シェリルがエリオとアリシアを部屋から追い出す。表面上はエリオ達に仕事に戻るように言っただけだ。しかしエリオ達はシェリルから、すぐに出て行け、入ってくるな、と言わんばかりの威圧感を覚えて、少し慌てて部屋から出て行った。
シェリルが立ち上がる。アキラはまた抱きついてくるのかと思ったが、シェリルはそのままアキラの向かいに座り直した。そして真剣な表情でアキラに尋ねる。
「アキラは私にしてもらいたいこととか、何かありませんか?」
「唐突だな」
「いつもお世話になっておりますし、こんな良い物を頂いたので何か返せることはないかと思いまして。私に対してでも、私達に対してでも構いません」
シェリルの表情からは、価値のある物を
アキラは少し考えたが、特に何も思いつかなかった。
「今のところは特にないな。何か他に頼み事ができたらその時に頼むよ」
普段のシェリルならばアキラにそう言われればそれで引き下がる。しかし今回は違った。シェリルが真剣な表情で食い下がる。それはもう懇願や哀願に近い態度だ。
「本当に何もないんですか? 何でも良いんです。簡単なことでも、無理難題でも、取りあえず言ってみてもらえませんか?」
シェリルは諦めてアキラに直接聞くことにした。アキラからの要求ならば、シェリルが勝手に考えて実行するよりも、アキラの不興を買う可能性は低いだろう。高い見返りになる可能性も高くなる。
アキラに見捨てられたくないシェリルは、それが実行可能なことならば、それが相当困難なことであっても実行するつもりだ。仮にアキラが、全裸で
シェリルの気迫はアキラにしっかり伝わっている。しかしその理由まではアキラにも分からない。急に何か頼めと言われても、アキラにはすぐに答えられなかった。
「そう言われてもな......」
何でも良いからシェリルに頼まないと簡単に引きそうにない。それはアキラにも分かった。
シェリルはアキラの返事を聞いてきょとんとする。そして不思議そうにアキラに聞き返す。
「......そんなことで良いのですか?」
アキラは逆に少し意外そうに話す。
「俺としては無理難題を押しつけたつもりなんだが、それがシェリルにとってそんなことなら頼むよ。内容の規模と質はシェリルの判断に任せるけど、現実的な範囲で上を目指すってことで頼む」
シェリルが真剣な表情で答える。
「ああそれと、俺に言われたからやっているとか、そんなことは口外しないでくれ。何でそんなことをするんだって聞かれたら、適当に
「分かりました。絶対に話しません」
シェリルにはアキラがそのようなことを頼む理由は全く分からない。アキラが好き好んで善行を勧めるお人
しかしシェリルにとって重要な点はそこではない。重要なのはアキラがシェリルに無理難題だと考えていることを頼んだということだ。つまりシェリルがそれを実行すれば、アキラに対する十分な見返りになるのだ。
シェリルは万難を排し、確固たる決意を持ってアキラからの頼みを実施することを決めた。
アルファが思案する。アルファにはアキラがそのようなことをシェリルに頼む理由が分からない。アルファはアキラを常に観察し、評価し、基本的な行動原理などを把握し、アキラの行動を管理しようとしている。
今のアキラの行動は、アルファのアキラに対する人物評価とかなりずれている。アキラのことをより深く理解するために、アルファにはアキラの行動の理由を把握する必要があった。
な疑問を尋ねるような態度で、アルファがアキラに不思議そうな表情で尋ねる。
『ねえアキラ。何でそんなことを頼んだの?』
『何て言えばいいんだろうな。えっと、スラム街の子供に食事と知識を与えるのは善行だろう?』
『まあ、一般的にはそうでしょうね』
『俺がそれをシェリルに頼めば、間接的であっても善行をすることになって、俺の不運も多少は改善されるかもしれないって思ったんだ』
つまりアキラは善行を下請けに出したようなものなのだ。悪行を唆すのは悪行だろう。ならば善行を唆すのは善行だろう。つまりアキラは、シェリルに善行を唆すことでそれで自分の不運が少しでも良いから改善されないものかと考えたのだ。
求めるものが幸運という迷信やオカルトめいたものであることを除けば、アキラは実に利己的に動いていた。
『アキラの名前を出さないように頼んだのは?』
『俺の名前を出すと、後で面倒くさいことになりそうだからだ』
アキラが自分の名前を伏せるようにシェリルに頼んだのも、後の厄介ごとに巻き込まれるのを避けるためだ。無償で誰かを助け、助けた相手に名を告げずに去っていく。そのようなよくある美談を、名前を教えないのは他の多数の人間から無償で助けを求められるのを防ぐ
アキラは不用意な善行から生じる全ての厄介ごとをシェリルに押しつけて、あるかどうかも分からない利益を得ようとしている。シェリルに無理難題だと説明した理由も似たようなものだ。
アルファは急にアキラが心変わりして善行に目覚めた訳ではないことを知って安心した。アキラの行動がアルファの人物評価から外れたものではなかったからだ。アキラが多少利己的である方が、アルファもアキラの行動を制御しやすいのだ。だからアキラに急に善人になってもらっても困るのだ。
