NOVEL NEXT Chapter 61: Bath
Miyuki came to the door of the Safe House, but when she put her hand on the knob to open it, she couldn't. She blinked a few times, utterly confused.
Then she looked around.
When her gaze fell on the city, she saw the White House standing there, completely restored, so she decided to head there instead.
She reached the large doors of the White House.
The guards stationed there immediately noticed her approach and, without hesitation, swung the doors open. She stepped inside.
Lily was the first to notice her, the soft rustle of her steps drawing attention before her voice did. "Hi!" she said, her tone polite but tinged with curiosity.
Miyuki hesitated for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the room as if she were searching for something — or someone. "Is Mei here?".
Lily blinked, slightly caught off guard by the question. It wasn't what she had expected. Taking a breath, she gathered herself and responded, her voice steady but gentle.
"They're both in their room upstairs," she said, nodding slightly in the direction of the staircase.
Miyuki began her ascent up the narrow wooden stairs. Meanwhile, Lily moved toward the kitchen, intent on preparing a warm cup of tea for their guest.
When Miyuki reached the door at the top of the stairs, she raised her hand and knocked lightly.
A moment later, a familiar voice floated through the wooden frame. "Come in!" Kai called from the other side.
Miyuki stepped into the room. Her eyes immediately fell on Kai, who stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, a strip of cloth covering his eyes, soap dripping slightly from one hand while a sponge hung limply in the other. The sight made her pause, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
"Hello?" she said cautiously, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "What's with the blindfold?" Her brows knitted together.
Kai blinked and slowly peeled the blindfold away. His eyes widened, a spark of surprise lighting them up. "Oh… Bunny Girl Senpai…" he murmured.
"That's not my name…" Miyuki said softly, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. The faint shadows under his eyes caught her attention immediately, tiny crescents of exhaustion.
A twinge of concern tugged at her chest. "You… look like you haven't slept in days," she added.
Kai's gaze flicked toward the open bathroom door behind him, then returned to Miyuki. His fingers tightened slightly around the sponge.
"She won't… bathe, nor eat, nor sleep," he murmured, each word carrying the weight of frustration and helplessness.
"You mean… Mei?" Miyuki asked, her voice catching slightly as worry crept deeper into her tone.
Kai nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping just a fraction under the weight of his exhaustion. "I need your help…"
"With what? Just tell me," Miyuki said, her tone firm but gentle, her hands instinctively tightening at her sides. She stepped a little closer, ready to help.
Kai hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking toward the slightly ajar bathroom door, before meeting hers again.
"Mei's in the bathroom… please… bathe her," he said quietly, holding out the soap and sponge with a hand that trembled just slightly.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair as if to steady himself, then added, almost in a whisper, "It was hard enough just to strip her blindfolded…"
Miyuki's eyes met Kai's for a brief moment, catching the fatigue and quiet desperation. Taking a deep breath, she reached for the soap and sponge he offered. "O-of course!" she stammered.
Clutching the items carefully, she stepped toward the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Inside, Mei lay submerged in the bathtub, the water nearly reaching the rim. Foam and bubbles clung to her delicate form, obscuring her body almost entirely.
She remained unnervingly still, her eyes half-lidded, barely blinking, as if she were suspended in some fragile, dreamlike state.
Miyuki stepped closer. "Are you okay?" she asked, but got no reply. Mei's eyes stared blankly ahead.
A heavy sigh escaped Miyuki's lips. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a talisman. "Look… I found this… for you," she murmured, trying to sound as gentle as she could.
Carefully, she draped the talisman around Mei's neck.
Mei remained still, her body almost melting into the warm, foamy water, but finally, a faint whisper escaped her lips. "I… I want to go home…" she murmured.
Miyuki's heart clenched at the sound. She reached out gently, her hand brushing through Mei's hair as she patted her head softly. "It's okay… it's okay…" she murmured.
Then, leaning closer, her eyes searching Mei's, she asked gently but firmly, "Would you… tell me why?"
"Because… Kai is suffering…" Mei answered quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Huh?" Miyuki blurted out, her brow furrowing in confusion. She had expected something more self-centered, but instead, she was met with a selfless concern — a sister's quiet worry for her brother.
"He… he lost lust," Mei said softly. "If we went back… maybe it would return…" Her words lingered in the warm, steamy air.
"But… what for?" Miyuki asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
Mei slowly turned her head toward her, her gaze steady and curious.
"I mean… lust is just one of the many feelings that can accompany love. Its absence doesn't erase the depth of someone's emotions.
Just because he doesn't feel lust doesn't mean he's incapable of loving you — or caring for you deeply, even if it's as a sister. Love takes many forms, and not all of them need desire to be real."
"B-but—" Mei started, her voice quivering, as if she were about to protest or explain, but Miyuki gently pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her mid-word.
""Shhhh… no excuses right now," Miyuki whispered. "You need to go to your brother… and tell him that you're okay. He's really worried."
Mei nodded quickly, her resolve snapping into place. In a sudden burst, she leapt out of the tub, water and foam cascading down her body, bubbles bursting and scattering in every direction.
She didn't pause to think. Bare and unmindful of her nudity, she sprinted toward the door, slipping slightly on the wet floor, before yanking it open with a frantic push.
"Wait!" Miyuki shouted as she tried to catch up, but Mei didn't even glance back. Her bare feet slapped against the floor as she dashed recklessly toward their shared room.
Bursting through the doorway, Mei's voice rang out. "Bro!" she cried.
Kai's head whipped around just in time to see her. "Ah!" he yelped, flinging his hands up to cover his eyes, his voice a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
Mei's gaze immediately followed, and she froze, noticing the foam slipping down her most delicate areas. Her face burned crimson, heat radiating from her cheeks as panic overtook her.
Without a second thought, she bolted back toward the bathroom, the floor slick beneath her feet, and dove headfirst into the tub, sending bubbles and water splashing in every direction.
Miyuki pressed a hand to her forehead, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. "Lily was right… you really are weird siblings…" she muttered, her voice tinged with both disbelief and amusement. "Well… I suppose I'd better be going now…"
Before she could take a step, Mei's small hand shot out and grabbed her leg, holding her in place. Miyuki froze, blinking down at the girl's flushed face, her cheeks burning a deep crimson, eyes wide and hesitant.
The unexpected gesture, combined with Mei's intense embarrassment, made Miyuki pause, caught somewhere between exasperation, surprise, and the tiniest spark of curiosity.
Mei suddenly lifted her head, her wide eyes locking on Miyuki for a fleeting moment, then just as quickly, she turned away, her cheeks burning crimson. "Bathe me!" she shouted like a stubborn child.
Miyuki let out another long, exasperated sigh. With a steadying breath, she reached for the sponge she had left perched on the edge of the tub.
"Alright… alright," she muttered under her breath, preparing herself for what was sure to be an awkward, chaotic, and utterly unforgettable task.
⬛ ⬛ ⬛
After the bath, Mei stepped out, fully dressed, her hair still slightly damp and clinging to her cheeks.
Her eyes lit up with a mix of relief and joy as she sprinted toward Kai, arms outstretched. "Bro!" she called, her voice bright and full of unrestrained affection.
Kai's eyes softened the instant he saw her, exhaustion and worry melting away for a moment. "Sis…" he murmured, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle, protective embrace.
She hugged him tighter, pressing herself gently against his chest, her voice barely above a whisper as it brushed against his ear. "Don't worry… lust will come back to you…"
Kai responded with a small, reassuring smile, reaching up to pat her head softly. "I'm sure it will…" he murmured, the warmth in his tone matching the comfort of the embrace.
For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet, unspoken understanding and trust shared between them.