Chapter 105 – Iceberg and Fire

The plastic bag, meticulously punctured with a multitude of tiny holes, served as a makeshift showerhead, gently pouring the bottled water over Karuizawa Kei's hair to rinse off the shampoo foam.

Anyone who has faced the predicament of "washing their hair during a water outage" would deeply resonate with Karuizawa's current sense of relief.

The annoyance of having your hair caked with drying foam, turning brittle and coarse, is being washed away, strand by strand, by the fresh water, restoring its natural softness and sheen. It's a moment that makes one profoundly grateful for the luxury of tap water in our modern lives.

It's these overlooked daily conveniences that can bring immense satisfaction to one's soul. At this moment, Karuizawa finds herself appreciating tap water more than ever before.

It also led her to a realization about the advantages of living in today's world compared to the past.

'Wait, why am I comparing ancient and modern times? Yukio is still waiting outside!' He had specifically mentioned that to avoid detection by others about our connection, she needs to first peek outside to ensure the coast is clear for Yukio to safely leave. Realizing she nearly made Yukio wait unnecessarily, Karuizawa hastily resumed her vigorous hair drying.

This marked the first occasion where Karuizawa had ever treated her treasured locks with such disregard.

Yukio, seated in Karuizawa's room and anticipating a wait, was surprised when Karuizawa reappeared within just a few minutes, now dressed in home casuals.

Emerging with a towel gently dabbing at her hair ends, she presented a scene that momentarily captivated him. Karuizawa, with her head tilted, allowing the towel to soak up the moisture, inadvertently exposed her slender, fair neck.

A few strands of hair, damp and unruly, clung to her neck, radiating an allure unique to her femininity.

Dressed in a plain white spaghetti strap dress, devoid of any ornate details, her figure was subtly accentuated, naturally drawing Yukio's attention.

And then, the sight of her immaculate skin, bare arms, and gracefully proportioned legs shone through, reminiscent of the most refined sculpture in its purity and beauty.

As she walked barefoot across the cleanly maintained room, her perfectly rounded toes resembled pearls, each step and arch of her foot embodying a delicate beauty.

Post-bath, Karuizawa exuded an ephemeral glow and softness, captivating like a piece of fine art.

Perhaps it was Yukio's silence that puzzled Karuizawa, causing her to divert her attention from drying her hair to look at him, only to meet his direct gaze.

A ripple spread through the lake of her maiden heart at that moment, as if a graceful carp had entered, playfully stirring the water, causing endless ripples, disrupting its tranquility.

Suddenly self-conscious, Karuizawa averted her eyes, unable to sustain the direct look, her cheeks flaming red as if they were crushed tomatoes.

Feeling the heat on her cheeks, she was thrown into disarray, questioning why, despite the coolness of the tap water, her face would heat up like this after a bath...

She knew she had to say something, anything, to break the unsettling quiet, to ease the overwhelming bashfulness.

Without much thought, driven by an impulse to shift their focus, she blurted out, "Um, that is, thank you for this time."

Yukio, noticing her shift in gaze, simply responded, "It's nothing. If you really want to thank me, just keep doing your job well."

Karuizawa felt the temperature on her face drop slightly, as if her small flame had approached an iceberg. While a fire might melt a small ice cube, against an iceberg, it would only be suppressed and extinguished by the overwhelming cold.

Her current state of mind was somewhat akin to this imagery. Or perhaps, more aptly, the playful carp in her heart had suddenly grown into a whale, its tail flipping the once calm lake into turmoil.

"So," Karuizawa's voice carried a heavy tone of dejection, "Is it because I'm valuable to your tasks that you're willing to help me like this, Yukio-kun?"

Yukio raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. What's this about? Without perceived value, he wouldn't bother about a student from another class.

Moreover, if it wasn't for the tasks she performed for him, why would he bother rallying Ishizaki and others to fetch water? He certainly wasn't that idle to engage in such errands without a reason.

However, Yukio, with his not insignificant emotional intelligence, quickly sensed the subtle undercurrents in Karuizawa's query.

Could this girl have developed feelings for him, craving his attention?

Upon reflection, this seemed plausible, given that Karuizawa, in his opinion, wasn't a foolish girl but rather astute.

With this understanding, if Karuizawa had no interest in him, she likely wouldn't ask a question that risked an awkward silence. Her daring to ask indicated her mind wasn't in its usual rational state.

Considering Karuizawa's dark past, which he was fully aware of—a past devoid of care and attention—it wouldn't be surprising if she developed certain feelings towards someone who showed her genuine concern.

Realizing this, Yukio adapted his approach, opting for a gentler tone with the girl filled with whimsical thoughts: "It's not entirely like that."

"Just the thought of you possibly catching a cold due to the water outage, being stuck in the bathroom feeling distressed, made me want to come and help you."

Karuizawa's heart fluttered anew at his words, reigniting the flame she thought had been extinguished. Despite the iceberg's daunting presence, it seemed… surprisingly warm, sustaining her inner fire rather than snuffing it out.

The playful whale once again flipped its tail, causing the overturned heart lake to right itself, transforming back into a frolicking carp.

Why, oh why did she wait to hear those words? She chastised herself for her wavering feelings. Karuizawa's heart was a mix of vexation and sweet joy, a complex whirl of emotions.

Such is the nature of a girl's heart, as elusive as a needle in the sea, shifting in an instant, full of tender affections, elusive yet undeniably enchanting.

***

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