The steam curled thick through the marble bathroom, carrying notes of yuzu and hinoki wood from the oils dissolving in the massive soaking tub. Nozomi found himself momentarily speechless.
Kaguya Shinomiya had actually said she wanted him to teach her his methods.
"Um, Kaguya, are you trying to become my protege?"
"Of course not!"
Kaguya continued pressing her forearm across her chest, the motion doing frustratingly little to obscure the soft swells of pale flesh that pushed against her slender wrist. Water droplets clung to her collarbone, tracing slow paths down toward the valley she struggled to hide.
This insufferable man—standing there like he owns the room while I'm naked in my own bath.
"Why would I have to be inferior to you?" she demanded.
Nozomi tilted his head, expression mild. "Actually, you are already shorter than me. I'm taller than you."
Silence hung between them, thick as the steam.
*Pure ragebait
After several seconds, the girl fixed him with an exasperated glare, crimson eyes willing him to retract the statement.
He shrugged, utterly unbothered.
"Since you don't want to be my protege, then you just want to freeload?" He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "With all due respect, Kaguya-san, I only teach my abilities to my family. To gain extraordinary power, your current determination is far from enough."
She didn't bristle. Instead, a determined smile curved her lips—the expression of someone accustomed to getting precisely what she wanted.
"I knew early on that you wouldn't be so easy to control. How about this—you promise me three things, and I will acknowledge the legitimacy of your Harem Club and let you continue to exist."
"It's the Service Club!"
"Is there a difference?" Her eyebrow arched. "Isn't it still your harem?"
"Uh... everyone's just good friends..."
"Good friends who sleep in the same bed, right?" The knowing look in her eyes sharpened. "You don't need to explain. I've investigated it very thoroughly."
Nozomi's mouth opened. Closed. He had nothing.
Finally. Kaguya felt a flutter of smugness warm her chest. I won a round.
But immediately, heat crept back into her cheeks—the awareness of her nakedness, the water barely concealing anything below her navel, his gaze steady and unhurried as it traced the curve of her shoulder.
"What's your answer? Or do you want to keep staring at me while I bathe?"
Nozomi's lips pulled into a slow grin, white teeth flashing. "If Kaguya-san doesn't mind, I can help you wash."
"No, I mind very much!" Her voice pitched higher than intended. "Please close your eyes now."
"Oh, such a beautiful sight, rarely seen..." His gaze drifted deliberately lower, to where the water lapped at the subtle dip of her waist. "It would be a shame not to look."
"Shameless!" Kaguya's jaw tightened, teeth grinding.
"Thank you for the compliment."
His triumphant smile made her want to drown him. "Since Kaguya-san already knows what kind of person I am, do you still want to ask me to do three things for you? Kaguya-san, you don't seem to know who's stronger right now."
The threat hung in the humid air.
But Kaguya Shinomiya did not panic.
If he thinks I'll cower—
She straightened her spine, shoulders rolling back, and dropped the arm shielding her chest.
Steam swirled around her bare form—small breasts with dusky pink nipples pebbled from the temperature difference, the graceful taper of her ribcage flowing into a waist narrow enough that his hands could probably span it entirely. Below the water's surface, the shadow of a delicate triangle was just visible through the rippling clarity. Her skin gleamed porcelain-pale, flushed rosy across her chest and throat.
Nozomi made no move to look away.
His eyes traveled her body with open appreciation—the elegant slope of her neck, the pert handful of each breast, the flat plane of her stomach disappearing beneath the waterline.
Slender, he noted. Just like Yukino. Very cute.
"Have you seen enough?" Kaguya's voice came out ice-cold.
"No. Not enough."
"You—you're so thick-skinned!"
Damn him! Inside, she was spiraling. She'd been certain he would flinch, avert his gaze like any decent person confronted with a naked heiress. Instead he stood there cataloguing her like she was artwork on display.
She'd miscalculated badly.
But retreat wasn't an option. The Shinomiya name demanded she turn this around.
So.
Her expression froze over. In one fluid motion, Kaguya launched herself from the tub—water sheeting off her thighs—and drove her heel toward his sternum.
She had achievements in martial arts. Three grown men posed no challenge.
The kick should have landed.
Instead, Nozomi's hand shot up and caught her ankle like he was plucking fruit from a branch. Effortless.
Then he pulled.
"Nngh—!"
The gasp tore from her throat as momentum carried her forward, body pitching off-balance. Her standing leg slid on the wet tile, forcing her into a full split as she crashed against his chest.
