"Is that so. Looks like we all woke up around the same time." Lumine nodded and let out a small laugh, relieved.
Because if that was the case, then Miko and Kaito probably hadn't gotten up to anything she didn't know about.
But… if she hadn't woken up just then, what would Miko and Kaito have done?
The thought crept in out of nowhere, and Lumine found herself sinking into quiet contemplation. Given the way Miko had been dressed earlier, it was hard to imagine nothing would have happened.
Right… Miko must have had Kaito help her get dressed, too. But before the dressing part… they would have… hey, hey, hey—
No. Stop thinking about it.
What's wrong with you, Lumine. Stop.
She caught herself spiraling and shut it down. All this pointless overthinking — what was the use?
Honestly, she figured she'd be better off just taking a page out of Miko's book and being proactive for once.
She had to admit: Miko had been incredibly bold earlier. Bold enough to leave Lumine standing there completely stunned, blinking like she'd just walked into a wall.
Compared to Miko, Lumine was a total rookie.
And for Kaito's part — he probably preferred someone as forward as Miko. Well, most people generally preferred someone who took initiative, didn't they.
But how was she supposed to take initiative?
Copy Miko?
She thought back to how effortlessly Miko had moved in on Kaito and done that — and Lumine felt her face go warm.
Miko hadn't even waited for Kaito to say a word before she'd gone ahead and used her mouth to do that thing — and she'd even paused to invite Lumine to give it a try. That was the kind of thing Lumine simply could not picture herself doing. She was fairly certain she could live another ten thousand years and still not be capable of it — if she'd never witnessed it with her own eyes.
Maybe she could just… tell Kaito she'd like it to happen again? More than once?
After turning it over and over and still coming up empty on how to seem proactive, that was the thought that finally surfaced.
But would that be weird?
She was still hesitating over whether to actually say it.
Then again — thinking back on all of Miko's jaw-dropping moves from before, Lumine decided she was overthinking it. Just say it. That was all.
"Kaito."
"Mm? What is it?" Kaito had been watching Lumine's expression cycle through about a dozen different things and was just about to say something — when Lumine beat him to it.
"It's just… I'd like what happened today to happen again. A few more times."
Under Kaito's gaze, Lumine said it with a perfectly straight face.
Kaito: ?
He hadn't expected Lumine to say that. And certainly not that calmly. He was so thrown that he almost reached out to feel her forehead for a fever.
But he knew — in a moment like this, he couldn't let the surprise show.
Did Miko put her up to this?
He couldn't help wondering. Then he opened his mouth: "No prob—"
"Ohh, sounds like Lumine still isn't satisfied." Before Kaito could finish, Miko's voice drifted lazily in from just outside the door.
Lumine: !!!
She'd had a perfectly blank expression right up until that moment — but the instant she heard Miko's voice, her face turned scarlet.
She hadn't even considered that Miko might overhear her.
"Miko, you finished your bath that fast? Or have you just been standing out there listening this whole time?"
Kaito looked toward the doorway, genuinely surprised she was back so soon. He had his suspicions. Because there was no way anyone could finish a bath that quickly — he didn't think that amount of time was even enough for Miko to wash her hair, let alone the rest of her.
"Oh, I just forgot to grab my clothes, that's all."
Miko pushed open the door with a mildly exasperated look as she said it.
It was the truth — she hadn't been eavesdropping. She'd genuinely just come back for her clothes. Who could have predicted she'd walk in on Lumine saying something like that.
But she really was curious. Curious that Lumine had actually said it.
Had Kaito put her up to it? That was the only thing Miko could think of. Otherwise she genuinely could not imagine Lumine coming out with a line like that on her own.
No.
No getting embarrassed.
I need to be like Miko.
Lumine desperately wanted to dive under the blankets and hide until the awkwardness passed — but in the end she didn't.
The words were already out there. She might as well treat it as practice. Practice at being like Miko.
"Alright, alright, I'll leave you two to it. Don't forget to bring my clothes over, okay?"
Miko glanced at the still-blushing Lumine, then at Kaito beside her, and decided the bath could wait no longer.
If that line had come from Lumine herself — well, Miko thought that was actually pretty good. Lumine had always been the type to think too much and act too little. If she was starting to change that, it could only be a good thing.
"That Miko — she hasn't even started her bath yet. Such a slowpoke."
After Miko left, Kaito felt he should say something, so he gave her a little dig.
"Girls just take longer to wash up, that's all. It really does take time." Even though Miko's sudden appearance had mortified her, Lumine knew that wasn't Miko's fault — it was her own — so she still spoke up in her defense.
"That's fair," Kaito agreed, and he meant it.
Of course, he wasn't about to explain to Lumine why he knew that. He could have mentioned he'd learned it from Acheron and the others, but some things were better left unsaid.
Right…
Should he go back and answer what Lumine had said earlier?
Miko's abrupt appearance had cut him off before he could respond properly. He was a little worried that bringing it back up might embarrass Lumine.
Then again, Miko wasn't around now. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
…Alright. He'd answer.
He thought it over and decided he had to. Lumine had clearly worked up her courage to say what she said — the least he could do was respond. Leaving her hanging would be a real shame.
"About what you said earlier… that's fine by me."
"Huh? Oh — okay, yeah." Caught off guard by Kaito suddenly circling back to it, Lumine blinked, then gave a quick nod.
Ugh…
I've done it again. Same as always.
That line she'd screwed up her courage to say — Kaito had probably taken it as her straining with every last bit of effort just to get the words out.
Nothing like Miko's effortless ease.
Even though she'd said something bold and Kaito had responded, Lumine still felt like nothing about her had really changed.
So she decided to push a little further.
"Kaito," she said. "How about we take a bath together next time?"
"Sure — though I think it'd be better after we've had a chance to renovate this place a bit more."
____
👻🔥+40 ch: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Oshi No Ko: Co-starring with Kana Arima
Let's achieve our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 extra chapter for everybody