What Happened in the Bathroom

"I'll go with the third option."

I selected it without hesitation. I'd just run into the inquisitors on the street, so it was perfect timing for something I'd been curious about anyway. What kind of information was D-53 holding?

Pietsha's lips pouted slightly.

"Is that so? I was hoping you'd unwind from your fatigue first, since it must have been tough."

But that lasted only a moment. As if the sulkiness had been an act, the corners of her mouth soon curved up.

"Truth be told, there were no real choices. Bath first it is."

"Pardon?"

I glanced toward the bathroom, half in disbelief. I hadn't noticed at first, but steam was seeping out from the crack under the door.

"Everything's already prepared."

"Of course. You must have pushed yourself hard, so I wanted to let you rest as soon as possible."

Her voice came from right behind me. Pietsha had already moved there without a sound. She gently gripped my shoulders, then buried her face in the nape of my neck.

"See? Your scent is so strong. You've sweated a lot."

"I know that already, so no need to confirm it."

"Ow."

Pietsha laughed cheekily as she took another flick to the forehead.

"The bathwater's nice and hot. Just bring your body. Come on, hurry."

"No helping it, then."

I was pushed to the bathroom door. My body felt sticky anyway, so it was probably for the best.

I unbuttoned my top and slipped off my skirt. As I reached back to unhook my bra, I instinctively glanced to the side.

Pietsha was naturally undressing as well.

"Um, Pietsha? Why are you taking your clothes off?"

"Oh, come on. It's not like this is the first or second time."

The rustling of fabric didn't stop despite my jab.

"Because I want to wash together, obviously."

Her black gothic dress pooled on the floor, followed by her white underthings laid gently atop it.

"Brings me back to ten years ago. You had such a pure reaction back then when I told you I used to be a man."

"Hehe, why bring up ancient history?"

Pietsha revealed her flawless, snow-white skin and lightly laughed as she tied her hair up.

"Man or woman, you're still you. The you I remember was a woman from the start."

"Don't you think we need a little distance?"

"Too late for that discussion. Oh, and..."

Pietsha approached and cupped my chin.

"...We made a promise, remember? When we're alone, you take off the 'mask.'"

"Slipped my mind. It just doesn't feel like it's there."

It was limited to above the neck, but the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mask perfectly disguised me as Harné Astel. There was no reason to keep it on now.

I removed it without hesitation.

A refreshing sensation washed over me. At the same time, a familiar yet strange weight settled on my head. My elongated hair was brushing against my back.

In just three seconds, it had gone from bob to long hair. I should be used to it by now, but it always felt new.

And my face felt a bit off too. A sign that I'd returned from Harné Astel's features to my original ones.

"Perfect. Now, let's go in."

As soon as the change finished, Pietsha took my hand without delay. I felt a bit tricked into it, but I let it slide.

Click.

The soft mana lamp lit up. Steam rose gently from the bath waiting for us. By some remarkable coincidence, it was just the right size for two.

"Ah..."

As I slowly sank in, the warm water enveloped my body like a hug. The fatigue from the individual matches melted away.

"Glad you look satisfied."

Pietsha had settled behind me before I knew it. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close, my body leaning back against her like I was in her embrace.

"I had a feeling it'd be this position."

"Isn't it about time you got used to it? Just be my cuddle doll obediently."

Where did things go wrong? One thing was clear: We'd already crossed the river, no turning back.

I surrendered to the warm water and said flatly,

"So, can we talk about D-53 now?"

"...Sharp as ever. I was planning to explain naturally anyway."

Pietsha stroked my hair as she spoke.

"First, thanks for pushing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yourself from dawn. Must've been rough at the academy with the aftereffects."

"It was my reckless move. I stumbled on their tail by chance and didn't want to let it go. Cleanup go well?"

"Yes, my kin altered the scene. They won't trace it easily."

"Good. Where's that D-53—no, Rank 2 inquisitor—now?"

"In the basement of the next building. Brainwashing's undone safely, so we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got some solid intel."

Brainwashing lifted. Inquisitors under mind control are usually treated as discards. But Rank 2 wasn't bottom-tier, so worth expecting something.

