After a while, she walked out of the bathroom holding a white towel.
From the bathroom to the courtyard, drops of water kept falling.
Splash!
"Ms. Touka, what are you…"
Hachiman looked at Asakawa Touka, who had deliberately jumped into the small hot spring and sent water splashing everywhere, and felt that something was off.
He had just said all that to her. He wouldn't have been surprised if Asakawa Touka had angrily left and returned to the countryside. He hadn't expected her to come over and soak in the hot spring with him.
"What? Can't I come in?"
"You've been having such a good time here, getting involved with so many wealthy and powerful heiresses and rich wives. Now you even look down on soaking in the hot spring with me?"
"Would you also treat Suiren and Aoi like this if they were here?"
Asakawa Touka wiped her cheek. The water droplets on her hair sparkled. She had intended to keep acting cold, but the moment Hachiman spoke, she couldn't help firing several retorts at him.
Hearing this, Matsumae Ohana, Yukino Chitose, and Hayasaka Ai all looked at Hachiman.
They couldn't figure out exactly what kind of relationship Asakawa Touka and Hachiman had. They only knew that they seemed to be acquaintances, but also didn't seem all that close.
Could it be a relationship between an older woman and a younger man? Had this Touka… auntie been abandoned because she was getting older? Was that why she was snapping at Hachiman like a resentful wife?
But Asakawa Touka wasn't that old either. She looked mature, but she wasn't the type of older woman they had imagined. She could only be described as a mature, confident woman.
Now that the three of them were magical girls, they could not only feel the vigorous vitality within their own bodies, but also sense that Asakawa Touka's physical condition was far beyond that of an ordinary person. There was no sign of aging at all. Instead, she remained remarkably healthy and robust.
"How could I look down on you, Ms. Touka? It's just that Ohana, Chitose, and I are handling something important right now. You came in at this moment, so I can't exactly chase them away, can I?"
"If you want to soak together, then let's soak together. But, Ms. Touka, you'd better be mentally prepared. If you can't accept what you see, it'd be better to leave immediately."
Seeing that Asakawa Touka insisted on squeezing into the outdoor hot spring, Hachiman was quite surprised, but he didn't forcefully refuse her.
In his memory, Asakawa Touka wasn't someone who got angry easily, but she was also very opinionated, and it wasn't easy for other people to change her mind.
Otherwise, when he discussed things with Kaede and Tsubaki, they wouldn't have been worried that Asakawa Touka hadn't allowed Suiren and Aoi to go to school in the city. If they interfered so abruptly now, she certainly wouldn't agree easily.
Now that he and Asakawa Touka had had a small conflict, why had she instead washed herself and climbed into the hot spring with him.
'Could it be… the head-of-the-family effect again?'
It was hard to say how Asakawa Touka felt about him, but Suiren and Aoi definitely liked him. After all, they had been childhood friends for so long, and both Suiren and Aoi were very devoted girls. Even though he only occasionally went back, their feelings hadn't faded. Instead, they thought about and cared about him even more.
If Suiren and Aoi really were what had influenced Asakawa Touka, then the head-of-the-family effect was truly something. He hadn't actually become part of the Asakawa family at all; it was simply because Suiren and Aoi liked him so much.
Although being the head of the family didn't directly increase his strength, against some particularly difficult girls, its effect was overwhelming.
For example, among the three succubus sisters, the second daughter, Amaki Lami, and the youngest, Amaki Lily, had personally experienced his strength and were completely fascinated by him. Even the eldest daughter, Amaki Lemy, who had never approached him closely, would probably be tormented by her two younger sisters' feelings for him.
No, no. If the head-of-the-family effect had really taken effect, then wasn't the reason Asakawa Touka was angry that he had so many girls outside while hiding it from Suiren and Aoi?
It was even possible that it was because he had just called her "Ms. Touka."
Thinking of this, Hachiman immediately looked at the expressionless Asakawa Touka and cautiously asked in a soft voice,
"Touka? Would it be okay if I had Suiren and Aoi come to Chiba Sobu High? If you're willing to come too, I can arrange something for you…"
"I won't agree to the matter of Suiren and Aoi that easily!"
Asakawa Touka interrupted Hachiman without hesitation. Her tall, full figure squeezed between Matsumae Ohana and Yukino Chitose. Without saying a word, she grabbed Hachiman and stared straight at him.
"Sweet talk won't work on me. You'll have to prove it through your actions."
"…"
It seemed the head-of-the-family ability really was taking effect. Otherwise, how could Asakawa Touka have become like this?
Before Hachiman could think about how to deal with his relationship with Asakawa Touka, Suiren, and Aoi, several voices sounded from nearby.
"Hachiman, have you decided how you want to spend tonight? If you haven't, we'll help you spend it!"
"Master, we've come to serve you."
At the doorway, Asou Miyuri and Tohsaka Aoi pushed the door open and walked in wearing light yukata.
Behind them was a group of mature women, all likewise dressed in thin yukata, each with a different bearing.
