第１７６６堀：リゾートホテルの屋上といえば (Part2)
Yuki cast a glance to the side, his expression a mix of agitation and sheer disbelief. There stood Prol, Orelia, Hovis, Yayui, and Rushi, all clad in V-front swimsuits.
"This is, of course, for the sake of both us and Yuki-san," Eris said, followed by Cleena, who added with a shrug, "Mm. For Yuki and for us."
They spoke with such nonchalance that it was clearly a calculated move, yet the blatant nature of it was enough to drain one’s spirit.
"Well, I thought it best to grow accustomed to this sort of thing," Samantha replied, her tone surprisingly grounded. It wasn't as if she hadn't worn peculiar attire before, and when worn with absolute confidence, even a swimsuit could carry a certain grace. In fact, Samantha looked genuinely striking in her V-front suit. Eris and Cleena carried themselves with similar poise, though knowing their underlying motives made the spectacle feel a bit heavy-handed.
"When you put it that way, I suppose you're right," I mused. "We’re among family now, and there will be parties at Yuki’s side in the future."
"Indeed. While they may not be quite as daring as these, a certain standard of dress will be required, so this is good practice," the others chimed in.
"True. Though Orelia and Yayui look a bit embarrassed, and Hovis and Rushi’s movements are rather stiff. Then again, the etiquette for swimsuits differs from that of gowns, so it’s only natural they aren't used to it."
Prol, for her part, remained entirely unfazed. She had polished herself for Yuki’s sake, fully aware that her own demeanor reflected upon his reputation. Though she was slightly shorter than me and possessed a rather... *bountiful* figure, she stood tall, chest out, looking every bit the part.
"No, no—I really feel like that’s a different matter entirely," Yuki countered. Orelia and Yayui nodded vigorously in agreement, but...
"What is there to be embarrassed about now?" Kirue interjected. "You have already bathed with Yuki-sama in the nude and served as his assistants. Shall I have to restart your training?"
"I mean, I’d love to defend them since Kirue-senpai’s training is, well... *that*," I added, "but they are just swimsuits, after all. It’s a tough call."
As we spoke, Kirue and Sasari appeared, carrying drinks and wearing swimsuits adorned with maid-like frills. I was stunned that such designs even existed. At the sight of them, Orelia and the others snapped to attention. Their embarrassment vanished, replaced by the sharp, focused aura of bodyguards.
"Hah. If you are capable of that, you should have done so from the start," Kirue commanded. "You are the shields of Yuki-sama. Simply having those bodies of yours draw the gazes of fools is a means of ensuring his safety, so stand tall."
"Exactly, exactly. Though I do understand not wanting to be stared at by people you have no interest in. Here, have a drink."
"Thanks, Kirue, Sasari. I suppose it’s a matter of getting used to it, but these swimsuits are... well, they’re something else. And I’ve never seen the two of you in those before. Did those even exist?"
Yuki, too, had noticed the maids' specialized attire. I had been hoping to find something similar myself, so I waited for the answer with bated breath.
"Naturally, we had them commissioned," Kirue explained. "We sought the advice of Narjia-sama, Menou-sama, Firia-sama, Labyris-sama, and Mikos-sama—all of whom have a refined eye for fashion—to ensure the design was unmistakably 'maid' even in swimwear."
"There were serious complaints about how stifling it felt to stand by the water in the heat wearing butler or maid uniforms," Sasari added. "So, we told Kirue-senpai that we should have something like this made."
That made sense. I had often felt stifled myself watching maids and knights standing around in full armor or heavy livery while trying to cool off. This was a practical solution.
"Furthermore, it allows us to move quickly into the water if needed. It’s quite convenient."
"Exactly! And thanks to Narjia-sama and Firia-sama, the performance is guaranteed."
I understood then that these were far beyond the capabilities of ordinary armor.
"...That thing doesn't explode, does it?" Yuki asked.
"..."
The silence that followed was absolute as everyone turned to look at him. Narjia was certainly capable of such a thing, but surely Kirue wouldn't approve of such a ridiculous feature...
"Of course," Kirue replied smoothly. "In the event of an emergency, there is a function to blow away enemies, centered around the swimsuit."
"It’s a full-blown explosion, but the swimsuit itself won't tear," Sasari added helpfully. "Oh, and it goes off automatically in the event of theft."
"It *does* explode?!" we all shouted in unison.
With that final punchline delivered, we headed off to eat after another dip in the hot springs. A pool on the top floor of a hotel—it was a classic, perhaps, but also a pinnacle of a certain kind of extravagance. It was fun, though. And besides, swimsuits are meant to be seen. That is simply the nature of the thing.