"So... what happened to you guys?"

Mika entered with her luggage and softly asked Alicia, who was still fuming and clenching her fists.

"He’s just not manly when he should be, and manly when he shouldn’t be. He forgot the rule that brothers don’t betray each other!"

Alicia’s words were too profound for Mika to decipher. Still, she decided not to dwell on it.

But sharing a room with Alicia made Mika happy. At least she wouldn’t be lonely.

"Alicia, are you showering first?"

"You go ahead."

Alicia was in a foul mood. The word "shower" only annoyed her. She replied offhandedly.

Then came the rustling sound of clothes being removed. Alicia’s ears perked up instantly. A completely unguarded, busty girl was undressing right beside her!

Ah~ hehehe.

Alicia wore a sly grin. As a girl now, she could legally ogle undressing girls!

She turned her head. Sure enough, Mika had exposed her upper body without a care. Those two impressive curves were quite a sight.

Alicia was thrilled!

Alicia was excited!

Then Alicia deflated. No matter how fired up she got, that partner-in-crime of hers was gone. She couldn’t feel excited anymore. Suddenly, everything felt dull.

Mika noticed Alicia’s stare and felt shy. But Alicia had shifted from stunned to dejected too fast for Mika to grasp. She’d missed Alicia’s moment of excitement.

Mika followed Alicia’s gaze to her own chest and understood. Naked, she walked over and patted Alicia’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, Alicia. You’ll grow into a great figure someday."

*I don’t want to grow like that at all.*

But with Mika standing naked before her, Alicia struggled to hold back a nosebleed. "Got it. Go shower now. You’ll catch a cold like that. Hurry up."

"Okay."

Mika obediently headed to the bathroom. Alicia grabbed tissues to plug her nose. Her lower half wasn’t getting blood, but her upper half was. Seriously, her resistance used to be stronger.

Sigh~ What good was the blood rush anyway? The tool for the job had been taken away.

Sharing a room with Mika, Alicia finally learned how long women could take showers. Over an hour passed, and Mika still hadn’t emerged. Alicia even checked if she’d fainted, but got a cheerful "No!" in response.

By the time Mika stepped out wrapped in a towel, steam rising from her skin, Alicia was nearly asleep on the bed.

In the past, during rare downtime, Alicia and Larry would wear boxers and play Kunming cards on the bed, inventing weird rules and punishments. Or they’d grab midnight snacks, living for the moment. Or ditch Larry to visit the Red Chamber, hehehe… Heh, nonsense. All that was down for the count now.

Just as Alicia drifted in thought, Mika emerged, looking content. "Ah~, so refreshing."

Alicia couldn’t help asking, "Mika, do you always shower like this?"

"Not really," Mika shook her head. "I used to finish in ten minutes. But after rooming with Daisy, she scolded my rushed bathing. She taught me how to soak and keep my skin smooth. Hehe, Daisy’s methods work well, though they take time. Oops, sorry, did I keep you waiting?"

"I’m fine. Just surprised. How long does Daisy take?"

"About two hours."

Alicia: "...Her ability not to faint from soaking is an art."

Finally, it was Alicia’s turn. She started unbuttoning her clothes but paused, glancing at Mika brushing her hair. Undressing in front of a gorgeous girl felt weirder than in front of Larry.

Mika felt a strong gaze and turned. Alicia was frozen mid-undress, staring. "What’s wrong, Alicia? Need help?"

Alicia stammered, "Nothing. Just... first time undressing in front of you. Feels awkward."

Mika blinked, realizing Alicia was shy. "It’s fine. We’re both girls. First time’s awkward, but you’ll get used to it. Let me help."

Before Alicia could refuse, Mika pounced. A Yuan Technique specialist pinned by a close-combat expert was stripped naked before she could react.

Alicia covered herself with a blanket, trembling in the corner. Mika looked apologetic. "Sorry, I got carried away."

Alicia hadn’t expected such aggression. She’d thought she met a female pervert. But the apology calmed her. "It’s okay. First time, I overreacted. Mika, you keep brushing. I’ll shower now."

"Okay."

Mika didn’t push further. Alicia seized the chance to dash to the bathroom. Only in the hot bath did she calm down. That helplessness—being pinned and forcibly undressed—was a disaster. So this was girls’ room antics? Different from boys’.

Alicia didn’t soak long. Ten minutes later, she emerged wrapped tightly in a towel.

Stepping out, she met Mika’s intense gaze. Remembering Daisy’s bathing routine, a bad feeling crept in. To stop Mika from offering to bathe her, she quickly said, "I’m thirsty from soaking. I’ll drink water first."

Alicia gulped water, then soaked until she felt like a freshly cooked takoyaki. Shaking, she emerged half an hour later. Mika was polishing her blades.

"Alicia, you’re out too."

"Yeah, out." *I’d have fainted in the tub if I stayed longer!*

Yawning, Alicia flopped onto her bed. The long soak had nearly put her to sleep.

Just as she drifted off, annoying knocks came at the door.

"Who is it?" Alicia asked drowsily.

"It’s me, Larry. I got intel from the Adventurers’ Guild. Are you free? It might be serious."

Alicia’s eyebrows shot up. She exchanged a look with Mika. Mika started toward the door in her bathrobe, but Alicia stopped her.

*A brother who won’t share hardships doesn’t deserve the perks!*

"Coming. Wait a sec," Alicia called out.

They quickly dressed. Mika was right—one time awkward, next time easy. Changing in front of Mika felt less weird this time.

In Larry’s room, he’d set up the table with drinks and snacks.

After Alicia closed the door, Larry blurted, "Daisy’s in trouble."