Tsubakihara Mira, Takamine Kasumi, Takanashi Ouka, Mizushima Marika, Touma Yoko, Ogiso Akina, Kotori Minami, Nishikino Mizuki, Irisviel, Yukinoshita Kiyuki…
The outdoor "hot spring" in the courtyard had deliberately been built quite large and could accommodate many people. But with so many people pouring in at once, it would probably really turn into an overcrowded outdoor hot spring where there was barely room to stand.
However, at this moment, Hachiman didn't notice the expressions on Tsubakihara Mira, Irisviel, and the others, nor did he have any thought of simply enjoying himself. He only felt that the problem was very, very serious.
The head-of-the-family effect was too powerful. If it were only Tohsaka Aoi, that would be fine, because Tohsaka Aoi had a medical history involving mental illness. Although she was usually perfectly normal and rarely had episodes, Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Tohsaka both regarded Tohsaka Aoi as someone with a mental illness, and even Touka Tohsaka could accept it when Aoi had an episode.
But Asakawa Touka didn't have a mental illness. Would Suiren and Aoi be able to accept this?
And it wasn't just Tohsaka Aoi. There was also Asakawa Touka.
Hachiman suddenly thought of the two daughters of the Yukinoshita family, Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukinoshita Yukino. He looked toward Yukinoshita Kiyuki, who was walking toward them slowly through the crowd with a faint smile on her face.
Of the people who had just come in, he hadn't even met some of their daughters yet, so there was nothing to worry about. But he had already gotten involved with both daughters of the Yukinoshita family.
Then Yukinoshita Kiyuki had probably already met the conditions for the head-of-the-family effect to take effect.
As if sensing Hachiman's gaze, Yukinoshita Kiyuki, who was quietly talking with Nishikino Mizuki and Kotori Minami among the crowd, also looked toward Hachiman and smiled, giving him a slight nod.
On the surface, there seemed to be nothing unusual. Unlike Tohsaka Aoi, Yukinoshita Kiyuki didn't directly call him "Master" or treat him as the father of Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Tohsaka, telling them to call him Dad.
But considering that the Servant Aura, his increasing abilities, awakened magic power, the magical-girl template, and so on had never disappointed him, Hachiman didn't doubt the power of the head-of-the-family effect.
Yukinoshita Kiyuki…
Did she simply regard him as Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukinoshita Yukino's husband?
Or did his other identities not matter at all, as long as he was the head of the family?
After all, even a son-in-law could become the head of a family.
It wasn't even necessarily necessary for him to officially join the family. He only needed to have a substantial relationship with it.
"Master?"
"What should we do now?"
Seeing so many people coming in from outside the room, Matsumae Ohana and Yukino Chitose turned to Hachiman and hesitantly asked for his opinion.
Normally, when guests were discussing private matters, the waitresses were expected to leave on their own.
But Hachiman was their master, not a guest. And their relationship with him was already unusual, so they didn't know whether they should leave or stay.
"Ohana, you two should go rest first. We'll talk about anything else tomorrow."
Hachiman stopped thinking about it and looked at Matsumae Ohana, Yukino Chitose, and the expressionless Asakawa Touka as he considered the matter.
Under normal circumstances, there was no need for the club members to avoid one another. The various small groups merely represented different factions, and what they discussed generally didn't involve any secrets. Keeping Matsumae Ohana and Yukino Chitose, who had only recently become magical girls, around to chat together would make it easier to build their relationship.
But among the people who had entered the room now were quite a few prospective members visiting the Service House for the first time. With the younger-generation girls Matsumae Ohana and Yukino Chitose there, they would only seem out of place.
"Okay, Master."
"Understood, Master."
Seeing that Hachiman had made his decision, Hayasaka Ai immediately stood up from the outdoor hot spring together with Yukino Chitose and Matsumae Ohana, the three of them rising and sending splashes of water flying.
Yukino Chitose and Matsumae Ohana really didn't want to stay there.
Although they also couldn't understand why it wasn't the young heiresses who had come to serve them, but instead these married women who were clearly a generation older than them.
There were plenty of young and beautiful heiresses at the hot spring resort.
Or were the young and beautiful heiresses also being kept in reserve? Was it simply not their turn to appear yet?
They didn't dare think too deeply about it, nor did they want to.
There were too many of the wives, and even Hayasaka Ai didn't know the names of every member of Asou Miyuri's close-knit group of friends. After reaching the shore, they put on their clothes, gave Tohsaka Aoi and the others a slight bow, and left the room.
Only Asakawa Touka and Hachiman remained in the outdoor hot spring.
Asakawa Touka paid no attention to Tohsaka Aoi and the others approaching from outside. She simply watched Hachiman, who remained calm and showed no surprise or shock, secretly gritting her teeth and exerting herself.
But the more strength she used, the more shocked she became.
This guy… was the one who had found so many women outside, even leaving Suiren and Aoi behind.
Thinking of this, Asakawa Touka slowly relaxed her grip and looked up at Tohsaka Aoi, Asou Miyuri, Irisviel, and the others approaching.
