Heartbeats and Illusions

After parting ways with Fujiwara Chika, Natsukawa Kanade returned home, shedding the day's fatigue as he stepped into the familiar comfort of his apartment. The first thing on his agenda was slipping into a fresh set of clothes, followed by a rejuvenating bath. He let out a long sigh of relief as he submerged himself in the warm water, feeling the tension in his muscles dissipate.

"Bathing is truly one of humanity's greatest inventions," Kanade mused, his voice echoing softly in the steamy bathroom.

Since coming to this world, the act of taking a bath had become one of Kanade's favorite pastimes. The sensation of warm water enveloping his body was a luxury he couldn't imagine living without. It had become a daily ritual, one he couldn't skip without feeling incomplete.

As he reclined in the tub, the heat soaking into his skin, Kanade decided to scroll through his phone, looking for something to entertain him. He swiped through a few videos, but his attention was drawn to a message notification that stood out in the corner of the screen.

Eriri: "Excuse me... May I ask where you are?"

The message was accompanied by a few more hesitant words that trailed off, leaving Kanade intrigued.

Eriri: "I... Sawamura, I have something... to ask for a favor..."

Kanade squinted through the mist that fogged up the screen, trying to make out the words. His wet fingers weren't cooperating either, making typing a challenge.

"Why not just call her back?" Kanade muttered, wiping the screen dry with a towel.

After some effort, he managed to type out a simple reply: "Can we talk?"

He didn't expect an immediate response but was surprised when Eriri's reply popped up almost instantly.

Eriri: "Yes! Of course! But please wait a moment!"

Kanade raised an eyebrow. "What's got her so excited?" he wondered, though he had a faint idea of what might be going on.

Meanwhile, across town in a luxurious villa that combined classical Japanese and British aesthetics, Eriri Sawamura was a whirlwind of panic.

Her blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and her outfit—a green work suit covered in paint smudges—was far from presentable. As soon as she saw Kanade's reply, she jumped up from her chair, clutching her phone like it was a winning lottery ticket.

"He replied! He actually replied!" she squealed, her face lighting up with uncontainable joy.

But the joy was short-lived as reality set in. "Wait, wait, wait! I can't let Kanade see me like this!"

Eriri frantically paced back and forth, debating her next move. "But he didn't say anything about a video call... What if it's just a regular chat?"

Her indecision only fueled her anxiety. "But what if he does want to video chat? What if he sees me looking like this?"

"Ahhh! Never mind! Better safe than sorry!" she shouted, bolting toward her wardrobe.

In her haste, she misjudged the distance and slammed her bare foot into the leg of the table.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Eriri cried, hopping on one foot as the pain radiated up her leg. Her big toe, now red and swollen, looked like it had been in a losing battle.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she crouched down, clutching her injured foot. "Why does everything have to go wrong when it's important?"

But Eriri wasn't one to give up easily. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up. "No stubbed toe is going to stop me!"

The pain was still fresh, but she chose to ignore it, limping toward her closet with renewed determination. "Now, what should I wear?"

Her eyes darted from one outfit to another, each one discarded with a shake of her head. "Too casual... too formal... too boring..."

Then her gaze landed on a red dress tucked away in the farthest corner of her wardrobe. It was the dress she had worn during her first outing with Kanade—a day she still remembered fondly.

"This is it!" she exclaimed, pulling the dress out with reverence. "If anything can make an impression, it's this!"

With no time to waste, Eriri quickly slipped into the dress, tossing her paint-stained work clothes into a corner. She paused, glancing nervously at the pile. "What if someone sees this mess?"

Eriri glanced around her room and was hit with a wave of dread. The entire place was in shambles. The oversized plushie that Kanade had gifted her was sprawled haphazardly on the bed, while crumpled sketches and discarded papers littered the floor. It was a chaotic scene, and one she couldn't let anyone—especially Kanade—see.

"This is a disaster! How did I let it get this bad?!" she groaned, tugging at her hair in frustration. "How long are you going to torment me, messy room?!"

With no time to waste, she threw herself into cleaning. Her movements were frantic, almost comical, as she gathered papers, shoved random items into drawers, and straightened the bedding. Sweat dripped down her forehead as she sprinted back and forth, determined to make the place presentable. It felt like hours had passed, but at last, she stood in the middle of the room, breathing heavily and surveying her work.

"It's finally done..." she mumbled, collapsing onto her bed. Her hands trembled from the exertion as she clutched her phone.

"I... I'm ready!" she texted Kanade, hitting send before she had the chance to second-guess herself.

The message sent, a new wave of panic washed over her. What about me? she thought. The room might have been clean, but she hadn't even checked her appearance! What if her hair was a mess? What if her face looked tired and pale? What if Kanade thought she looked unkempt?

"If that happens... I'll have to find a block of tofu and smash my head against it," she muttered dramatically, clutching her phone like it was her lifeline.

Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a notification—a video call request from Kanade.

"A video call?!" Eriri squeaked, her eyes widening in shock. She stared at the screen, frozen in disbelief.

Then, a different thought struck her, and a nervous grin spread across her face. "Good thing I cleaned up, or he'd think I was a slob!"

Taking a deep breath, she tapped to accept the call. The screen flickered, and Kanade's face appeared.

"Good evening, Sawamura-san," Kanade said in his calm, even tone.

Eriri blinked. Then she froze.

The reason for her sudden paralysis was obvious: Kanade wasn't wearing any clothes.

"!!!"

Her brain short-circuited. The words she wanted to say—perhaps a scolding or a sarcastic remark—refused to leave her lips. Instead, her gaze wandered, betraying her internal struggle. She tried to cover her eyes, but her hands stopped halfway, leaving her peeking through her fingers.

His toned chest and defined abs gleamed slightly, the faint haze of steam from his bath adding an almost cinematic quality to the scene.

What am I doing?! she thought, panicking.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" Kanade's voice snapped her out of her trance.

"Y-Yes! Loud and clear!" she stammered, raising her voice a bit too much, hoping it would drown out her erratic thoughts.

Kanade nodded, his expression as composed as ever. "I apologize for calling like this. I'm in the bath, and typing isn't very convenient, so I thought this would be easier."

He's in the bath?! Eriri's brain screamed.

It all made sense now—his lack of clothing, the steam, the casual tone. But who just video calls someone while bathing?

Her mind raced through possibilities. Perhaps he'd intended to initiate a voice call but accidentally pressed the video option? That seemed plausible. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that this was an innocent mistake.

Her face turned scarlet, her eyes darting everywhere except at Kanade. Yet, she couldn't help but sneak a glance or two. She wanted to appreciate the details—strictly for artistic purposes, of course. After all, Kanade had been her model before.

This is just another study session... she told herself. It's not like I care! I don't care at all! Not at all!

Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her phone, her face a mixture of embarrassment and determination. Whatever happened next, she'd handle it like the composed, professional artist she was—or so she hoped.