novelnext Chapter 186 Mixed Bathing
Chapter 186 Mixed Bathing
Chapter 186 Mixed Bathing
Artoria's body froze again, this time more noticeably than before, her entire being resembling a statue suddenly frozen in time.
Her face turned red at a visible speed, spreading from her cheeks to her ears, from her ears to her neck, and even her collarbone was tinged with a light pink.
"You, you—" Her voice trembled, "Are you serious?!"
Artoria's reaction was very real.
"Of course I'm serious!"
"Matsumoto Rangiku tilted her head, looking completely innocent: "Didn't I just say that I was going to ask Shiraha-kun to come along later?"
"I thought you were joking!"
Artoria's voice suddenly rose eight octaves.
"I never joke about things like this—" Matsumoto Rangiku said with a smile, "Should I call him over now? Shiraha-kun certainly won't refuse."
"don't want!!!"
Artoria almost screamed, nearly jumping out of the water: "Rangiku, stop messing around!"
"I wasn't making a scene."
Matsumoto Rangiku looked completely innocent: "Shiraha-kun is the one who created us, the one who gave us a second life. Isn't it normal to ask him to come along?"
"What's normal about that?!"
Artoria's face was flushed crimson, and her voice trembled slightly, almost cracking: "We look like this now—"
—
"We're all girls, aren't we?"
Matsumoto Rangiku waved her hand dismissively: "It's not like Shiraha-kun hasn't seen us in swimsuits before."
"How can this be compared to a swimsuit!? We're not wearing anything right now!"
"People don't wear clothes in the hot spring pool anyway."
Matsumoto Rangiku retorted confidently, "Is wearing clothes while soaking in a hot spring considered taking a bath? That's called doing laundry!"
"you-!"
Artoria was speechless.
Violet couldn't help but chuckle as she watched this scene.
She raised her hand to cover her lips, but laughter escaped through her fingers, carrying a hint of uncontrollable joy.
"Rangiku, stop teasing her."
"I just wanted to see the King of Knights look shy—" Matsumoto Rangiku said with a grin.
"He usually seems so serious and proper, but I never expected him to be so cute when he's shy."
"Rangiku!"
Artoria was both ashamed and angry, wishing she could sink to the bottom of the water.
"Now, let Bai Yu come quickly."
Violet changed the subject, speaking with some anticipation.
Artoria looked at Violet in disbelief: "Violet?!"
"What's wrong?" Violet tilted her head, a half-smile playing on her lips.
"Does Artoria not want to see Shiraha-kun?"
"I"
Artoria's voice caught in her throat, her face flushed red, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Violet is right—
'
Matsumoto Rangiku immediately chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "We've been soaking here for so long, isn't it a bit much to leave Shiraha-kun all alone here?"
"and--"
Nicole Robin spoke slowly, her voice still calm and elegant, yet carrying a meaningful smile.
"Baiyu-kun has been busy all day and must be very tired. Soaking in a hot spring is one of the best ways to relax. Since we've reserved a hot spring pool, let's invite him to come over—it'll be a good way for him to unwind."
Artoria was completely speechless.
She looked at Robin, then at Violet, then at Matsumoto Rangiku, and finally her gaze settled on Unohana Retsu, who had been quietly smiling.
"Sister Hua 1"
Unohana Retsu raised her eyes, a faint smile playing on her gentle features.
I think—
She spoke slowly, her voice as gentle as water: "Rangiku is right."
Artoria's last hope was shattered.
"Shiraha-kun really should relax a bit," Retsu Unohana continued, her tone calm and natural, as if stating a perfectly normal fact.
"and--
'
She paused for a moment, her gaze passing over the misty water vapor to the soft glow of the luminous pearl by the pool.
"Shiraha-kun—! Are you there—?"
"Yes, Rangiku, what's wrong? Did you feel uncomfortable soaking in the hot spring?"
"No, no, I feel very comfortable."
Matsumoto Rangiku's voice held an irrepressible chuckle: "However, we felt it wouldn't be right to leave you alone, so..."
She deliberately dragged out the last syllable.
"Would you like to come and soak in the water too?"
Bai Yu fell silent for a moment. Could such a good thing really exist?
