An Assertive Girl

An Assertive Girl

"Listen carefully. Magic relies on visualization. So, imagine it strongly… deeply… vividly."

The next day, Filmera-san is teaching me about magic.

It's not about learning new spells, though.

Yesterday, when Grey and I tried to take a bath, I gave up on my first bath in this second life because I couldn't produce hot water.

When I mentioned this to Filmera-san, who came to visit early this morning, she explained that since I can use fire and water magic, I should be able to create hot water with applied magic.

So now, I'm learning from her how to turn water magic into hot water—

"Picture it in your mind. Water heated by fire, its temperature rising. Boiling, bubbling water…"

"Y-Yes…!"

I'm pointing my palm at the bath tub, but Filmera-san presses her body against my back, intertwining her fingers with mine from behind.

She's so close that her whispers send shivers down my spine, and the modest yet undeniable sensation of her chest against my back drains the strength from my body.

"Visualize it… Cold water slowly, slowly turning into warm hot water… The cool water brushing your skin becoming a warm embrace…"

"…"

Filmera-san is only describing water turning into hot water.

That's all, yet… her sultry breaths and the direct warmth of her hand and body disrupt my breathing.

Occasionally, her scent tickles my nose. Unlike her usual floral fragrance, today it's a sweet, melting aroma.

Did she change her perfume? I'm not sure, but the drastic change in Filmera-san since yesterday keeps me flustered.

"…Oh! Water's coming out. It's warmer than before, but still lukewarm, not hot… Focus a bit more, okay…?"

"Y-Yes…!"

What is this? What's going on?

Filmera-san is a guest, the first acquaintance—friend—I made in this isekai.

Yet, despite her earnestly teaching me magic, I'm harboring impure thoughts.

That's despicable. It's inhuman. Getting excited would betray her kindness.

And yet… and yet…

"Oh…! That's good! You're producing nice, warm hot water now. Shall we try making even more…?"

Everything Filmera-san says sounds suggestive.

Her breath tickles my ear. The soft, pliant feel of her small chest heightens my back's sensitivity. Her fingers entwined with mine seem almost provocative.

The tension makes my body temperature rise.

It's as if my blood is boiling, a searing sensation—

"—Eek!?"

Filmera-san suddenly lets out a scream-like yelp, and I look up, startled.

Hot water, steaming, gushes from my palm with such pressure that it soaks not only my jacket and pants but also Filmera-san's clothes.

"Amazing…! You produced so much warm water…!"

Filmera-san, eyeing her drenched clothes, smiles up at me.

She's probably happy I managed to produce hot water, but her soaked clothes cling tightly to her skin, creating a striking sight.

Filmera-san always wears the same outfit under her robe: a bold, light green top exposing everything from her chest to below her navel, paired with a miniskirt revealing her fair, slender thighs. Both are thin fabrics, and now, wet from the hot water, they outline her body's shape.

While her miniskirt is fine, her top has turned translucent, fully exposing her cute light blue underwear.

"F-Filmera-san…! Y-Your clothes are see-through… Y-Your underwear…!"

"Eh…? Oh, you're right…"

She makes a gesture to cover her chest with her arms, but it's not fully concealed—just enough to seem like she's covering.

Unlike yesterday, when she was flustered and tearful, it's good she's not upset. But today's Filmera-san is far more alluring, almost seductive, with a charm that draws my gaze.

Noticing my stare, she narrows her eyes beneath her mask, smiling softly.

"Hehe… If it's you, Yukiya-sama… I don't mind being seen…?"

Slowly, she lowers her arms.

Her light blue underwear, previously hidden, comes back into view.

Her words are so coy, bold, and captivating that the overload of information makes my head spin.

"Th-That…! If your clothes stay wet, you might catch a cold…!"

To change the subject, I hug myself, pretending to shiver.

Filmera-san immediately steps closer, pressing her skin against mine.

A gentle warmth spreads, and her damp, moist skin presses against me through the fabric.

That alone nearly shatters my rationality.

"Then leave it to me. If we're wet, we just need to dry off. Here we go… Lil Wind!"

Filmera-san utters a magic-like phrase, and a warm breeze envelops our soaked bodies.

After a moment, the wind stops, and our drenched clothes are completely dry in an instant.

The same goes for Filmera-san; her light blue underwear, visible through the wet fabric, is hidden again, and she's back to her usual appearance.

Her underwear was, in a good way, a feast for the eyes, making me feel like I'd done something forbidden just by looking.

It's like touching a sacred, untouchable mystery—a mix of guilt and a hint of thrill.

But now that it's hidden, I feel a pang of disappointment.

I guess I'm just a guy after all.

"But that was amazing! Grasping how to produce hot water so quickly!"

"R-Really…? It's probably thanks to your great teaching, Filmera-san."

"Eh, r-really…? Hehe, I'm glad to hear that. But practice is key, okay? From now on, whenever you have time, practice producing hot water daily, alright?"

As expected, Filmera-san is serious and kind.

She's been unusually forward today, but it's likely her effort to help me.

I want to believe that, but her gaze carries a heavy, heated intensity.

It feels like she harbors special feelings for me.

"(Being alone with Filmera-san is great, but… I'm off my game today. Please, Grey, come back soon…!)"

As usual, Grey, our ingredient procurement captain, dashed into the forest this morning.

It's almost noon, so it should be back soon—

"Kyu~!!"

With a familiar cry, Grey returns from the forest, kicking up dust with a thud-thud-thud!

As always, it drags a bundle of white threads, but today's is unusually large—over four meters, even from a distance.

"Good job, Grey. That's huge today."

"Kyu~…"

As if wiping sweat from its brow, Grey rubs its forehead with a leg.

It seems exhausted this time, leaping onto my palm, climbing my arm, and soon snoring softly on my shoulder.

"Grey… You worked extra hard today, huh? Um, Filmera-san, could you cut the threads for me?"

"Oh, y-yes… Understood."

Filmera-san seems wary, her demeanor slightly off.

The air feels tense, charged with unease, making me catch my breath.

"Here I go…"

Filmera-san retrieves a knife from her [Subspace Storage] and slices the thread bundle vertically.

It splits open, revealing its contents.

"This is…!"

Inside is a wolf, nearly four meters long.

Its navy-blue fur glints, with two horns on its forehead. It has two tails, and its muscular legs end in hooked claws sharper and larger than Filmera-san's knife.

A tiny hole pierces its heart, as if shot through.

Its abdomen, already gutted and drained of blood, is completely empty.

"Whoa…! That's one big catch, Grey. By the way, is this wolf's meat edible?"

"Eh, oh, yes! It's edible, but it's tough and muscular, so it's not ideal for eating…"

"I see. Then maybe we should simmer it slowly like beef tendon. Man, I'm excited!"

In my previous life, I never handled such ingredients, but in this world, Grey makes it easy.

I wasn't great at cooking, but thanks to the skill from the god—likely [Master Artisan]—my crafting and cooking have improved.

Every dish I make is delicious, and I've grown to the point where I can tell how to cook an ingredient just by looking at it.

How should I prepare this wolf?

While I'm thrilled, I fail to notice Filmera-san's troubled expression.