Chapter 17; Lives of blood and mind Pt: 2

...31/07/2009 Friday; Morning...

The dormitory was enveloped in a tranquil silence that morning, the fresh dawn air lingering lightly.

In Mitsuru’s room, the steady sound of running water echoed softly.

Under the shower, she gently ran her fingers through her red hair, spreading creamy foam between the strands.

Relief coursed through her body as the exhaustion in her muscles seemed to fade away.

Mitsuru, eyes closed, sighed deeply, trying to push aside the fatigue and the persistent worries that haunted her.

"That dream still lingers in my mind…" she thought, attempting to dismiss the lingering memory.

Suddenly, like a lightning bolt, the memory of the dream invaded her thoughts again.

She saw herself in a strange place, a tree with blood-red leaves standing majestically before her.

The roots of that tree coiled around someone who seemed familiar, but their identity eluded her grasp, like a shadow lost in the darkness.

Looking down at her hand, she realized she was holding a black dagger adorned with white and red details.

A sinister figure, exuding an oppressive presence, materialized behind her, cold hands resting on her shoulders.

"Will you swear your life to him? Or will you sacrifice him?" the figure’s voice was chilling, reverberating in her mind like a distant yet commanding echo.

The dream dissolved like mist, and Mitsuru found herself back in the shower, staring blankly at the wall.

For a moment, she stood still, until she let out a heavy sigh and grabbed the bottle of conditioner.

Pouring the liquid into her hand, she tried to focus on the present.

"Calm down, Mitsuru… it’s just a dream," she murmured to herself as she massaged her hair, feeling the tension in her chest slowly begin to fade.

Outside Mitsuru’s room, Hiro stood in front of the door, irritation on his face, holding a towel and a change of clothes.

"What a day, huh... and of all days, the shower downstairs decides to break," he muttered to himself in a low voice.

With a resigned sigh, Hiro stepped closer to the door, knocking firmly.

"Mitsuru, it’s Hiro! Sorry to bother you so early. Can I use your bathroom? The one downstairs is broken," he called out in a louder tone, waiting for a response.

Silence hung in the air for a few moments, with no reply from Mitsuru.

"Mitsuru?" he called again, frowning.

Deciding to try the door, Hiro pressed his hand against it, finding it unlocked.

"It’s open? I could’ve sworn she always locks her door," Hiro thought, puzzled.

Cautiously, he pushed the door open a little more and stepped inside, still hoping not to disturb her.

"I’m coming in, don’t get mad…" The words died in his mouth as he finally took in the sight of Mitsuru’s room.

What he saw left him speechless.

The room was stunning, exuding an elegance he hadn’t expected.

The walls were tastefully decorated, and a bookshelf full of neatly arranged books caught his eye.

In the center of the room, two luxurious sofas were precisely positioned, and a spotless desk showcased a small medical box carefully placed.

Hiro looked around, his surprise growing with each detail he discovered.

The bed, regal in style, seemed both comfortable and inviting, while the open wardrobe revealed an impressive collection of clothes.

Elegant dresses, branded pajamas, and even the simplest garments were of high-end brands, all impeccably displayed.

"Wow… what kind of room is this? Feels like I’ve walked into a palace. The other rooms are nothing compared to this," Hiro murmured, still in awe of Mitsuru’s taste and wealth.

Still marveling at Mitsuru’s room, Hiro walked over to the desk.

Among the meticulously arranged items, something caught his attention: a photo frame.

He picked it up and, looking at the picture, saw a younger Mitsuru smiling beside a tall man with an eyepatch over his right eye.

In the background, a small patch of flowers complemented the scene.

"That must be Mitsuru’s father…" Hiro thought, admiring the joyful expression of the young Mitsuru in the photo. "Gotta admit, she looks really cute in this." A faint smile appeared on his lips.

As Hiro was lost in thought, the bathroom door opened.

Mitsuru, still buttoning her shirt after her shower, stepped out and, upon seeing Hiro with his back turned, was startled.

She hadn’t expected to find someone in her room at that moment.

"Hiro?" Mitsuru exclaimed, surprised and slightly flustered.

Her sudden call made Hiro turn abruptly, his heart racing.

"Ah, Mitsuru…" He dropped the clothes and towel he was holding in his rush to respond.

Trying to regain his composure, he quickly returned the photo frame to the desk and bent down to pick up his things.

Pointing to his chest, his face flushed as he avoided her gaze, Hiro apologized immediately: "Sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak into your room."

Mitsuru, noticing Hiro’s gesture, looked down and realized she had buttoned her shirt incorrectly, especially around her chest, revealing her bra.

Her face turned slightly red as she adjusted her shirt.

"Don’t worry," Mitsuru replied as she rebuttoned her shirt properly. "And thanks for pointing it out."

Hiro, still trying to mask his embarrassment, scratched his head. "You’re welcome. Anyway, I’m here to borrow your bathroom. The shower downstairs is broken."

Mitsuru followed Hiro’s gaze to the towel he held and nodded, understanding the situation. "Sure, no problem. Let me just grab a few things."

With that, Mitsuru returned to the bathroom to retrieve the pajamas she had worn the previous night, leaving Hiro relieved for having avoided an even more awkward situation.

When Mitsuru exited the bathroom, she crossed paths with Hiro, who was about to enter.

He passed by her quickly, still a bit unsettled by the earlier situation.

Closing the door behind him, Hiro was immediately confronted by the large array of beauty products, makeup, and skincare items filling the space.

"Holy shit … even the bathroom’s like this? You’ve got to be kidding me," Hiro muttered to himself, scratching his head in disbelief.

Outside, Mitsuru overheard Hiro’s reaction and couldn’t help but smile. She found his surprise genuinely endearing.

She walked over to the desk and picked up the photo frame Hiro had been holding earlier.

Gazing at the picture for a moment, Mitsuru gently ran her fingers over the image, her expression growing serious.

"Don’t worry, only six Shadow Arcanas left for all this to end. I’ll finish what my grandfather started," Mitsuru murmured to herself, her gaze resolute.

Suddenly, Hiro's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Mitsuru! Which one of these bottles is the shampoo?! Most of these are body wash products!" Hiro shouted from the bathroom, the confusion clear in his tone.

Under the shower, Hiro was holding two bottles in his hands.

One yellow bottle read, "Root Softening Conditioner," while the other, pink and labeled in French, seemed to be a hair removal cream judging by the image on the label.

"It's the blue bottle on the lower shelf!" Mitsuru called back, trying to stifle her laughter.

"Ah, found it! Next time I use your bathroom, label everything in Japanese!" Hiro replied, placing the other bottles back on the shelf.

"I’ll make a note of that!" Mitsuru responded, a playful smile forming on her lips.

Finally, Hiro found the correct shampoo, pouring some into his hand and lathering it into his perpetually messy black hair.

The hot water cascaded over his skin, washing away the grime and easing the lingering pain in his leg—a reminder of the battle against the Shadow to save Koromaru.

"Man... I really needed this," Hiro muttered under his breath, reaching for the liquid soap as the relaxation began to take hold of his body.

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