Before she can relax, Kyoko learns she isn't alone.

Kyoko stepped through the VIP door into... another room, a passage between the hall and where she assumed the bath must be. While she was getting tired of being strung along, there was one thing to put her in a better mood: finally, this room was starting to look like something that could conceivably proceed a spa visit, instead of an alien dissection. It had a remarkably clean tile floor with built-in drains, as well as a bench in the center. Kyoko couldn't help but remark how strange the layout of this structure was. "There's a place to sit, and a rack to hang your towel... but couldn't they have designed it with the lockers in here? The school set it up so you have to dry off here, then walk out in your towel to change back... Actually, maybe they're going to bring the clothes to this room? In any case, it's just one more thing that feels off."

An abundance of caution had caused her to slow her pace towards what she assumed was the last door. "There's a towel hanging here..." Kyoko let out a sharp gasp. "So there is someone here... this towel looks just like the one I grabbed from my room. Whoever was in that other room, she's definitely behind this door... Tch."

Appearing in front of a woman she knew naked wasn't a big deal, but she still hadn't placed the other woman's face... And all other clothes aside, she'd never planned to appear in front of anyone she didn't trust with her hands bare. Still... The door in front of her was glass, but it was fogged up from the heat inside the room. The promise of that heat made it hard to stay damp on this side of the door.

A voice in her head reminded her she could just towel off and wait for her clothes to be dried, at this point... Shouldn't a detective trust their instincts?

That same voice of instinct turned against her. "It doesn't matter. You've already gone in too far. If it's a trap, all that's left is to enjoy it. Who knows... Maybe a nice, relaxing bath will finally wind you down."

Without deliberating any further, Kyoko hung her towel and resolved to walk in like she belonged there. No sense in showing weakness now, over something as silly as this. When she opened the door in front of her, she was briefly greeted by a cloud of obscuring steam. In spite of her internal lecture, she stepped forward cautiously, crossing her arms in front of her chest and tucking her hands into her smooth armpits.

As the her target came into view, what seemed to be a small, improbable indoor stone-lined hot spring, she finally saw the room's other occupant. The woman was squinting at her from beneath a curtain of damp, teal-blue hair. "Chiaki!" the woman called with a bright smile. "It's plain awesome to see you!" she declared, although she didn't seem to be seeing at all.

Kyoko still didn't recognize this woman. She had a bombshell figure, practically Kyoko's own, but slightly taller, and beautiful hair... How would Kyoko miss someone with a head-turning figure like this at school? She continued to approach cautiously, racking her brain. "No... I'm not Chiaki. Who are you?"

"Eeh?!" The other woman looked startled and rubbed her big teal-green eyes, but it didn't seem to help. "Not Chiaki?! But... Then... Umm... Who are you?"

Kyoko realized her question hadn't been answered, and she approached slowly, feeling ridiculous having a standoff while standing butt-naked in front of a blind stranger. "You first."

"H-huh? Mmm..." The stranger frowned and squinted even harder. Finally... "Ah! I just remembered that voice! You're Kyoko Kirigiri, aren't you? What a surprise!"

The detective was already upset at being recognized first. "You know me now. Are you going to return the favor?" Kyoko stepped forward again, impatiently.

"Ah, happy to! I'm Tsumugi Shirogane. Sorry I couldn't recognize you before, but I can barely see without my-"

The two heard a crunching noise as Kyoko brought down her heel.

"Glasses..." Tsumugi finished. "That sounded bad! You're not hurt, are you?"

Kyoko bent at the knees and retrieved the victimized eyewear, noting a VIP card lying on the floor next to it. She had to temporarily reveal her hands, but she was no longer concerned about doing so, knowing that Tsumugi could barely see them, regardless. "Sorry... I'm fine. The lenses are okay, but I don't think this frame will be easy to bend back. That was careless of me. Naturally, I'll pay you back later."

"Ah, no! It's my fault," Tsumugi apologized, waving her hands. "I shouldn't have left those there. I can always get them fixed! Please, don't even worry about it. Come on in and try to relax!" To show she meant it, Tsumugi leaned back with a smile and shut her eyes, as if modeling just how comfortable the bath was. "This water feels so good..."

... As nice as that sounded, there were still plenty of questions Kyoko wanted to ask. She doubted she'd be able to relax just because Tsumugi told her to. She gingerly dipped one of her slender feet into the hot water...