Lyra stood behind Ryuu with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Before Ryuu could react, Lyra reached out and gave her a light pat on the butt.
"Oh my! Why does this butt feel like it's getting softer and softer?"
"Ah—! What are you doing, Lyra!?" Ryuu yelped in surprise, her cheeks instantly turning a shade of crimson. She covered her rear with both hands in alarm.
"It's just a little pat. Come on, we're all girls here, aren't we? What's the big deal?" Lyra replied with an impish smile, wiggling her fingers as if preparing to squeeze something invisible in front of her.
"Let me see if Ryuu's butt has grown again—purely for academic interest, of course."
Ryuu, agile as ever, slipped out of reach in a fluid dodge that made her long ponytail sway elegantly behind her. "Even if we're both girls, that's still not okay, you little perverted gremlin!"
"Don't be so shy." Lyra leaned in with a teasing grin, her voice laced with playful mischief. "You might have to let Akira-chan touch it in the future anyway. I'm just helping you get used to it."
The moment those words left Lyra's mouth, Asta, who was quietly washing up in a nearby cubicle, froze mid-motion. A soft blush crept up her cheeks, and she turned stiffly, recalling the shameless scene of Lyra pestering Akira during the expedition.
"...Then let Akira touch your butt, you depraved moron!" Ryuu fired back in flustered rage, swinging her towel at Lyra in retaliation.
The other girls merely rolled their eyes at the spectacle, used to this sort of daily chaos.
Under the soothing warmth of the shower, the girls let the water cascade over their bodies. Muscles relaxed, tension melted away, and a peaceful stillness returned to the room, broken only by the sound of rushing water.
Meanwhile, Akira, having watched the girls leave for their bath, didn't linger around the training ground.
After finishing cleanup alongside Astraea, he turned to her and said with a casual tone, "Astraea-sama, I'm heading out for a bit."
"Mm. Be careful on the road." Astraea said with a soft smile, lifting her hand in a gentle wave.
But Akira didn't leave. He stood there, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked at her expectantly.
Astraea's lips curled upward. She brushed her hair aside and chuckled warmly. "Oh? So spoiled, are we? Fine, fine. I get it."
Taking a few steps forward, she leaned close and pressed a light kiss on Akira's cheek.
Akira grinned widely, as if he'd just received a divine blessing. "Hehe! I have gotten Astraea-sama's affection for the day. I'll see you tonight."
With that, he strode out the door, light-footed and humming to himself.
As he wandered down the streets of Orario, Akira admired the vibrant bustle of the city. Gods and mortals mingled freely, adventurers of all levels moved in and out of shops and taverns, and the aroma of street food drifted in the summer air.
Despite having lived here for nearly two months, he'd barely had time to explore Orario leisurely. Between dungeon dives and inventions, he was either too busy or too exhausted to properly take in the city's rhythm.
Today, however, he took his time. No time pressure. No urgent quests.
Standing in the central plaza, with the Tower of Babel looming tall above, Akira looked up thoughtfully.
'Is that crazy goddess watching us from up there right now?'
He mused, chuckling under his breath.
A sudden wave of rich, savory aroma wafted past, and Akira's stomach growled almost on cue.
'...Come to think of it, I haven't had any snacks since we got back from the expedition.'
Following his nose, he turned his head and spotted a snack stall not far away. Just as he reached into his pocket to take out his wallet...
"Hungry? Want some potato balls or something, Akira?"
A familiar voice, soft and cheerful, spoke from behind. A gentle tap on his shoulder followed, causing Akira's eyes to widen slightly.
Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with a girl he hadn't seen in quite some time.
Short gray hair fluttered lightly in the breeze, and a pair of twinkling sapphire eyes peered up at him. She wore a modest blue short jacket over black tights, her slim waist cinched by a pale sash. Her gloved hands rested playfully behind her back.
Adi...
Akira instantly recognized her.
If Alise was a sun that radiated bold, youthful brilliance, then Adi was the spring breeze—soft, kind, and quietly refreshing.
"Adi." Akira greeted her softly, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Yup! That's right! I'm Adi Varma, Shakti's adorable younger sister, and also a proud Level 3 adventurer of the Ganesha Familia, just like Ryuu and the others!"
She stretched out her arms dramatically, her face alight with joy.
Akira blinked, then chuckled and covered his forehead. "...Who are you introducing yourself to?"
Adi's bright smile didn't falter. Unlike her serious and stoic older sister, she was pure sunshine in human form.
"It's been a while, Akira-chan! Are you eating well? Resting enough? Ryuu's been grumbling that you've locked yourself in your room again lately."
The moment she stepped closer, her words poured out like rapid-fire arrows from a bowstring.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Akira raised a hand in surrender. "Too many questions. I can't keep up."
But Adi wasn't done. She leaned in, voice soft and sweet. "Your hair's gotten longer again. You look more and more handsome. Can I touch it?"
"Hold it."
Akira placed his palm firmly on her face, holding her at arm's length. "Since when were we this close?"
Adi placed a hand on her chest and declared proudly, "Of course we are! You're part of the Justice Familia. And Ryuu's friends are my friends too."
"Where do you even get these twisted ideas from…?" Akira sighed.
Still, faced with Adi's enthusiasm, he found himself giving up the fight, letting out a small laugh as he slowly dropped his hand from her face.
"Hey, have you agreed to let me touch your hair?" Adi's eyes sparkled like gems, staring at him with hopeful anticipation.
"...As you like." Akira finally muttered in surrender.
Faced with such enthusiastic persistence, Akira had no resistance. The words of refusal had risen to his lips but dissolved before they could be spoken.
"Thank you very much. I'll be taking you up on that." Adi beamed brightly, clasped her hands together, and gave a playful little bow.
Then, with delicate care, she reached out and gently kneaded a lock of black hair just beside Akira's ear, murmuring softly to herself, "Ahh, it's smoother than mine... I'm so envious. It must be because my sister always makes me patrol... I never get the time to properly take care of my hair."
Standing on Akira's right, with only about a few inches of distance between them, she kept toying with his hair, lost in her own world.
…Yep. She's definitely too familiar with me.
Suddenly, as if she had made some kind of grand discovery, Adi let out a small gasp of surprise.
She reached up again, this time using her hands to measure Akira's head and compare it to her own height.
"Eh? You seem taller than me now. Have you grown again? Boys really do shoot up fast. I'm so jealous."
Akira cast a casual glance at the top of Adi's head, but when his eyes caught a glimpse of white just beneath her collar, he quickly averted his gaze, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"R-Really? Well... boys hit their growth spurts later. That's just how it is."
(End of Chapter)
Read 40 Advanced Chapters on patreon.com/astralicity