"I'll give you two big pieces first. Slightly bad news and bad news. Which first?"

"...Slightly bad one."

"Got it. Relax and listen easy, okay?"

Pietsha's hand rested on my shoulder, then began a thorough massage. As my tense muscles loosened and languor set in, she let out a soft chuckle.

"First, they caught a tail of a Reverse Star Group subgroup in the western slums. Inquisition's using it as an excuse to push into the autonomous region."

"Hm... Any risk to our branch?"

"Almost none, don't worry. We prepared thoroughly since it took so long to establish."

"Relief. Still, Reverse Star Group gets nabbed alone if they must—dragging us in is a pain."

Reverse Star Group. Infamous massive crime syndicate led by possessors known publicly only as "isekai'd souls." No way they'd ignore the academy, the main story's core.

But if they were gonna meddle, avoid the Inquisition. The goddess cult brass is itching to crush every possessor. They know the "main story" she scripted, so the academy stage draws extra eyes.

"So, what's the bad news?"

"...A Black Star Officer has moved."

"!"

Look at that. Inquisition's serious this time, deploying those monsters—at least 5th Hierarchy each.

"Even brass-level involvement. Which of the six?"

"Don't know yet, sorry. But we can narrow candidates. Wait for informant reports."

"Understood. Know their ops zone?"

This was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the headmaster's turf, so they'd avoid flashy moves. Probably poke the slums at worst.

"The academy."

What.

Her answer blew past expectations.

"...For real."

I thought they'd respect lines. Guess they're jumping them deliberately. Way more variables at the academy now. Tough trial for a mere 2nd Hierarchy like me.

"You."

"Eek."

Suddenly, force entered the hands lightly kneading my shoulders. My body twitched at the sharp stimulus.

My expression barely shifted, unlike my body.

"Pietsha, what was that?"

"Hehe, sorry. Your face looked so deep in thought."

Pietsha peeked around with an innocent smile. She slipped both arms between my armpits and hugged me tight with her whole body.

"Don't worry. I've got you, and 'we' do too."

"...Sorry for making you fret. Thanks."

I wasn't worried. I'd have died ten times over if variables like this shook me.

"Plan stays the same. Just reinforce precautions."

I straightened up and turned to look at her.

...Or tried to. Pietsha held me fast, unmoving.

"Pietsha? Mind letting go soon?"

"J-just a sec... longer."

Her breathing grew ragged.

"Pietsha?"

I tried twisting urgently, but my body wouldn't budge. Meanwhile, she panted roughly and buried her face in my nape again.

"Pietsha?!"

Hot breath hit my nape once more. And this time, it wasn't just breath.

Her tongue briefly licked my left nape.

It had happened several times over the years. But the last was over three years ago, so it caught me off guard anew.

"Ugh... Inhaled too much of you for too long, maybe. Reaching... my limit."

"That's a line full of issues. Slow deep breaths. You can hold it."

If she gave in here, minor disaster. Had to prevent that.

But against my hopes, her condition worsened. Not just lukewarm tongue—now fangs touched my nape too.

Those teeth were far too sharp for human.

I twisted as much as possible, but no use. Strength gap too vast.

And finally, Pietsha couldn't hold back.

Her species' bloodlust.

Crunch.

Fangs sank into my nape. The sensation of blood draining spread vividly.

"This is..."

Trouble. Naturally, just losing blood wasn't the issue.

The problem was what came next.

"Haaah... Ah?"

Pietsha, exhaling hotly, paused. Her pupils refocused.

And immediately...

"Urp! Blerrgh!"

She dry-heaved violently.

"Hng... ugh... tastes... so bad..."

"Lower your head slowly."

I familiarly angled her upper body out of the bath and patted her back lightly.

"It's okay. You're fine."

"Urk... sorry... but too gross... ugh..."

Tears streaming, even forgetting polite speech. I gave a wry smile watching her.

My blood tasting that bad. Kinda hurt my pride subtly.

But fair enough. This body was ambiguous even for human classification.

"Uwoork... hnggg..."

Dry heaving echoed in the bath for a while. But the old butler brought a teacup of blood, calming things down.