Chapter 16: A New Beginning and a Lewd Celebration

"──It’s finished............"

The faint white light faded from Hirose’s hands.

Four weeks. Eight sessions in total.

The treatment that began on Christmas had crossed into the new year, and it was now past the middle of January. Azumi’s treatment was finally complete.

"Now we just have to wait. I really hope this works..."

"Thank you... truly, thank you so much...!"

"Hirose-kun, Kirino-chan... and Hibiki and Koharu-chan too... thank you!"

Mizuki and Haruka, who had been standing by, spoke with trembling voices. In previous cases, the full effects of Hirose’s skill had appeared within a week of the final session. They expected the same for Azumi, though since this involved a 'Curse,' even Hirose couldn't be entirely sure. All they could do now was pray that the burns would vanish and she would finally wake up.

◇　

Within the vast hospital wing, there were VIP private rooms reserved for those capable of paying exorbitant fees. Through a gap in the half-drawn curtains, the soft sunlight of a clear winter day spilled into the room.

"Nn............"

She had kept her eyes closed for so long that she struggled to open them. After some effort, she managed to force her eyelids open, and the first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. She moved her neck. On her right, the gap in the curtains; on her left, a privacy screen. An IV drip was connected to her arm.

Grumbleeeeeeeeeeeee.

A loud sound erupted from her stomach.

"............I want meat."

The girl with black, straight-cut bangs—which had grown slightly longer during her slumber—slowly sat up in bed.

"Azumi...! Azumi...! Azumi!!"

"I’m so glad... I’m so glad, Azumi!"

In a certain hospital room, two older girls were weeping as they clung to a black-haired girl in a hospital gown.

Azumi Shishido had awakened.

Furthermore—the burns covering the left side of her body were completely gone. No, it was more than that; she was more beautiful than ever. Just like with Koharu, not a single scar remained; it was as if her skin had been entirely reborn. Hirose’s <Skin Quality Improvement> had triumphed over the 'Curse.' He hadn't defeated it in a direct clash, but if it was gone, it was as good as a victory.

When Azumi had first been discovered after waking up, she had been found wandering the hospital corridors alone, dragging her IV pole behind her in a desperate search for food to satisfy her empty stomach. However, after nearly a month in bed, her muscles had atrophied, and she had ended up stumbling and falling.

It became a bit of a running joke that a nurse had screamed upon finding her down on the floor, but Mizuki and the others were immediately notified and rushed to the room. Saori Fuyutsuki, despite being busy with her guild duties, had also come along. She wanted to use <Appraisal> to confirm that the 'Curse' was truly gone.

When Fuyutsuki examined Azumi’s status—

"It’s gone... there are no status ailments at all!"

"Thank gooooodnessssss!!" Mizuki wailed even louder upon hearing the news.

The girl herself, however, still looked puzzled, not quite grasping the situation.

"──I see. So that’s what happened..."

Afterward, they explained everything: what had happened to her, who had worked so hard to keep her alive, and the methods used to heal the curse of the burns.

"Thanks, everyone... Other than being hungry, I’m perfectly fine."

Azumi was naturally the quiet, composed type. This was her way of showing deep gratitude.

Of course, the guild’s designated doctors also examined her. Aside from a loss of stamina and muscle mass, she was in perfect health. Since they couldn't just let her eat meat immediately, she was told she would have to gradually transition from hospital food to solids. Including the observation period to ensure she was truly cured, she was scheduled to stay in the hospital for another two weeks. If there were no issues, she would be discharged then.

"You four... come here."

Sitting up in bed, Azumi called over the four who had saved her.

"Hibiki... long time no see. You look like you’ve gotten prettier... Thanks for everything."

"Yeah... I’m just glad you’re healthy again, Azumi-chan."

Despite the somewhat blunt thanks, Azumi and Hibiki shared a tight hug.

"I’ll do anything to pay you back... just say the word."

"Hmm. I haven't really thought about a reward. I just came here because I wanted to help... but I’ll tell you if I think of something."

"Understood."

Next, she faced Koharu.

