Chapter 68: Kamishiro Hisui (The Morning After)

When I woke from a sleep as deep as mud, the sun was already high in the sky. My memories from last night were patchy, and I had no idea how it had ended.

Only the futon I’d been sleeping in was left—a mess in the most literal sense—while the others had already been cleaned up.

When I peeled back my blanket, I found clean sheets beneath me, with no visible traces of last night.

For a second, I hoped maybe nothing had actually happened—but the sweet, lingering scent clinging to my completely bare body, along with the unpleasant stickiness of my skin, drove home the point that yesterday wasn’t just some dream or delusion. No denying it.

"Good morning, Alice, Alicia."

The dressing room door slid open, and Hisui—already fully dressed—called out to us.

She wore pants and a ponytail, just like yesterday, but today she had a slightly looser, more boyish look going.

"What’s the matter? Don’t tell me… were you staring because you’re captivated by me?"

I had thought she looked kind of cool, which made me feel awkward, and I quickly turned my face away.

"The morning bath was lovely. You two should go in, too."

Suddenly remembering I was stark naked, I hurried to cover my chest with the blanket.

Still bundled up like that, I looked around for my clothes—but they weren’t anywhere nearby.

Looking around nervously, I finally spotted my bag a little distance away.

Hisui watched my frantic behavior with clear amusement. Still wrapped up in the futon like a caterpillar, I wriggled my way toward my bag.

"You don’t need to act all shy now."

"It’s a mental thing! Just leave me alone."

Her silence almost said, After how much you were begging last night?, and my face turned bright red with embarrassment.

『Yeah! And don’t look over here! You beast, Hisui-san!』

Alicia threw in her support. After what happened yesterday, she wasn’t holding back. I quickly set up a telepathic link, so her complaint went directly to Hisui.

"Alright, alright. I’ll go for a walk. You two enjoy your bath."

With that, Hisui left the room. Honestly, I was relieved. After everything that happened, I had no idea how I was supposed to face her.

Still wrapped in the futon, I opened my bag and started looking for clothes.

Inside was the slip I had worn last night, neatly folded. Hisui must’ve packed it away for me.

"Huh? …Just the slip?"

The matching panties weren’t there. Well, they weren’t really in wearable condition anyway, so I decided not to dwell on it and got my change of clothes ready.

Once I’d shed the futon, I gathered up my outfit and headed to the dressing room.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I took another look at myself. Silver hair down to my waist, pale white skin. On my modest chest, soft pink tips stood out prominently.

『You’ve got marks…』

Just like Alicia said, my pale skin was dotted with what could only be the traces of Hisui’s actions last night.

"It really stands out against pale skin… What should I do…?"

『Just use healing magic and erase them.』

"Oh. Yeah, good point."

Casting healing magic, I erased the evidence of Hisui’s touch from my body. All gone. Finally, I could relax.

『Alright! Let’s get into that hot spring and refresh ourselves!』

The morning hot spring felt like heaven. I washed myself clean at the washing station, and then soaked in the bath, surrounded by the crisp, clear air of the mountain morning. It was the ultimate indulgence.

"This is the best."
『Absolutely the best.』

It was so good, I couldn’t help but let out a loose, relaxed moan. Stretching out my arms, I tossed them over the rocks behind me at the edge of the hot spring.

"Well, well, you two look like you're really enjoying yourselves."

Standing on the veranda visible from the bath, there was Hisui. At some point, she must have returned to the room.

『What are you doing back already, Hisui-san? You could’ve stayed out walking a bit longer, you knowー？』

Alicia said in a lazily sarcastic voice. But Hisui just smiled, completely unfazed.

"Fufu, I seem to have become quite disliked by you, Alicia. I brought a little bribe as an apology. Will you forgive me?"

Saying that, Hisui slid open the glass door to the courtyard with the hot spring and stepped out, then brought something forward from behind her back.

"Here, a little treat."

It was a retro-style glass bottle of cola. Beads of condensation on the surface showed just how ice-cold it was.

『"Fwaaah… It’s cola…!"』

Our voices overlapped perfectly—mine and Alicia’s.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t had anything to drink since last night. And after doing things that wrung the fluids right out of me, my body was crying out for hydration.

I reached out and took the bottle from Hisui.

Guided purely by instinct, I pressed the mouth of the bottle to my lips, tipped it back, and poured the dark, fizzy liquid into my mouth.

The invading liquid stormed through my mouth, hit my throat with full force, and I swallowed it down with loud, greedy gulps like a rushing waterfall.

