The noisy commotion from the men's bath could be heard all the way over in the women's side.
"…It sounds pretty lively over there," Shion said with a small smile on her lips.
Her white skin, wrapped in steam, was faintly flushed. Her silver hair, tied up short, glowed softly under the moonlight.
She sank deeper into the water and let out a gentle breath. The usual cool impression she gave off was softened by the warmth of the bath.
"It is probably just Hart making a racket," Fuka murmured with a melting expression she rarely showed. She surrendered herself to the warmth of the water, and the sharpness she had when holding her blade had completely disappeared.
"Fufu. It is nice that they are having fun," Luna said as she soaked in the bath, her cheeks relaxed. She smiled with a hint of envy, yet also with gentle warmth.
Unlike the men's bath, the atmosphere here was relaxed. As the three of them soaked together, the towel wrapped around Fuka's head suddenly slipped.
Luna quickly reached out and caught the cloth before it fell.
She then neatly wrapped it back around Fuka's head.
"Really now. You have such beautiful hair, so you need to keep it properly tied up," Luna said with a smile while skillfully gathering Fuka's long, wet raven-black hair.
"Thanks," Fuka replied honestly.
Seeing her entrust her hair like this while soaking in the bath gave her a somewhat childish charm.
Shion, who had been watching them, suddenly spoke up.
"You two both have long hair."
Luna smiled as she pinched a strand of her own indigo hair with her fingertips.
"Yes, that is true."
"Have you always kept it long, Luna?" Shion asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Yes. It has been about this length since I was little," Luna replied. She looked at her hair swaying on the water's surface and narrowed her eyes nostalgically.
"I see. By the way, Fuka used to have short hair, right?" Shion said, recalling the Fuka she had first met several years ago.
"Yeah. It got in the way when I swung my sword," Fuka answered casually.
"But when I met Shion, I started growing it out as a sort of prayer. I decided I would not cut it until I took back Kyokuto."
"So that is what happened," Luna said quietly, nodding as she looked at Fuka's raven-black hair. Knowing the feelings behind it made Fuka's hair look a little different to her now.
"So will you cut it now?" Luna asked while gazing at the moon reflected on the water.
"I do not plan to, but I might if the mood strikes me. It is a hassle to tie it up every time I bathe," Fuka answered. She sank back into the water up to her shoulders, letting her long hair drift in the steam.
Then she turned her gaze toward Shion.
"Are you thinking of growing your hair out, Shion?"
"Hmm… I am still deciding."
Shion played with the tips of her short silver hair with her fingers and gave a vague answer.
"I think long hair would suit you very well. Your hair is really beautiful, Shion," Luna said in a straightforward voice.
Shion's pale cheeks grew even redder from the heat of the bath.
"I-is that so…"
She looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment with a small voice.
"I would like to see you with long hair too. I bet Orun would be happy about it," Fuka said casually, dropping his name.
"Ehh…!"
Shion turned even redder and quickly looked away, her face hidden in the steam.
Luna, who had noticed the reason Shion was worrying about her hair length, spoke with understanding.
"I see. So that is what it is. But I think Orun would not mind either way."
Luna added gently, "No matter the length of your hair, it is clear how much Orun truly cares about you. We can all see it."
"…!"
Shion's ears turned bright red, but her expression clearly showed joy.
"The way he looks at you is obviously different from how he looks at everyone else," Luna added calmly.
Shion squirmed in the water and looked down even more.
"…Do not tease me so much."
Even so, she could not hide the smile on her lips.
The conversation naturally shifted to the relationship between Shion and Orun.
"By the way," Fuka suddenly said.
"Have you been on any dates with Orun?"
Shion blinked in surprise at the question, which was unusual coming from Fuka.
She let out a small breath and smiled.
"We do make time for just the two of us. It is not that often, though. But it is rare for you to ask something like this, Fuka…"
"It is almost the moon-viewing season. Why do not you invite him? If you want to do a moon-viewing date, I will help."
"…What is going on with you? Did you eat something strange?"
"That is not it. Do not say rude things."
Fuka pouted for a moment, but then her mouth softened again.
"…Moon-viewing means moon-viewing dumplings, right? We do not get chances to eat them often, so it would be a waste to miss it."
"Ah, so that is what this is about," Shion said with a half-exasperated laugh.
"Fufu. Fuka really is all about dumplings over flowers," Luna laughed along.
"…? Are you making fun of me?"
Fuka tilted her head.
"No. I just thought it was very like you," Shion said with an amused smile.
The conversation continued in the steam with a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
"Speaking of which, what about you, Luna? Is there anyone you like?" Shion asked.
"Eh, me?"
Luna blinked a few times at the sudden question.
She could not answer right away. She lowered her gaze to the water and thought for a while.
Eventually, she quietly shook her head.
"Unfortunately, there is no one."
She answered honestly.
"I see… Well, there is no need to force it. I hope you meet a good person."
"Yes."
"More importantly, what are you going to do? Are you going to invite Orun on a date?" Fuka asked again.
"Eh, u-um… Yes. I guess I will try inviting him."
Shion looked away to hide her reddened cheeks.
"Fufu. It looks like Fuka cannot wait to eat moon-viewing dumplings. In that case, Fuka, shall we have our own moon-viewing, just the three of us?"
"Yeah. I am looking forward to it."
The three of them smiled together at Luna's words.
In the women's bath wrapped in steam, the moonlight and their gentle laughter softly melted into the night.