『なるほどね。納得したわ。効果の程は疑問だけれどね』
『別に効果の程は大して期待してないよ。ちょっとした思いつきだし、効果がなかったとしても、俺に実害はないしな』
『それもそうね。まあ、仮にアキラが急に善行に目覚めたとしても、自分の命と引き替えに誰かを
アキラは地下街でレイナを人質に取られても武器を捨てなかった。アキラは自身の非情さを認識している。
しかしアルファは知っている。アキラがシェリルの拠点で、シズカを害する示唆の発言をした男を
仮に人質に取られたのがシズカ、エレナ、サラのいずれかだった場合、アキラは人質を見捨てたかどうか。アルファには判断がつかなかった。
シェリルの私室に戻ったアキラは、またシェリルに抱きつかれていた。アキラは用事が済んだので帰ろうとしたのだが、シェリルの勢いに押されてそのまま部屋に連れ込まれたのだ。
さを取り戻したシェリルの頭の中では、2つの異なる思考が争い続けていた。
1つはアキラに対し更なる一手を画策してより深い関係になるべきだという案だ。今のアキラが比較的流されやすい状態にあることはシェリルも把握している。雰囲気に流されていけるところまで行き、そう簡単には切り捨てられない程度までアキラとの関係を深めておきたい気持ちがシェリルにはあった。
いて深い関係をアキラに迫り、万一アキラから不興を買っては意味がない。アキラがシェリルに抱き付かれることすら嫌がるようになれば、シェリルの精神安定に多大な悪影響が生じることになる。それはシェリルも嫌だった。
アキラはシェリルがいろいろ考えていることに何となく気付いていたが、考え事の内容までは分からないし、気にもしていない。徒党のボスであるシェリルにはいろいろ思案することが山ほどあるのだろう。そうと考えてシェリルの考え事に
シェリルはしっかりアキラに抱き付いたままアリシアに尋ねる。
「また何かあったの?」
「そうではなくて、もうシェリルの入浴時間だけど入らなくて良いの? 入らないなら他の人を入れてしまうけど」
アリシアはシェリルに彼女の入浴時間を告げに来たのだ。
シェリル達の拠点には浴室がある。それを皆で交代で使用しているのだが、徒党の人数に対して浴室の数や大きさは全く足りていない。拠点に一つしかない浴室は掃除や湯の交換時以外は常に誰かが使用している状態だ。徒党の人数が増えつつある状況では複数名で湯船に
その入浴時間になってもシェリルが風呂に入っていないため、アリシアがシェリルの様子を確認しに来たのだ。シェリルが何らかの理由で風呂に入らないなら、アリシアはエリオと一緒に入った後で他の人に使わせるつもりだった。
シェリルはいつの間にか過ぎ去っていた時間に少し驚きつつ返事をする。
シェリルはアキラから離れて自室に置いてあるシャンプー等の用意を始める。浴室に置いておくと一瞬でなくなってしまうためシェリルの自室に置いてあるのだ。
アキラが
「風呂か......。俺も帰って風呂に入るか」
アキラは1週間ほど風呂に入っていないことになる。治療の過程で体を拭かれたりはしていただろうが、風呂に入っていないことに違いはない。アキラが帰るために床に置いてあるリュックサックに手をかけた時、アルファがアキラに伝える。
『アキラ。どこに帰るつもり?』
『どこって、泊まっている宿だよ』
『アキラの入院中に先払いの宿泊費の分の日数は過ぎたわ。帰るどころか泊まるところから探さないと、アキラの泊まる場所はないわよ?』
アキラの動きが止まる。アルファの言うとおり、既にアキラが泊まっていた宿の宿泊期限は過ぎているのだ。アキラが宿に置いていた私物も、予備の弾薬等も含めて全て宿屋の物となっている。
『......今から宿探しか。まあ探せばあるだろうけどさ』
既に日は落ちている。宿屋のそこそこ良い部屋は全て埋まっている可能性もある。シャワー程度しか設置されていない安値の部屋や、一泊十数万オーラムの高値の部屋は空いているだろうが、アキラはそこに泊まる気にはなれなかった。しっかり風呂に入りたかったが、高額な宿泊費が掛かる部屋に泊まれるほど金が余っている訳でもないのだ。
アキラはまだそこそこ良い部屋が空いている宿を探して都市の下位区画を
シェリルがそのアキラの様子に気付いて尋ねる。
「アキラ。どうかしましたか?」
「いや、今から泊まる宿を探さないといけないことに気付いただけだ」
しければ泊まっていきますか? 宿のような設備はありませんが、ベッドぐらいはあります」
「良いのか? でもゆっくり風呂に入りたいしな......」
さで、アキラが何を迷っているのか大体想像がついた。シェリルは駄目で元々と考えて、アキラに提案してみることにする。
「今から私と一緒に入るなら、他の人が入る時間までゆっくり入れますよ? 浴槽は結構広いですから、十分手足を伸ばして入れます。荷物もアキラの物を盗む馬鹿はいないと思います。不安なら浴室の近くに置いておけば大丈夫だと思いますよ。すりガラス越しに見えますから」
