The women clustered in the bathhouse, trying to stifle their giggles. Their ringleader, Yae Miko, draped in a towel, silenced them with a gaze.

"So, ladies," said Yae Miko, "let's go over the battle plan one last time."

Hu Tao said, "Aether will bathe in the adjacent hot spring. We're going to drive him crazy. First, I'll say, 'Wow, Mirror Maiden, they're so big! You're so skinny, but they're ginormous!'"

"And then I'll say, 'Stop poking them! Go bother Clorinde, hers are just as big.'"

"After which I shall say, 'Huh?! Stop that!'"

Hu Tao said, "Next, I go over to her and say, 'Dayum, girl. I'm impressed. These things are bigger than my head. You could suffocate someone with these. And the tips—''

"That's when I cut you off," said Clorinde, "by saying 'P-please. Don't touch them like that.'"

Lisa chuckled. "That will certainly catch his attention. Next, I'll say, 'My, my, you've certainly got assets, cutie. Care to compare sizes?' Then, Yae Miko and I will compare our relative breast sizes."

"In the middle of that," said Hu Tao, "I'll grab Yae Miko's tooshie and say, 'You're not bad down here either!' Which leads us to the butts discussion. Soon, Aether will be a mess, thinking about us."

"Excuse me," said Kujo Sara, "Why am I here?"

"You'll be the mature one who restores order before things get too risqué," said Miko. "The more we leave to his imagination, the crazier he'll become. Now, let's do this thing."

The women put their hands into the center, counted off, and marched into the hot springs. They all seeped into the waters. Behind the divider separating the boys and girls sections, a bathhouse door flew open on the other side. Aether was out.

Hu Tao opened her mouth, but before she could say her line, another voice belted out, "Yo, compadre! Hop in already."

That sounded like Itto. What was he doing here?

The Oni gasped. "Dayum, Aether, you're stacked!

Itto flashed a grin from the other side of the hot springs. In reply, the blonde busted out a flex. They heard his muscles tightening.

"Thanks," said Aether, "I've been training hard. Check it: I finally upgraded from six to eight-pack muscles."

Several ears perked up.

"Seriously, compadre. You could grind meat on that thing!"

"Indeed," said Zhongli. "You've made impressive gains in your biceps as well. Every time I see you, it seems your shoulders grow broader."

B-broader? Mirror Maiden and Yae Miko gulped. Aether stepped out of the towel and into the hot springs. They became aware, by sounds of breaths and other senses, that there were others in the hot spring with Aether. As he let down his hair, someone whistled.

"Wow, dude," said Gaming. "You could charge people to look at you like that and be a millionaire in a week."

Aether's laughs filled the pool. Kaeya chuckled.

"Most impressive, honorary knight. And is it my imagination, or did you get bigger down there?"

Several throats went dry.

"You think so?" said Aether dubiously, "It feels the same as usual."

"Hmm, perhaps the girth has increased," suggested Alhaitham. "Have you been doing some special training? It's hard to believe that length and width are all natural."

Length? Width? Their minds went mad with ideas. Each of them got very hot and bothered, salivating and sweating while their thighs trembled.

"It's nothing that special," said Aether modestly. "Itto's is just as big."

Sara stiffened.

"Damn right it is," Itto smirked. "But you'd expect that on a strong, awesome guy like me. For a short stack, you're sure packing one heck of a weapon!"

They went on into casual conversation. All the women grabbed their bath towels and headed home so they could have some private time. Once the last woman left, the men talked some more and then Aether excused himself to make dinner.

Alone, Aether's bros looked at one another. Cyno gave them all a thumbs up.

"Operation 'Get them Wet First' was a huge success. Good job, men."