“A lot happened today.”
“Yuppers,” Tina said.
“Yep,” echoed Wiska.
Ota and Killam had left, so we’d taken turns showering and bathing, and were currently relaxing on the living-room sofa. I’d finished showering quickly, while Tina and Wiska—who’d won at rock-paper-scissors—had been the first to bathe. This suite—which was more like a residence—had multiple showers, bathrooms, and toilets, which made it very convenient for large groups.
“Hey hon, when are we holding that welcoming party for the good doctor?”
“Hmm…I’m thinking that we’ll have it in the Black Lotus’s cafeteria after its upgrades are finished.”
“Oh…” Tina listlessly leaned against me.
I guess she’s sad that she won’t get to drink tonight.
Joining Tina, Wiska likewise leaned against me listlessly. What’re you two doing?
“I feel refreshed!” declared Mimi.
“Yes, I feel much better as well,” agreed Kugi.
It seemed that they had bathed together as well. Elma came behind them.
“Is Dr. Shouko the last person having a bath?”
“She said that she was going to take her time,” Elma told me.
“Augh!”
Elma had picked Tina up easily, thrown her to one side, and then sat down next to me. Tina was small, but still quite heavy due to her bone and muscle density, yet Elma had flung her aside as if it were nothing.
“You can sit here, Mimi,” Wiska offered.
“Are you sure?”
“We had him to ourselves before you got here.”
Having given up her position of her own accord, Wiska headed toward Kugi and began gently brushing her tails with a brush she’d taken out from who-knew-where.
“Sorry, Wiska. How many times does this make?”
“I do this because I enjoy it,” Wiska told Kugi as she fluffed her tails. I see—Wiska is a fluff enthusiast. Maybe I should get a brush of my own. I want to try fluffing those poofy tails myself.
“Have we got plans for tomorrow, Master Hiro?”
“Hmm…We can’t fly the Black Lotus, but we can still use the Krishna and Antlion, so we could go do some light pirate hunting. We’ve spent quite a bit of money recently, so earning more on a quick trip around the neighborhood doesn’t sound bad.”
“That’s quite a violent trip you’re envisioning… Although it would suit us.” Elma didn’t seem against that prospect.
Mimi seemed excited by it. “A mercenary-style trip!”
“Hm? What’s the hurry? Can’t we just laze around in the hotel?” Tina asked.
“That sounds good too,” Elma mused.
“It’s important to rest when you have the chance,” Wiska said.
Her comment made some sense, but Tina and that traitor Elma definitely just wanted to laze around and drink the day away.
“I’d like to visit that meat factory,” Kugi said.
“Meat factory…? Um…given the circumstances…”
“Aw…” her ears drooped.
It was true that I didn’t really want to loiter around the colony due to that mysterious enemy monitoring us. Even if that hadn’t been the case, though, I really wouldn’t have wanted to go back to that factory. After the first visit, I would probably have built up some resistance; still, it wasn’t something I wanted to experience a second time.
“Aah…that was great. Baths are the best.”
“Mgh!”
Dr. Shouko must’ve just finished bathing; she entered the living room wearing virtually nothing but her panties. She had also draped a towel around her shoulders, like a slovenly old man, but her entire top half was exposed, despite her panties. Her you-know-whats were very boing boing.
“Doctor…I think it would be a good idea to be slightly more mindful of your appearance,” Wiska said.
Dr. Shouko shrugged. “Hm? What’s the big deal? We all get along like sisters here, and it’s not as if there’s a point in covering up in front of you, Hiro.”
Boing. Jiggle.
Excellent. Exquisite. Praiseworthy indeed—! As I mentally applauded Dr. Shouko’s assets, Mimi got onto her knees, grabbed my head, and pulled it between her breasts, blocking my vision. What on Earth…? Have I arrived in paradise? I’m going to live here from now on.
“Ah, jeez. Your hair is only half-dried,” Elma told Dr. Shouko. “You have nice long hair, so you should take better care of it. Wiska, come help me.”
“On it.”
“Hm? It’s not a big deal—wait! Huh? You two are really strong! Ow!”
Elma and Wiska dragged Dr. Shouko away, and not long after, I was exiled from paradise.
Ah! God… What did I do to deserve this?
✦ ✦ ✦
✦ ✦ ✦
Looking down at her flat chest, Tina muttered, “In the end, breasts are all about size, huh…?”
That’s not true! Boobs are boobs, no matter how small. I would’ve shouted, protesting “All breasts are equal!” But that would only have made me sound creepy, so I decided to stay silent. Broaching that topic was just asking for it.
“Sheesh…I’m not a child,” Dr. Shouko complained.
“That just makes it worse. At least clothe yourself properly.”
“Whaaat? I thought mercenaries lived rough, free lives.”
“That may be the case for other mercenaries, but not us.”
Before long, Elma and Wiska returned with Dr. Shouko. She now wore an understated negligee, her hair properly dried.
“Oh, you had sleepwear,” I noted.
“That belongs to Mei,” Elma said.
“The chest is a bit tight,” Dr. Shouko complained, pulling on the negligee’s bodice. It is indeed clinging tightly to you. That sight is another gift from the gods.
“Hon, let’s go shop for clothes for Dr. Shouko tomorrow.”
“Eh…? What a pain. I don’t need new clothes.”
“You absolutely need new clothes. You only have two sets of the same outfit.”
Dr. Shouko didn’t have much of a wardrobe, apparently. According to her, she could wash one outfit while bathing or showering. It would be clean by the time she finished, so she didn’t need any more garments, since apparently she also slept naked.
“It’s not really the right time to go shopping…” she said.
“You need new clothes.”
“You definitely do.”
“Do I?”
Everyone besides Dr. Shouko herself was adamant about the necessity of shopping for her.
It would probably be a good idea to inform Ota about our schedule for tomorrow, so that we could discuss his plans for guarding us. Shopping would definitely be a risk…but it could also be an opportunity to draw out the enemy. Better be positive…