After the battle the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the forest, Ravihiro made his way to a nearby river to wash away the lingering smell and stains of blood from his previous battle. Stripping off his upper clothes, he stepped into the cool water, letting out a quiet sigh as the river cleansed away the remnants of his fierce fight. He kept his lower clothes on, wary of keeping his guard up even in this secluded area.
Unbeknownst to him, Rumina had followed, carefully tiptoeing her way through the trees, hiding behind a nearby bush. Her curiosity had led her here, and she couldn't resist sneaking a peek, wondering what Ravihiro was like away from his usual composed self.
From her hiding spot, she peeked over the bush, only for her foot to slip on a loose stone. She yelped, unable to keep her balance, and with a dramatic flail of her arms, she tumbled headfirst into the river with a loud splash.
Ravihiro whirled around, instantly on high alert, only to see a drenched Rumina spluttering and flailing in the water, her attempt at stealth now completely ruined. He blinked in surprise, raising an eyebrow as she tried to regain her footing, water dripping from her hair and clothes.
Rumina, thoroughly embarrassed, met his calm and unimpressed gaze. "I… I was just passing by!" she stammered, attempting to salvage some dignity, though the drenched clothes and muddy face didn't help.
Ravihiro simply crossed his arms, water trickling down his own toned shoulders as he looked at her, unimpressed. "Really? Passing by… through the bushes? With no sense of balance?"
Rumina tried to laugh it off, brushing her wet hair from her face, though her cheeks turned a shade pinker. "Well, you were—um, you know… you just looked suspicious, so I thought I'd keep an eye on you!"
He sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "And now you're soaked and still looking suspicious. Maybe next time, try not to fall into the river while spying."
Rumina grumbled, finally splashing out of the water, trying to wring out her sleeves. "I'll have you know I don't usually fall. This was just... unlucky."
Ravihiro turned away, giving her a smirk she couldn't see. "Maybe next time, don't try to spy in the first place. Or at least find a better hiding spot."
Her mouth opened in protest, but she realized she didn't have a comeback for that. Rumina simply huffed, muttering under her breath, "Unbelievable…"
As she stomped back toward the shore, trying to wring water from her clothes, Ravihiro chuckled faintly to himself before resuming his bath. The cool water seemed even more refreshing as he allowed himself a small, amused smile, knowing Rumina had certainly learned her lesson—if only a little.