How About Calling It a Draw?
“How about calling it a draw?”
“Haaah... Home really is the best!”
It wasn't my house, but whatever—as soon as I crossed the threshold of the mansion, all my tension melted away, and I flung myself straight toward that beloved bed.
I planned to bury my face in the fluffy blankets and wash away the fatigue of the day.
But instead of that soft bedding, what I felt was a bizarre floating sensation, like I was bobbing gently in midair.
...Huh?
When I opened my eyes, my body was hovering in the air.
I twisted my head back and there was Luna, wagging her finger with an infuriating smirk.
“Um... Luna? Could you put me down, please? I'm exhausted right now. I just want to dive into bed...”
To my desperate plea, Luna didn't answer. Instead, she floated closer and suddenly buried her nose in the top of my head.
“...!”
“Sniff...”
“H-Hiiik?! Wh-what are you doing?! Why are you sniffing my hair?!”
I let out a shriek, startled out of my skin by the sudden move, but Luna just tilted her head innocently.
“Lia, how long has it been since you last bathed~?”
“Huh? What kind of question is th...”
The moment I heard it, a cold sweat trickled down my spine.
Let's think about this.
Since arriving in this world, had I ever gotten into a bathtub...? No, not even a shower?
Other than washing my face after nosebleeding from overusing magic on the first day... had I really not bathed even once?
I mentally counted the days, and my brain started sizzling. Sweat poured as I mumbled,
“Uh... about... a week...? I think...?”
Luna's face twisted in shock at my shrinking voice.
“Eww, really? That long?”
Then, as if she couldn't believe it, she leaned in and sniffed my hair again.
Humiliation burned my cheeks as I thrashed around.
“Stop sniffing people's heads! Are you a pervert or something?!”
“It's just so intriguing~. You said it's been a week, but instead of anything gross, it's more like... that musky puppy paw smell? I was curious~.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?! Just put me down already!”
I didn't even want to imagine how ridiculous I looked dangling and flailing in midair.
But Luna ignored my pleas with that smug grin.
“If I put you down, you'll just crawl into bed and roll around~. No way.”
“But you said I don't smell bad! So what's the problem?”
“It's not about the type of smell—it's about hygiene~. Now, come along quietly.”
With that, she dragged me through the air toward the bathroom, striding purposefully.
“Eeeek! Nooo! Put me down! I can wash myself!”
My desperate screams echoed down the hall, but nothing could sway the grand mage's stubbornness.
.
.
.
.
After the storm had passed.
Fresh out of the steamy bathroom, I collapsed onto the floor, my soul half-escaped from my body.
My skin was soft and dry, my hair carried a fresh fruity scent, but my mind was in tatters.
“Sniff... I've been defiled...”
“What are you talking about? You're clean now~.”
Luna, floating a towel with magic to dry her own hair, shot me an exasperated look.
Truth be told, the bath itself wasn't uncomfortable.
I'd just kept my eyes shut the whole time while magic handled everything—from warm water rinses to hair drying, even laundering and redressing my clothes in one go.
Still, embarrassing was embarrassing. I glared at her through teary eyes, face still flushed.
“Lia, I'm not a guy, so why get so shy~? You're so sensitive about the weirdest things~.”
Luna casually finished drying her damp hair with magic as she asked.
I bowed my head to hide my burning face, screaming internally.
Because I used to be a guy!!!
The truth I couldn't voice welled up in my throat, but all I managed was a mumble at the floor.
“Uh... well, I've always been kinda shy about that stuff...”
“Hmm, really? You're so unique, Lia~. Though that's part of your cuteness~.”
Luna nodded like it was no big deal.
Seizing the moment, I asked cautiously,
“Luna, can I really go lie down now? Right?”
“Guitar research first~.”
Her nonchalant reply turned my face to despair.
As I shot her a pleading look, she pondered briefly and switched gears.
“Hmm... Magic lessons, then~?”
Her relentless suggestions made me grimace in genuine exhaustion.
“Don't you just eat and study all day?”
“Spot on~! You know me so well, Lia.”
She beamed, and I was speechless.
This woman was a born workaholic.
At this rate, my precious sleep time would vanish entirely.
...Not that I wouldn't have bought what I needed quickly and lounged all day if I hadn't made that stupid bet.
Anyway, racking my brain for a way to escape this research fiend and rest peacefully, a brilliant idea flashed.
Right! If Luna learns to play the guitar herself, I won't have to play it for her, and I can rest!
Eyes gleaming, I dangled the bait.
“Luna! Ever thought about learning to play the guitar yourself?”
“Ehh~? Me? I'm curious, but...”
Strike before she refuses!
“Why not try it now? If you know how to play it yourself, it'll help you analyze the sound waves and mana flow way better, right? You'd pick it up in no time!”
She propped her chin, thought it over, then nodded.
“Not a bad idea. Sure, teach me~.”
Before she could change her mind, I whipped out the guitar and set it on her lap.
“Let's start right away!”
Cheering inwardly, I scooted close and began with the basics.
“Rest the curved bottom against your right thigh. Drape it over your shoulder like this, right hand over the sound hole, left hand on the long neck.”
True to a grand mage, she nailed the posture instantly from my explanation.
Smart people are so easy to teach.
“Right hand strums to make sound, left hand presses these frets to change pitch. For now, don't press anything with left— just strum with right.”
Luna swept her fingers across the strings as instructed.
Twing~
A dreamy, rich chord flowed out, even without fretting, thanks to the tuning.
“Ooh, this sound is nicer than I thought~?”
Her eyes sparkled with interest.
“Right? Now for the real chords.”
I taught her the basics first: majors C, G, D, A, E, then minors Am, Em, Dm.
“Yeah, pinky on the 2nd string 1st fret for that... and for G chord...”
Genius is genius.
Most people take forever to memorize chords, but Luna's monstrous memory let her master them all in seconds, playing perfect notes without a single mistake.
“Wow... Luna, you have real talent! You could play a whole song soon!”
Genuine praise as I edged toward slipping away to bed—but she fiddled with the strings and dropped a tricky question.
“But Lia, why call these 'minor' chords? They sound sadder, sure, but how do they differ from majors? What's the principle~?”
“......”
That question hit, and I realized my blunder.
Teaching guitar had led straight to explaining harmonic theory.
Way more tedious and brain-draining than just playing it myself.
Sweating bullets, I waved my hands frantically.
“Wait, Luna? My bad... From now on, I'll play the guitar and do magic lessons obediently, so can we call this a draw and forget it?”
I grinned obsequiously, but Luna smiled sweetly and gripped my hand tight.
“Why apologize, Lia? You did nothing wrong. I was just curious~. So, teach me? These chords are way more fascinating than I expected~.”
“Aaaah...”
Oh no. Total failure.
Trying to slack off had piled on mountains more work.
My grave miscalculation: underestimating a grand mage's thirst for knowledge.
Sensing the impending question hell, I buried my face deep in the pillow with a despairing sigh.
Peaceful rest was impossible this lifetime, it seemed.