I could feel it flooding into my belly, which had been warmed by the hot spring, and the contrast sent a pleasant shiver through me as my body cooled from the inside.

A small jet I couldn’t quite swallow in time spilled from the corner of my lips in a sloppy dribble.

"Ahhh… I feel alive again!"

Riding that momentum, I drained the whole bottle and held it up toward Hisui like a trophy.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Hisui accepted the empty bottle with a smile.

"Totally satisfied. Thanks, Hisui!"

『It was delicious… Thank you very much.』

"I’ve had breakfast prepared in the room, so let’s eat once you're done with your bath."

『Breakfast…!』

The moment I heard the word "food," my stomach growled kuuuu in response, reminding me just how hungry I was and making its demand loud and clear.

"I was going to say there’s no need to rush, but… looks like you two can’t wait any longer, huh?"

"The bath won’t get cold, but the food will! We’re coming now!"

After a quick dip to warm up one last time, I jumped out of the bath and headed for the dressing room.

Since I planned to soak again after breakfast, I just gave myself a quick rub down and changed into some clothes half-heartedly.

"That was fast."

Seeing me come out, Hisui gave me a slightly exasperated look.

Well, it couldn’t be helped—I was hungry.

Breakfast was a textbook example of a traditional Japanese meal. Freshly cooked white rice took center stage, accompanied by an all-star lineup of side dishes that were perfect to eat with rice.

As expected, the rice went down smoothly, and for the first time since I got this body, I even asked for seconds.

"Um, Hisui. Did you see the panties I was wearing yesterday?"

After the meal, as I sipped the tea Hisui had made, I asked about something that had been on my mind.

They were just one of a three-pack of everyday underwear, so I didn’t care about the item itself—but if someone were to find it left behind at the inn by mistake, that would be seriously embarrassing.

"Oh, those? I kept them as a souvenir."

"...I see."

So that’s where they went. I thought they were missing, but Hisui had them.

I was relieved just to know where they’d ended up. I calmly sipped my tea.

『Wait, wait, isn’t this weird?! Ikuto-san, you’re just ignoring this?! That’s theft, isn’t it?!』

"You make it sound so bad. I asked Alice for permission yesterday, properly."

『Consent given in a state where Ikuto-san himself doesn’t even remember anything is totally invalid! I absolutely hate the idea of Hisui-san having my underwear from that situation—give it back!』

"But I got them from Alice. And you follow Alice’s decisions, don’t you?"

『Well, last night I decided I’d start speaking up about things I don’t like! That’s what I’ve resolved to do! Ikuto-san, say something!』

"I mean, I don’t really mind..."

As a former guy, I can kind of understand how Hisui feels.

Besides, if I saw those panties again, they’d probably just remind me of everything that happened yesterday. In that sense, I think it’s better for my peace of mind if I don’t have them.

『I can’t believe you’d keep something like that as a souvenir. Hisui-san, you’re a pervert!』

"Ah... Being called a pervert isn’t so bad, either..."

Hisui blushed and looked dreamy. It felt like she’d just opened some new door within herself.

"As a thank-you, Alice, I’d like to give you this."

Hisui handed me a plain brown paper bag. It made a light, dry sound—like something small was inside.

"It's the toy's we used yesterday. If you don’t want it, feel free to throw it away."

That explained what it was. At the same time, Alicia must’ve realized too—her flustered voice echoed in my head.

『Wait—what are you giving him that for!? We don’t need something like that! ...Hey, why are you quietly putting it away, Ikuto-san!?』

I decided to gratefully accept it. I pretended I couldn’t hear Alicia’s protests.

"How about I make it up to Alicia with that box of five souvenirs you were so excited about yesterday?"

At Hisui’s suggestion, the noise in my head came to a sudden stop.

『I-I don’t think something like that is enough to make up for this!』

“I’m kind of getting the urge to check out some new releases. Maybe I’ll stop by the bookstore in front of the station on the way back.”

『……』

“I’ll buy you any book you want, Alicia. Just one.”

『……That doesn’t mean I’m okay with this, you know.』

In other words, she’s letting it slide.

“Well then, since everything’s settled, how about we all hit the large public bath together one last time?”

“I’m down. I want to soak in a big bath.”

『I suppose that’s fine. Even Hisui-san wouldn’t try anything weird in a public bath.』

There might be other guests, but after getting that up close and personal with Hisui’s skin, I’m confident I can stay composed even if there are naked women around.

And just like that, we enjoyed the hot springs to the very end and brought our thrilling trip to a close.