アキラが悩み続ける。悩む理由の大半は、身の安全と所持品の安全に対する懸念だ。ここはスラム街の路上ではなくシェリルの拠点の内部だ。その場所がどの程度安全なのかアキラには分からない。悩む程度には安全だと考えている。同時に、悩む程度にはその安全を疑っている。だからアキラは決められないでいた。
シェリルの言葉は彼女の意図通りアキラの懸念を軽減させたが、決定させるほどの効果はなかった。
アキラを放っておくといつまでも悩みそうだ。そう判断したアルファが判断材料を付け足す。
『索敵なら私がいつものように実施しておくわ。アキラの荷物が盗まれてもすぐに分かるわ』
『そうか? それなら、大丈夫、か?』
「入浴時間、どんどんなくなっていますけど、どうします?」
シェリルはアキラの表情を見て、返事を聞く前に答えを把握した。
アキラの装備品等は脱衣所に置いてある。興味本位でアキラの所持品に手を出す人間が出ないように、脱衣所の外ではエリオとアリシアが見張りをしている。
見張り自体はシェリルや徒党の少女達が入浴している時にも実施されている。既に過去にシェリルの入浴を
あそこまでしっかり洗わなければいけないものなのだろうか。素朴な疑問が入浴の快楽に侵食されつつあるアキラに一瞬浮かんですぐに消える。それは今のアキラにとって重要なことではないからだ。
シェリルは念入りに体と髪を洗っている。他者との交渉ごとなどを優位に進める時に、自身の容姿が非常に役に立つことを理解しているシェリルは、念入りに自身の身体を磨き上げていた。
だ。スラム街に住む少年が徒党に所属する恩恵の意味を理解した上で、その恩恵を賭け金にして一目見ようと賭に出てしまうほどに魅力的だ。
なお、彼はその賭けに負けたため、シェリルの裸体を見ることもできずに着の身着の
体を洗い終えたシェリルが浴槽に向かう。視界内にいた人物が大きく動いたので、アキラの視線がシェリルに向けられる。アキラからの視線を感じたシェリルの頬が、湯に浸る前に朱に染まる。
シェリルも同意の上とはいえ同世代の異性に裸を見られるのは恥ずかしい。それでもシェリルは一糸
「......その、どうだったでしょうか?」
尋ねられたアキラが、浴槽を見渡してから答える。
「......広い」
アキラの意識は湯に溶け始めている。アキラはぼんやりとした頭で語句の欠けたシェリルの質問内容を自己の解釈で補足し、その質問内容に対する返答をぼんやりと考えてシェリルに返した。
それなりに自信の有った自分の体が浴槽の添え物と化していることを知り、シェリルは少し落ち込んだ。シェリルの体がより深く湯に沈む。水面下のシェリルの唇からぶくぶくと気泡が出ている。アキラへの愚痴でも言っているのかもしれない。
シェリルが少し不満げな目でアキラを見る。それでアキラも自分がまた返事を間違えたことに気付いたが、魂を湯に引かれつつあるアキラには、正しい質問内容とその返事までは思い至らなかった。
アキラが宿で風呂に入っている時は、大抵アルファも一緒だ。視覚情報だけとはいえ、アキラは誰かと一緒に風呂に入ることに慣れていた。シェリルと一緒に入浴していることを大して気にしていないのもそのためだ。
アキラは非常に魅力的な全裸の異性と湯船を共にすることに、ある意味で慣れていた。その慣れはその状況下でのアキラの性欲を著しく低下させていた。これはアルファがアキラに施したハニートラップ対策の成果かもしれない。湯船に
アキラに近づいて手を伸ばそうと僅かに動いた時、シェリルはアキラが自分を見ていることに気が付いた。
アキラがシェリルをじっと見ている。シェリルの挙動を観察している。対象が敵かどうかを、静かな目で確認している。
アキラは自身の変化に気付いていない。そのためアキラから見たシェリルの様子は、動こうとしたシェリルが急に動きを止めただけにすぎなかった。
「どうかしたのか?」
Sheryl shooed Erio and Alicia out of the room. Although from the outside, it looked like Sheryl was only telling them to get back to their work, Erio and Alicia felt like Sheryl was actually telling them to get out from that room and not disturb her and Akira. So they fl.u.s.teredly exited the room.
Sheryl stood up. Akira thought that she would cling onto him again, but instead, she sat across him. She then made a serious face as she said to him.
"Akira, do you have anything you want me to do for you?"
"That's out of the blue."
