Chapter 64: Kamishiro Hisui (Indoor Bath)

With my back turned to the washing area, I was soaking in the bath. From behind me, I could hear the sounds of Hisui washing herself.

...What should I do?

Should I get out of the bath early?

That would let me avoid the immediate crisis, sure—but it would also mean clearly rejecting Hisui. If I did that, it would ruin the trip and trample on Hisui’s wish to make good memories.

Then, should I just stay in the bath with her?

If Hisui were seeking a romantic relationship, I wouldn’t be able to respond to her feelings. But just taking a bath together? That’s a bit of a gray area.

If we were male and female friends, it’d obviously be a no-go. But if we were both female friends, then bathing together wouldn’t be all that unusual.

The kind of relationship I want to build with Hisui from now on is that of same-gender friends. So in that context, maybe this could be considered normal physical closeness.

But... is that really okay?

I can’t deny that a part of me is looking forward to seeing Hisui naked. Knowing that, if I look at her body, it would feel like a betrayal.

“How come you’re making such a serious face?”

A voice at my side made me look up.

“I was just wondering if it’s really okay for me to keep bathing with you like this…”

When I turned toward her, I saw Hisui, her hair wrapped in a towel—

“Waaahh, H-Hisui...!?”

I frantically turned my back to her and leapt away.

I saw it. The elegant curve of her chest—and even the pink tips at the center.

They’re huge.

Definitely bigger than Yuna’s. That’s not everything, of course, but size alone has undeniable impact.

I know this isn’t the time to be thinking about that, but that skin tone and pinkness are burned into my mind—I can’t get them out of my head!

“…You didn’t have to run away.”

I felt something press down behind me, and a pair of long, pale arms reached over my shoulders, locking me in place.

She pulled me backward just like that. My small frame was no match for Hisui’s strength—I was easily moved.

“Hyah!?” ...Nn!

Losing my balance, I let out a yelp.

When I fell back, my head was caught by two soft mounds. My head sank into the swell on either side, only to be gently bounced back by their elasticity.

Before I realized it, I was completely cradled in Hisui’s lap. The back of my head was resting in the valley of her chest.

“W-wait, Hisui!? What are you—!?”

Panicking, I twisted my body to try to escape, but her arms held me firmly from behind. I couldn’t move. And every time I struggled, the softness of her chest shifted around my head, making it even worse.

“This is just some friendly skinship between girls. Don’t make such a big deal out of it.”

“I feel like this definitely goes beyond 'just' friendly!”

“But you’ve bathed with Yuna-chan like this from time to time, haven’t you?”

What the heck has Yuna been telling her?

…Or rather, I think those back-hugs at home were only because of the limited space in the bath.

And even then, I never let Yuna get this close.

“Yuna bragged to me about how nice it feels to hold you. She said it made her jealous. And now that I’ve experienced it… I see what she meant. This could get addictive.”

What is Yuna even bragging about!? And what does she mean, addictive…? Though now that she mentions it, I have been sitting between Yuna’s knees like it’s totally normal lately—wait, what!? Seriously!?

“If you can bathe with Yuna-chan, then there’s no reason you can’t bathe with me too, right? This kind of skinship is totally normal between girls.”

“O-okay, fine…”

I’d heard that girls enjoy physical closeness more than guys. So maybe bathing together like this, even sitting in someone’s lap, isn’t that strange after all.

Still, I really wish she’d stop whispering right next to my ear. It’s so ticklish, it’s making me all twitchy…

When I accepted it, the restraint of Hisui’s arms wrapped around me from behind was released.

"I'm not going to run away, so just let me sit up a little..."

I pleaded with Hisui. If I stayed like this, my self-control would be in serious danger. This softness was the kind that could ruin a man. If this kept up, I might end up doing something I shouldn't. Also, Alicia staying completely silent was really freaking me out.

"...I guess I don’t have a choice."

Hisui accepted my request. I sat up, escaping from paradise.

Freed from the violence of softness, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

"...Are you okay? I'm not too heavy, am I?"

Worried about Hisui who was underneath me, I spoke up.

"I'm totally fine. Alice, you're so light... Honestly, it’s kind of annoying how you don’t have an ounce of extra fat on you."

"Hyah!?"『Hyaa!?』

Suddenly, Hisui’s hands touched my stomach, and I let out an involuntary scream.

At the same time, I heard a scream from Alicia, who had been silent until now.

"Oh...? Alicia?"

Hisui began rubbing my stomach.

『W-Wait, Hisui-san!? P-Please… that really tickles!』

"Wait… Hisui… s-stop…!"

"Sharing senses like this… it’s kind of fascinating."

Hisui wiggled her fingers and kept tickling my stomach. The ticklish, frustrating sensation made my whole body tense up.

『Ah… nnh… kuh…』

Alicia’s sweet, breathy voice echoed in my head and started melting my thoughts.

Hisui’s right index finger circled around my navel, while the fingers of her left hand started wriggling around my pubic bone.

"St-stop… Hisui…!"

Alarmed, I cried out to stop her. Even I could tell that place was definitely outside the realm of friendly touch.

"...Oh, so it really isn't there."

Seeming satisfied with her confirmation, Hisui didn’t go any further and pulled her hands away, allowing me to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

But just as I thought it was over, Hisui's left hand slid down to rest on my thigh.

"This part’s silky smooth too... I’m jealous."

Her fingertips brushed along my inner thigh—so lightly that it was hard to tell if she was touching me at all. The sensation made my skin crawl and sent a shiver through my body.

Hisui’s right hand continued to toy with my navel area, doubling as a means to keep me pinned down. Caught in the rhythm of her fingers, both Alicia and I found ourselves helplessly voicing reactions.

By the time Hisui finally stopped moving her hands, my breathing was ragged, and my head was a complete mess.

Being in the hot spring only made things worse—my overheated skin was flushed a bright cherry pink.

---

『Hisui-san, why did you do something like that…?』

While I struggled to catch my breath, Alicia—who hadn’t so much as lost hers—posed a question to Hisui.

"Maybe because Alicia acting so cool and composed got on my nerves… just a little?"

The words that came back from Hisui were surprisingly sharp. It wasn’t often she spoke this bluntly.

"Why were you so quiet earlier? You were watching us the whole time, weren’t you?"

『It was a conversation between you and Ikuto-san. I didn’t think it was my place to interrupt.』

As long as we're linked through group telepathy, none of us can have side conversations—it’s all public. Which means, now that Alicia is speaking, Hisui can hear her too.

"I already told you how I feel before, didn’t I? Are you really okay with things like this?"

Before…? She must be referring to the time she and Alicia talked alone during the culture festival.

Faced with Hisui’s question, Alicia hesitated to reply. Her silence seemed to strike a nerve, and Hisui’s irritation showed plainly on her face.

It was an expression I’d never seen from her before—and I honestly had no idea how to react.

"...What, is that what they call the confidence of a legal wife?"

『That’s not what this is about…』

…How did things end up like this? I seriously have no idea.

『Who Ikuto-san chooses should be his decision.』

"And what about your feelings? Are you seriously okay no matter who he chooses!?"

『…!』

I could sense Alicia’s emotions rising—but she didn’t say anything else. She just swallowed it down and went quiet.

"...Fine. So you’re not even planning to step onto the same playing field as me."

Then, with surprising ease, my body was lifted off her.

Hisui slid out from under me, climbed out of the hot spring, and walked back toward the room.

…Huh? And now what the hell am I supposed to do?