was unthinkable. In an unavoidable emergency, she'd been so embarrassed she nearly died just fighting a dragon alongside men.
She'd known Big Sis was capable of something like this. She'd watched her freely touch and cling to Mastaa all the time without a shred of restraint.
But Tino had trusted Big Sis. She truly had. She never imagined that on the very first day she'd been entrusted with the post, she'd be betrayed.
Hearing her disciple's words, Big Sis placed her hand on her hip in exasperation and narrowed her eyes. The yukata suited her slender figure perfectly. Her "Origin of the Heavens" — which she always had equipped — was now in its standby form.
A yukata made movement difficult. It wasn't battle attire. She'd probably figured that if something happened, bare feet would be easier to deal with.
"Shameless... You. You can't handle a naked man? Is that a joke? What — you're telling me you can't fight if your opponent is a naked guy?"
"Don't— don't change the subject! I was asked by Mastaa to guard this place!"
She could fight an enemy without any problem. If necessary, she'd even launch a surprise attack on someone mid-bath.
But this wasn't an enemy. It was not an enemy.
However, Big Sis showed no sign of understanding. She looked at Tino as though questioning her sanity.
"Mhm. Well, whatever. I'll say it one more time — move. I'm going to wash Krai's back."
"Absolutely not!! Big Sis, please understand..."
"I'm in the same Party as Krai, you know? We've been together since we were little, and we've bathed together before... It'll be fine. I'll tell him that Tiny was on her best behavior."
"..........."
"It's fine. Krai will just go, 'Well, guess I can't stop Liriza.'"
Tino silently took her stance. Right foot forward, center of gravity low. She steadied her breathing and watched Big Sis.
Right now, her expression probably looked like she was begging for mercy.
Even without the handicap of wearing a yukata, Tino probably couldn't stop Big Sis. In agility, in strength, in everything — she was outmatched.
Big Sis blinked and tilted her head. She rolled up her long sleeves and interlaced the fingers of both hands.
"Hmm... Tiny, you... Could it be you've gotten stronger? Could you possibly be — defying me?"
"I-it's thanks to your training, Big Sis."
The priority of orders: first, Mastaa. Second, Mastaa. Third and fourth, Mastaa.
She surveyed the area. She'd known it already, but there was nothing she could use as a weapon. She couldn't destroy Mastaa's room. All she had was her own body.
She recalled the time she'd worn the mask. Her emotions had run too high for rational judgment, but her body remembered the way it had moved.
If she gave it everything — maybe she could restrain Big Sis.
Big Sis was serious. One look at those blazing eyes told her that.
Tino steeled her resolve, but Big Sis, who had been frowning at her, let out a small sigh and said something unexpected.
"Are you stupid? If you're going to follow that order so doggedly, why not just go wash Krai's back?"
"Huh??? Ehhh?"
"You can guard from inside the hot spring too, you know? You're way too dense... Ah, wait. Tiny, come with me. You'll build up a tolerance to naked men, and I'll teach you how to wash a back. Two birds with one stone, right?"
Go with... Big Sis? Where? Wash whose... back?
For a moment she had no idea what she'd just heard, but the meaning quickly sank in and her mind went completely blank.
Her heartbeat quickened, and an unbearable restlessness crept over her. She pressed her lips together tightly. Her face had to be beet red right now.
Wash Mastaa's... back? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Probably... even if Mastaa ordered her to do it, she couldn't. The embarrassment alone would kill her.
Her composure cracked for only an instant. But when she came to her senses, Big Sis was right in front of her.
That hand grabbed her wrist roughly and pulled her with considerable force.
And just like that, Big Sis casually pushed open the door and stepped inside.
—Still dragging Tino along.
"Kraiiiii! You're lonely in there alone, aren't you? I'll wash your back!"
"Big Sis, nooo! Mastaa, please run away!"
A faint wisp of steam caressed her cheek. Big Sis used her free hand to undo her sash without a trace of embarrassment or hesitation.
All Tino could do was squeeze her eyes shut with all her might, cling to Big Sis, and attempt to restrain her.
§ § § "W-w-w-why, why is Citry Big Sis also here... This is Mastaa's room?"
"That's what I should be saying... What are you doing, Tiny?"
Citry Big Sis looked at Tino with a puzzled expression. The location was, needless to say, right in front of the door to Mastaa's room's outdoor hot spring.
She wore a yukata of a cool color that differed from Big Sis's, and it suited her well. In her right hand she held a white cloth, and she was blinking frequently.
