This was a forbidden zone for men, a space reserved exclusively for women.
It was the forefront shrouded in white steam, a secret garden for shedding clothes and armor.
The wooden floor was slightly damp. The heater drove away the chill that should've been present, so exposed skin didn't feel cold.
Some lockers on the wall were locked, others open. In front of the mirrors, many women, still warm from the bath, were drying their hair. Some had disheveled clothes, others wore only bath towels. Their beautiful curves were clearly visible.
Of course, there were also plenty of middle-aged and elderly women with sagging skin, walking around the changing room stark naked while chatting with others. They had no intention of covering up, fully embracing the freedom of liberating their bodies.
In short, Yukino was dragged here by Haruno.
Despite expressing her absolute refusal, her devilish older sister, who would do anything to amuse herself, forcibly dragged her from the room to the women's hot spring. She'd even prepared a change of clothes.
"The last time we bathed together was a few years ago, wasn't it?"
Haruno's eyes held a nostalgic glint. Her expression was sincere, her tone soft, like a wolf grandmother coaxing Little Red Riding Hood into her mouth.
"Don't you miss it, Yukinon? We used to bathe together all the time. Back then, you loved squeezing that yellow rubber duck…"
"Enough! Stop making up memories that never happened!" Yukino flushed with irritation, showing her disgust without hesitation. "The past is the past. I don't want to bathe with others now. Is that a problem?"
With a cold face, she hugged her clothes and headed toward the door.
A few steps later, a sigh came from behind her.
"It's just soaking in a hot spring. Why overthink your figure? I didn't expect Yukinon to lack confidence to this extent…"
"…"
The moment those words were spoken, Yukino stopped.
She turned back with icy eyes and a blank expression. Without glancing at anyone, she silently walked to a locker, set down her clothes, and began unbuttoning.
Seeing Haruno flash a pleased smile at her successful plan, Yuigahama hesitated but cautiously offered advice.
"Um, Haruno-san… Everyone has their own struggles. If Yukinon really doesn't want to, isn't it better not to force her?"
"Hm?" As if surprised someone was defending Yukino, Haruno glanced at Yuigahama oddly. The corners of her lips then curled into a smile. She affectionately ruffled her hair.
"Don't worry. Of course, I wouldn't do anything too outrageous. At this level, Yukinon won't get mad at me~"
"Because you've done even more outrageous things." Yukino's cold voice seemed to freeze the floor. She removed her outer clothes, revealing her white undergarments.
Ignoring her, Haruno lowered her head and whispered in Yuigahama's ear, "Besides, Yukinon's just shy… Believe it or not, if she doesn't soak now, she'll sneak back here tonight to bathe alone."
She laughed proudly. "Hmph, if she's not prodded, she'll hesitate over everything. That kid's always such a hassle."
"R-Really?"
Yuigahama couldn't connect the word "hesitant" with Yukino, who was always decisive and correct.
But since Yukino's sister said so, she, as an outsider, couldn't argue. She could only nod honestly. "I understand. Sorry for meddling without knowing…"
"No, as her sister, I'm thrilled Yukinon has a good friend who cares about her!"
Haruno raised her voice again, firmly patting Yuigahama's shoulder with cheerful enthusiasm. "As you can see, Yukinon basically has no friends at all. So, Yuigahama-chan, you have to cherish your friendship with her!"
Yuigahama clenched her fists and answered seriously, "Of course, I will!"
"Yuigahama-san, don't listen to her nonsense." With a gaze devoid of warmth, Yukino, her slender figure wrapped only in a towel, spoke in an displeased tone. "Hurry up and change so we can go to the hot spring. If you plan to chat here until morning, pretend I didn't say anything."
"Aaah, I almost forgot!" Reminded, Yuigahama quickly broke free from Haruno's grasp and headed to another locker to change.
With a resigned sigh, Yukino turned back, tucking her hair behind her ear.
In a place no one could see, her eyes still held dissatisfaction, but the corners of her lips unconsciously curved into a faint, genuine smile.
About a minute later, after Yukino finished arranging her long hair, an energetic, innocent voice sounded beside her.
"All ready! Yukinon, let's hurry to the hot spring!"
Yukino turned from the locker and scolded, "Yuigahama-san, hot spring etiquette—I shouldn't have to teach you—"
Before she finished, her voice, along with the smile she forgot to hide, vanished from her face.
Before her eyes were three pairs of white weapons.
To be blunt, a large-busted pink-haired girl, a large-busted black-haired girl, and a large-busted silver-haired girl.
Though wrapped in towels, their curves and cleavage were unmistakable. Under the towels' pressure, they seemed ready to burst out, full of elasticity.
Receiving such a strong visual shock, Yukino froze for a moment. Then she instinctively looked down.
…Hmm, it's not like she had nothing, but wrapped in a towel, it made no difference.
At least she could still see her toes.
Yukino's expression darkened instantly. A strong murderous intent flashed in her deep blue eyes. The temperature around her plummeted drastically.
It was a frustration born of feminine instinct. Though she reassured herself with a hundred reasons that body shape didn't matter, the feeling of her soul being wounded couldn't be erased. It even made her a bit resentful.
(It's fine for Sister… But why, as fellow high school girls, do Yuigahama-san and Natsukawa-san have such large ones… It's unreasonable.)
(This unreasonable world was created by God, wasn't it?)
(If so, from now on, God is dead. Perfect humans will create a new world.)
And what a perfect human was—light, slender, without excess fat—she shouldn't need to say it again, right?
"Huff…"
With a light breath, Yukino quickly adjusted her mindset. She placed her palm on her chest, tightening her towel.
"Let's go."
With a calm expression, she walked past the three pairs of weapons toward the women's hot spring entrance.
The first to follow was the silver-haired large-busted girl.
Masuzu smiled and praised, "Yukinoshita-san, your skin is so nice."
As if concerned for her sister, Yukino held back. But the provocation in her eyes was as clear as the white tiles on the wall.
"Thanks for the compliment." Answering coldly, Yukino didn't stop. "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger… Natsukawa-san, just say what you want to say. No need to beat around the bush."
"That's a Nietzsche quote, right? Unfortunately, I wasn't mocking your figure. That's too low-class."
Masuzu shrugged, stopping her smile and speaking frankly. "If a flat chest could ward off men's disgusting gazes, I'd be fine with mine shrinking to AA. In the end, breast size can't represent the nobility of someone's soul, right?"
A noble soul is one with self-respect—Beyond Good and Evil, also by Nietzsche.
This completely different attitude made Yukino look at her in surprise. She felt strange but also agreed with her words.
"Indeed. Ultimately, judging by body shape is itself unworthy of support—"
Before she finished, Masuzu cupped her face with both hands, grinning foolishly with joy.
"Besides, Yuu said, flat or large, he only likes me~ So, body size doesn't matter at all. What matters is that the person we love is satisfied! Right, Yukinoshita-san?"
"…"
Silently, Yukino closed her eyes. After taking a deep breath, she opened the hot spring door without looking back.
The version of herself that stopped to listen was probably the biggest fool in the world.
And most importantly—
The feeling of tightness in her chest was, after all, just an illusion…