Bath together?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Even if he could act without being found out, he had no intention of risking being hunted to the ends of the earth by Kamui just to accept such a ridiculous proposal…
For what reason, anyway?
For her beauty? Kamui’s data had already been copied by himself, so was there any need to see the original in person?
Besides, Squire wasn’t a lolicon either. She had absolutely zero interest in that kind of childish physique, and with that problematic personality… If things fell apart afterward, he’d be in real trouble…
So, bathing together is absolutely impossible!
However, Kamui interpreted Squire’s resistance in a completely different way.
“Feels like little Lucia hates me now, huh?”
Steam filled the bathroom as hot water poured from the shower, washing over Kamui’s flat body from head to toe, carrying away the lingering smell of alcohol.
Hot water raises body temperature, speeds up blood circulation, and helps the remaining alcohol metabolize faster, thus easing all sorts of hangover symptoms.
As for why she was hated by “little Lucia”…
“Sigh, am I being seen as an unreliable adult?”
An adult passed out drunk by the roadside in the middle of the night was certainly hard to respect. She’d left a bad impression from the very beginning…
But she didn’t know that this impression had already been formed before their encounter last night.
Still… Kamui hadn’t given up on the idea of repaying her debt.
Lucia’s drawing skills might not be the very best, but for her age, she was already quite outstanding. The reason she got rejected by the Comic Magazine Editorial Department wasn’t because her drawing wasn’t good enough, but because her character creation was too weak…
With just a little guidance, at least passing the review shouldn’t be a problem.
And as for herself… maybe she really did have the ability to help her out.
The Budget Apartment was only a few dozen square meters, and the bathroom was so cramped it felt suffocating. The soundproofing was terrible too, so even outside, Squire could hear the constant patter of running water from within.
This should have been an ambiguous scene, but she didn’t feel even a hint of interest in Kamui in that way. That girl’s figure wasn’t her type at all, and considering that tricky personality…
Squire couldn’t even really see her as a woman.
As for “women” and “Heroes,” Squire once held beautiful and pure illusions, but the real women and Heroes she’d met were always tinged with imperfect regrets.
Though Squire collected many Handmade Figures, those toys were all based on fictional works. As for real-life Heroes, she’d already lost her trust and admiration for them.
Especially those high-ranking Heroes who often appeared in the media—they all had a Team behind them to package their image, using their popularity to rake in cash. The justice and glory they displayed were just like the dazzling yet fake smiles of idols on stage.
Those kinds of Heroes weren’t real Heroes at all.
If she had the strength, Squire would’ve loved to give those so-called “Heroes”—who sullied the name and image of Heroes—a proper beating, to restore the name of Hero and the spirit of justice!
Of course, that was only a fantasy in her head.
Even if she really did gain great power, Squire wouldn’t have the guts to do such a thing.
She wasn’t qualified to be a Hero, and real Heroes didn’t match her ideals…
So, she wanted to create her own Hero Manga.
Unfortunately, her work as a Villain had left her with too many negative impressions of Heroes, and she couldn’t help but blend her work experiences into her manga—so the Heroes she depicted were just as one might expect.
Ironically, that was the truest portrayal of a Hero, yet she was always rejected by the editors for making her protagonist too much like a Villain…
What a joke! Who could possibly understand the true face of a Hero better than a Villain!?
“Lucia!”
Squire was sitting at the desk, organizing the Character Setting and Script for [Magic Girl Clara], when Kamui’s voice came from the bathroom:
“How come you don’t have any Shampoo at home?”
Huh? Shampoo?
Squire froze for a moment and instinctively touched the top of her head—she had hair now.
But originally, as a squid Villain, she didn’t have hair, so naturally she hadn’t needed Shampoo. Even though it was a daily necessity, this stuff had disappeared from her life for years.
She barely used Body Wash either, worried that the alkaline ingredients would damage her skin’s protective membrane and cause dryness. She basically just rinsed her body with hot water.
“…I, I just ran out!”
That was all she could say for now.
“You need to keep an eye on things like that!”
“Oh, I’ll go buy some later.” Squire replied offhandedly.
But Kamui’s words did remind her—now that she looked like this, who knew when she’d be able to change back? Maybe it was time to go shopping.
Shampoo was a given, but she also needed to buy a couple of sets of women’s clothes and shoes—her old slippers didn’t even fit anymore.
Sure, the Nyx Driver could create clothes, but she couldn’t pick out what to wear, or even decide what she wanted to wear. Squire would rather spend the money herself…
Later, she’d take a walk around the Store Street near the Subway Station.
Kamui stepped out of the bathroom looking completely refreshed. Even though she hadn’t washed her hair, she seemed much more energetic. The hangover might not fade so easily, but at least now she looked more like a Magic Girl should…
At last, Squire felt like a Magic Girl had appeared in her home, rather than “a smelly, drunken woman she picked up off the street.”
However, her hair was still wet.
“You don’t have a Hair Dryer either?”
No Shampoo, so of course no need for a Hair Dryer.
But a Hair Dryer isn’t a consumable—surely it wasn’t just broken? Squire couldn’t think of a reasonable explanation.
“I-I never use those… It’s bad for your hair…”
“Huh? What kind of old-fashioned idea is that? The latest Hair Dryers don’t damage hair at all, and besides, having wet hair isn’t good for your health…”
Seeing Kamui about to start lecturing, Squire hurriedly cut her off:
“I have my own reasons, okay? Just don’t ask too much.”
That attitude made Kamui suspicious that she was hiding something…
“Well, if you run into any trouble, you have to tell me, okay?”
She really had run into trouble.
Kamui was one of Squire’s troubles.
“Got it! Now hurry up and go! Aren’t you afraid you’ll be late?”
“…Fine, I’ll head to work then.”
Kamui seemed to want to ask more and get to know Squire better. She stood at the entrance, hesitating, wanting to say something encouraging or comforting, but worried she might hurt the girl’s pride.
In the end, she could only sigh helplessly and leave the cramped, shabby Budget Apartment.
“Whew, finally sent her off.”
Only then did Squire stand up and look at the futon that still reeked of alcohol.
“Heave-ho—”
She hauled the heavy Quilt onto the drying rack and set it out on the balcony. Because of her height and strength, it was a bit of a struggle, but thanks to the Touch Tentacle’s help, she managed not to drop the rack.
Life sure is tough for a shorty. When will things ever get better?
Squire sighed, then glanced at the Alarm Clock on the wall.
Eight thirty.
She went back inside to brush her teeth and wash her face, tidied her hair and clothes in front of the mirror, then grabbed her phone and wallet from the table.
“Phew… Time for me to head out too!”
But just then, her phone on the table rang again.
The caller was…
Lucia Rou.