Chapter 1010: Eating Melons Until It's About Yourself

"Let's go soak in the hot spring first to relax, and after we're done washing up, we'll meet in the hall and go eat the resort hotel's luxurious feast."

"Long live Master Broly~"

Yoshino Yuuki was the first to jump up and cheer; the other Polar Star Dormitory residents were also in high spirits, but the other students weren't that happy.

The fifty servings of cooking for tonight weren't finished yet — that was one reason; even if they were finished, they'd still have to make their own meals.

As for the luxurious feast, that would have to be bought out of pocket — not that they couldn't afford it; on the contrary, most students from decent families could pay for it.

But they were high school students after all, with limited allowances; daily extra cooking practice expenses were also significant, and the resort's food prices were high-end — eat this meal, and what about the next? Spend the whole allowance on food, and would they have to drink the northwest wind and gnaw steamed buns for the rest of the month?

These people looked at Broly's group with some resentment, while Broly walked up to Nakiri Erina and extended an invitation to the blonde girl: "Erina-sensei, Hisako-sensei, and Mito, you all come too; my treat, as thanks for you joining my Free Cooking Team to help tonight."

"Since you put it that way, if I refused, I'd seem ungracious; alright then, I'll reluctantly accept your invitation."

Nakiri Erina agreed; Arato Hisako hadn't wanted to join the fun, but now it was hard to refuse.

As for Mito Ikumi, she was quite willing, saying she hadn't helped much, but nodding more eagerly than anyone.

Of course, she wasn't craving the feast — she was craving the person, just wanting to have dinner with Broly, even if it was with a group.

Fine.

"Alright then, we're dismissed; meet back here in the hall later."

Everyone scattered to their own rooms to grab a change of clothes, then headed to the resort hotel's hot spring baths.

The women's bath and men's bath were separated by a wall; when Broly arrived, he saw Erina stepping lightly, looking a bit like a little girl anticipating something, but upon seeing Broly, her steps steadied at once, as if she'd instantly switched back into a reliable adult.

She nodded at Broly, and Broly nodded back, then they entered the women's and men's entrances respectively.

"Hey, Broly, what's the deal with this tail of yours?"

After taking off his clothes in the changing room, Marui Zenji asked him in surprise.

"You still don't get this? It's genetic atavism."

Before Broly could answer, Soma Yukihira explained for him.

"I always thought that thing on his waist was a fur belt; didn't expect it's actually a tail."

Aoki Daigo's words made the others nod subconsciously.

"Well, if I hadn't showered with Broly-san and seen with my own eyes that this thing can move, I'd have thought so too."

"People with atavistic tails exist in this world, sure, but this is the first time I've seen one this well-formed and this flexible."

Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses and reached toward the tail.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

Broly turned to look at him and asked, while the tail nimbly dodged his hand.

"Sorry, just curious about novel things; uh, Broly, can I touch your tail?"

"Sorry, you can touch my muscles if you want, but the tail's a no-go; my tail has sensation, and it's the sensitive kind.

For a concrete comparison, have someone touch your coccyx and see — it should feel about the same."

Broly decisively refused Marui Zenji's request to touch his tail, rewrapped the tail around his waist, and walked into the bathing room.

There was already someone inside — a burly man with a buzz cut and an equally muscular build.

"Whoa, Senior Dojima Gin, Executive Chef, what are you doing here?"

Marui Zenji exclaimed, recognizing the person inside.

"Every year, I'm in the habit of coming at this time; originally wanted to finish washing before the students, but didn't expect that whether this year or last, someone always arrives earlier.

Last year it was one person; this year it's a group; coincidentally, they're all Polar Star Dormitory people — perhaps it's some kind of fate, letting us dorm-mates meet in this bathhouse.

How about it? You don't mind this Polar Star senior soaking with you juniors and chatting a bit, do you?"

With things put like that, naturally no one minded; everyone washed clean, sat in the hot spring, and the warm water quickly made everyone except Broly let out long sighs — the muscle soreness from a day's labor seemed to soak away with the warm current.

"Chef Dojima, so you're also a Polar Star person?"

Soma Yukihira looked curiously at the buzz-cut man.

"Yeah, I'm a 69th Generation graduate; during my academy days, I lived in Polar Star Dormitory."

"Whoa, 69th Generation — isn't that the Polar Star Golden Era class?"

"Seems there's that saying; you guys know about it too?"

"Aunt Fumio always goes on about how glorious the Golden Era Polar Star was; we hear her reminisce about past glories often enough that our ears have grown calluses."