"Koharu-chan... the other black-haired girl. I heard you eased my pain. I’m happy. Thank you."

"I’m just glad you’re better..."

Koharu’s contribution had been immense. If she hadn't stopped the pain at the beginning, Azumi could have died at any moment. She shared a hug with Koharu as well.

Then, Kirino.

"Kirino-chan, you’re an incredible beauty. ...I was having a dream. A dream where I was trapped in flames with nowhere to run. But halfway through, it started feeling cool. I think that was thanks to you... thank you."

"I’m glad if I could help... the pleasure is mine."

Azumi explained her dream: hot and agonizing, standing paralyzed in the midst of a raging inferno. But at some point, even though the flames were right in front of her, she stopped feeling the heat. They weren't sure if reality could interfere with dreams like that, but that was what Azumi had experienced. Azumi hugged Kirino.

Finally, she reached Hirose.

"Hirose-kun. I heard I had some pretty bad burns... but thanks to you, I’m saved, and I’m beautiful. Thank you... Also, all the girls around you are cute. Are you a harem protagonist?"

After her thanks, Azumi immediately pointed out that he was the only male in the group.

"Um... well, you could say..."

Since his relationship with Hibiki was officially recognized, one might call it a harem. However, Hibiki was his true partner, and Koharu and Kirino were only there with Hibiki’s permission. Hirose wasn't entirely sure if 'harem' was the right word, but...

"I heard you rubbed my body all over."

"Yes..."

"I heard you touched my boobs too."

"Excuse me...?"

Hirose started to feel that Azumi’s line of questioning was going in a strange direction.

"I’ve decided that I’ll marry the man who touches my important parts."

"Whaaat?!"

"Fufu, just kidding. Let’s just hug."

"Oh, if that’s all..."

Azumi had a habit of telling jokes with a completely serious expression. Since it was their first conversation, Hirose was caught off guard, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he realized she was joking.

They shared a hug.

(Her body temperature is a little high... is that because of her Gift? Now that I think about it, Kirino’s temperature always felt a bit low, too.)

He noticed the warmth of Azumi’s body as they embraced. It didn't feel like a fever from a cold, and the burns were gone, yet she seemed warmer than the average person. Perhaps her Gift was the cause.

"──Anyway, thanks again. I make a lot of money, so I’ll definitely pay you back. Tell me if there’s anything you want. I don't even mind if you order me to wear sexy clothes."

Azumi ended the conversation with a bombshell, but her expression remained as deadpan as ever. She clearly had no inhibitions about wearing provocative outfits.

◇　

And so, Azumi Shishido woke up, and the curse of the burns vanished.

Two weeks later, she was discharged. After another week, a celebration was held to mark her recovery and thank Hibiki’s group—but the party turned into something quite outrageous.

Hibiki, remembering Mizuki’s promise to "do anything," dragged Azumi and Haruka into a plan to make them wear the 'sexy cosplay' Azumi had suggested. Mizuki was forced into an incredibly skimpy high-leg bunny girl outfit. Then, as revenge for the time Mizuki had walked in on her and Hirose being intimate, Hibiki had Mizuki tied to a chair.

She then had Hirose use his skill to perform a "sensory treatment" on Mizuki’s ears.

Mizuki was a beautiful, energetic high school girl and a famous A-rank adventurer who even appeared on TV. But under Hirose’s touch, even the cool, impressive Mizuki was reduced to a mess—her eyes rolling back, drool leaking from her lips as she exposed her most vulnerable self, reaching her limit through her ears alone.

Or to be more precise, she was pushed to the absolute brink of pleasure through her ears, and just as Azumi suddenly shouted, "Nipple tag!" and poked both of Mizuki’s tips with her index fingers, Mizuki completely lost it.

Midway through, Hibiki and the others decided they wanted to join in the cosplay, donning various revealing outfits that were lying around. The party devolved into a chaotic festival of laughter and screams, centered around Hibiki and Azumi.

With the conclusion of Azumi’s recovery celebration, the hectic month finally came to a close.