His arm wrapped around her waist—large palm splaying across the small of her back, fingertips grazing the upper swell of her ass. His other hand cradled her captured foot, thumb pressing into the delicate arch as he tested the smooth, damp skin.
So soft. He smiled.
She was pinned against him, bare and dripping, one leg extended behind her in an obscene display of flexibility while the other pressed against his hip. The position spread her open, the cool air of the bathroom kissing places that made her shudder.
"Kaguya-san, are you deliberately throwing yourself into my arms?"
"Nonsense!" Her voice cracked. "I just—wanted to test if you were really that powerful. Now it seems your martial arts are quite good. Alright, let go of me quickly!"
Crimson blazed across her face, down her neck, spreading to the tops of her breasts pressed flat against his shirt. She couldn't maintain the cold mask—not while held like this, legs splayed, core pressed against his thigh, feeling the heat of his body through the thin fabric.
She couldn't even cover herself. Both arms had instinctively grabbed his shoulders for balance.
At least no one else can see me like this.
"So you attacked me just to test me?" His thumb traced lazy circles on her ankle. "There was no need. The fact that I could come here silently proves my strength."
"Kaguya-san, now it's my turn to make a demand."
His hand at her waist shifted—sliding lower, palm molding to the curve of her hip.
"Will you or will you not acknowledge the legitimate existence of our Service Club?"
That's—that's what he's focused on?! Kaguya gritted her teeth, pulse hammering against her throat.
"After all this, you're still only talking about that?"
Nozomi shrugged, the motion pressing her tighter against him. "Otherwise? I originally intended to invite you out to talk, but your bodyguard wouldn't cooperate, so I had no choice but to come find you myself."
"Kaguya-san, actually, I'm very gentle with girls." His voice dropped, warm breath fanning across her ear. "See, you tried to kick me just now, and I didn't retaliate. I just... restrained you."
She could feel his heartbeat—steady, unhurried—against her bare chest.
"If you moved your hand," she hissed, "I think it would be more convincing, you perverted hooligan!"
An awkward chuckle escaped him, and the palm that had been drifting along the dip of her waist stilled.
"I just thought Kaguya-san had good physical fitness and wanted to confirm if you were qualified to be my protege." The smile he gave her was insufferably pleased. "Now I can confirm. You are a good choice."
"I don't think I said I would become your protege."
"No, you didn't." He lowered her leg slowly, letting her foot slide down his calf until she stood on trembling knees before him. "But if you still want to gain the power I possess, Kaguya-san will make a choice sooner or later."
"Either become my protege—" His hand lifted, fingertips brushing a wet strand of hair from her cheek. "—or become a member of my family."
"What will you choose?"
"I won't choose either!" She slapped his hand away. "I will make you my subordinate and completely conquer you!"
"Alright." A sigh, almost fond. "Whatever makes you happy."
Before she could react, he reached past her and snagged a bath towel from the warming rack. One fluid motion wrapped the soft cotton around her body, covering her from collarbone to mid-thigh, tucking the edge neatly between her breasts.
"Well, I won't disturb you any further. Anyway, I've already told you my thoughts, Kaguya-chan." The honorific rolled off his tongue, intimate and teasing. "I'll be waiting for your news."
"Bah! You pervert! I won't let you have your way!"
Kaguya stamped her foot against the wet tile—but Nozomi had already dissolved into the steam, silent as he'd arrived.
The bathroom held only her ragged breathing and the soft plink of water dripping from the faucet.
The door burst open.
Ai Hayasaka rushed in, maid uniform pristine, golden hair swinging behind her. "Kaguya-san, is something wrong?"
I didn't hear anything—how could I have missed—
Kaguya fixed her with a withering glare, cheeks still burning. "A pervert came here just now. Didn't you notice?"
"Ah? Something like that happened?" Hayasaka's slender frame stiffened, blue eyes widening with alarm. "I didn't hear any movement at all!"
Failure. Complete failure. If something had happened to Miss—
But Kaguya took a measured breath, waving her hand in dismissal.
"It's nothing. It's not your fault." She adjusted the towel, tugging it tighter. "It was that man named Hozuki Nozomi."
Hayasaka's expression shifted—concern bleeding into wary respect.
"To be able to come here silently and leave silently..." Kaguya's voice trailed off, fingers pressing to her lips where she could still feel the ghost of his breath.
"He is indeed not simple."