The battle in the love hotel ended in a hard-won, resounding victory for Shirou.
"......♡"
Her hoarse voice had lost its usual sharp dignity. Aoko Aozaki lay sprawled limply, her limbs spread wide, her expression dazed and unfocused.
At this point, this was basically how things always played out.
Every time, Aoko Aozaki would overwhelm Shirou at the start and briefly seize the advantage.
Just like Miss Blue's Magecraft combat style, Aoko Aozaki was passionate and fast in this regard too, with an aggressive, forceful momentum.
For the first ten minutes, Shirou could only struggle to defend himself.
Several times, he came close to surrendering under Aoko Aozaki's fierce assault.
But Shirou's true strength only began to show after that.
Whether in a fight or anything else, Shirou had never been a man who excelled through strength or speed.
Shirou Amamiya's greatest strengths had always been the Technique he had honed over long years, and the endurance born from his naturally powerful spirit.
Around the twenty-minute mark, the situation began to reverse.
Aoko Aozaki's momentum was still there, but anyone could see she was only putting on a brave front.
By the thirty-minute mark, Aoko's last bit of composure had completely vanished…
She could only let the boy younger than her have his way, losing her usual calm and confidence until even her reason melted away completely.
Of course, Shirou was no demon.
As long as Aoko Aozaki was willing to put aside her proud dignity, beg Shirou for mercy, and admit defeat, he would switch to gentle mode.
Compared to rough treatment with no regard for a woman's feelings, he still preferred an approach filled with affection.
Well, as for Aoko, she seemed to enjoy it no matter how Shirou treated her…
After it was over, Shirou gently stroked the head of the red-haired beauty he had tormented for a full hour.
Feeling the beloved boy's hand on her head, Aoko wore an expression of utter happiness.
"Here, lift up a little."
Shirou pulled out a tissue and carefully placed it on the bedsheet, and then.
"Mwah♡"
...
...
"Mm~ Shirou's arm is too hard. It's so uncomfortable to use as a pillow."
Resting her head on Shirou's arm, Aoko complained with a dissatisfied look.
"Sorry for being a man whose attribute is Sword."
"That has nothing to do with Magecraft attribute."
Aoko muttered, "Shirou's body is really well-trained, and it definitely looks great, but it isn't comfortable to hug at all."
But the reverse could also be said.
Being held tightly by Shirou's increasingly masculine body would make any woman feel incredibly happy…
Aoko did not say something that embarrassing out loud.
She lifted her neck, and Shirou immediately pulled his arm back.
"I'm going to rinse off… My neck is covered in Aoko's drool. It's all sticky… Ugh, looks like you left a hickey."
"Hehehe, I'll come too."
"You can move already?"
"Mm."
With a little "heave-ho," Aoko Aozaki rolled up from the bed, then hopped down.
Shirou stared intently at the graceful curves of her snow-white body, feeling nothing but moved.
Aoko went into the bathroom first and turned on the bathtub faucet, while Shirou picked up the clothes scattered all over the floor and carried them into the bathroom.
When he entered, Shirou saw Aoko standing in front of the bathroom mirror, a hair tie held between her teeth as she gathered her long red hair into a bun at the back of her head.
That move is so tempting… Shirou thought.
"What are you looking at?" Aoko blinked.
"…Nothing." Shirou turned his face away.
"You were definitely looking!"
"I said I wasn't."
Seeing Shirou stubbornly refuse to admit it, Aoko grabbed the showerhead and sprayed him with water.
"Wait… Stop messing around!"
Shirou glared, while Aoko covered her mouth and giggled.
As the two of them fooled around, the bathtub quickly filled with hot water.
Shirou rinsed himself off quickly with the showerhead, then sank into the tub.
Unlike Shirou, Aoko took more time washing herself. She had always been the type to enjoy baths.
Shirou sat in the bathtub, silently watching Aoko shower.
After she pinned up the red hair that had hung down to her feet, her flawless snow-white back and beautiful curves were revealed.
There was nothing vulgar about it at all. It only made one feel the natural beauty of a woman.
"Mm."
Once she finished washing, Aoko walked over to the edge of the tub.
"Make some room for me."
Shirou tried to stand up when he heard that, but she pressed down on his shoulder.
Aoko said, "I didn't tell you to stand. Just make some room for me."
Shirou finally understood what she meant and parted his knees.
Aoko stepped into the bathtub and turned around.
Then she sat down in the tub, right in Shirou's lap.
"Splash—"
A large amount of hot water overflowed from the edge of the bathtub and spilled across the bathroom tiles.
Shirou stared at Aoko's profile and asked in confusion, "Why sit like this?"
In the past, every time after it was over, whenever Shirou bathed with Aoko or Alice, he had always been asked to sit in their laps.
"Hmm? No real reason. I just… wanted to try it."
As Aoko spoke, she played with the strands of hair that had fallen to her shoulder. "Shirou's been getting more and more manly lately, so…"
Hearing that, Shirou felt a little emotional. Looks like I've grown quite a bit recently.
