Aihara-san’s soft skin presses against mine.
When I stumbled and fell toward Aihara-san, I lifted my face—and in that instant, I felt something off about how clear my vision had become.
Normally, my field of view should be narrow because of my glasses—yet?!
“My glasses are gone!”
Aihara-san stared at my flustered face, her large eyes widening even further in surprise.
Did she realize it……?
“Uh—Sasaki-chan, you look really different when you take your glasses off.”
“R–r–really…?”
T–thank goodness. With that reaction, it doesn’t seem like she’s figured it out yet.
I pushed myself up, groped around, found my glasses sinking near the bottom of the bath, and quickly put them back on.
I always squint my eyes and lower my voice to act like a different person—there’s no way she’d think I’m the same person as Kiraboshi Ayane——
“You look similar.”
“…Huh?”
“Sasaki-chan, don’t people ever tell you that you look like the former idol Kiraboshi Ayane?”
The moment she said that, a chill ran down my spine.
It felt like a probing question.
So she has figured it out……?!
“N–nope, never heard that.”
I replied lightly, trying to brush it off.
“But you really do look alike.”
“Oh, come on.”
Aihara-san stared intently into my eyes behind my glasses.
She clearly looked suspicious……
The only people who know that I and Kiraboshi Ayane are the same person are Makishima and the café manager.
If more people find out, things will eventually get really bad.
I absolutely can’t let myself be exposed here, so——
“I think I’m overheating a bit. I feel dizzy, so I’m gonna head out.”
I need to put some distance between us.
The moment I stood up, Aihara-san stood up as well.
“It’s dangerous to go alone. I’ll go with you.”
I couldn’t refuse her kindness.
I nodded and left the hot spring together with Aihara-san.
✳︎✳︎
……Sasaki-chan’s eyes.
After leaving the hot spring, we stood side by side drying our hair.
I glanced over at Sasaki-chan as she carefully dried her short hair.
She usually squints her eyes, but the moment her glasses fell, they turned into large, jewel-like eyes that were so beautiful I couldn’t help but stare.
It’s hard to see clearly because of the mask, but the area around her eyes looks like Kiraboshi Ayane’s…… no, it’s more than that—too similar.
But there’s no way Kiraboshi Ayane would be here.
Besides, Sasaki-chan is the same age as me, so realistically speaking, it doesn’t add up.
After changing clothes and gathering our belongings, we left the hot spring.
“Sasaki-chan, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine now.”
After saying just that, Sasaki-chan stopped walking.
“I’m staying at this hotel, so I’m heading back to my room. Sorry for causing you trouble, Aihara-san. You probably wanted to soak a bit longer.”
“That’s not true at all! I’ve got my manager senpai waiting anyway, so the timing’s perfect. Don’t worry about it.”
“…Okay then. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Sasaki-chan walked toward the elevators.
The way she panicked earlier…… seeing that, it’s hard not to think something’s going on.
Could she be related to Kiraboshi Ayane? Or maybe a long-lost sister?
“No, no. If that were the case, Sasaki-chan would tell me.”
I shouldn’t overthink it.
Sasaki-chan is Sasaki-chan.
I headed toward the lobby where my senpai were waiting.
✳︎✳︎
After enjoying the hot spring for the first time in a while, I came out feeling warm all over.
“Phew…… that felt great.”
Azaki, who tried peeping by using Chan-senpai’s strength, apparently didn’t get to see what he wanted.
He left the hot spring earlier with a completely drained look on his face. (Just what did he see, anyway?)
Chan-senpai said he was going to stay in even longer and hit the sauna before heading back.
“Ah, Makishima-kun?”
As I was about to return to my room alone, someone called out to me in front of the elevator.
“Oh, Aihara. Were you out somewhere?”
“Actually——”
She motioned for me to listen, so I crouched down a bit.
“Whisper whisper.”
“I see. So because that idiot Azaki tried peeping, you went to another hot spring nearby.”
“Y–yeah.”
Aihara gave a wry smile.
Just by existing, he manages to inconvenience others.
What a tragic man.
“The elevator’s here, Makishima-kun.”
“Yeah.”
As I got into the elevator together with Aihara, I noticed something.
——Wait, this scent…… Sasaki?!
✳︎✳︎
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