D–d–d, what should I do?!
Coming to a crowded hot spring all carefree, only for it to backfire on me like this……
From inside the changing room, I can hear the excited chatter of young women enjoying the bath, along with what sound like groups of older ladies on tour.
There seem to be quite a few people…… I really need to hide myself properly.
Aihara-san pulls me by the hand into the changing room, and we line up side by side as we put our clothes and belongings into neighboring lockers.
“It’s been forever since I’ve been to a hot spring—what about you, Sasaki-chan?”
“Me too. It’s been a while.”
“I wonder if they have those bubbly baths? I wanna try the sauna too!”
I nod as I start undressing.
Clothes off, underwear off, I wrap a bath towel around my body, and in the blink of an eye, I switch to my hot-spring mask—
“Huh? Sasaki-chan, you wear a mask because of hay fever, right? Do you really have to keep it on even in the bath?”
“…Apparently there are baths with cedar pollen or something, so I kinda have to.”
I managed to answer on the spot, but…… won’t she wonder, “Then why did you even come to this hot spring?”
“Oh wow… hay fever sounds rough. If you start feeling lightheaded or sick from the mask, tell me right away, okay?”
A–Aihara-san is way too kind.
She’s the type who doesn’t even think to doubt people.
She’s younger than me, yet she feels more mature somehow…… this is bad.
Something like rivalry begins to simmer inside me.
“Guess this makes it a bare-all kind of bonding, huh—ahaha.”
Her personality and the way she talks are so gentle, she loves soccer, and above all, her figure is……
The moment she unzips her red jersey, what spills out are abundantly full fruits, Mount Fuji–class.
T–they’re huge…… on the same level as that actress from the “stuff” Makishima hid in his dresser……
“H–hey, Sasaki-chan! Don’t…… stare so much.”
She must’ve noticed my half-lidded gaze, because Aihara-san quickly covers her chest.
“Sasaki… chan?”
“…………”
“Don’t go silent!”
“…………”
“Say something already!”
✳︎✳︎
I sit on a bath chair, still staring at Mount Fuji (figuratively), and take a shower together with Aihara-san.
What do you even eat to grow that big?
“Hey, hey. Since we’re here, can I try using your shampoo, Sasaki-chan? It always smells so nice, I’ve been curious.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Yay!”
I hand her my travel-size shampoo bottle.
“Fuaaah, it really does smell amazing. Like one of those expensive salon shampoos.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. As expected of you.”
She’s friendly, seems totally genuine, and on top of that, h–her chest is huge.
Despite being so blessed, Aihara-san gets to live a normal life as a college girl. I find myself feeling jealous of that.
If only I weren’t a former celebrity…… I could stay by Makishima’s side and show my face openly forever……
“Sasaki-chan, are you okay?”
Aihara-san peers worriedly into my face as the shower water hits me.
“I–I’m fine! I was just thinking I wanna soak in the bath already.”
“Then let’s wash each other’s backs.”
“Eh, but—”
“Come on, come on.”
Aihara-san turns her bath chair toward me and gestures for me to face away.
Left with no choice, I slide my chair over and show her my back.
“P–please take care of me.”
“Okaaay. Wow, Sasaki-chan, your back is so pretty…… your skin’s so white and smooth.”
“A–Aihara-san, don’t touch too m—hyah!”
“Sorry, is your back sensitive?”
“…Y–yeah.”
Aihara-san takes my body towel, lathers it up, and starts washing my back.
“Ma’am~ any itchy spots I should get~?”
“N–no.”
“Then~ may I tickle you~?”
“No! I told you my back’s sensitive!”
“Ahaha, sorry, sorry.”
After washing each other, we finally step into the hot spring.
The night sky seen from the open-air bath is breathtaking—so much so that I never want to go back to a cramped indoor bath again.
Soaking all the way up to my shoulders, I absentmindedly watch the steam rising.
“Feels great, doesn’t it? The breeze comes right in too.”
“Yeah…”
If only I didn’t have my glasses and mask on, I could enjoy this even more.
“Hey, Sasaki-chan.”
“What is it?”
“About today’s match…… did you come because Makishima-kun invited you?”
“N–no. He just happened to call and mentioned there was a game during Golden Week, so I thought I’d go since I was free.”
“I–I see.”
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“Um……”
“?”
“I–I was wondering if maybe, Sasaki-chan, you and Makishima-kun—”
“Aihara-chaaan.”
At that moment, the two women who had come earlier with Aihara-san called out to us.
“We’re heading out first. We’ll relax near the bath entrance, so take your time~.”
“O–okay! Got it.”
The two of them leave ahead.
Are they manager senpai, maybe?
“Aihara-san, you’re a manager for the soccer club, right? You’re doing great.”
“Y–yeah. The senpai are really kind, and it’s pretty fun. What about you, Sasaki-chan?”
If not for my circumstances…… I’d want to do it too, but.
“I don’t think I could. I don’t know soccer as well as you do…… and I want time for my hobbies.”
“Your hobby was café hopping, right?”
“Yeah. I especially love pancakes, so I go around to different cafés trying them. The café I went to recently had these fluffy, melty—”
Seeing Aihara-san’s puzzled expression, I snap back to myself.
“S–sorry! I just started rambling all of a sudden.”
“No, it’s fine. I just thought Sasaki-chan has a cute side too.”
“A cute side?”
“When you’re with everyone in seminar, you seem cool and mature, but when it comes to things you like, your true self shows. I think that’s cute.”
My face grows hot for reasons other than the bath.
“I–I think I’m gonna get out now!”
I stand up, trying to hide my reddened face.
“Geez, Sasaki-chan, you’re blushing~.”
“I–I’m not blushi—eh?”
“Sasaki-chan?!”
It happened right after I stood up.
Maybe I got lightheaded—my vision suddenly swayed, my foot slipped, and I fell toward Aihara-san.
“Ow…… S–Sasaki-chan, are you okay?!”
“I–I’m fine, I’m fine!”
I fell into the water, and with my face pressed into Aihara-san’s chest, I ended up being held in her arms and somehow saved—at least, that’s what should have happened.
“S–sorry, Aihara-sa……n.”
As I tried to lift myself up, my vision felt strangely clear.
……Huh?
I bring my hand to my eyes.
M–my glasses are gone!
“Sasaki… chan……?”
Aihara-san stared at my face, dumbfounded, as it was pressed against her chest.
✳︎✳︎
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