The Witch Trial Begins with the OO Buckethead Zombie

Utsunomiya Hoshino suddenly discovered something.

Yuki Tsukishiro seems to surprisingly enjoy holding hands. It was the first time she pulled her outside, and it was the same after she said "Nice to meet you" on the rooftop. Once she's held hands with someone, she won't easily let go.

Perhaps that's why she chose to hold my hand when I reached out that day?

Because Yuki Tsukishiro likes to shake hands.

"Why?" the girl asked, puzzled, but deliberately squeezed the hand she was holding tightly again. "Is it wrong for friends to shake hands?"

The air seemed to have quietly shifted back to the ambiguous state it had been in moments before.

“No…” Hoshino Utsunomiya was a little unsure how to refute.

The temperature of the palm gradually became even as it pressed against the skin, and the warmth emanating from it was concentrated in the small palm.

Slightly, very slightly, Hoshino Utsunomiya felt a slightly sticky sensation.

"...I'll sweat." He suddenly thought of an excuse.

The four-and-a-half-tatami mat single room had no room for windows, and the stuffy air could only be exchanged through the crack in the entrance door.

It might be okay when you're alone, but when you're with someone, you can clearly feel that stifling, oppressive heat.

It's reasonable for Yuki Tsukishiro to take off her hat and long skirt; otherwise, she would have been covered in sweat like she was in a sauna by now.

This is clearly a very reasonable excuse, both in line with Yuki Tsukishiro's previous actions and in line with the current situation.

If Yuki Tsukishiro still refuses, it means that this witch is not afraid of the heat at all, and she should be made to put her clothes back on!

Hoshino Utsunomiya was full of confidence.

But the next moment, Yukishiro said indifferently:

"Then Hoshino can help me wash it clean."

The words that came out of his mouth were so natural and so self-evident, as if he were talking about something that was absolutely ordinary.

It took Hoshino Utsunomiya's brain several seconds to process before a single thought slowly popped out.

"...?"

question mark.

Before he could express any emotion, Tsukishiro Yuki added another sentence.

"You've already done it before, haven't you?"

she says.

"You could help me take a bath when we weren't even friends yet, but now that we're closer, you can't?"

If you're friends, you can help each other take a shower.

That seems to be what she was saying.

Chapter 44 Be good, [obediently], sit still~

Yuki Tsukishiro enjoys being taken care of by others.

It's not that she was born superior and wanted to be served by others, nor is it that she's some kind of useless person who has no ability to take care of herself and can only live by relying on others.

She simply enjoys being taken care of.

Hiro would ramble on and on with all sorts of annoying sermons, but his hands would be constantly busy tidying up her long hair.

Emma always appears clumsy and makes mistakes, but when it comes to taking care of herself, she forces herself to slow down and become more careful and gentle.

The two friends each had their own unique characteristics and inclinations in taking care of her, and Yuki Tsukishiro never disliked being taken care of by them.

However, not disliking someone is not the same as liking them.

It felt comfortable, suitable, and surprisingly good.

These can all be described as not disliked.

Only liking something makes you look forward to it, and things you like can be addictive. I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it—

Yukishiro doesn't like Hoshino Utsunomiya.

But if I were to say, if I were to say, the feeling of being taken care of by him.

...Well, she could admit that she quite liked the previous sentence.

This isn't some particularly special feeling; if I had to put it into words...

Yes, that's right. Just like the smile she saw on Emma's face back then, she simply liked Emma's smile, and even more simply liked the feeling of being taken care of by him.

The silence, the unconsciously heavier breathing, the cautious attitude, and the meticulous movements.

Most importantly, he still forced himself to finish everything he was supposed to do, even under such circumstances – that was his unwavering dedication.

Of course, it's not just these things; it's clearly not just like that.

But those things aren't that important now.

Because Yuki Tsukishiro was already seated.

Although she didn't know how the system had arranged a bathing area in this small, shabby four-and-a-half-tatami room, it made Yuki Tsukishiro sit on the small stool with great joy.

There's no need to go out; I can stay here.

[Watering progress today: 1/1]

The wet hair replaced the watering today, and the silvery-white strands were lifted by Utsunomiya Hoshino's hand.

Judging from the feel of the hair in my hand right now, Yuki Tsukishiro's hair definitely doesn't need washing at all.

Not only does it not need to be washed, but it can also be picked up and played with repeatedly in the hands, allowing strands of hair to slip through the fingers, and the actions of repeatedly picking them up, gently stroking them, and wrapping them around the fingertips can be repeated.

But she wanted to wash.

Then go ahead and wash it.

Is the water temperature suitable?

"Ah."

Test the water temperature and ask for feedback.

Wet your long hair and lather it up.

Rinse, wet, repeat twice, then bend your fingertips and gently, slowly, massage the girl's head.

Is there any itchy area?

"Mmmm."

This should mean "nothing".

After gently massaging her head, I turned Tsukishiro Yuki's head to the side, brushed her long hair away from her earlobes, and then gently rinsed the witch's small ears with warm water.

"Time to flush," he said.

"—Splash!"

The torrential water poured down one last time.

My hair is washed.

...Although as he washed his hair, Hoshino Utsunomiya had a subtle feeling that he was like a shampoo boy at a hair salon.

Never mind.

Serving the witch is also a way to enhance friendship.

Right?

system.

[Excellent, Host! I can sense that the Witch's friendship level with you is rising rapidly. Clearly, helping each other bathe is a very effective way to foster friendship!]

......

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—"

The whistling hairdryer sent out hot air, blowing through Hoshino Utsunomiya's long, silvery-white hair that she was lifting with her hand.

Drifting, swaying, rocking.

The long bathing process ended quickly, and the incompetent technician No. 1, Hoshino Utsunomiya, finished his service and did the final finishing touches for the girl.

Blow-dry your hair.

Girls have thick and long hair, and it can be troublesome if they don't dry it properly, so they can't just let it air dry naturally.

The temperature and distance of the hair dryer should be adjusted, starting from the ends of the hair to disperse the water droplets, and finally carefully blowing away any remaining moisture from the roots.

Hoshino Utsunomiya finally finished her work and breathed a sigh of relief.

"call......"

While tugging at the hem of her clothes, trying to dissipate the heat caused by the rising steam, Hoshino Utsunomiya began to ponder a question.

Why did it unfold like this?

Meeting with friends is fine, my home is the destination, and casual chatting is also fine.

Although the wrong chat content option was selected, there were still no problems in the end.

What truly triggered the bathhouse incident was...

There are two reasons.

Yuki's dress is too thick, and the room is too stuffy, cramped, and narrow.

It seems it wasn't my fault.

Then there's no need to reflect on it.

Rather than reflecting and thinking, Hoshino Utsunomiya, who was already somewhat clearing her mind, wanted to do something else.

"It's getting late, you probably don't need me to take you home, right?"

Tsukishiro Yuki had already put her dress back on, wearing a top and shorts. Her long skirt and hat were still lying on the ground to the side. As for her underwear, which had never been seen from the beginning...

Hoshino Utsunomiya didn't want to think about it.

"...Isn't it getting late?" Tsukishiro Yuki, having put her black stockings back on, glanced at the clock on the wall that hadn't even reached noon yet, tilted her head, and suddenly asked, "What are you going to do after I get back?"