Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains into the room. Rimuru awoke with her usual grace, smiling at Mai, who was still lost in sleep in her arms. The moment Mai opened her eyes, Rimuru kissed her without hesitation—a kiss that reeked of possession.
Still groggy from sleep, Mai quickly blushed, her heart racing. Rimuru, completely unaffected by her embarrassment, stepped off the bed with breathtaking confidence, removing her clothes one by one.
Mai, stunned, raised her hands to cover her eyes and stammered, "W-what are you doing, Rimuru?"
Standing there, flawless and sculpted, Rimuru said calmly, "Getting ready for a bath. Come with me."
Mai, too shy to look, whispered, "I…I'll go later."
Rimuru smirked. Fully naked, she turned back toward the bed, leaned over Mai, and brought her face close. Her golden eyes locked onto Mai like a predator stalking its prey. "Embarrassed? Tell me the truth, little star."
Mai's voice was barely audible: "Y-yes… very."
Rimuru's tone became analytical, as if she were assessing an experiment: "And with Renako? Were you this embarrassed in front of her too?"
Mai recalled the days when she had been at ease with Renako. "No… not with her."
She paused for a moment, fear creeping into her eyes. She expected Rimuru to be angry that she had been more comfortable with Renako—but to her surprise, Rimuru's smile grew even deeper, even brighter.
"Excellent!" Rimuru said triumphantly. "It's natural to feel shy in front of someone you love, Mai. Because if you could be naked in front of someone without blushing, they're more of a friend than a lover to you."
Rimuru took Mai's hand and pulled her off the bed. "Your shyness is proof of your love for me. Now, take off your clothes quickly; we can't be late for the first day of school, little star."