I should measure my height again when I get back.
Thinking that, he wrapped his arms around Aoko's waist beneath the water.
"…Haah."
Aoko leaned the back of her head against Shirou's shoulder in great comfort, her expression relaxing.
Shirou looked down at the two floating on the surface of the water while casually chatting with Aoko about nothing in particular.
The bathtub was far too comfortable, and Shirou and Aoko had only just finished exercising, so after soaking for a while, both of them started to grow drowsy.
"Mm, I'm getting a little sleepy…"
Aoko's voice was much softer than usual. It was clear she had already been completely overtaken by drowsiness.
"Wait, Aoko, don't fall asleep here."
Shirou felt her waist sinking lower, so he tightened his arms and forcibly supported her body.
"Hehe… Let's sleep together later."
"We'll talk after we get back to bed."
"Carry me out, Shirou."
"Don't be ridiculous."
Just as Shirou and Aoko were tangled together in the bathtub, a vibration came from the clothes basket not far away.
"What was that sound?"
Aoko jolted and turned to ask.
Shirou frowned, raised his upper body from the bathtub, stretched out his arm, and reached into the changing basket.
After fumbling around for a moment, the boy pulled out a half-moon-shaped ornament that was constantly giving off a Magical Energy reaction.
"Oh, the 'Cup and Shell'…!"
"You know this?" Shirou asked in surprise.
Aoko nodded. "I learned about it when I traveled in China before. Thought Magi often use it as a catalyst when making Mystic Codes… Why do you have one, Shirou?"
"Well, I recently met a Thought Magus."
Shirou explained absentmindedly while examining the "Cup and Shell" under the fluorescent light.
Ye Sizhen had told him before that if anything happened at home, she would use this Mystic Code to contact him.
It was almost ten at night now… Had something happened at home?
"A girl?"
Aoko stared at Shirou's face and suddenly spoke.
"What?"
"The Thought Magus you met recently. Is she a girl?"
"...Yeah."
"Ohhh~ I see, I see. So Shirou met another new girl~~~"
Aoko Aozaki gave him a meaningful look, and Shirou found himself inexplicably annoyed.
"My relationship with Sizhen isn't what you're imagining."
"Oh~ So that girl's name is Sizhen~"
Aoko rested her head against the boy's chest. "Even if Shirou doesn't feel that way, that doesn't mean she doesn't, right?"
She had never even met Ye Sizhen, yet she was commenting on her with complete confidence.
Shirou looked displeased and frowned. "Not everyone is as frivolous as you, going after men younger than yourself."
"So in Shirou's eyes, Alice and I are both loose women?"
"I never said that…"
"Come to think of it, she's older than Shirou… About the same age as me."
The smile on Aoko's face deepened, giving Shirou a bad feeling.
"Answer it," she said.
"Huh?"
Aoko said, "That's the terminal Mystic Code for communication Magecraft, isn't it? It's been ringing nonstop for a while now. Miss Sizhen is contacting you.
"It's already this late, so she probably has something to say."
Shirou shook his head. "Whatever it is, tomorrow will be fine."
As he spoke, he was about to cut off the communication Magecraft.
"Oh my, is it a conversation I'm not allowed to hear?"
Aoko grinned mischievously and grabbed Shirou's wrist.
The red-haired boy frowned slightly.
Aoko had been trying to steer things in that direction for a while now.
There was nothing between Shirou and Ye Sizhen. He had a clear conscience… At most, he had only hidden the fact that she was staying at his house.
You all call the Amamiya residence the Amamiya Hotel all the time anyway. What difference does one or two more guests make?
"Sizhen is staying at my house right now because of certain circumstances," Shirou admitted, steeling himself.
Aoko did not seem particularly surprised.
"Hmph… I knew you were hiding something from me."
She pouted. And here I thought this guy had changed and invited me to a love hotel on his own…
So he was just worried I'd run into the new older woman he met!
"Can I answer it? She seems to be in a hurry."
"Go ahead."
"Stay quiet. Don't make a sound."
"Relax."
"And hide properly. This one has video."
"I know, I know. I'll take care of the perception concealment."
From the perspective of formulas, communication Magecraft was far too fragile and could easily be interfered with by Magecraft. In ancient times, Magi often set up shielding in their workshops.
Shirou and Aoko exchanged a glance, then connected to the communication Magecraft Ye Sizhen had sent.
A moment later, the image of a woman in a cheongsam was projected into the space before Shirou.
Wow, what a beautiful older sister~
Aoko muttered in a voice only the two of them could hear, and Shirou shot her a fierce glare.
"Thank goodness! It finally connected. I thought something might have happened to you… Wait… Huh!?"
In the projected image, Ye Sizhen's eyes widened.
Because from her point of view, what appeared on the screen was Shirou Amamiya's bare upper body soaking in a bathtub.
"!!!"
Ye Sizhen's fair face instantly turned red.
She hurriedly turned her head away. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know you were taking a bath…"
Aaaaaaaaaah!
