Once all the day’s work was finished, it became bath time.

I relaxed in the large communal bath, letting myself drift like a jellyfish.

‘Seriously, just like Iwabuchi-san said this really is like a public bathhouse.’

A perfect space to soothe the fatigue of the day.

The tub was wide and even stretching out my entire body, there was still plenty of room.

‘Having a bath this big all to myself is straight-up luxury... but this water is the same water Iwabuchi-san and the others were soaking in earlier…’

This lodge isn’t big enough to separate men’s and women’s baths.

Thinking of it as water that passed over Iwabuchi-san’s skin made me aware not of relaxation but of indecent thoughts.

Right now, I’m basically merged with her sweat and skin oils.

‘No, no! I’ve got to seal away these worldly desires!’

The fact that the girls let me use the bath after them is a sign of their trust.

I can’t betray that trust by doing perverted things!

‘In that case, I’ll just wash up quickly and get out.’

Even though it’s such a nice bath! Just because I’m drowning in temptation!

Grabbing the toy duck that had been floating in the tub when I entered, I head toward the wash station taps.

‘I’ll have this duck watch over me.’

So I don’t do anything stupid.

I place the supervising duck on the ledge in front of the mirror and shower from head down.

Maybe stimulating my scalp with shampoo was a mistake because my pink brain cells linked the words “bath” “washing body” and “Iwabuchi-san” together and I imagined the unrealistic scenario of her entering and washing my back.

‘No, no, that’s not happening. Honestly, I’m embarrassed imagining that my brain cells just shut down for a moment.’

Then I heard the sliding door open.

Footsteps approaching.

Wait, seriously?

Could it really be Iwabuchi-san washing my back?

But she did seem apologetic about asking me for help earlier, so maybe as thanks?

My heart pounding, I froze with foam still on my head.

The footsteps stopped behind me.

No, this is bad! Even if it’s Iwabuchi-san, I can’t accept that kind of service!

“Um Iwabuchi-san—”

I was about to shout that I appreciated the thought, but then a cool palm rested gently on my shoulder and my words sank back down.

“Hey there Hayama-kun.”

Th-that cool boyish voice...

“Long time no see. I wanted to meet you, so I came.”

“Eh!? That voice don’t tell me it’s Takatsuka-san!?”

“Correct. You wanted to see me, too right? Since the holidays started, we haven’t met once.”

“No, that’s beside the point! It’s beside the point! I mean, how did you even get in here!?”

“I have fans in the girls’ basketball team, you know. I asked one and they guided me in even though I’m an outsider.”

I can’t believe among those passionate team members there was a traitor!

“I didn’t plan to come this late, but I had something important to do.”

Important business... what could that be?

“Once I finished that, I came to see you. Isn’t that endearing? Made you want to become mine?”

“I don’t! And I’m naked right now!?”

“Hm, yes. But I’ll be seeing your naked body plenty soon enough, so it’s just a matter of sooner or later. A trivial issue.”

“That’s not trivial at all.”

“Come on, I’ll rinse the shampoo.”

Takatsuka-san snatched the showerhead and the foam washed from my hair.

Ah, now I’ve lost my excuse to keep my eyes closed...

“Next, I want to wash your back, so how long do you plan to keep those eyes shut?”

“I can’t open them! I’d see you naked through the mirror!”

“Relax. I expected you’d say that, so I came prepared. You won’t see me naked.”

“...Really?”

“Yep. Seeing is believing. This should show you.”

Suddenly, I felt something like two mounds pressed against my back.

But instead of the soft sensation I imagined it felt separated by something.

Resolving myself, I slightly opened my eyes and looked at the mirror.

“Ta-da. A swimsuit.”

“...Why a school swimsuit?”

“You like this kind of thing, right?”

“I’ve never said that...”

“I see. So you prefer my naked body after all? I’ll take it off then wait.”

“N-no, don’t take it off! It’s fine! Don’t do anything unnecessary! Just wash my back if you want!”

“Hehe, as you wish. Then I’ll use this body soap...”

“Wait, why are you applying body soap to yourself?”

“So I can wash your body with mine.”

“J-just do it normally!”

Why does everything go in a suggestive direction!?

Though she looked dissatisfied, saying doing it normally is boring, she properly prepared a sponge and washed my back surprisingly straightforwardly.

Having someone wash my back feels strange...

When Mitsuki was little and we bathed together, she did things like this but…

Since it’s Takatsuka-san, I figured she came just to tease me, yet her hands washing my back were oddly gentle.

I really don’t understand her true feelings.

“Looking at it like this, your back is clean.”

“Even though it’s just thin and lacking muscle?”

“There’s no need to think a man must have a sturdy body.”

“M-maybe...”

Since my body’s a flimsy one unlikely to gain muscle, hearing that is a bit encouraging...

“Speaking of bodies, last year in gym class, I shared lessons with Iwabuchi Ayami’s class, so we used the same changing room.”

Our classes combine two classes for lessons. Last year, our class paired with Takatsuka-san’s class.

But why Iwabuchi-san?

“Her body was nice. Athletic yet not stiffly muscular.”

“...”

Damn, I swallowed loudly... did she hear!?

“With sports, she probably eats more due to calorie use, so there was just a bit of softness above her underwear waistband. Just a bit. And basketball builds the lower body, so legs get thicker, but hers weren’t bulky, they seemed pleasantly strong if squeezed. Oh and she seems the sports bra type. She’s rather well endowed, so I wondered if that’s enough, but wires would get in the way during sports. Girls have it rough, right?”

Because of Takatsuka-san describing her body, I formed an almost nude model of Iwabuchi-san in my mind.

B-but yeah, when she got close and I touched her, she didn’t feel hard and muscular...

“Hey, isn’t it rude to react to another girl while I’m washing you?”

“T-that’s basically your fault! And don’t peek!”

Even covered with a towel, it’s embarrassing being looked at.

“I came all this way yet feel defeated. In that case, I’ll tell you a secret about my body.”

“Eh?”

“I don’t have moles, but there’s one floating spot.”

My hands were free, I could’ve covered my ears.

But I didn’t...

She whispered in my ear.

“Between my breasts.”

“...”

“When I’m wearing a bra, they’re pushed together so you can’t see it, but once it’s off, you can, so look forward to it.”

“I don’t have plans for that!”

“Judging by your reaction, it seems quite possible?”

“Stop looking!”

“Sorry, sorry. But I’m relieved. Thanks. My pride as a girl didn’t collapse.”

Takatsuka-san, who had been kneeling behind me, stood up.

Ah, maybe she’s satisfied and will leave now?

That’s what I hoped.

“Now I’ll wash the front. Hayama-kun face me. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. In fact, the opposite—”

“Absolutely not!”

The battle to protect my dignity continued for a while after that.