"Aunt Fumio, is she still in good health?"

"That old lady's healthy as a horse; when she's farming in the backyard, she swings a hoe faster than me."

Soma Yukihira spoke the plain truth.

"Good to hear she's hale and hearty."

"Just that she's always reminiscing about Polar Star's past glory."

"Haha, then before long, she probably won't need to reminisce anymore."

"Huh?"

Everyone looked at Dojima Gin in puzzlement.

"Because this year's and last year's Polar Star students are all very outstanding; I believe you'll bring new glory to Polar Star, so Aunt Fumio won't have to keep reminiscing about our class's glory."

"Well, I'm about done washing too, so I'll head out first; see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Senior Dojima."

Soma Yukihira and the others watched Dojima Gin leave.

"Say, am I imagining it, or did that senior seem like he was deliberately waiting for us here?"

"Drop the 'seem like' — he was deliberately waiting for us; he was at the cooking venue earlier too, and even ate the food we made."

"So, he's...?"

"Chatting casually while encouraging his dorm juniors to strive higher."

Broly spoke, and then began swimming in this large hot spring pool.

Staying in the dormitory for so long, it's rare to have a bath spacious enough.

"Broly-san, this is a hot spring pool, not a swimming pool."

"Right now it's just us few, not swimming would be a waste."

Soma Yukihira and the others made eye contact; this opportunity for a few people to exclusively enjoy a large hot spring pool is rare, and if they don't play now, there might not be a chance later.

"Yo-heave-ho, watch my deep-water torpedo charge!"

Compared to the noise on the men's side, the women's side was much quieter, everyone soaking properly in the bath.

However, in a state of stark nakedness, comparing each other's figures was still unavoidable; Mito Ikumi was staring at Tadokoro Megumi.

And the conclusion she reached was that they were evenly matched, at most her skin was whiter than her own, and the flesh on her body looked softer than her own too.

"Hey, you're Tadokoro Megumi, right? What exactly is your relationship with Broly?"

Mito Ikumi had soaked in the hot spring pool for a while, and finally couldn't help but ask.

"My relationship with Broly-san is naturally that of friends."

Tadokoro Megumi replied subconsciously.

"Oh, so it's just a friend relationship~"

Mito Ikumi exhaled.

"Hey, what's your deal, trying to bully our Komekko again?"

"I'm not, I just want to know her true relationship with Broly."

"Before questioning someone else's relationship with another person, shouldn't you declare your own relationship with that person first?"

Yoshino Yuuki and Sakaki Ryouko, one on the left and one on the right, shielded Tadokoro Megumi, confronting Mito Ikumi.

"I'm also a friend relationship."

"All friend relationships, then what's with that 'just that' expression you made just now?"

"I didn't."

"No, you did, I was watching from the side very clearly—"

"What are they arguing about?"

Not far away, Nakiri Erina, who had been soaking with eyes closed, heard the dispute, opened her eyes, and directly asked her childhood friend secretary beside her.

"They are asking about each other's relationship with Broly."

Hisako Arato answered.

【Behind the scenes, the confrontation plot between girls, this is even more exciting than reading manga.】

The girl added another line in her heart.

"What relationships are there?"

Nakiri Erina raised an eyebrow and asked.

"All friend relationships."

Hisako Arato answered.

"Then isn't that half a catty, eight taels?"

Nakiri Erina's furrowed brows instantly relaxed.

"Indeed it is half a catty, eight taels."

【Strange, why did Erina-sama look like she just sighed in relief, could it be—】

"Erina-sama, what do you think your relationship with Broly is like?"

Hisako Arato attempted to ask.

"Isn't it just a teacher and student relationship?"

"There's no other relationship?"

"What other relationship do you want there to be?"

"For example, Erina-sama, you wanting to become a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with him."

"Hah, how could that be, how could I possibly want to become boyfriend-girlfriend with Broly?"

Nakiri Erina denied it outright.

"True, but Erina-sama, don't you think Broly would actually make a pretty good boyfriend?"

"What's good about him?"

"For example, his looks aren't bad, his physique is sturdy, he's humble and such."

"Put that way, it seems that's actually true—

Wait, you say this, could it be you, Hisako—"

"I'm sixteen now too, never had a boyfriend before, thinking if I were to date a boyfriend in the future, perhaps Broly would be a good choice.

Since Erina-sama, you haven't had thoughts of developing a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with Broly, then I can rest assured and date him."

Nakiri Erina pouted, her chest feeling a bit stuffy; this feeling wasn't like her beloved toy being snatched away, but more like two toys she liked suddenly holding hands and eloping one day, leaving her behind.