"You always help us, so I was wondering if I can do anything to pay you back after receiving so much. You can ask anything of me or even from all of us."
Judging from her expression, it did not seem like Sheryl was happy after receiving such an expensive item. But instead, it seemed like it made her rather desperate.
Akira took some time thinking of what to say, but nothing came up in his mind.
"Nothing comes up in my mind at the moment. I'll come again and ask you when I have anything I want from you."
Normally, Sheryl would have stopped here after Akira said that, but not this time. She kept her serious expression as she stared at him. From Akira's point of view, it was as if Sheryl was begging or pleading to him.
"Is there really nothing? You can ask anything. It doesn't matter if it's an easy thing or a difficult thing, will you please ask something, anything?"
Because of that, Sheryl decided to directly ask Akira. If it was out of Akira's request rather than her own idea, there would be less chance that it might annoy him, while at the same time, it would also have a better chance to make him happy.
Sheryl, who did not want Akira to abandon her, would do anything that she could for Akira even if he asked her for something difficult. If he told her to get n.a.k.e.d, get on her knees, and lick his feet, she might as well do that without a shred of hesitation.
Sheryl's seriousness was conveyed to Akira. But he did not know what suddenly got into her. Even if she asked him to request something, he could not come up with anything at all.
"Well, even if you ask me so, I really have nothing to ask from you right now..."
Akira understood Sheryl would not back down unless he asked her for something.
Sheryl was dumbfounded when she heard what Akira said. She looked puzzled as she asked him.
"...Is that really enough?"
But Akira sounded a bit surprised as he replied.
"To be honest, I thought I asked something that was really hard, you know. If it's really an easy thing for you, then can you just do that for me? I'll leave the details to you, but make sure that it's a realistic plan."
Sheryl swiftly replied with a serious expression.
