Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Tikhe (3)
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Tikhe finished eating and rolled up her sleeves.
I tried to stop her, saying I'd do it, but she pushed me toward the sofa, insisting she had to handle this kind of thing herself.
Tikhe hummed a cheerful tune as she deftly finished the dishes, then set about cleaning every corner of the house. Wherever she passed, dust vanished, and the floors gleamed.
"Hmm?"
Tikhe paused while rummaging through the laundry basket.
"Honey, is this all the clothes you have?"
The basket only held the dress I'd tossed in and a few towels.
"Uh, yeah... I don't have many clothes."
"Then what's all that hanging in the wardrobe over there? It all looks like men's clothes."
Tikhe's gaze shifted to my old clothes hanging on the rack.
Clothes for a man in his twenties.
Way too big for the current me.
I stayed calm and gave the excuse I'd prepared in advance.
"Oh, those belong to my cousin. This used to be his room, but he moved out suddenly and left all his stuff behind."
"Your cousin? Hmm, I see."
Her eyes were suspicious, but she didn't press further. She picked up a shirt, sniffed it, and wrinkled her nose.
"So what should we do with these? If you're not wearing them, we should set them aside somewhere. They're just taking up space."
"Huh? Uh... just throw them out."
The words slipped out before I knew it.
It felt like letting go of the lingering hope that I might one day return to being a man.
Bittersweet. No, honestly, a little scary. Like the moment I tossed them, the man inside me would be gone forever.
But my body was beyond reversal now, and reality was this beautiful girl. Clinging to it desperately would just gather dust.
The trash bag swelled up like it might burst. My regrets got stuffed in tight alongside it.
Cleaning done.
Was the place always this spacious?
The floors shone. The musty mold smell was replaced by a fresh floral fragrance. This really was divine power.
"G-Good work."
I was lying on the bed fiddling with my phone when Tikhe suddenly approached.
She poked my cheek with her index finger. Poke, poke.
"...What are you doing?"
"Wow, it's like glutinous rice cake. So plump and springy."
She stretched my cheek flesh. It hurt.
"Amazing, so chewy. It sticks right to your fingers. I'm jealous. I miss being young."
"Ow, that hurts. Stop it."
"But honey, have you washed up?"
"I showered right when we got home."
"Oh~? What did you use?"
"Soap."
Tikhe's face soured. Shock turned to horror.
"Are you insane? You scrubbed this precious skin with soap?"
"No, it's good soap... Ack!"
No time for excuses. She grabbed my wrist and dragged me along. To the bathroom.
"This won't do. Come on. I'll show you properly today."
Bathroom interior.
Tikhe's hand froze in midair while searching the shelf. In disbelief, she picked up the lone shampoo bottle and shook it.
"This is all?"
"Yeah. I've got shampoo."
"What about conditioner? Hair pack? Even rinse?"
"Why would I need that? Just washing my hair is fine."
"...Sigh."
Tikhe pressed her forehead and let out a deep sigh. She scanned me with pitiful eyes.
"This incredible hair texture... you've been getting by with just shampoo all this time?"
"No, this is for preventing hair loss, sort of... Ack!"
Excuses didn't work. Tikhe grabbed my nape and forced me onto the bathroom stool.
"Stay still. Starting today, I'll teach you right."
Shwooo—!
Warm water poured from the showerhead. As it hit my head, my long hair dangled like wet seaweed.
"Tilt your head down."
Tikhe's touch was bold yet delicate.
She lathered shampoo and massaged between my scalp meticulously.
"Ow, that hurts! Be gentle!"
"Don't be a baby. This circulates blood to your scalp."
The acupressure was intense. Her grip was strong, but it felt refreshing.
Like my scalp pores were opening one by one. Warmth, rich foam sounds, faint shampoo scent.
Salon scalp massage? No contest. My body relaxed languidly.
"Okay, now rinsing. Hup!"
Water flushed away the foam.
Without conditioner, Tikhe skillfully combed out the tangles with her fingers.
"Done. Now face wash."
"Huh? Oh, I can do my face..."
"Hold on. You do have foam cleanser, right?"
"......"
I silently pointed to the shriveled soap sliver in the sink corner.
Tikhe sighed deeply.
"Of course. What was I expecting."
"No, that's natural soap, expensive too..."
