Gehenna's Bath Discussion (2)
Suddenly, a soft, smooth sensation brushed against my skin.
It was Iroha who had covered me with a towel.
“See? Now it’s fine, right? It’s not naked, after all.”
Iroha was teasing me with her relaxed exposure conditions.
She was soothing me as if I could open my eyes now.
“Although it’s not a swimsuit, let’s say it’s similar in subjective terms to a swimsuit. Well, there are differences in perception for each person, of course.”
In other words, the conclusion that Trinity’s swimsuit discussion and Gehenna’s bath talk are not different.
“Is this really okay······?”
Persuaded by Iroha, I cautiously opened my eyes.
Peeking through my fingers, I carefully scanned Iroha.
“Kyaaah-!!!”
This time, it was Iroha who was naked. Thinking about it, there was only one bath towel. With two people in the bathroom, the naked preservation rule was maintained.
I didn’t look. Iroha’s collarbone was briefly visible, but the rest was safe.
“What is this now? Why are you more embarrassed than before?”
“T-this Iroha······!”
I couldn’t finish my words.
With my horns about to turn bright red, I was in a fluster.
“Ah. Is the one being shown more embarrassed than the one looking?”
At Iroha’s question, I vigorously nodded my head.
“Why do you think I covered my eyes!”
“It’s common in hide-and-seek. The one who claims to have hidden while only covering their face. I thought that was you.”
Iroha’s idea was too much. She was teasing me.
Defeated, I turned my face away from Iroha.
“Ah, such a cute reaction. ······Fufu.”
Iroha, seeing my reaction, smiled happily.
Her voice was satisfied, as if the teasing had value.
“Indeed, Senior Makocchi is a mysterious person.”
Iroha continued her thoughts about me.
“In some moments, she shows a splendid figure as the president of Gehenna, worthy of admiration······.”
The villainous president role was given to me as a clone of Makoto.
I had to work hard as the president of Gehenna.
“At times like this, I want to play mischievous pranks, becoming all cute and wanting to be hugged by me.”
On the surface, I was acting as Makoto, but inwardly different. This was my true self.
“The only ones who know the true identity of Senior Makocchi are a very few, including me.”
The real self that can only be revealed to those who know my secret.
I just hoped that one day, the real me would be shown to Hina as well.
“So, I want to know Senior Makocchi better.”
Iroha was trying to get closer to me.
“It won’t be bad. There aren’t many who can understand Senior Makocchi well. Even if I’m the only candidate, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
Iroha was trying to understand my true identity.
“······Iroha.”
“I’m currently naked without even a single thread, so I can honestly tell my true feelings. After all, I gave you the bath towel, right? That’s quite devoted.”
Iroha, with a playful joke, chuckled.
But the atmosphere wasn’t as light as the joke’s weight.
There was a similar situation before. Iroha didn’t recognize me as Hanuma Makoto. She was trying to define me as one adult.
“So, if Senior just becomes honest, it will be fine. I, I······.”
Iroha was trying to say something.
But Iroha’s next words didn’t complete. Silence filled the bathroom.
Was this also an extension of Iroha’s prepared prank?
But I couldn’t face Iroha. Being naked was embarrassing.
Revealing it required resolve.
“Um······, Iroha?”
“Don’t turn your head this way!”
Iroha’s shrill voice filled the bathroom.
“I’m embarrassed too. This is all Senior Makocchi’s fault.”
“U-um? ······Sorry.”
I somehow apologized to Iroha.
“This way, it’s forced to receive an apology, but well, it’s fine. It’s annoying, so I won’t say more.”
Iroha grumbled with a voice of frustrated enthusiasm.
“I’ll come back after putting on some clothes. If you try to run away, I won’t let you off.”
Leaving a sharp warning, Iroha left the bathroom.
A while later, Iroha returned wearing an extra bath towel on her body.
The bath discussion continued forcibly.
“Let’s gradually reveal our true feelings starting with work-related topics. ······It was too rushed earlier.”
Iroha brought up a headache-inducing topic.
“Isn’t it okay to talk about that after the bath?”
“The point is to reveal our true feelings in a state as close to naked as possible.”
“Naked!? Just now you said it’s close to a swimsuit!”
“There are differences in perception for each person, after all.”
Iroha resolved the complaint with flexible thinking. It’s just a versatile excuse. Disgusting.
“Speaking of which, the signing of the Eden Treaty is coming up soon.”
At the mention of the Eden Treaty from Iroha, I flinched.
Like the thief pricking his own foot, I was uneasy.
“Senior Makocchi, are you scheming something with the Eden Treaty? Without even telling me.”
I was suspected of being a black-bellied schemer by Iroha. Sweat formed on my nape.
“N-no way. If it’s the Eden Treaty, it’s within the category where Gehenna’s intervention is deemed necessary, so we’re only proceeding with the minimum work, right?”
“Hmm······. I don’t quite believe it.”
Iroha stared at my sweat. Like a superhuman who can detect lies by tasting sweat.
“What about the Prefect Team?”
Iroha suddenly raised the topic.
I clamped my mouth shut like someone with cat allergies.
“Is it related to the Prefect Team leader?”
The question became more specific.
Iroha scrutinized me with eyes like a lie detector.
But I didn’t want the fact that I was secretly meeting Hina to be discovered.
“H-Hina has nothing to do with it. After all, I haven’t schemed anything.”
“Really?”
Iroha asked again.
Two consecutive answers. Which one did Iroha want to hear?
The answer that it has nothing to do with Hina, or the latter?
But I had no choice but to lie either way.
“I am-”
Just as I was about to answer Iroha,
“Kyoohh! You traitors! How dare you exclude this Makoto and enjoy the bath alone-! This is unacceptable-!!!”
Makoto burst into the bathroom.
“······.”
The replica in the bathtub, the original bursting into the bathroom.
Iroha alternately looked at the Double Makoto, especially the abdomen.
“What is that fatty belly. I guess the original senior is planning to be tuna or something.”
Eventually, Iroha shot Makoto with scathing criticism.
Her face showed displeasure at the bath discussion being disturbed by an uninvited guest.
“What!? Are you saying I’m fat?! Iroha-!!! Impossible! Hup!”
Makoto compressed the fat in her stomach with quick breathing.
For 30 seconds, Makoto returned to her original figure.
“Why don’t you prepare a golden armor and a new home at Trinity Aquarium. Tuna senior.”
But Iroha mercilessly criticized Makoto.
“Trinity!? Iroha, are you insulting me! No matter the form, the great value of this Makoto is irreversible. The belt that can’t endure me only makes me stronger!”
After Iroha’s protest was heard, she stood up.
“Senior Makocchi.”
Just before leaving the bathroom, Iroha turned her head towards me.
“Let’s do it again next time.”
And,
Iroha smiled slyly and announced the sequel.