With so many people here, it wouldn't be convenient for her to do anything.
Although she really wanted to bring up Suiren and Aoi, all the people who had come in now had daughters of their own. Quite a few even had two daughters, and some had twins.
Bringing up Suiren and Aoi at a time like this wouldn't have much effect. There were plenty of girls who were more obedient and easier to deal with.
Although she was very angry, she had to admit that Hachiman really could remain confident.
Surrounded by so many beautiful girls, the fact that he hadn't forgotten Suiren and Aoi back in the countryside, and had even had Kaede and Rin invite Suiren and Aoi to attend Sobu High, already showed that he valued his old ties.
"Master, we've come to serve you."
Tohsaka Aoi also noticed that Asakawa Touka hadn't left the hot spring, but there was no change in her expression. She crouched beside the hot spring, reached out to test the water temperature, then slowly stepped into the spring and nestled against Hachiman.
She hadn't cared even when she was in the main lounge of the Service House, so naturally she wouldn't react differently now. When she saw Asakawa Touka staring at her, she even returned her gaze with a smile.
That faint smile looked somewhat provocative in Asakawa Touka's eyes.
Compared with Suiren and Aoi of the Asakawa family, Touka, Rin, and Sakura of the Tohsaka family were undoubtedly more competitive.
"Hachiman! Catch me!"
The landlady, Asou Miyuri, relying on her light and flexible build, ran toward the edge of the small hot spring and leaped straight at Hachiman.
"…"
Hachiman speechlessly caught Asou Miyuri, who could clearly fly but insisted on throwing herself at him anyway, then gave her a few firm taps.
"Come down quickly too! This hot spring is more comfortable than every hot spring we've been in before! You can't experience anything like this outside!"
Asou Miyuri didn't mind Hachiman's playful punishment at all. She wrapped her slender arms around his neck and turned to call to the newcomers she had brought with her.
After Tohsaka Aoi and Asou Miyuri, Irisviel, Takanashi Ouka, Kotori Minami, and the others gradually came out of the room and into the courtyard.
However, only Irisviel openly untied her yukata belt. The others stood behind her, hesitating without making a move.
There was still room in the outdoor hot spring, but there were too many of them, so they looked at one another and didn't immediately squeeze into the small spring.
"Everyone, please wait a moment. The arrangements here will be ready soon."
Hayasaka Ai, who had just left with Yukino Chitose and Matsumae Ohana, soon returned with Kanou Saya, Oshimizu Nako, and several other maids and attendants. They arranged tables and chairs around the outdoor hot spring, then placed easy-to-eat snacks, drinks, and other refreshments on the tables.
The quiet, peaceful hot spring courtyard had suddenly become an outdoor party venue with a small hot spring.
The room had originally been specially built for Hachiman's use. The courtyard was spacious, and the hot spring was large as well.
Even with so many people serving Hachiman at the same time, they had prepared alternative arrangements.
Although it was difficult for everyone to soak in the outdoor hot spring at once, it was still possible for half of them to soak while the other half rested beside the spring.
"Ai-chan, Nao hasn't been very busy lately, has she? How come I haven't seen her?"
Seeing Tohsaka Aoi and Asakawa Touka surrounding Hachiman on either side, while even his arms were occupied by Asou Miyuri, Irisviel didn't immediately jump into the hot spring after taking off her yukata. Instead, she lowered her long, pale legs into the small spring, sat at its edge, shook her waist-length silver-white hair, and turned toward Hayasaka Ai, who was directing the maids.
She suddenly spoke.
"Mrs. Irisviel, I'm not very familiar with Mother's situation either. Mother and I haven't been in much contact lately…"
Hayasaka Ai's body stiffened. She turned to look at Irisviel, who wore a bright smile and seemed to be implying something, her expression slightly startled.
"Ai-chan has done well. Hachiman seems to like you very much. Nao should also be very happy to see how much you've grown."
"…"
Hayasaka Ai stared blankly at Irisviel's smiling face, alarm bells ringing in her mind.
Perhaps because the Hayasaka family had foreign ancestry, Hayasaka Ai had always gotten along well with Irisviel, who was also a foreigner. Hayasaka Ai's mother, Hayasaka Nao, had some personal friendship with Irisviel.
When she was young, Hayasaka Ai had even been teased by Irisviel about whether she wanted to go to her house and become a maid. However, at the time, Hayasaka Ai was already being trained as Shinomiya Kaguya's personal attendant, while Hayasaka Nao was also an executive of the Shinomiya Group. Naturally, there was no way she could go to the Einzbern family to work as a maid.
Although Hayasaka Ai had now become Hachiman's personal exclusive maid rather than Shinomiya Kaguya's attendant, she…
She didn't dare think too deeply about why Irisviel had suddenly brought up her mother at this particular moment.
"Mai and the others are looking for you, and Kaguya and Maya are over there too. Ai-chan, remember to go over once you're finished here."
Irisviel merely smiled at Hayasaka Ai without continuing the subject.