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“I smell…a stench,” muttered a voice. Quietly so, solely for himself.
As soon as the words left the blonde, young man's lips, a few present in the proximity went to check their clothes, giving a sniff here and there while looking confused.
Excluding the bus driver and guide, five of 13 Sinners took the time to check their smell.
Ryoshu almost dropped her cigarette, catching it with her teeth as it slipped. Immediately after, she raised an arm and took a whiff. She was the closest, being the seat partner of Sinclair.
Don Quixote, seated behind Sinclair, raised her shoes while lowering her head. This attempt was swiftly thwarted by her seat partner, Meursalt, who took a sniff in her direction.
“No odor is presently being emitted by you,” the tall, blunt man stated. Muersalt was sure he didn't smell, as nothing came to mind when he thought back to all his interactions today.
“Oh! Many thanks, young Meursalt!” Not at all displeased, Don Quixote went back to regaling various tales about Fixers to Meursalt, who simply listened without expression.
Heathcliff, seated in front of Sinclair, took a quick whiff before calling it a day and closing his eyes. His seating partner, Ishmael, leaned in and took a quick sniff of him, but she ended up smiling to herself, as if to say he smelled as usual. This went unnoticed by Heathcliff.
“Suffusing within me…” Sinclair muttered the line as if lost in a maze that was thick with fog.
Ryoshu, hearing that, leaned in and gave him a quick once-over.
“O.C.,” she said, sighing, and then taking a full drag of her cigarette which burned the entire stick all at once. Don't ask how she did it.
“Oh, huh?” As if snapping out of his reverie, Sinclair turns his head towards Ryoshu. “Only cigarettes?” he translated, tilting his head. Taking a quick sniff of his arm, he nodded in understanding. “P-perhaps this is a sign that you should…?” Looking a tad bit hopeful, the blonde left his words hanging.
Sadly, they were hung, as Ryoshu blew out the smoke she had dragged out right into Sinclair's face. Fortunately, the young man learned a trick or two and blocked his mouth and nose while turning his back towards the smoker.
Ryoshu gave a tiny smirk, discarding her cigarette into an ash-tray she had received from Sinclair. “Y.L.”
The blonde gave a nervous smile. “W-well, I had to…” Giving himself a quick sniff, Sinclair's smile quickly faded as he let out a sigh.
“Don't fret,” Ryoshu reassured, proceeding to pat Sinclair on the shoulder. Comically, like a chalk-soaked board eraser, a puff of gray poofed out from where her hand landed.
Sinclair's frown became deeper as he looked away from Ryoshu to gaze at the passing scenery.
Ryoshu went silent, lowering her hand as she reached for her pocket. No sooner than she felt her pack of cigarettes, did she move her hand away. Leaning into Sinclair's ear, she whispered a single word.
“Shower?”
“Hm?” Sinclair turned his head as Ryoshu shifted her head back. “Yeah. I suppose I should wash up and change clothes,” he mouthed in thought. The idea sounded more and more enticing as time passed. No wonder he kept muttering about a stench. His mind was trying to help him with hygiene, Sinclair innocently thought. “Sorry, could you make way for me, please?” he asked Ryoshu, due to being seated by the window.
“Sure,” Ryoshu aptly replied, shifting out of her seat to stand.
Sinclair quickly made his move.
“Heading to the kitchen?” piped up Rodion from her seat. Her seat partner, Gregor, turned his head away from the window to follow her gaze, but said nothing.
“Uh…” Sinclair shook his head. After a beat. “What…would you like for me to bring back?”
“Oh?” Rodion wore a pleased smile. “Ah, you remember those red bars of chocolate? Bring back…six, if there's that much left.”
Sinclair gave a nod. “Sure thing.” He mentally recalled those bars of chocolate with the red wrappings. They were enjoyable. Seeing as no one else asked anything of him, the blonde moved towards the back of the bus where the Sinners’ rooms were.
Upon reaching the hallway of their rooms, Sinclair couldn't help but ask Ryoshu a question.
“You, uh, heading to the kitchen?”
“No.”
“Oh…okay.”
As they passed by Ryoshu's room, Sinclair couldn't help but feel as if she was following him.
His suspicion was proven once they arrived at his undecorated door. Reaching for the door…
“Wait, why?” Sinclair couldn't help but blurt out.
“Shower,” Ryoshu casually answered.
“Is…that so?” Sinclair felt a headache coming along.
“O.T.D.”
Silently, Sinclair opened the door to his room. Ryoshu entered first and he followed, closing and shutting the door.
“Wait, why?” Sinclair couldn't help but blurt out a second time.
“Shower,” Ryoshu replied in the same casual tone.
“Oh, okay,” Sinclair accepted, seeing as how there was nothing he could do. “I'll take one after you,” he stated.
“You're coming with me,” Ryoshu denied.
“Wait, why?” Sinclair repeats, his confusion as profound as the factory gameplay in Arknights: Endfield.
“S.W,” Ryoshu bit back with annoyance.
“Wait, you don't even have a change of clothes…”
“I'll borrow.”
“Oh, okay…” Sinclair followed Ryoshu to the bathroom. They soon reached the door.
“Wait, w-” Sinclair wouldn't get to finish his running question. “Mmmghhh?!”
Currently, his mouth was occupied by another.
After a few seconds of the abrupt make-out session, Ryoshu pulled back, pulling Sinclair into the bathroom.
Time passed as the two sinners washed up. In the end, nothing special happened. Ryoshu was her usual self, and Sinclair was his usual self.
After a quick dry, Sinclair gave Ryoshu a set of clothes. It was his white buttoned shirt and dark pants. Some rustling later, and Sinclair, sitting on his bed, could only think they fit perfectly on her. Because, well, it was what she usually wore as well. The uniform of LCB almost.
Let it be known, but a Ryoshu fresh out of the shower had a magical charm.
Sinclair couldn't help but swoon inwardly, trying hard to not let his emotions show. To him, Ryoshu was beautiful and handsome at the same time.
“How about I dry your hair, Ryoshu?” Sinclair offered with only the purest intentions in mind.
Ryoshu gave a nod. “Appreciate it.” She took a seat beside him.
Sinclair moved a little further back, using a towel to help dry Ryoshu's hair. Here and there, he would catch a glimpse of Ryoshu's pristine neck, but that wasn't an important detail.
When the drying session ended, Ryoshu offered the same idea, seeing as Sinclair's hair was still partially wet. Here and there, Ryoshu would catch a glimpse of the blonde's pale neck, but that wasn't an important detail.
In the end, they both left the room. Sinclair didn't forget to grab the six bars of chocolate for Rodion, handing them off with a proud smile later on.
All's well that end's well.
The other Sinners didn't voice a word, but they could all tell that Ryoshu and Sinclair smelled as if they used the same shampoo.
The fact was confirmed by Meursalt later down the line, as a last minute thought before his turn came.