Ch.210210. In many ways… it was an extraordinary event.

Creaking sounds, squeaking noises.

Those friction sounds and unpleasant noises strike my ears.

And then, sunlight hits my eyes.

My body keeps sending signals of pain.

…It feels like my mind is screaming that this is a sensation I shouldn’t get used to.

But still, humans are creatures of adaptation.

Familiar pain welcomes me.

A stiff lower back, a throbbing headache.

A dry, scratchy throat, that parched feeling.

…

“Ah, Bine. You’re awake?”

“…Ellie.”

“Oh… You’re not calling me ‘master’ anymore?”

“…That’s.”

“Well. You know I wasn’t really serious about that either, right?”

“About what…? First, could you give me some water…? I’m thirsty…”

“Fair enough. Bine does need a lot of water.”

“…Wait, what did you say?”

“Since I’ve discovered all the secrets you were hiding. Now you and I truly know everything about each other. Bine.”

“Ellie… we were definitely family…”

“Was that too harsh…? Water first. Ah.”

A fountain cutting through the sky.

A fountain sparkling with rainbow colors as it catches the sunlight.

“…Want some water?”

Ellie asked, her hands filled with peach-scented water.

“…Sigh.”

I decided to just get something from the refrigerator myself.

There’s a small beverage fridge in this room too.

It should be filled with sports drinks.

I thought there would be enough for Yuri and me to drink.

“…Why is it empty?”

“You two drank a lot yesterday. And spilled a lot.”

As if to prove her point, empty bottles were scattered all around the food bowls.

“…It looks like half of it ended up on the floor.”

“That’s your fault too.”

The memory of last night, drinking water competitively, coldly flashes through my mind.

“…You were the one who told us to drink with just our tongues.”

“You two had plenty of time to finish if you’d shared.”

“Limiting our drinking time and then telling us to use only our mouths is honestly, umm…”

“I’m telling you, you could have finished it all. If only you two hadn’t fought.”

“You’re evil.”

“This is how training works.”

She looks at Yuri who’s trembling on the bed behind her.

“…Why was she like that first thing in the morning?”

“Well, she woke up early and tried to play a prank on me. So I taught her a little about fountains.”

“…You taught her about fountains?”

“Not that kind of fountain. Well… I guess it could be called that too, in a way. How was your temporary bitch life?”

“…I never want to do it again.”

“Okay. Call me if you want to do it again later.”

“…You’ll make me do it even if I say I don’t want to.”

“That just depends on whether you bring that black leash or not. The only one who does things even when she says she doesn’t want to is that girl over there.”

“…Is she really okay?”

“She should be fine since she’s rested and recovered her strength. Ah. She might need some water though. I’ll get it.”

“No… I’ll get it. Um… please look after Yuri.”

“…Ah. You want to see her exhausted state? Alright. As you command.”

Ellie approaches the lower part of the unconscious Yuri.

What will Yuri look like when she wakes up to find herself being tormented again…

No, I’m not curious, but I think it’s better not to approach the currently unstable Ellie, though it feels like I’m selling Yuri out.

Such excuse-like thoughts gather and pile up, making me think that I’m trying to avoid Ellie… no, that’s not it.

I hurriedly open the door and go downstairs.

There should only be the three of us anyway.

Or so I thought.

“Bine, hello. It’s been a while.”

“…Eh.”

Blanc was sitting there drinking coffee.

…And I came down without putting anything on.

I was planning to go back quickly and grab some clothes.

I just wanted to get some water.

“You look a mess. Ellie must have been rough with you.”

“…B-B-B-Bl, Blanc…?”

“My stage name isn’t B-B-B-B-Blanc.”

“W-wait, w-when, when did you come back…? W-wait…! I’m not wearing any clothes… Kyaaah?!?!?”

“Hmm… There are some bruises on your wrists and legs, knees… Perhaps.”

“D-don’t make such assumptions!”

I rush to the kitchen and hide my body behind it.

I can’t let Blanc see me like this anymore…

“And from what I just saw, you were extremely wet. Well, that’s unavoidable since you’re Bine. And there are rope marks on your stomach and back… Did Ellie have ropes too?”

“She did have black and pink ones… No, why are you asking about that…!”

“Hmm… I might need to borrow them later. No. Maybe I should learn. Videos alone aren’t enough after all.”

“What…?”

“Well, besides that… You had a tail attached, didn’t you?”

“What…?”

“That hair there, it’s not human hair… but not real fur either, slightly black in color. Dog? Cat?”

“What are you talking about…! C-close your eyes…! Until I say you can open them!”

“Hmm… But, Bine.”

“Y-yes…?”

“Today. Is it my day?”

“…What?”

“Bine. Don’t hide, come out front.”

Today is Blanc’s day…?