Ye Sizhen screamed inwardly at the sight of Shirou's bare upper body.
Just as she had imagined, Shirou's body was slender but extremely firm.
It did not look like the physique a student his age should have at all.
Without a doubt, that was the result of his morning and evening training every single day.
Ye Sizhen's heart raced, but she still did her best to speak in a cold tone.
"Shi-Shinji… So you were taking a bath. You don't have to answer my communication at a time like this."
"Honestly, making me see something like this… You have no common sense at all."
Although she had gotten quite the eyeful, Ye Sizhen still maintained her image as a cool, aloof older sister, self-proclaimed.
"If it were anyone else, I would seriously consider accusing them of sexual harassment."
"So it's fine if it's me?" Shirou said.
Ye Sizhen bit her lip. "N-no, that isn't the point."
Shirou said, "Just kidding. Sorry, Sizhen… Your Mystic Code had been ringing for several minutes, so I thought it might be bad if I didn't answer."
…Ohhh~
Aoko held her chin and observed their conversation.
Shirou, you big idiot… And he kept insisting, "We're innocent!"
What part of this is innocent? No matter how you look at it, she's completely interested in you! She isn't even trying to hide it!
That deliberately cold attitude…
That coaxing tone slipping out now and then…
And the casual charm in the way she plays with the ends of her hair while talking…
None of that gets past my eyes, Aoko thought.
If a woman this beautiful was throwing herself at him, any normal man would be helpless. Shirou, you're probably the only one who wouldn't react at all!
If she had not just been thoroughly ravaged by Shirou, Aoko would honestly suspect something was wrong with his development.
"Shinji, where are you right now?" Ye Sizhen asked curiously.
"Ah, I'm at a classmate's place right now. I can't go back tonight."
When she heard Shirou say that, the smile on Ye Sizhen's face froze and turned into disappointment.
"I-I see… I waited for you for so long, but you never came back. I thought something had happened…"
"Ah, so that's why you contacted me."
Shirou looked apologetic. "Sorry. I should have contacted you ahead of time. I made you worry."
"No, please don't say that. You haven't done anything wrong…"
Ye Sizhen shook her head and spoke with absolute sincerity.
"You not only saved my life, you even gave me a place to stay. I'm only grateful to you."
"You're exaggerating."
Shirou scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.
He had thought something had happened at home, but since everything was fine, he figured it was about time to end the communication.
But Ye Sizhen did not seem to think so.
Just now, she had realized something.
The reason Ye Sizhen felt at ease living in the room beside Shirou's was not because of the house itself, but because Shirou was there.
Once Shirou was gone, everything around her reminded her of him, and she could no longer sit still.
It should be fine to chat with him a little longer, right?
With that thought, she spoke. "Um… Actually… I made Chinese pastries during the day."
"Huh, you did, Sizhen?"
"Mm, rose pastries. Have you heard of them? I was planning to wait until you came home tonight so we could eat them together."
Shirou said, "That's a shame. You're so good with your hands, Sizhen. I'm sure the pastries you made taste great."
Sizhen's eyes lit up. "If you don't mind, I can make them for you tomorrow…"
Shirou hesitated. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
Sizhen said, "It's fine. You saved my life, so this much is only natural… Um… Please."
Although she had been very careful, in the end, the pleading feeling hidden in her heart still showed completely.
It was embarrassing, but because it was Shirou…
Asking him like this gave her a faint, comforting feeling.
That was how happy talking to this boy made Ye Sizhen.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Sizhen."
"Okay."
At that moment, Shirou noticed a piercing stare.
Oh no! He had gotten so absorbed in talking to Ye Sizhen that he had completely forgotten about someone!
Aoko Aozaki glared viciously at Shirou. Then both her hands, hidden beneath the water, abruptly seized a pair of lychees.
"Ugh…!"
Shirou felt as if he had been completely captured.
If Aoko used even a little more force, Shirou's life as a man would end right there.
But Aoko did not do that.
Instead, she wore a sly, mischievous smile and gently began kneading with her fingers.
"Is something wrong, Shirou?" Ye Sizhen's delicate brows drew together slightly.
"…Nothing."
Shirou frowned slightly. In Aoko's eyes, he saw a woman's competitive spirit.
Her slender, beautiful fingers moved nimbly beneath the water, making the "Holy Sword" that had already settled down rise once more. Even the tip broke above the surface.
"Um, Sizhen… It's about time…" Shirou intended to end the call.
Ye Sizhen asked again, her tone pleading. "Can we talk for a little longer tonight?"
Shirou kept his expression unchanged. "…All right."
Before he knew it, the woman in the bathtub had shifted from having her back to him to facing him directly.
Just as Shirou was about to stop her, Aoko raised a finger to her lips.
Then she placed both hands on Shirou's knees and slowly lowered her beautiful head.
"This part needs to be washed clean too… Chu♡"
"Is there some kind of sound over there?"
Ye Sizhen frowned. She thought she had heard the faint sound of water moving.
"No, you must have misheard."
Shirou said that while stroking Aoko's hair.