a Yandere Harem in a Magic World Can't be That Bad-Chapter 3: bath time*

The bathroom was filled with steam as soon as I turned on the hot water. I stripped and sunk into the tub, hoping to wash away some of the unease that lingered despite Iris's reassurances.

I sighed, letting the heat seep into my bones. It felt like forever since I'd taken a bath. Showers were quicker, more convenient when you had a packed schedule and weren't sure if your pseudo-sister would barge in demanding food or games or attention. But this—this was nice. I needed it.

School would be over in just a few weeks, and the uncertainty gnawed at me. I'd sent applications to so many universities, hoping for a chance somewhere, anywhere. Wonder Heaven was my first choice, but I wasn't delusional about it; the chances of getting into the most prestigious college in the world were slim for a human with no magical talent.

I hadn't told Iris about my doubts. If she knew, she'd probably change her plans just to keep us together. The thought made my chest tighten with both gratitude and guilt.

I sank deeper into the water, trying to clear my mind of everything except the warmth that enveloped me. Just as I felt myself relaxing, there was a knock on the door.

"Hey," Iris called through the wood. "You're not asleep, are you?"

I laughed. "Not yet."

There was a pause, and I imagined her leaning against the doorframe, her ears twitching with impatience.

That girl was too attached. I couldn't blame her; we'd been inseparable for years, just the two of us in this apartment after her mother passed. I'd failed at putting up any real boundaries between us. Not that I wanted to—it was nice being needed by someone like Iris.

"You need something?" I called back.

She didn't respond.

I called out again, but there was still no answer. After a moment, I leaned my head back and let the silence settle around me. Maybe she'd given up and gone back to her game.

The water lapped gently against my shoulders. I closed my eyes, feeling some of the tension slip away. But just as I started to drift, the door creaked open.

Iris stood in the entrance, eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart skip. She slipped inside and shut the door with a soft click.

I sat up quickly, sending a small wave sloshing over the edge of the tub. "Uh, Iris?"

Her response was a playful smile as she began unbuttoning her shirt with deliberate ease. Each movement seemed to draw out the seconds, stretching them until they crackled with electricity.

My mind went blank except for one thought: Iris was undressing before me.

She tossed her top aside, revealing smooth skin and a mischievous glint in her eye. Her expression was both daring and teasing, and it left me floundering for words.

"Iris—"

"What?" she interrupted, kicking off her jeans. She was down to her underwear now, standing confidently in the steamy bathroom with not a trace of embarrassment.

"I thought I'd join you," she said matter-of-factly, as if this was completely normal. I suppose, in a way, it was. We'd grown up together; modesty hadn't ever been a priority for Iris.

"Y-you sure?" I stammered, fully aware of how flustered I sounded.

She didn't bother answering.

In one smooth motion, she reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. It fell away, revealing the fullness of her breasts—round and impossibly firm yet with a lilt that suggested their weight. Her nipples were pale pink, standing out starkly against her creamy skin and hardened slightly from the steam that filled the room.

Iris's confidence was magnetic, drawing my eyes to every inch of her as she slipped out of her panties. Her curves were exaggerated in the best way imaginable; her hips flared expansively, leading down to her full, heart-shaped butt that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

The swell of her thighs flowed seamlessly into legs that were both strong and elegant, supporting her voluptuous frame with ease. Between them, the bare lips of her pink sex were visible for just a moment before she moved.

When had she changed so much? Just a few years ago, she was flat as a wall. Now, Iris looked like some kind of fantasy goddess.

I'd heard about fox kin maturing quickly, but this—this was unreal. Maybe the blessing of the goddess had something to do with her sudden transformation. Maybe that's why her body was so unreal, so impossible.

She stepped gracefully to the edge of the tub, eyes never leaving mine as she waded in. The water rippled with her movements, and I couldn't help but notice how her breasts floated slightly before sinking back against her chest, mesmerizing and soft.

I looked away, trying to focus on anything else. "You really don't have any sense of privacy," I murmured.

"Why would I?" she teased, settling in front of me and leaning back until her bare skin pressed against my chest.

The warmth of the water was nothing compared to the heat that flared through me. Her hair tickled my throat, and her body fit against mine like it was molded for it.

Iris let out a long, contented sigh. "This is nice."

I swallowed hard. "Yeah," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

She grabbed my arms and pulled them forward, wrapping them around her waist. Her tail swished lazily between us, occasionally brushing against my leg. I was acutely aware of every sensation—the dampness of her skin, the rise and fall of her breathing, the softness that pressed into me with every small movement.

"Think we've done this since?" Iris asked, her voice a sultry ripple in the steam-filled air.

I hesitated, trying to steady my thoughts. "A few years, I think."

She hummed softly, and I could feel the vibration of it deep in my chest. Her fingers traced idle patterns on my arm, leaving trails of electricity in their wake.

