Chapter Text
"Where do our... clothes go?" Mifuyu asked, cocking her head.
"Yeah! It just occurred to me today -- like they've gotta be going somewhere, right?"
Across from Mifuyu, Tsuruno motioned to the sleeves of the school uniform she was wearing. The two of them sat alone in a booth at Banbanzai, maybe an hour or so after closing. Mifuyu's desire to stay behind after her meal and catch up a bit had turned into a hearty, sit-down discussion that'd featured topics from both near and far -- topics that had, at one point, gotten a touch suggestive, only to circle back around into the throes of mundanity.
"I've never thought about it," Mifuyu said. She brought her hands to her chin and looked down at the table for a moment. "But you're right... it's a good question."
"It is a good question!" Tsuruno said. "I mean don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but that doesn't mean I can't be a little confused by it. Like... they're not giant storage facilities, y'know? They're Cauldrons."
A quick little chill shot up Mifuyu's spine. She was still getting used to that word -- still getting used to the way her heart would begin to pound every time it was brought up.
"And come to think of it, there doesn't seem to be any good place to store them," Mifuyu said. "And even then, I wouldn't exactly consider a bunch of tentacles to be good for hanging onto clothes..."
"Exactly!" Tsuruno said! "They're all wet and slimy and stuff and there's usually cum everywhere on top of it too, but then when everything's said and done and you're finished up and it's time to leave... you're clothes are totally dry?"
"That's how it's always happened to me, at least," Mifuyu said, chuckling. "And it's a good thing for sure, because most girls usually aren't... presentable when they in one of those things--"
"Wait, hang on," Tsuruno said. "That... That's a whole other thing! Because no matter what happens while we're in there or how long we stay, we're somehow always totally dry when we come out! Just like we were when we went in!"
"And there you go!" Mifuyu said, throwing her hands up in bewilderment. "It doesn't add up! You show up, your clothes go missing; you leave, your clothes are magically back. You show up, you get soaked and your hair turns into a mess; you leave, you're spotless and your hair's perfect!"
"You don't think..." Tsuruno said, leaning in close. "You don't think that lube they use has soap in it, do you?"
"Pfft! Who knows -- it just might!" Mifuyu said, laughing. "Though if it does, you and me need to round some of it up and take it to an inventor or something -- because that'd be the first soap I've ever used that doesn't sting like crazy anytime it gets somewhere it shouldn't be."
"Man, that would be a big improvement!" Tsuruno said. "Almost as big as... Shoot, almost as big as something else the Cauldrons do! Them putting your clothes away is one thing, but... who puts 'em back on? Do they do it?"
Mifuyu's jaw dropped.
"They... Gosh, I guess they do! I mean they're flexible enough to be able to pull it off, I guess--"
"I don't know, even the buttons?" Tsuruno asked. "Anytime I've gone in with a skirt or a dress shirt or something, it's been perfectly buttoned up when I came out! But for as big as the tips on the tentacles and all are... how on earth do they do it?"
"...That's a really good question, now that you bring it up," Mifuyu said. "And bra straps, too -- they're always done up without any problem, and sometimes it's all humans can do to get those things working!"
"Oh, tell me about it!" Tsuruno said. "Heck, that might be one of the best parts about being in there -- just... not having to wear anything, y'know? Don't have to worry about matching up your outfits or telling fronts from backs or making sure you hang your stuff up to dry-- wait, dammit, clothes drying?! We're right back to square one!"
Mifuyu laughed and shook her head.
"Maybe there're just things about the Cauldrons that we're not supposed to figure out," she said. "Things we're supposed to just enjoy at face value -- because if you analyze something too much, it starts to get boring, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, I hear you," Tsuruno said. "But I also can't help but wonder..."
Mifuyu cocked her head.
"If I were to walk up to a Cauldron , only throw my dirty laundry in, and then walk off, would all my stuff be cleaned and dried and folded up all nice and neat when I got back?"