The moment Kiana opened the bathroom door, her eyes lit up.
Not figuratively—Kiana's eyes genuinely sparkled.
Because she saw something inside the bathroom.
A bathtub!
A standard-sized, white porcelain bathtub, one that was clearly used often!
On the rim of the tub sat bath salts, body wash, shampoo, and several other bathing essentials.
Kiana felt her eyes tear up a little.
Memories of her school days in the Far East instantly flooded her mind. Those moments after a long, exhausting day, sinking into hot water, that comfort seeping into her very bones, that feeling of being completely enveloped in warmth...
She took a deep breath, and her gaze turned as resolute as iron.
She was going to take a bath.
She had to.
Kiana moved quickly.
She turned on the hot water tap, watching the water rush into the tub. White steam rose, quickly filling the bathroom with mist.
She nodded in satisfaction, then began to swiftly strip off her clothes.
The dirty school uniform was eagerly tossed aside by Kiana. Then, without even using the main showerhead, she pulled the handheld shower wand from its holder, turned on the water, and quickly rinsed her body.
Wash hair, rinse body clean—this was basic bathing etiquette. You couldn't bring the outside dirt into the tub.
She hummed a nameless, happy tune, her movements brisk as if she had done this countless times.
Three minutes later, she stood sparkling clean by the tub, staring at the tub full of steaming hot water, her eyes shining like she had found treasure.
The tub was nearly full, the water gently rippling, wisps of steam curling upward.
She lifted one foot and dipped her toes into the water first.
The warmth traveled from her toes, feeling like a school of tiny fish gently nibbling at her skin.
Kiana squinted her eyes, letting out a satisfied little hum.
Then, inch by inch, she slowly lowered her entire foot in.
The hot water wrapped around the top of her foot, submerging her ankle. The temperature might have been a bit on the hot side, but for her, it was perfect—the ideal temperature for completely relaxing after a long, tiring day.
Once that foot was firmly planted in the tub, she held onto the rim and stepped in with her other foot.
Now, Kiana stood tall within the tub.
The hot water covered her calves, the warmth spreading upwards along her legs. The bathtub seemed to be calling Kiana's name, inviting her to ascend the "throne."
Kiana looked down at her legs soaking in the hot water, the smile on her face gradually becoming brighter.
Comfortable.
So comfortable!
But this wasn't the limit; she didn't rush to sit down.
First, she bent over and reverently scooped up a handful of hot water with both hands, pouring it over her thigh.
The water ran down her thigh, over her knee, and back into the tub.
She didn't use her hands to spread the water; she simply scooped up another handful, letting the skin of her thighs adapt to the temperature.
Then, her stomach.
She straightened up and scooped another handful of water, gently splashing it onto her lower abdomen. The warmth spread from around her navel, causing her muscles, weary from the day's exertion, to involuntarily relax.
Then, her waist.
She turned sideways, splashing water onto her waist, letting the more sensitive skin there feel the summons of the heat.
The set of movements was fluid and natural, practiced like a heartfelt belief, as if she were performing some kind of sacred ritual.
After completing these preparations, Kiana finally nodded in satisfaction.
Her body said it was ready.
She took a deep breath of the humid, steam-thick air, and then slowly sat down.
The hot water rose inch by inch—past her hips, her waist, her back... bringing warmth to her whole body until she was sitting on the bottom of the tub, which had long since warmed up.
Once settled, Kiana leaned back, letting her back press completely against the curved inner wall of the tub.
Then—
Slide down!
Her entire body, from the neck down, submerged into the hot water.
Only her head remained above the surface. Her long white hair, soaked by the water, plastered itself in strands against her cheeks and shoulders.
Although the highest etiquette of bathing dictated that one should tie up their hair, well, she wasn't exactly a professional, was she~
The bathroom was quiet for a second.
And then—
"Mmmm........."
Kiana let out a hum of satisfaction from the depths of her soul.
So happy I could melt~
Her shoulders relaxed completely, sinking into the water. Her arms rested on the rim of the tub, her fingers drooping lazily.
She didn't want to move a single finger right now.
She just wanted to soak like this forever, until the end of time.
"This~ is~ the~ life~"
After soaking for a while and letting her body completely relax, Kiana's brain began to slowly whir back to life.
Saying "whir back to life" really meant it was just slightly more active than usual.
She started thinking about the day's events.
She had never been to this city before, and she didn't know a single person on these streets.
And Shu...
Thinking of this, the corners of Kiana's mouth curled up a few degrees more.
I found him... hehe.
Even though the process was tortuous, even though she starved all day, even though she was so tired she fell asleep in a stairwell... she found him.
But...
She adjusted her posture, resting her head on her arms, and thought carefully.
Is there something different about Shu?
The face was still that face, no mistake... those eyes, that nose, that scent—it was definitely Shu.
But the age seemed wrong?
The Shu she knew was indeed a bit older than her, but not that much older.
But the Shu just now... Kiana didn't mean he looked old, but he seemed... almost thirty, right?
Kiana didn't judge age by looks. Shu's appearance was normal, looking maybe early twenties, barely different from the one she knew.
Kiana looked at the eyes... and that faint weariness in his gaze, that "do not approach" aloofness radiating from his whole being, didn't seem like something a person in their early twenties would have.
And this apartment.
She had glanced around earlier. It was quite big... nicely renovated, too. Living room, kitchen, bedroom, even a wine cabinet. If you got tired of playing, you could just sleep right there...
But... when she had previously checked—peeked into the chronicles of history... no, checked Shu's memories... this apartment wasn't there.
Right, checked... and it was accidental...
Anyway, in those memories, this city didn't exist, and neither did this apartment. Kiana hadn't seen anything here in Shu's memories.
So where exactly was this place?
And why would Shu...
Growl————
"Sigh.........."
Kiana let out a long sigh, instantly losing all strength and collapsing limply into the tub like a popped balloon.
Can't think anymore.
Her stomach was too empty; her brain refused to turn.
Forget thinking right now; Kiana felt it was a miracle she hadn't passed out from hunger already.
She slumped in the water, eyes half-open, half-closed, mumbling weak nonsense:
"So hungry... so hungry... hungry hungry hungry...
"Grilled gluten..." she muttered to herself, "Griddled squid... takoyaki... waaaah..."
She turned over, burying her face in the water, and blew a string of bubbles.
Glub glub glub—
Then she suddenly sat up, gasping for air.
"No, if I soak any longer I'm going to faint!"
Gripping the edge of the tub, she slowly stood up.
Water cascaded off her body, splashing back into the tub with a crash.
She stepped out of the tub onto the wet tiles and reached for the towel she had prepared earlier—
And then she looked at the pile of dirty clothes she had thrown into the corner and fell into deep contemplation.