"No way, Hisako, you're my secretary, I absolutely won't allow you to date anyone else, even if the partner is Broly."

Hisako originally wanted to probe her own Big Sister's thoughts, but didn't expect Nakiri Erina to directly pounce over and hug her.

At this moment, the girl buried herself in her chest, just like a little girl attached to her, making her heart race with acceleration.

"Okay okay okay, Erina-sama, without your permission in the future, I absolutely won't date anyone else, and won't get a boyfriend."

She gently embraced Erina, and spoke to soothe her.

"Thought the rumors from the outside world were fake, didn't expect them to be true—"

A voice came from the side; the embracing master and servant looked over, and saw the other few people in the hot spring pool, at this moment all looking over this way.

"What rumor?"

Nakiri Erina subconsciously asked.

"That you and the secretary beside you are in a yuri relationship."

Yoshino Yuuki did not hide it.

"Ah, no way, Hisako and I just get along comparatively well, we just grew up together since childhood."

Nakiri Erina hurriedly let go and proceeded to explain.

"True or false, you're the one who doesn't allow her to fall in love with anyone else."

Yoshino Yuuki looked at her with doubt, and the others had the same doubtful gazes.

"Speaking of which, Erina-sama is so outstanding, yet she's never had a boyfriend until now, is that the reason?"

Mito Ikumi had a sudden realization.

"No way, don't randomly daydream nonsense, I just wholeheartedly devote myself to cooking, I don't have much time, nor the inclination, to go date some boyfriend!"

【Oh no, I used to eat other people's melons, now it's my turn to become the melon!】

Arato Hisako darkly thought things were bad, thought for a moment, then said: "That's right, Erina-sama just gets along well with me, but it's not any yuri stuff. If you don't believe it, I can prove it to you."

", how do you prove that?"

Tadokoro Megumi and the others looked over with some surprise, not knowing how this thing called sexual orientation could be proven.

"Very simple, I'll go confess to Broly later."

Tadokoro Megumi: "Ah!"

Mito Ikumi: "No way."

Nakiri Erina: "Hisako!"

One sentence, and the three girls all had different reactions.

Arato Hisako turned her head back, gave her own Big Sister a 【Leave it to me】 gaze, then turned back to the others and said: "What, I want to prove my sexual orientation is normal, is that not allowed?

Or is it that you have some other thoughts about the object I want to use to prove my sexual orientation is normal?"

There's a saying that goes well, the best defense is offense.

Rather than defend oneself, better to attack others' weak points.

"Wuu————"

Tadokoro Megumi didn't know how to answer, "Komekko, if you're really interested in Master, you can just say it directly!"

Yoshino Yuuki incited from the side.

"Just not rejecting, hasn't reached the step of having thoughts yet."

"Me too."

Mito Ikumi heard this, hurriedly kept in sync.

Looks bold on the outside, but inside is also a coward.

"Since you have no thoughts, why such a big reaction?"

Arato Hisako raised an eyebrow and asked.

"I just feel, Miss Arato, for you to prove your sexual orientation is normal, and want to go make a joke-like confession to Broly-san, that's not good. If he takes your words seriously, you might end up hurting him."

"That's right, Miss Arato, I feel Tadokoro is right."

【Yo heh, you two forming a united front is pretty fast.】

Arato Hisako looked at the two standing together, couldn't help thinking in her heart.

"Then what if I'm not joking, but really want to confess to him, and properly get along?"

"Uh————"

Looking at the two girls' tangled expressions, Arato Hisako's face finally revealed a complacent smile.

"Alright, the rumor that Erina-sama and I are yuri is absolutely fake, and me wanting to confess to Broly is actually a joke too. These two matters end here, none of us mentions them, okay?"

"Okay."

"No problem."

Sakaki Ryouko and Yoshino Yuuki made eye contact, then leaned together and said in small voices: "Worthy of the famous Secretary Miss in the academy, these methods are truly formidable."

", what's wrong with you all, why are your faces all so red?"

Ten minutes later, the boys and girls finished bathing and gathered. Broly saw the flush on Tadokoro Megumi and Erina and the others' faces, felt some surprise and asked.

"No, just soaked in the bath a bit too long. Alright, my stomach's hungry, hurry up and let's go eat the big meal."

Erina casually made an explanation, and didn't wait for Broly to continue pursuing the question, just interrupted him and said.

Broly could only press the doubt about the happiness value fluctuation he'd just discovered into the bottom of his heart, and led everyone toward the resort hotel's dining area.