"Aahh, and also, don't tell anyone that I'm the one asking you to do that. If someone asks you why, just come up with a random excuse."
"Alright, I'll never tell anyone."
Sheryl had no idea why Akira would ask her to do that. She knew very well that Akira was not someone who was kind enough to ask others to do a good deed. What he asked of her was not something that could bring direct profit for him. And even if Akira did that to get his name out as a good Samaritan, then he would definitely not ask her to hide his name.
But for Sheryl, that was not where the important point laid. The important point was that Akira asked her to do that while thinking that it was a difficult request for her. Thus if she could do it, Akira would at least think she was useful to him.
Sheryl made her resolve that she would make use of anything and everything in order to accomplish Akira's request.
Alpha did not understand why Akira would even come up with such an idea. She was always quietly but closely observing Akira, assessing his way of thinking, trying to understand the principles behind his actions, and continuously trying to control him.
But Akira's action just now was unexpected even to Alpha. In order to understand him deeper, Alpha thought that there was a need to understand the reason behind this action.
Alpha then asked Akira in a very calm manner, such that it prevented him from reading what Alpha was actually thinking, thus hiding her surprise.
"Akira, why did you ask Sheryl to do that?"
"How should I put this, uhh, providing education and food for the slum children is a good deed, right?"
"Well, it sure is."
"If I ask Sheryl to do that, then it would be my good deed although an indirect one, right? I just thought that it might help me fight my bad luck."
So basically, it was like a subcontract for Akira's good deed. If bad deeds beget bad things, then good deeds should beget good things. In short, by pushing Sheryl to do a good deed, Akira thought that it might help lift some of his bad luck.
In the end, leaving the fact that Akira was seeking a superstitious and occult thing like good luck, the only reason why he asked Sheryl to do that was for his own selfish intention.
"And why did you ask her not to say that it's your idea?"
"If others come to know that it was my idea, I somehow feel that it would only bring me trouble."
The reason why Akira asked Sheryl to keep it a secret was to avoid getting roped into any trouble afterwards. It was not a rare story when somebody came to help someone in need and quickly disappeared without asking for any reward or leaving behind any name. Akira was twisted enough to interpret such a heroic story as though that person did not want others to know his or her name because people would swarm into that person for free help. So, it would be a huge pain in the ass if other people knew his identity.
Akira was pushing any possible troubles that might come from such a good deed to Sheryl while trying to reap some profit from it. That was also the reason why he said that he thought it was a difficult request for Sheryl.
Alpha was relieved since it was not like Akira suddenly had a change of heart and became a good person, after all, it meant that she did not misevaluate him. The more selfish Akira was, the easier it was for her to control him, thus it would be troublesome for her if he suddenly became a selfless person.
"I see, I understand now. Although, I don't think it'll give the result that you're hoping."
"Well, to be honest, I'm not placing much hope for its result anyway. I just randomly came up with that idea. And even if it has no effect at all, it's not like it'll cause me any harm."
"That's true. Well, even if it causes you some harm later, I don't mind as long as you don't try to put your life at risk just to cover for someone else. Remember that I only have you, so I don't want you to put yourself in unnecessary danger, okay?"
When he was in the underground, Akira did not drop his weapon even when Yajima took Reina hostage. Akira himself knew that he was a cold-hearted person.
But on the other hand, Alpha still remembered when Akira did not hesitate to shoot and kill the person who threatened to harm Shizuka inside Sheryl's base. Akira also took an SOS request, which he had rejected, when he knew Sara and Elena participated in intercepting the monster swarm even when it meant that he had to go alone.
Alpha could not make any predictions about what Akira would do if one day Shizuka or Elena or Sara were taken hostage.
After both of them returned back to Sheryl's room, Sheryl returned to clinging on Akira again. Although he was planning to leave the base right after, he was overwhelmed by Sheryl as he was pulled by her to her room.
Now that Sheryl had recovered her calm, there were 2 things racing through her mind.
First of all, she was thinking about what she could do to get in a deeper relationship with Akira. Sheryl understood that Akira right now was in a situation where he was susceptible to get swept by the flow. At the moment, he would get swept by the mood no matter how far it would go. Thus, Sheryl was thinking about how to use this chance to get as close as possible to him so that he would not easily abandon her.