This silence was even longer than before, so long that Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't help but call out several times in Shiraha's direction, "Shiraha-kun? Shiraha-kun, are you still there?"
"----I am here."
Uchiha Hakuba's voice finally rang out.
Are you sure?
"Of course I'm sure!" Matsumoto Rangiku said without hesitation. "Come on, come on, the pool is huge, it can hold them all!"
"----Oh well."
"I'm coming right now."
The atmosphere in the hot spring pool then instantly became subtle.
Artoria submerged herself completely in the water, leaving only her eyes visible, with bubbles gurgling from her mouth.
Her eyes darted around in a panic, glancing at the shimmering pearls by the pool, then at the petals on the water, then at the patterns on the ceiling, but she dared not look anyone in the eye.
Matsumoto Rangiku wore a satisfied smile. She stretched her body, leaned against the pool wall, and rested her arms on the edge of the pool, looking relaxed and content.
"Alright, Bai Yu-jun will be here soon."
"Ranchiku".
Artoria's voice rang out, carrying a hint of a reminder: "Are you sure Shiraha-kun—won't feel awkward?"
"What's so embarrassing?" Matsumoto Rangiku waved her hand dismissively.
"Bai Yu-jun isn't an outsider, and we aren't outsiders to Bai Yu-jun either."
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the pool subtly shifted once again.
"Not an outsider"
These four words stirred different ripples in the hearts of everyone present.
For Matsumoto Rangiku, "not an outsider" means that Shiraha is the one who gave her a second life and allowed her to rediscover the meaning of existence. Her feelings for him are direct and intense, like the midday sun in summer, undisguised and never concealed. She likes to use teasing and jokes to mask her true feelings, but behind her carefree smile lies a deep dependence and unspoken gratitude.
For Nicole Robin, "not an outsider" means that Bai Yu was the one who reached out to her when she was most desperate, the one who told her that she could live according to her own wishes.
Her feelings for him were deep and restrained, like an undercurrent in the deep sea, calm on the surface but turbulent inside.
She conceals her emotions with intellect and elegance, rarely revealing them, yet they are subtly revealed in every detail. For example, she took the initiative to stand up today, something she would never normally do.
For Violet, "not an outsider" means that Bai Yu is the one who rescued her when she was about to fall into darkness, the one who made her believe in the light of the future again.
"—Bai Yu has arrived."
Unohana Retsu spoke softly, her voice as calm as still water.
Everyone's eyes turned to the entrance by the pool.
The footsteps approached from afar, steady and unhurried, like the rising steam above a hot spring pool—unhurried yet carrying a reassuring power.
Then, Uchiha Hakuba appeared.
His hair was still slightly damp, obviously he had just taken a shower, and a few strands of hair fell in front of his forehead, slightly curled by the steam.
This is the Uchiha clan, a family known for producing handsome men.
Bai Yu's gaze swept across the pool, and he saw that everyone was soaking in the water.
"Excuse me."
Bai Yu spoke, his voice still clear and gentle.
"Don't disturb, don't disturb"
Matsumoto Rangiku smiled and waved to him, "Come on down, the water's very soothing!"
Uchiha Hakuba stood by the pool, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to untie the sash of his bathrobe.
Artoria immediately closed her eyes.
Her movements were so fast and sudden that her forehead slammed against the pool wall with a "bang," causing her to hiss in pain.
"—Artoria, are you alright?" Uchiha Shiraha's voice came through, tinged with concern.
"N-nothing!" Artoria answered with her eyes closed, her voice trembling. "You...you don't need to worry about me."
""
"----All right."
Uchiha Hakuba's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
"Artoria—"
—
Rangiku Matsumoto's voice rang in her ears, tinged with a mischievous smile.
"Are you planning to keep your eyes closed the whole time?"
"I--
Artoria's voice was barely audible: "I'll wait a little longer—"
"What are you waiting for—"
Matsumoto Rangiku smiled and tugged at her arm: "Shiraha-kun has already gone into the water, you can open your eyes now."
Artoria cautiously opened one eye, then the other.
Uchiha Hakuba was already sitting on the other side of the pool, the water covering his chest, leaving only his shoulders and arms exposed.