Her eyes lacked Big Sis's intensity, but a deep intelligence flickered behind them.
Citry Big Sis didn't raise her voice. She was silent for a while, then suddenly pressed a finger to her lips and said: "Could it be... you were peeping?"
"N-no! Mastaa told me to guard this place!"
"Oh... I see. Good. If Tiny were that kind of girl, I'd have had to punish you."
A chill ran down her spine. Citry Big Sis's tone was playful, but her eyes were deadly serious.
She'd never once considered peeping, but if Tino's goal really had been that... what would have happened?
Once again, she felt the difference between Big Sis and Citry Big Sis keenly.
Big Sis was violent, but she never doubted Tino. Citry Big Sis was gentle, but she kept a watchful eye on anyone who got close to Mastaa — friend or foe alike.
"Well then, do your best."
Citry Big Sis flashed a dazzling smile and tried to slip past Tino. The motion was so natural that Tino was a beat too slow, but she managed to grab Citry's arm just in time.
If it had been Big Sis, she would never have caught her in time.
"W-w-wait! Wh-where do you think you're going?! Mastaa is bathing right now!"
"Huh? Well, obviously, I'm going to wash her back—"
"!?"
Her plan was exactly the same as Big Sis's. And she showed even less remorse about it.
Tino gripped the arm firmly and spun Citry Big Sis away from the door, her eyes wide with alarm.
She could not let her guard down. Absolutely not. Between Big Sis and now this, she could see why Mastaa had asked her to guard the door.
"No, you mustn't! Citry Big Sis, that's improper! Mastaa told me not to let anyone through!"
Fortunately, Citry Big Sis was a backline fighter. Tino had superior physical ability. As long as she wasn't caught off-guard like before, she'd be fine.
Tino guarded the door with all her might. Citry Big Sis blinked and tilted her head.
"Hmm? Tiny — improper? Could it be you've misunderstood something?"
"...Huh?"
Mis... understood?
Tino's eyes went round and her guard dropped slightly. Citry Big Sis flushed pink at the cheeks and giggled.
"Tiny, you thought I was going to... serve him without clothes on, didn't you? You've got a naughty mind~"
That teasing tone made her face go fiery in an instant. Her skin turned red all the way to her ears.
She had thought exactly that. Citry Big Sis was mild-mannered, but her closeness to Mastaa was every bit as extreme as Big Sis's.
She had a dangerous air about her, like she'd do anything if asked.
"...Eh... Really? Y-you mean that's... not it?"
"Of course not. I'm not like you, Tiny — I'm not that lewd... See, I brought a proper bathing robe."
Citry Big Sis cheerfully unfolded the white cloth she'd been holding.
Tino had assumed it was a bath towel, but it was a white bathing robe — a loose, thin garment that bore a slight resemblance to a yukata.
"If I wear this and wash his back, see? I don't have to show my skin."
"O-oh, I see..."
"Hee hee, as if I'd just casually show my skin. I'm nothing like Big Sis."
"I-I'm sorry, I misunderstood..."
To think there was such a solution... As expected of Citry Big Sis, always knowledgeable. Tino had been trapped by the assumption that hot springs were always entered naked, since that was all she'd ever known.
Citry Big Sis walked past the bowing Tino with a pleasant smile and graceful movements.
The door closed quietly. Tino tightened her focus and took a deep breath.
"...?"
But soon she felt as though she'd forgotten something, blinked several times, and quietly glanced at the door behind her.
She stared at the silent door for a while, thinking — then came back to her senses and frantically pounded on it.
"Citry Big Sis!? It doesn't matter! A bathing robe doesn't matter! You mustn't go in! Citry Big Sis!?"
For that matter, that thin bathing robe — and it was white, no less — would surely turn transparent the moment it got wet. It might even be transparent without getting wet at all.
There was no way Citry Big Sis didn't realize that. This was completely premeditated. She'd said she wouldn't casually show her skin, but going to wash someone's back was already suspicious enough.
"Mastaa, plaaaase, run away!"
Tino hesitated for a moment, but quickly made up her mind.
This was all her fault. She had to live up to Mastaa's expectations. She had to protect Mastaa from Citry Big Sis!
She squeezed her eyes shut, took one deep breath, and threw herself through the door.
§ § § "???????"
"Angya?"
A round, pale blue dragon she'd seen somewhere before tilted its head at Tino.
Tino tilted her head in return at the sight. Behind it was the door to the outdoor hot spring.
Why was there a dragon inside the room?