It would be pointless if she rushed herself in trying to get close to Akira to only annoy him instead. If Akira looked annoyed when she was clinging to him, it would damage her psychical state too, and that was something that she would not want to happen.
Akira noticed that Sheryl had a lot of things inside her mind. But he did not know what she was thinking nor had any interest in knowing about it at all. He only thought that Sheryl must have a lot of things to worry about as the boss of the gang and stopped thinking any further.
Sheryl was still clinging on Akira as she asked Alicia.
"Do you need anything?"
"Ah, it's nothing, it's already your bath time. So I was wondering if you're going to take a bath today. If you're not then someone else might use the bath instead."
Alicia was there to remind Sheryl that it was her bath time.
There was a bathroom inside the gang's base. Everyone in the gang was using the bath in turns since it was not big enough for all. Due to the same reason, the bathroom was always occupied except for when it was cleaned, or when the next person took his or her turn. And with more and more children joining the gang, it was incredibly difficult for everyone to get their turn for taking a bath every day.
Since Sheryl was not using the bath even though it was already her bath time, Alicia came to check her. If she was not going to use the bath, Alicia was planning to use the bath with Erio before letting other children use it.
Sheryl was a bit surprised when she realized how long she had been talking with Akira.
Sheryl stepped down from Akira and grabbed her toiletries, she kept her toiletries in her room since it would be gone in no time if she left them in the bathroom.
Akira then mumbled.
"Bath, huh... I guess I'll go back home and take a bath too."
It had been a week since the last time Akira took a bath. Although he felt all refreshed after all the treatments that he received, it did not change the fact that it had been so long since the last time he took a bath. As Akira was thinking of going back home soon, he extended his arm to reach for his rucksack, but Alpha suddenly asked him.
"Akira, where are you planning to go?"
"My inn, of course."
"You no longer have the room in the inn that you were renting before you were hospitalized. You need to look for a place to sleep first before you can take a rest, you know?"
Akira stopped, Alpha was right. It was already past the stay duration in that inn. Everything that he left behind inside his room, including all his medicines and ammo, would have been confiscated by the inn.
"...So I should look for a place to stay now, huh? Well, I'm sure I can find one though."
The day had already gone dark, there was a good chance that all the good rooms were already taken. The only rooms that he could still find would be either cheap rooms with only showers or super luxury rooms, but Akira had no plans to stay in such a room. Although he wanted to take a bath, it was not like he had enough surplus money to waste on a luxury room.
When Akira imagined himself walking around in the lower district in the middle of the night looking for a good place to rest, it made him lose all motivation to leave. Since he was already thinking of going back home to take a good rest, it made him way less motivated when he thought that he had to carry his heavy rucksack while walking through the lower district.
Sheryl noticed that slight change in Akira and asked him.
"Akira, what's wrong?"
"Well, I just realized that it's already late but I still have to look for a place to stay."
"If it's alright with you, you can stay for a night in my room. Although it doesn't have furniture like in an inn, at least, it has a bed to sleep."
"Are you sure? But I want to take a good long bath too..."
Sheryl, who had recovered her calm, could understand what was going through Akira's mind. Thus, she gave him a suggestion, although she knew that he would refuse it anyway.
"Want to go with me? We can take our time enjoying the bath before others come to use it. We have a big bath, you can even extend your hands and legs in it. And I'm sure there's no one stupid enough in this gang to steal your belongings. If it still worries you, you can place your belongings near the bath and you can watch over them through the transparent glass."
Akira hesitated. The biggest reason why he hesitated was because he was worried about his belongings. He was inside Sheryl's base and not in the slum city alley, so he did not know just how safe this place was. His hesitation showed that to a certain extent. He thought this place was safe, but at the same time, he also thought that it was not. He was in a dilemma.
Sheryl's words did reduce his worry, but it was not enough to make him decide on what to do.
Since it seemed that Akira would not be able to decide anytime soon, Alpha also gave him an extra push to make his decision.