He had a well-proportioned and sturdy build, broad shoulders, smooth and powerful arm lines, and clearly visible collarbones.
Water droplets rolled on his skin, gleaming with a healthy glow under the light of the luminous pearl.
He seemed more relaxed than usual; his tense shoulders gradually relaxed in the warm pool water, and his expression softened.
With his eyes closed, he leaned back against the pool wall, the misty water vapor swirling around him, softening the outline of Bai Yu's figure.
"How is it?"
Matsumoto Rangiku leaned close to Artoria's ear and whispered, "Shiraha-kun has a nice figure, doesn't he?"
"Rangiku!!!" Artoria's face flushed crimson, but she couldn't help but glance at her a few more times: "What are you saying!!!"
"I'm telling the truth."
Matsumoto Rangiku blinked innocently, "Don't you think it looks good?"
"I...I didn't say it looked bad!"
Violet couldn't help but laugh out loud, and even Robin's lips curled up slightly.
Uchiha Hakuba's gaze slowly swept across the pool, seeing everyone quietly soaking in the hot spring, their expressions relaxed and content.
His gaze lingered on each person for only a short time; this was a form of restraint.
When his gaze swept over Artoria, her body visibly stiffened for a moment, then she quickly lowered her head, staring at the petals on the water's surface as if those petals were the most important thing in the world.
When his gaze swept over Violet, she smiled slightly at him, her honey-colored face carrying a touch of alluring charm, while her eyes flashed with a subtle tenderness and passion.
When his gaze fell upon Kanna, she was lying on an inflatable swan swimming ring, her small body bobbing in the water, her big eyes half-open and half-closed, looking drowsy.
Her hair was wet and clung to her cheeks, her little face was rosy, like a ripe apple.
"Kanna—"
—"
Unohana whispered, "Don't fall asleep in the water, you'll get dizzy."
"Ugh—" Kanna mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
"Sister Hua, has Bai Yu arrived?!"
"come over--
—
Unohana reached out her hand, and Kanna immediately let go of her swimming ring, swimming over like a little fish and throwing herself into her arms.
Unohana caught her steadily and let her sit on her lap. Kanna immediately curled up in her arms like a kitten that had found its nest, closed her eyes, and made satisfied humming noises.
"Kanna is sleepy."
Unohana looked down at the little one in her arms, her eyes full of tenderness.
"Let her sleep—"
Unohana nodded and adjusted her position to make Kanna more comfortable.
Kanna's little hands gripped the hem of her Egg Flower bathrobe, her breathing gradually becoming even and long, a peaceful smile on her face.
The hot spring pool has returned to tranquility.
The misty vapor rose gently in the glow of the luminous pearl, enveloping the entire space in a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.
"I'll take her back to her room first, then I'll come over."
Matsumoto Rangiku leaned against the pool wall, tilted her head back and closed her eyes, her long golden hair slowly spreading out in the water, floating like flowing gold.
Her full figure was faintly visible on the water's surface, and the rising steam gave her porcelain-like cheeks an alluring blush.
Artoria remained huddled in the corner, but her tense body gradually relaxed.
She remembered many things.
She lowered her head and looked at her reflection in the water. Her golden hair was wet and clung to her cheeks. The light of the luminous pearl was reflected in her eyes, and her cheeks were flushed red from the heat.
She didn't know how she appeared in Bai Yu's eyes.
But she hoped it wouldn't be too bad.
"Artoria"
Uchiha Hakuba's voice suddenly rang out, and Artoria trembled. She looked up and found him looking at her.
"Is the water temperature still suitable?"
"It's...it's suitable—" Artoria stammered in response.
"Perfect match————"
Artoria's heart was pounding so fast that she felt he could hear it.
Unbeknownst to her, everyone present felt their heart rate increase to some extent.
Matsumoto Rangiku opened her eyes, looking at Uchiha Shiraha's profile, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She remembered the first time he appeared before her, the one who had taken her from the void.
His figure wasn't particularly tall, but it made her feel incredibly at ease.
She likes him.
She likes her current state—she can tease him without restraint, get close to him openly, and show herself to him without reservation.
She felt that today was a very good day.