Is it true that pleasant moments pass in the blink of an eye? I closed my eyes for a moment, and it seemed like it was all over.

"Alright, time to rinse it off. Close your eyes tight~."

It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel a bit disappointed, but I couldn’t stay there having my hair washed forever. Honestly, it probably wasn’t that short a time, either. Elderin must have spent quite a while massaging my scalp.

I’d simply been captivated by that peculiar sense of pleasure. Somehow, her touch was exceptionally skilled, and I still had a fondness for warmth. I couldn’t dislike the careful, soothing touch.

Following her instruction, I closed my eyes, letting the flowing water wash away the suds. A cool, refreshing sensation unique to the shampoo lingered on my head. I felt clear-headed and refreshed. I turned on the water myself and finished rinsing off the soap from my body.

"Good girl, our Da-eun."

"Stop treating me like a kid…."

"Right, right, sorry about that."

Her voice didn’t carry the slightest hint of apology. She gently patted my head, showing that she hadn’t listened to me at all.

Well, she seemed to be in a good mood, so I suppose I could let this slide.

"Da-eun, should I help wash the rest of your body?"

"No, I can do that myself."

Regardless, I wasn’t about to let her help with washing my body.

Allowing her to wash my hair was one thing; letting her touch my body was quite another. I wasn’t that easy to sway.

No matter how persistently she looked at me… Ugh, I might end up relenting if she keeps this up. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let her do it? It’s not like my body has anything special about it.

After a moment of hesitation, my decision held firm. Allowing her to help would probably overheat my brain before I even got into the bath. Thankfully, Elderin took a step back as well.

"Alright, got it. Let’s wash up quickly and head to the bath."

The quick shower complete, it was finally time to step into the water. With Sansae’s support, I settled myself on the edge of the bath.

I am capable of growth. People learn from their mistakes, and mistakes are just experiences, after all. Having been through enough, I’d learned to avoid certain pitfalls.

When I was strong, I could have simply stepped right in, but that wasn’t going to work anymore.

This frail and sensitive body has no resistance to hot water. Even at home, I had to adjust the shower temperature carefully. I’d always dab a bit of water on the back of my hand to test it.

So, dipping the tip of my right foot in cautiously…

"Ah!"

I managed not to scream, but it was a close call. It hadn’t felt that hot when I touched it with my hand. After bearing the scorching sensation for a moment, I gradually got used to it, lowering myself inch by inch.

With Sansae smiling beside me and Elderin confidently stepping in, I took my time submerging up to my neck. …A bit embarrassing, but this, too, was an effort to survive.

But as they say, good things come to those who wait.

"Ahh… this feels amazing."

The warmth of the water relaxed my whole body.

Feeling playful, I submerged up to my eyes and splashed some water on my face with my hands. The bath had a fragrant scent, like herbs or flowers. The water had a soft tint, which I also found pleasing.

In here, our bodies were obscured, solving my biggest worry. Now, I could simply savor this blissful moment.

The gentle ripples felt nice, spreading warmth through my body and making me feel pleasantly drowsy. For a moment, I imagined myself enveloped in a cloud, with the faint mist adding to the dreamlike atmosphere.

As I savored this long-overdue soak, the women began chatting.

"Do you have any plans for this summer, unnie?"

"Me? Not really, no plans set in stone. Nowhere in particular to go, either."

"Surprising. You seem like the type who’d have tons of friends. You know, that ‘girls who are popular with other girls’ vibe."

"Not really. I got the piercings to try a new look, that’s all. I’ve always been a bit of a homebody."

Sansae and Elderin chatted back and forth. The conversation seemed to be about summer vacations.

It was a bit hard for me to jump in. Wouldn’t it come across as clingy if I suddenly joined in? So, I blew bubbles underwater, pretending not to notice.

I wouldn’t say I’m great at socializing. I’m terribly shy, and gauging the distance between myself and others is tough. It’s easier to just keep to myself.

When someone reaches out, I’m happy to respond, but sometimes, I overdo it.

I can’t go bothering people who take the effort to approach me. If I want to act on my own whims, then my friends would need to stay by my side forever. But that would only bring ruin to us all.

Fortunately, I had at least learned to restrain myself. Recognizing my oddities meant I could hold back. Swallowing a little loneliness or feeling left out was better than causing trouble.

If all else fails… I could always look for someone interesting to interact with in-game. The breath I’d held released as bubbles that rose and popped in front of me.

"This is more fun than I thought."

They say men, no matter how old, remain boys at heart. Adult men can get away with playful antics without too much judgment. As I blew another set of bubbles, I realized the two of them had gone quiet.

Two pairs of eyes were looking straight at me.

What’s going on? How long had they been watching me? Glancing nervously, I lifted my head out of the water.

"Why… what is it? Keep chatting, please."

"We were asking if you’d be interested in going somewhere like Jeju or Japan, Da-eun."

"Oh, that… well… not sure. When are you thinking of going?"

It might be a bit difficult. I wasn’t just brushing them off.

The thing is, I actually have a fair amount of obligations now. When Prelude wraps up, the temporary permissions for my access device will expire. Assuming everything goes well, I’ll be on the roster for the summer league. From then on, I’ll have to follow the team’s schedule.

Until then, I have some flexibility, but my stream schedule is another challenge.

My channel has only just started gaining traction. Taking a few days off could impact the growth, and I need plenty of playtime to maintain my rank.

But their conversation had already moved past that.

"That’s why we’re planning around your schedule, remember?"

"…Sorry, I missed that. Got a bit lost in thought."

"Hehe, I figured. You know you should give us a quick answer, right? The sooner we reserve, the better the spots we’ll get."

"I’ll think about it and let you know by the end of the week."

So they wanted to include me, after all.

I should have realized. Inviting me here and then making plans without me would’ve been odd. Even so, I was afraid to ask, reluctant to assume I’d be included. Introverts like me have our own exhausting quirks.

The warmth of the water seeped into my heart as well, making it impossible to stop my lips from curving up. I submerged to my eyes again to hide my smile. Not the best move.

"So, what were you thinking about?"

"Well, I was wondering if Da-eun had picked a character for the cosplay she promised to do on her stream. Haven’t chosen yet, right? Is that what you were mulling over?"

"Phuu-… cough, ack, kuh."

Choking on water is no joke. Elderin patted my back as I coughed.

"You okay? Don’t feel pressured. Whatever you pick, you’ll look great and be perfect."

That’s… not the issue here.

Maybe they genuinely didn’t understand, but Sansae’s bright smile glowed with innocence. So bright, it was almost blinding. I hadn’t known her eyes could sparkle like that.

"Having trouble choosing? Want me to help? I can even help make the outfit. Since you’re an Assassin in the game, maybe go with something completely different, like a magical girl? Or maybe we push it to the edge with something more… revealing?"

"I’m not doing anything lewd. Not wearing anything too revealing."

"Da-eun, you still have so much to learn. It’s not about showing skin; sometimes the suggestion alone is plenty… especially in your case."

"…?"

Sansae nodded in satisfaction as if she’d made a perfect point. Elderin seemed to agree, but I was left bewildered.

They seemed to share an understanding already. I had the strange feeling I was being conspired against, but I was the only one left in the dark.

Either way, a promise is a promise. Just because I dislike cosplay doesn’t mean I can back out. Streamers, after all, are professionals who get paid by their viewers. In other words, we’re pros.

So I have to keep my word.

"Actually, I do have something in mind."

"Really? Care to give us a sneak peek?"

"It’s a secret…"

It’s not time to reveal it yet.