"Too long," she said with a hint of mischief. Her head tilted back against my shoulder, and her eyes closed as if savoring the moment.

Her hand reached out for the shampoo and she passed it over to me, her lips curving into a smile. "Wash my hair?"

I hesitated, my fingers brushing against hers as I took the bottle. "You're so demanding."

"You love it," she said, shifting forward to give me space.

I poured some of the thick liquid into my palm, trying not to spill in my awkwardness. The fragrance of wildflowers filled the room as I lathered it into a foam.

She ducked her head slightly, and I ran my fingers through her silky hair. It was longer than I remembered, cascading past her shoulders like a silver waterfall. The shampoo bubbled up easily, and I began working it into her scalp with gentle motions.

"Like that," Iris murmured, relaxing visibly under my touch. Her approval made me bolder, and I massaged more firmly.

The strands slipped through my fingers like liquid moonlight, each motion drawing a contented hum

from her lips.

"Don't stop now," she said, her voice growing softer. "Wash my ears?"

I blinked, pausing as I registered what she'd asked. Her ears twitched expectantly above the suds, and I reached toward them.

"Be gentle," Iris instructed, a playful lilt in her tone.

I was careful, touching the base of her ear with slow circles. A shiver ran through her, and she inhaled sharply before letting out a long breath.

"That's amazing," she praised, leaning into my touch. "You're really good at this."

It spurred me on, and I continued with renewed focus until her ears were clean and twitching with contentment.

Iris sighed happily

I smiled despite myself, but just as I relaxed, something poked me in the side—and kept poking insistently. I looked down to see her tail floating between us like an insistent finger.

"You're really pushing it," I said, incredulous.

"Please?" she pouted, tilting her head back to give me a pleading look. "My tail needs washing too."

I hesitated, knowing how sensitive that part of her was, but the way she looked at me made my heart twist. "You sure?"

"It's gotta be cleaned," she replied breezily, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes.

I shook my head, feeling both exasperated and amused. "You're impossible."

I reached for her tail, feeling its silky texture on my fingers.

The tail swirled between us, its color catching my attention. Like Iris's hair, it was a striking platinum blue, but as I looked closer, I noticed something else—a streak at the base that turned darker until it became completely black at the top.

I blinked in surprise and squirted more shampoo into my palm. "Your tail's changing colors."

Her only response was a soft murmur as I began working the lather through her fur. The shampoo foamed up quickly, and when I reached the darker part, Iris reacted sharply.

Her body twisted beneath my hands, and she let out a loud moan that echoed off the tile walls. "Oh wow," she gasped, sounding breathless.

"Too much?" I asked, pausing with uncertainty.

She shook her head vigorously, sending droplets flying. "No, keep going!"

I kept going, and Iris responded with giggles that seemed to bubble out of her like she was a little child. She moaned softly from time to time, shifting and arching her body as I moved my fingers through her tail, working every strand until the fur felt impossibly soft. Eventually, I rinsed the last of the suds and leaned back.

"All done," I announced, wiping water from my eyes.

Iris turned to face me, her smile radiant. "You're amazing!"

She lifted her hand, and a ball of water formed above her palm, swirling around as if it had a current. With a flick of her wrist, she sent it cascading over herself in a sparkling wave. It washed away the bubbles from her hair and tail, leaving them sleek and shining.

"Show-off," I muttered, watching the droplets dance in the air before splashing back into the tub.

Iris laughed, a lilting sound that echoed with delight and filled the room with warmth. Her wet hair clung to her skin, accentuating every curve, and she seemed almost to radiate with a glow that was both ethereal and intoxicating.

"What?" she teased, flicking another tiny wave at me playfully. "Jealous?"

"Of you? Never," I replied, ducking as the water splashed harmlessly over my shoulder. I straightened, grinning. "Maybe a little."

"Good."

Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

After saying those words, Iris stood abruptly. Her back was still to me, and I found myself staring at her perfectly designed ass, the pink glistening between her legs only inches away before I finally came to my senses and quickly looked away.

God, what's up with me?

she stepped out of the tub, water streaming down her curves as she moved, every one of them jiggling and bouncing in a delicious dance I couldn't look away from. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it loosely around herself without drying off.

"See ya tomorrow"

The door clicked shut softly behind her, leaving me alone in the steamy silence.

I sank deeper into the water, exhaling a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My heart was pounding in my chest like it was trying to escape. Everything about Iris had changed—so much more than just her body. I hadn't even realized when she became so bold and confident.

I suddenly became aware of myself, of the hollow sound the water made as it lapped against my chest. I was alone now, but—

Oh god.

A hardness had settled between my legs, and I felt a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the temperature of the tub. My face burned with embarrassment as I realized what was happening.

I was hard.

Oh fuck