"Quiet. It'll dry out your skin and cause wrinkles!"
She grimaced but picked up the soap. Rubbed it furiously in her palm.
Instantly created a mountain of cream-like foam. What skill was this?
"Okay, close your eyes."
Soft foam enveloped my face.
Not fingertips, but the foam's bounce massaging. The rolling was masterful.
Definitely... different from my rough scrubbing. Feels good...
That was when it happened.
The bathroom door creaked open.
......?
Couldn't open my eyes, so I just listened. Wet footsteps approached on the floor.
Squelch, squelch, squelch.
"Little One?"
Tikhe asked in an amused tone. Instead of answering, it placed a small hand on my knee.
Couldn't see, but obviously peeking at the foam with curious eyes.
"What, you want some too?"
Tikhe giggled and smeared leftover foam on Little One.
—!
It flinched at the cold.
"There, Little One turns into Santa Grandpa!"
She'd made it a beard, apparently.
Little One giggled delightedly. It liked it.
"Okay, rinse time for both of you! Splash!"
Splash, splish-splash.
Tikhe splashed water on my face, scrubbing thoroughly. Beside us, Little One shook off water under her touch.
The cramped bathroom turned into a watery sea in seconds.
"Whew..."
I wiped with a towel and checked the mirror.
No conditioner, yet my hair was smooth. Soap wash, yet my face glowed.
This was a goddess's touch.
"Um... thanks. It really feels so much fresher when you do it."
I praised her, swallowing my embarrassment.
Tikhe beamed at the compliment, then gestured toward the bed.
"You're welcome~ All my handiwork. Go dry off first. We'll handle cleanup."
"Okay."
I toweled my wet hair as I left the bathroom.
Cool air from the room hit me, but the prior warmth kept it from feeling cold.
Plugged in the hairdryer and flipped the switch.
Vreeee—!
Loud noise. Hot air whooshed.
Click.
Bathroom door opened, white steam billowing out with Tikhe and Little One.
Little One looked utterly melted, pleased with the ordeal.
Held in Tikhe's arms like a soaked cotton ball—quite the sight.
Tikhe tossed it onto the bed, then eyed me holding the dryer quizzically.
"Honey, you're using the hairdryer right now?"
"??? Yeah, obviously. Gotta dry my hair."
"Can't Little One use magic?"
She'd picked up the "Little One" nickname too.
I'd pondered a cool name at first, but "Little One" stuck so well, I just went with it.
"Yeah, Little One can use magic."
"Then just ask Little One for a warm breeze. Why use that noisy thing?"
"Uh..."
She had a point.
Why hadn't I thought of that?
Tikhe saw my blank look and nudged Little One.
"Little One, you can make a warm breeze, right?"
It lazily traced an O with its finger.
Flicked its finger, and a pleasant warm breeze blew. Zero noise.
"Oh, a bit stronger is fine."
The intensity adjusted perfectly to my request.
"Ooh..."
Control was flawless.
No comparison to my cheap dryer. Magic wind wove through my strands, drying the dampness in moments.
DaiX who?
After drying fully, I reached for my familiar boxy tee, but Tikhe's stare burned.
Pity bordering on sorrow.
"Honey, you're really gonna keep wearing that?"
"No, it's fine. Just for home. I have separate going-out clothes."
"But you have going-out clothes, so why no underwear?"
Hit right in the gut, I clamped my mouth shut. Truth was, I'd considered buying some.
But even with my changed body, picking and paying for kids' underwear with an adult man's mind... felt like becoming a pervert somehow.
"Th-That... I was gonna buy some this time. Forgot last time."
As I stammered excuses, Tikhe fixed me with suspicious eyes.
"Really? Well, since it came up, let's buy everything today. Log into the shopping site."
Prodded by Tikhe, I reluctantly went to the computer. I recited my ID and password, and she sat at the chair, hands hovering over the keyboard.
She knew how it worked in theory, but facing the real thing for the first time, her fingers danced in the air.
Where was the dignified goddess? Eagle hunt-and-peck with one finger. Her tongue tip out in focus and fumbling fingers were hilariously mismatched, drawing a chuckle from me.
"...Tikhe, want help?"
"No, I got this. It's trickier than I thought."
Tap, tap. Slow typing filled the room.
Watching that unbalanced scene eased my earlier embarrassment a bit.