Why did I forget…?

W-wait…

Ah, so that’s why Blanc is here today…?

If so, her presence here makes sense.

W-why did I forget that in my head.

…Ah.

Of course I’d forget after being subjected to Ellie’s antics first thing in the morning.

Those things filled my head, pushing aside the fact that today was Blanc’s day…

…If it’s Blanc’s day, should I follow her words? Come to think of it, there’s no need to follow—

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? We already know everything there is to know about each other. Well, Bine’s weak spot is when you insert your finger to the third joint and bend upward to find that sp—”

“I-I’m coming out! See! I’m out! I’m out! I understand, so please don’t say such things! I’m already out!”

When Blanc started speaking in a threatening manner, I had no choice but to come out without covering myself.

“Ugh… really… Are you satisfied now! You perverted magical girl!”

“Mmm. Pretty.”

“This isn’t something you can just dismiss with ‘pretty’! Why do you want to see this?!”

“Hmm… I wonder? Ah, today it’ll just be me, you, Ellie, and Yuri unnie anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you walk around naked. The same goes for Yuri unnie.”

“That just makes us your and Ellie’s dogs…”

“…I like that? Bring me a leash.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Yes. Crazy about Bine.”

“Oh my god.”

When I showed an exaggerated gesture of slapping my forehead.

…Why is her face getting red and more excited?

“Wow… I… No, whew. Yes, I need to hold back. Yes. It’s still daytime. Yes, yes.”

“…I have no idea why you’re acting like that, but I need to go rescue Yuri.”

“Rescue her…?”

“If I don’t go up, she might die of dehydration.”

“What about the drinks in the fridge?”

“…Two people, no, three people drinking them meant they ran out quickly.”

“…Hmm.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Blanc’s eyes scan me up and down, as if scanning me.

That look makes me embarrassed.

“Ugh… d-don’t look at me like you’re admiring something…”

“…When you come back down, don’t wear clothes. You can wash up. But I’ll dry your hair for you. I’ll prepare clothes for you too.”

“…What?”

“Don’t worry. They’ll cover you properly.”

“Isn’t that what clothes are supposed to do…?”

“…It happens. Don’t complain later. I’m telling you in advance. Hurry up and go back upstairs.”

What on earth is she plotting?

I quickly gathered some drinks and a few candies for sugar and went back upstairs.

Even as I went up, I could feel her gaze, which was a bit…

I’m sensitive to being watched, but this kind of evaluating gaze is new to me.

It feels strange.

And… Blanc has changed somehow.

Yes. That’s for sure.

Since when, I wonder.

Maybe… since we first shared ourselves?

After crossing that line, it seems like Blanc has gone far beyond.

…It’ll probably calm down later.

Hoping for that, I returned to Ellie’s room.

…I definitely don’t want anyone to know that the sudden humidity and smell that hit me when I entered made my body slightly sensitive again.

I could never admit that it’s something unpleasant yet reassuring.

“I brought water.”

“…Bine. Your face is red?”

“T-that’s…! Because Blanc is downstairs…!”

“Ah. She said she’d be here before 8 AM. Has it gotten that late already.”

“What…! You knew about this all along?”

“Yes…?”

“You clearly said there would only be three of us…!”

“Hmm…? I never said that.”

“What…?”

“Drink first. I’ll take care of her.”

Again, she’s transferring water mouth to mouth.

Hmm…

I don’t know how much more they did, but seeing her more subdued than before, it’s clear that…

“Hey, Ellie.”

“Yes…?”

“…N-never mind! J-just clean up and come out. No, bring Yuri out when she recovers…”

“What are you saying? We need to wash up first.”

“Huh…? But Blanc is outside?”

“That’s good. Want to ask her if she’ll join us?”

“…What?”

“She probably doesn’t plan to go out today anyway.”

“…W-wait, then let me get some clothes…”

“You dirtied your clothes yesterday.”

I try to recall.

Surely…

“…You were the one who told me to do that!”

“Well… you were the one who made that choice, right?”

“I don’t remember any oath of obedience or whatever! Why did I do that…!”

“Why are you asking me?”

“Argh…”

“Well… since we don’t have clothes anyway, we should at least wash up. I’ll have to do laundry…”

“I’ll rinse that separately by hand and wash it… Sigh. What should I do.”

“Why? You had Yuri with you too.”

“…What kind of crazy person would do that to clothes…”

“…Here.”

“…Ha.”

“Well, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll throw them away. Let’s get Yunsul first.”

“…I’ll go ask. Where are the towels?”

“Hmm… If you don’t mind using Yuri’s wet one.”

“…Ha.”

Since that’s all I have to cover myself with.

I wrap myself in one of the towels scattered around Yuri and go to Blanc.

Really…

How.

…

But it was a little nice.