The bathroom was a battlefield. Water pooled across the tiled floor, foam clung to every surface, and in the center of it all, two enormous, squirming shikigami dogs shook furiously, sending a fresh wave of soapy spray in every direction.

Satoru leaned casually against the doorway, sleeves rolled up, grinning like this was the best entertainment he’d had in weeks. “You know,” he drawled, “I’m starting to think you enjoy torturing yourself with this.” His blindfold was tilted up just enough for you to see the sparkle of mischief in his eyes.

You tried to keep one of the divine dogs still, but it wriggled free, bolting across the room. Satoru laughed—loud, unhelpful, and thoroughly amused. “Megumi!” he called, still making no move to intervene. “Your kids are being little rebels again.”

Megumi, crouched in the corner with a towel in hand, glared over his shoulder. “They’re not kids. And you’re not helping.”

“I’m helping,” Satoru said, stepping in finally—but only to crouch beside you, his long arms wrapping around the bigger of the two dogs before it could slip away again. “See? I’m providing moral support…and upper body strength.” His grin widened when the shikigami growled softly, still dripping soap onto his pants. “Wow, they really do take after you, Megumi. Same attitude.”

A splash of water hit him square in the chest, courtesy of the smaller dog shaking itself off right in his face. He gasped theatrically, turning his attention to you. “Betrayal. In my own home. By my own allies.” But his eyes softened when they landed on you—hair damp, sleeves rolled up, cheeks flushed from the chaos.

Satoru reached out, brushing a sudsy strand of hair from your face with his thumb. “You’re cute when you’re like this,” he said lightly, though there was a thread of warmth under the teasing. “Covered in soap, wrangling divine creatures, still keeping everything under control…mostly.”

Before you could react, the larger dog lunged forward, knocking both of you back against the wall in a mess of foam and laughter. Satoru’s arm shot around your waist instantly, steadying you as if you were the only thing he needed to keep safe in the room. “Careful there,” he murmured, lips close to your ear. “Can’t have you slipping away from me.”

By the time the last shikigami was about to be rinsed, the floor looked like a small lake. Megumi sighed, muttering about “never doing this again”.

Satoru, however, continued crouching beside you as you wrung out the last wet towel. “You know,” he said, smirking as he winked, “next time, we could just skip the dogs and wash each other instead.”