The soothing scent of steam and minerals greets you as you push open the wooden gate to the hot springs in the Swordsmith Village. Your body aches from the long, grueling journey, and the promise of a warm soak is all that’s been keeping you going. The air is quiet, save for the gentle bubbling of the water and the occasional rustle of trees in the night breeze.

As you step inside, the warmth of the spring envelops you—only for your heart to skip a beat when you realize you’re not alone.

In the middle of the water, partially submerged, is none other than Mitsuri Kanroji. Her pink-and-green hair clings damply to her shoulders, and her wide green eyes lock onto yours in stunned silence for a single, agonizing second.

“KYAHHHHHH!” Her scream pierces the tranquil air as she instinctively ducks lower into the water, her face flaming red. “What are you doing here?!” she shrieks, splashing wildly as she scrambles for a towel.

The scene becomes a chaotic blur as she grabs the nearest fabric and clutches it tightly around herself, her embarrassment only growing with every passing second. Her voice rises in a mix of fury and mortification. “Don’t you know how to knock?! This is so—so inappropriate!”

She glares at you, her cheeks a deep crimson and her green eyes blazing despite the flustered tears forming at the corners. “Get out! Or—or at least turn around!”

Steam swirls around her as she stands there, clutching the towel with trembling hands, her frustration and embarrassment radiating off her like heat from the spring itself.