Bonus chapter unlocked by your Power Stones!
...
Just as Takumi lay back in the bath, enjoying the soak of warm water, he heard the patter of light footsteps.
"Anna-nee?"
"N-no, it's me, Takumi-sama~~"
Haruhime's sweet, delicate voice drifted from within the hazy white steam.
"Haruhime?" Takumi raised a brow and turned his head.
There she was—Haruhime, draped in a single bath towel, gliding toward him with elegant, measured steps. Her white skin was tinted with a shy blush.
Without the cover of her kimono, a mere towel could not possibly conceal that voluptuous figure. Her S-curve was flawless; her willow waist was slender; those shapely, long jade legs were dazzling. The cascade of golden hair and her fluffy fox tail added a few degrees of foxy enchantment.
"T-Takumi-sama~~ I… I'd like to scrub your back, to serve you a bit~"
Haruhime sat on a stool, voice soft and honeyed, eyes brimming with spring water.
After she finished, she bit her lip and looked at Takumi pitifully, as if afraid of being rejected.
Takumi couldn't withstand an invitation like that—his legs moved of their own accord. Only after he sat down did he realize what he was doing.
Before he could ask why Haruhime had come in at such a time—the white towel slipped away; slicked with body wash, Haruhime immediately moved in to scrub his back.
Her movements were clearly clumsy—no trace of practice at all. But talent covers all!!!
Her fluffy Renard tail swayed to her thoughts and gently wrapped around Takumi's waist. In the instant of closer contact, the sensation flooded Takumi's mind like a shock.
And it seemed Renard body temperature ran higher than a human's. On top of that baseline, Haruhime's heat—stoked by shyness—was scorching.
But to Takumi, that heat could only be described as exquisite.
Throat dry and tongue parched, he asked, "Haruhime who taught you this?"
Mortified, Haruhime answered in the faintest voice. "I-it was Sister Anna~ She said Takumi-sama would like it this way."
After saying so, Haruhime asked, "Takumi-sama, do you like it?"
A sweet fragrance, mixed with warm breath, brushed Takumi's cheek. He drew a deep breath to steady the rush of pleasure.
Anna, good work!!!
"Ahem—yes, I like it~"
As he replied, Takumi pinched the tail coiled around his waist. The fluffy Renard tail was wet from the water. He deliberately released a thread of mana to dry it, leaving the fur even silkier.
That little act seemed to touch Haruhime's weak spot; she squeaked and clung tightly to Takumi.
"I-I'm sorry, Takumi-sama, I slipped by accident."
Head resting against his shoulder, Haruhime murmured apologetically, voice soft as down.
"Fuuuuu~"
Takumi exhaled long. He could no longer suppress the fire in his chest. He turned, gathered Haruhime into his arms, and pressed his lips to her petal-like mouth.
The bold, direct move made Haruhime's delicate body go taut for a heartbeat, thin wisps of steam nearly curling off her head. So shy she could faint—her mind blanked.
The very next second, Haruhime toppled straight into a swoon in Takumi's arms.
Looking at a girl who fainted from a single kiss, Takumi clicked his tongue. "Uh… I mean… that's… not necessarily a bad thing."
He looked down at the unconscious beauty in his arms—skin warm and lustrous, flushed with rose, carrying a sweet, clinging scent. Stroking those fluffy fox ears, Takumi scooped Haruhime up in a princess carry.
He strode from the bath and out into the living room.
Anna, in the middle of playing with little Guren, immediately met his eyes when she saw him carrying Haruhime. A serene smile bloomed on her face.
"Takumi-kun, there's already a room prepared upstairs."
"Anna-nee, want to join us?"
Takumi blinked and tossed the invitation.
Anna hurriedly shook her head. "The first time should be a beautiful memory—I won't butt in. Besides… I couldn't keep up."
Shooting him a sultry side-eye, Anna picked up the little fox Guren and retired to her room.
Takumi shrugged helplessly and carried the big fox Haruhime upstairs.
Seeing Haruhime still unconscious, Takumi sank his heart and called to her with his actions.
"Haruhime~ Haruhime~~"
"Mm? Mmh! T-Takumi-sama~"
At the sound of his voice, Haruhime slowly awoke, misty eyes opening. Face crimson, she felt short of breath.
That fluffy Renard tail wagged like a puppy seeing its master—spinning so fast that the swirling momentum rolled toward Takumi in wave after wave…
At that moment, cursed power stirred, aroused by the surrender in Haruhime's heart. The pink collar sigil manifested, cinching tight around her swanlike neck.
Haruhime's eyes flew wide as reels of memory flashed by like a lantern show—from her birth to the present—and finally fixing on the moment Takumi saved her.
"Takumi-sama! Takumi-sama!!"
Tears welled up. Like a helpless child, Haruhime called his name. Takumi slid an arm around her waist and lifted her into his embrace.
"I'm here, Haruhime."
That firm answer settled her heart. Body and soul found their haven and relaxed utterly.
The visions continued to change before Haruhime's eyes—until even Takumi's image faded—leaving a blank expanse.
Everything vanished; even she seemed to vanish.
In her ears, only the sound from pipes within the wall remained—slurp~ slurp~—the murmur of water.
Like droplets falling into a lake, ripples spread in layers—like a submarine volcano erupting.
Having just awoken, Haruhime opened her mouth—but no sound came.
Everything, at last, resolved into a deep, lingering moan.
…
"The lingering echo won't fade for three days—ancients only heard of it; now we may see it."
Takumi offered a literate appraisal, as if savoring an elegant piece of music. But beside the beauty before him… perhaps words were not worth a ten-thousandth.
Then he focused on his system panel.
[Ding! Gate Between Worlds Progress +15%]
[Ding! Haruhime's Affection reached threshold. Defeated and copied Trait: Myriad-Treasure Mallet (Blue).]
"Perfect. This Myriad-Treasure Mallet is a strong contender to upgrade to Purple."
Takumi very much hoped that, after ascending to Purple, the Mallet could be used on himself—stacking with itself, step on the left foot with the right, spiral into the heavens.
Used properly at the crucial moment, it would be an extremely important trump card.
And to make that trump card even greater, Haruhime's strength needed to rise.
"Haruhime, let me help you!"
To help Haruhime break through her level cap, Takumi prepared to give it everything.
Even if she were more of a showpiece than fighter right now, he'd smash resources into her until that showpiece was made of steel and concrete!
...
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