My first female friend at my new school is Midori-san. She’s actually the only daughter of the school board chairman. And today after school, I’m visiting her house.

“Hey, Miki. Our bath is amazing, you know.”

“Uh-huh...”

What’s this all of a sudden?

“Do you know what a Roman bath is? We also have a heated pool. Why not stay over tonight!”

“Whaaat?!”

Staying overnight at a girl’s house so suddenly?! I mentally retort at myself without thinking.

“Don’t be so shocked. Just think of it as visiting a resort. After all, there’s no one else at home but me.”

What about the mountain of servants...

“B-but... it’s a bit much. And I should go home, too. I mean, my mom would worry, and I need to get ready for school tomorrow, change of clothes, and all.”

I desperately try to avoid this situation.

“Oh? You can just call home now. As I thought, Miki, you really do hate me.”

Tears welled up in Midori-san’s eyes in no time.

“Ah, no, that’s not it! It’s not like that... I told you I don’t hate you! Alright, fine. I’ll stay over, so please don’t cry.”

Ah, perhaps I’ve been caught by a terrifying girl...

“Really? I’m so happy.”

When Midori-san looked down and stuck out her tongue just slightly, even I didn’t notice.

“Well then, call right away. Here, the phone.”

Honestly, I’m completely bowled over by this girl’s pace.

And she’s so different from the first impression I had.

I took the cordless phone Midori-san handed me and dialed my home number. The moment the second ring sounded, Mom picked up.

“Hello, Yamaguchi residence.”

“Ah, Mom, it’s me. I mean, it’s me. Yeah, Miki. I’m going to stay over at a friend’s house today. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. It’s fine, it’s a girl’s house. Huh? Yeah. She’s the board chairman’s daughter. Yeah. It’s okay, don’t worry. Okay then.”

Click.

“Are you okay? She didn’t get angry?”

“She said not to cause trouble.”

“Then, how about taking a bath before dinner?”

What?! A bath right now?

“Now, this way. Hurry!”

Midori-san pulled my hand and started walking swiftly.

“Ah, w-wait a sec.”

She’s a girl who always sets her own pace, as usual.

The bathroom, as Midori-san had proudly said, was made of marble and was so luxurious and vast that a large public bath at some hot spring hotel couldn’t even compare.

“Now, let’s get in!”

Saying that, she strips off her clothes at incredible speed. Truly an impressive undressing prowess.

“Come on, Miki, take yours off too.”

Ah, it’s at times like these I’m honestly glad I don't have a certain something right now. Because if that area were to go all ○×＆＃＄!, it’d be a disaster.

“Hey, Midori. Do you always bathe here alone?”

“Mm. That’s right.”

I felt like I might understand just a bit why this young lady is so lonely.

“Yahoo—!!”

Splashhh!

I take back my last thought. She’s got loads of energy!

“Mikiii—come in quick—!”

But this bath is pretty deep. It’s fine to jump in.

“Alright! Yahoo—!”

I yelled out loudly too and jumped in with all my might.

Kerploosh!

“Ahaha!”

“Ufufu. This is so fun!! Hey, race you to the far end!”

“Alright, I’m not gonna lose!”

There probably aren’t many houses in Japan where you can have a swimming race in a private bath, right?

Splish splash.

Splash!

“Touch! Haa, haa, I win!”

“Dammit! That’s only because Midori had a false start!”

“Tsk tsk tsk. I think I’d win no matter how many times we tried.”

“Why?”

“Heheh. Because I’m the record holder in the girls’ junior high freestyle.”

“Hmph! You never know until you try!”

I’m quite a sore loser.

“Alright then, if you say so, shall we have a match in the 25m pool over there?”

Midori-san provokes me with a confident smile.

“OK, OK. I accept your challenge.”

I’ve got a bit of confidence in my swimming too, y’know!

The heated pool is right next to the bath; the bath can’t be seen from the pool, but the pool can be seen from the bath. Still, this is an incredible facility. Is this pointless vastness proof of celebrity status?

Now, pool or not, since it’s private and we came straight from the bath next door, we’re naturally completely naked.

“Miki, you take lane 2, I’ll take lane 4. Ready?”

“OK. I’m not losing this time!”

“On your marks... get set... Go!”

Splash!

The start was even, maybe?

Still, her arm stroke is smooth as expected. Damn, I can’t let a girl beat me.

Up to the 15m point, we were about even, I think.

Just when I saw the 20m buoy...

Gurgle, glub glub...

I shamefully got dizzy from the hot water of the bath, it seems.

After that, my consciousness faded away.

* * *

“Hey, Miki. Are you alright?”

“Mmm... yeah...”

I saw Midori-san’s worried face right in front of me.

“Oh, good, you’re awake.”

“I? What happened?”

“‘I’... Miki? Is your head okay?”

“Ah, me. What happened to me?”

“You seemed to have gotten sick from the hot spring. I’m sorry for pushing you too hard.”

“I see. Got sick...”

“I’m used to it and I was fine, so...”

“Midori, the match is postponed.”

“Hehe, yes.”

“Anyway, where... is this?”

I noticed the ceiling beyond Midori-san’s face.

“Ah, here? On the bed in my room.”

“Huh?!”

Wait?! I’m not wearing clothes? And... Midori-san too?

Kaaaaa (blush)

“Um, well, hold on. It seems I’m not wearing clothes...”

“Oh, right. You were carried in with just a towel wrapped around you. And I don’t wear clothes when I sleep.”

“Ehh—I do wear them, though~”

“It’s fine. Once you feel better, we’ll have dinner in the dining room. You can get changed then.”

“Ughh—”

That’s not really the issue, is it.

After that, we had a luxurious dinner and then slept together in Midori-san’s bed. But Midori-san slept fully naked and had quite bad sleeping posture, hugging me and such, so in the end I couldn’t get a wink of sleep.