Seeing that Mai had completely taken over the bed, Ryuya quietly went to sit on the small single sofa nearby.
Mai, meanwhile, sat up again and began rubbing her ankle lightly.
Ryuya's gaze, however, was locked onto her long, beautiful legs wrapped in black stockings.
"…What are you staring at me for?"
"I'm admiring a gorgeous woman—and her equally gorgeous legs."
So blunt.
Mai blinked in disbelief. "I see… so you are that kind of guy."
"Please forgive me," Ryuya said with a grin and a shrug, "it's my first time checking into a hotel room with a beautiful girl."
"…When you put it like that, I guess coming here with you makes me just as guilty."
Stretching lazily, she let out a soft sigh and stood up.
"I'm going to take a bath."
"Alright."
"No peeking."
"I'd love to, but unfortunately, the bathroom has a lock."
He said it casually—but couldn't help recalling the very first time they met, when he'd been accidentally summoned and caught a glimpse of her in the bathtub.
That image—her silhouette, her skin, the steam—was burned into his memory far too vividly.
Ahem. Curse his flawless memory.
Mai didn't dignify his thoughts with words. She just silently pointed toward the door—meaning get out.
"If I hang around outside right now, people will think I'm a burglar," Ryuya replied calmly.
"Then just tell them you're not a thief—you're a pervert instead," she shot back mercilessly, delivering the verbal equivalent of a stab to the chest.
"I'd still get arrested either way," he said, smiling faintly. "And if you keep insulting me, I might just come in there and bathe with you."
"Hmph."
With a small pout, Mai disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door behind her—locking it with an emphatic click.
…This girl really was adorable.
Ryuya chuckled to himself and pulled out his phone. He tried searching for Mai Sakurajima online again.
As expected—nothing. Not a single result about her existed anymore.
Instead, the search engine flooded him with random celebrities—"Kuramoto Mai," "Sakurajima Koko," and a dozen other irrelevant names.
What kind of useless search algorithm was this? Why was it only giving him those results?
He was a serious person.
Well—technically, a serious devil.
Still unwilling to give up, he kept trying a few different searches, but came up empty every time.
The only sound breaking the silence was the running water from the bathroom—
until, at last, the shower stopped.
A soft click followed, and the bathroom door cracked open.
Mai poked her head out, a towel wrapped around her damp hair. Her bare shoulders, pale with a faint pink flush from the heat, glistened with tiny droplets of water.
"You didn't do anything weird while I was in there, right?" she asked suspiciously.
"What do you mean by 'weird'?"
"W–Weird things are just… weird things!" she blurted, realizing too late how awkward that sounded.
Ryuya rolled his eyes. "You came out dressed like that just to ask me that?"
"...Of course not! I just—ugh, what am I supposed to do about my underwear?"
"Huh?"
"My clothes are fine for now, but I can't wear wet socks or underwear," Mai said, frowning in genuine distress.
Ryuya tilted his head thoughtfully. "Want me to wash them and dry them for you?"
"Or you could just go die right now."
"Wow, harsh," he replied smoothly. "So, wait—does that mean you're wearing nothing under that towel?"
"I'm properly wrapped in it!"
"Oh~ that mental image sounds pretty great too."
"...Can you not say creepy stuff like that!?"
Still smirking, Ryuya didn't even try to defend himself.
Unable to take his smug expression anymore, Mai snatched the towel from her head and threw it straight into his face.
The towel still carried the faint scent of shampoo—clean and sweet.
Ryuya pulled it off his face lazily and said, "Then wait here for a bit. I'll go to the convenience store across the street and buy you some things. I need a change of clothes myself anyway."
"Are you sure that's okay?"
"What could possibly go wrong?"
"You're a high school boy going out to buy women's underwear."
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm a self-proclaimed pervert, remember?" he replied lightly.
Mai was left speechless, completely thrown off by his shamelessness.
After a brief pause, she sighed. "Fine. I'll just go with you."
"I can handle it myself."
"I'm just worried you'll pick out something outrageous."
"I would like to," he quipped, "but convenience stores only carry the ordinary kinds."
Ignoring his teasing, Mai shut the door again with a click.
From inside came the rustle of clothing, followed by the hum of a hair dryer.
A few minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom.
Ryuya glanced at her and couldn't help wondering—was she actually… not wearing anything under that?
No, impossible. She must've put on something again… probably.
The two of them headed downstairs to the convenience store and went straight to the aisle for daily necessities.
It was well stocked with all sorts of items.
Before Ryuya could even process what was on the shelves, Mai had already picked out a simple black camisole and a matching pair of black panties, dropping them neatly into the basket.
"This pink one looks pretty good though," Ryuya said softly, half teasing.
"I'm not wearing it for you to look at. The color doesn't matter."
"Heh. Well, if I ever get the chance, I wouldn't mind seeing it."
"You'll never get that chance, idiot."
Her tone was lazy but carried a playful lilt—the word idiot drawn out just enough to sting a little as she strolled toward another aisle.
Ryuya smiled and picked out a pair of black boxers for himself before catching up to her.
"Actually, black suits you. I like the look."
Mai placed two ready-made meals into the basket, but her gaze suddenly turned sharp.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing at all."
He grinned and took the basket from her, heading for the register.
Thankfully, the cashier didn't look at him like some creep buying women's underwear.
The purchase went smoothly, and soon Ryuya and Mai were back at the hotel.
They sat facing each other and ate their convenience-store dinner in quiet peace.
Afterward, Ryuya went to shower.
When he came out, hair still damp, Mai was sitting on the bed looking troubled.
"Don't tell me you want me to wait out in the hallway again," he said.
"That's not an option. The owner might think something weird and get in trouble because of us."
Her eyes shifted toward the small single bed.
"…Can you swear you won't try anything?" she asked, testing him.
"I swear," he said without hesitation.
"Liar!"
He spread his hands helplessly.
Honestly, if he had taken a few seconds to think before answering, she would've just accused him of having dirty thoughts anyway.
What was he supposed to do?
Mai finally steadied herself and said quietly, "…As long as you're just sleeping beside me, I guess it's fine."
"Perfect," he said cheerfully.
"Don't make me hit you!"
So, she was still keeping her guard up.
Under Ryuya's amused gaze, Mai scooted a little farther inward on the bed.
He lifted the blanket and slipped in beside her. The warmth lingering on her side of the sheets immediately spread to him.
"Touching," he murmured with a small smile. "This is the first time someone's ever warmed my bed for me."
Mai blinked, caught off guard. "...Huh??"
----
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