Outside of the bath, Hasegawa who's wearing her coat says,
"I'll be going home first, I don't want to get chilly after a bath."
Her white breath fogs up her glassers a little.
"Are you not going to see Basara?"
"Aah, it's fine for today"
"See you at school," with those words, Hasegawa waved and then
took a glance at the public bath before walking away.
Her long black hair sways in the winter wind, and after seeing her off,
Mio and the other girls look at the bath.
"He's taking a while. I thought guys take a shorter time in the bath"
"Basara-san doesn't particularly take a long time in the bath at home
too"
Just as Mio said that, Maria tilted her head.
"He hasn't said anything since I threw the shampoo to him"
Yuki tugged on Mio's hand as Mio looked worried.
"Maybe he got dizzy inside"
"Let's go see"
"M-me too"
As Mio and Yuki walk back into the bath, Zest and Kurumi follow
after them.
Maria was the only one that didn't move.
"Maria?"
"If Basara-san comes out and you end up missing him, it'd be a
problem. I'll wait here"
"True. Okay, then please do that"
Maria nods, watching Mio and the others go into the bath.
As Mio's disappeared, Maria stands alone.
She buries her face in her scarf, and when she breathes, it's dyed
white.
While alone, Maria started suddenly thinking.
"When you think about it... It's been almost half a year since we met
Basara-san"
Maria closes her eyes in order to remember.
The day she first met Basara with Mio.
Since he was expelled, and after learning the truth about each other.
The fight with Yuki and Kurumi, as well as the fight with Zolgia.
Even the decisive battle to decide the fate of the demon realm.
A lot of things have happened since then.
There are a lot of painful memories, but they learned a lot from that.
They met lots of people. And now, she's with those people.
Maria's chest feels warm.
"Maria," said a familiar voice.
When she opened her eyes, Basara was there with the other girls.
This is the family she's gained since meeting Basara half a year ago.
Maria proceeded to make one of her normal faces.
"Seriously. Basara-san, you took too long. What did you do? Haah?!
Could it be, that!? Even though it's a men's bath!? No, but... as a
succubus that's"
"What are you thinking about?"
His footsteps seemed a little unsteady.
"The way you're walking! So it's certain!?"
"What's certain!? No. It's just... well. I didn't think the Bishamon
Fight was.... It's a movie six videos long... I didn't think of that..."
"Basara was invited to join a gang"
Mio smiled wryly.
"He took a really long bath"
Yuki said as she supported Basara.
"Since there's a bad air about them"
"The people who invited Basara-san must be sharp"
Kurumi and Zest both agreed.
"Hey"—Basara said, a bit exasperated, slumping his shoulders. He
then hit Maria on the head playfully.
"Sorry for making you wait. Let's go"
For a second, Maria was speechless, then she narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, let's go home"
Her voice was jovial.
Maria walked ahead of Basara.
With Basara and Mio, Kurumi and Yuki, and now the recent addition
of Zest, Maria finds the current state of things to be fun and it makes her
happy.
However, at the same time, she was aware that there are many threats
to their current happiness, and there's something ephemeral about these
days now.
That's why she's determined.
Since the day that Basara saved them. She decided that she would
protect their daily life, protect what's important to her, even if she faces
life threatening battles.
Apart from that, she also has determination to do lewd things
everyday.
"Basara-san! I'm going to think of lewd things to do tomorrow too"
"That's the same as usual!"
Maria's smile was childish, happy and somehow lewd, entirely fitting
for a loli ero succubus.