"If you're worried about getting attacked, rest easy. I'll be watching your surroundings just like always. You'll be able to know immediately if someone steals your belongings."
"Is that so? Then it should be okay, right?"
"Our bath time is getting shorter right now... so...?"
Sheryl looked at Akira's expression and knew his answer before he could even say anything.
He left all of his belongings in the changing room. And in order to make sure that no one would try to snatch them, Erio and Alicia were keeping watch outside the changing room.
A guard was always present there when Sheryl or other girls were taking a bath. There were already cases where some children tried to peek, and of course, those children were already kicked out from Sheryl's gang.
Akira wondered for an instant if there was really a need to wash that rigorously, but his question was quickly swallowed by the pleasure from the bath and vanished. After all, for him, it was not an important question.
Sheryl took very good care in washing her body and her hair. She understood very well that her appearance was an indispensable asset in order to get the upper hand during a negotiation. As such, she put a lot of effort into polishing her body.
The hot water raised the beauty and charm of Sheryl's l.u.s.trous skin. It was beautiful enough to make the young boys of the slum city bet all the great benefits that they got from joining Sheryl's gang just to get a peek of her beauty.
Now then, since they lost their bet when they were caught peeking, not only were they unable to see Sheryl's beautiful n.a.k.e.d body, they were also kicked out from the gang with nothing but the clothes that they were wearing. If they were still alive, they would be deeply regretting their decision, but also thinking that they should have at least sneaked a peek before getting kicked out from the gang.
After she finished washing her body, Sheryl went towards the bath. Akira quickly turned his gaze to her out of reflex since something within his views suddenly moved. Sheryl, who felt his gaze, blushed as she walked to the bath.
Despite the fact that Sheryl had given her consent for Akira to take a bath together with her, she still felt embarrassed having someone of the same age and opposite gender looking at her n.a.k.e.d body. But even so, she did not show any hesitation nor did she try to hide her body with her hands as she walked to the bath. Although she was embarrassed, she still dipped herself into the bath as if she was showing off her beautiful and near-perfect body to Akira.
"...Uhm... What do you think?"
Akira looked around before replying.
"...It's huge."
Some of Akira's consciousness had already melted into the warm water. Thus when Sheryl asked him that question, he could only use his half-working brain to interpret it and answer back while still in his dazed state.
She was a bit depressed when she realized that her body, which she was so confident of, was turned into mere decoration inside the bathroom. She sunk deeper into the bath, some bubbles came out from her mouth which was under the water, which seemed like she was badmouthing Akira.
Sheryl was pouting while staring at Akira. From her gaze, Akira realized that he might have said something bad. But with half of his consciousness taken away by the warm water, he could not correctly interpret her question nor come up with the correct reaction.
Whenever Akira took a bath in his inn, Alpha was always together with him. Although it was only an image, he was already used to taking a bath together with someone else. That was one of the reasons why he was barely bothered at all by Sheryl, who was taking a bath together with him right now.
Akira was, to a certain extent, already used to taking a bath together with an extremely beautiful and charming girl. Because of that, his s.e.x.u.a.l drive was extremely low. This might be the result of Alpha's anti-honeytrap training. Or maybe it was simply because, for Akira, nothing could beat the pleasure of the warm bath.
When Sheryl extended her hand and tried to reach Akira, she noticed that he was staring at her.
Akira locked his cold gaze at Sheryl. He was carefully observing her moves and judging whether the person in front of him posed a danger to him or not.
Akira himself did not realize his change. So from his perspective, it only looked like Sheryl was about to move and then suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
Rebuild World (WN)
リビルドワールド
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rebuild-world/
Action Adventure Drama Harem Mecha Mystery Sci-fi Seinen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alternate World Anti-social Protagonist Apocalypse Artificial Intelligence Beautiful Female Lead Cautious Protagonist Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Determined Protagonist Distrustful Protagonist Futuristic Setting Gangs Gunfighters Harsh Training Lack of Common Sense Male Protagonist Manipulative Characters Monsters Near-Death Experience Older Love Interests Poor Protagonist Poor to Rich Ruthless Protagonist Shota Sudden Strength Gain Survival Twisted Personality Unlucky Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9736dt/
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