Shiomi leaned alone against the edge of the pool, gazing up at the star-filled night sky.
The mountain air was far cleaner than the city's, and on a clear night like this, the stars spread across the heavens like a painted canvas.
This bath on the top floor of Kumano Hot Spring Inn was, without question, the best spot in the entire place to soak while stargazing.
Resting against the stone, he listened to the laughter drifting over from the women's bath next door. It sounded like Morgan and the others were chatting about their daytime tour of the inn.
This hot spring inn had more than a few strange places. That corridor with no apparent end, for example, had clearly been affected by some kind of spiritual interference. Under Morgan's guidance, Sakura and Rin had successfully carried out the exorcism.
Even though most of the experience they gained wouldn't remain once the Singularity disappeared, Sakura and Rin seemed to genuinely enjoy the time they spent studying Magecraft together.
Changing their surname hadn't changed the fact that they were sisters.
That was one of the many hopes Shiomi had carried for Sakura after adopting her.
Thinking along those lines, he eventually grew tired of watching the stars and laid a warm towel over his eyes to rest.
The day had been exhausting, after all.
He'd woken up early and first spent time with Morgan. Then the murder occurred, followed by questioning and alibi checks. After that, he'd gone straight on to Touko and his Master.
Later, he'd gone down to the lobby, helped Caren carry some things back, then returned to his room to be intimate with Artoria.
Finally, as evening approached, he finished preparing the familiars with Skadi's help. What started as playful teasing with his hands had gotten out of control, and before he knew it, they'd snuck off to the terrace for another round.
That time on the terrace especially had been a mess. Worried about being discovered, they'd kept their voices down the whole time, which only made Skadi more excited than usual.
It was chaotic, to say the least.
What a busy yet fulfilling hot spring trip…
Shiomi muttered indulgently to himself.
Just then, he heard the sound of someone entering the hot spring nearby.
The pool was quite large, and since it was still open, other guests coming to soak wouldn't really bother him.
So he didn't think much of it at first, only finding it a little odd that someone would come so late.
There weren't many male guests staying at the inn, so as long as Shiomi chose his timing well, he could practically enjoy the bath all to himself without making a reservation.
But the sound of footsteps moving through the water kept getting closer.
Sensing something was off, he lifted the towel.
What met his eyes was Scáthach's face, right in front of him.
Normally, something like this would only make his heart skip a beat. This time, it made it pound violently.
"Master, this is— mm…"
Before Shiomi could finish, his Master covered his mouth.
"Be quiet for a bit," Scáthach said with a smile. "Don't let them hear."
He listened carefully and realized that the neighboring bath had gone quiet. They must have finished bathing and gone to change, their voices now faintly drifting over from the changing room.
"…You didn't leave, Master?" Shiomi turned his head slightly, freeing himself from her hand.
"I said I was going to soak a little longer," Scáthach replied, pressing herself against him.
In truth, she'd taken advantage of the moment when everyone else left, slipped over the wall that posed no obstacle to her at all, and quietly come over to ambush Shiomi while he was bathing.
"If you were going to come over, you should've checked whether I was the only one here," Shiomi said. He knew that at this hour, there were practically no guests left.
And even if someone did show up, his Master could always return to the women's bath in an instant.
"Am I really so slow that I can't even tell whether it's only your presence here?" Scáthach shot back with easy confidence.
"Well… fair enough." Shiomi pulled Scáthach into his arms, his hands sliding under the water to trace her waist and hips. "At least wrap a towel around yourself."
"Do you want me to?" his Master asked instead.
Shiomi considered it for a second. "Alright, no. I don't."
"Then don't say things you don't mean. I know your true nature better than I know my own." Scáthach turned her back to him and settled into the crook of his legs. "Mm… yes. A hot spring trip should be like this."
"Too bad it's just us stealing a moment during Rayshifting." Shiomi's hands circled her flat, toned abdomen, stroking skin as smooth as silk. "If only we could stay somewhere with a private hot spring."
Scáthach tilted slightly and looked back at him with a knowing, suggestive gaze. "Feeling guilty?"
"Of course I am. Don't ask something that obvious, Master." Shiomi brushed a light kiss across her lips. "You're my mentor. I'm who I am today because of your guidance."
"I don't recall teaching you to be this shameless," Scáthach said, shooting him a dissatisfied glare. "If you're like this, that's entirely on you. Don't try to pin it on me."
"Uh…"
Shiomi hadn't meant it that way at all, but his Master was clearly twisting his words on purpose to tease him. All he could do was accept it and try to turn it around.
"B-but you're the one who made me a man, Master. I learned how to treat women from you."
"That's not wrong," Scáthach huffed, "but hearing you say it still irritates me for some reason. And you're even better at pleasing women than you were back in the Land of Shadows. I noticed as much in the North American Singularity."
Shiomi's eyes darted away. "I mean, I'm no saint. Sooner or later I was going to have a girlfriend, or a wife… and besides, look. All the 'skills' I picked up ended up being used on you in the end, didn't they?"
"Karmic retribution is more like it." Scáthach chuckled, meeting him blow for blow. "I've taught countless disciples. So why was it you who caught me in the end?"
"That just means I'm your favorite. You always call me your beloved disciple, don't you?" Shiomi tightened his hold on her, leaning in from the side until his cheek brushed hers. His voice dropped, suddenly low. "…If I ever made you feel lonely, then that's on me."
"I'm not lonely anymore." Scáthach laid her hand over the back of his, turning her face slightly as she answered with quiet sincerity. "Even if the world keeps suppressing my power because I left the Land of Shadows without permission, I'll stay by your side and watch over the road you walk."
"You just want to keep an eye on me so I don't go around flirting with whoever I please, right?" Shiomi knew perfectly well, hugging her close as he teased softly.
Scáthach gave a dismissive little snort. "As if I could keep you under watch. And with you as you are now, I couldn't handle you alone anyway."
"Oh? So even my Master is afraid of me now." Shiomi gently took her earlobe between his lips, nuzzling at her temple.
"You've gotten carried away, you disobedient disciple." Scáthach lifted a hand and pinched Shiomi's cheek. "I know you haven't taken a break all day. You're at the end of your rope. So let your Master discipline you for the first time in a while."
Shiomi blinked. "At least let's go back to the room. It'd be bad if someone walked in on us."
"Then we'll hide behind the rock. Even if someone comes in, they won't see."
"…Oh."
...