Chapter 17 – Something Like I Was Careless

After heating up the bath, I looked at the phone in my hand and thought, I’m a modern person in any world. Yeah, even if I’m reincarnated in a world like this, my smartphone addiction won’t be cured. I’m a modern person, after all.

…Since I already brought it with me anyway, maybe I’ll call Mana or Yui while soaking in the bath. I think they’ve already kind of understood that I’m oblivious to that kind of stuff, so if I start a video call and just say I was careless, it should probably be fine, right? Let’s try it.

Thinking that, I headed to the living room to ask Mom if she had a waterproof phone case. Some people might think that if I’m going all the way back here, I should just leave my phone in my room, but my curiosity can’t be contained anymore.

“Of course I have one, but are you going to use your phone in the bath too, Yuu-chan?”

“Yeah. Is that not okay?”

“O-Of course it’s okay! H-Here you go.”

After receiving the waterproof phone case from Mom, I rejoiced internally at how well that went, then returned to the bathroom and took off my clothes. Then I washed my head and body, brought my phone, and got into the bath.

Now, which one should I contact? …I should probably raise Mana’s affection since there’s that yandere suspicion about her, so I can get into that kind of relationship with Yui. Her affection probably went up quite a bit from today, but it doesn’t hurt to be extra careful and raise it even more.

【Mana, sorry for the sudden message, but can you talk on the phone right now? It’s not like anything happened, but I suddenly wanted to hear your voice】

Thinking that, I sent a message like that to Mana. Immediately, it showed as read and a reply came back.

【Of course!】

Seeing that, I stopped for a moment as I was about to make a video call before Mana called me. …Now that I think about it calmly, aren’t I about to do something incredibly gross? …N-No, no, calm down. This is a world where chastity values are reversed, right? It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m the only one who thinks it’s gross—Mana shouldn’t think that at all.

Mustering up pointless courage like that, I finally made the video call to Mana.

“Hello… Huh? Y-Yuuto, you’re in the bath… I mean, it’s a video call!”

As expected, Mana showed her bright red face on the screen while saying that in a flustered way.

“Oh, you’re right. But it’s fine.”

“I-It’s not fine at all!”

“Hmm, but you can’t see anything important, right? So it’s fine.”

I feel incredibly gross saying this myself, but if it means I can see Mana’s embarrassed face, I can endure it. Yeah.

“B-But it’s close… so it’s still not okay.”

“…If you really don’t want to see it that badly, I’ll turn off the camera, but I want to see your face, Mana.”

“I-It’s not that I don’t want to see it… I actually want to see it, you know? B-But…”

“If you want to see it, then it’s fine, right?”

“…Y-Yeah.”

Good, Mana nodded, so I’ll continue like this. …But what should I talk about? …I made this call because I wanted to do this, so honestly, I’ve already achieved my goal.

While thinking that and making small talk while watching the flustered Mana, it seems I’d been in the bath for quite a while, and I heard Mom’s voice calling me.

“Huh? Ah!”

Surprised by that sudden voice, I dropped my phone. The phone itself is fine since it’s in the waterproof case, but judging by how Mana’s face turned the reddest it’s been all day, my thing might have shown on camera.

“D-Did you see anything?”

Even for me, if that showed, it’d still be embarrassing even if it’s my own fault, so while feeling my face heat up, I asked that.

“Huh…? I-I didn’t see anything! I didn’t see anything at all, so it’s fine!”

“…If you say so.”

That’s totally the reaction of someone who saw it, I thought, but I said that and hung up unilaterally. I mean, that was seriously embarrassing. I really didn’t mean to show that.

Chapter 18 – Bad Timing, But…

“Yuu-chan, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen at school after all?”

While eating the dinner Mom made for me with my mood down from the shock of being seen—even though it was my own fault—Mom asked me that. …There’s no way I can honestly say that a girl saw my private parts. Especially not in a world like this.

“That’s not it. I just… got a little dizzy from the bath, that’s all.”

“A-Are you okay, Yuu-chan?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m fine.”

It feels a little guilty, but I nodded while eating the dinner Mom made, thinking it’s better than honestly confessing what happened earlier.

“Thanks for the meal. I’m going back to my room.”

After finishing dinner with my mood still down, I said that while putting my hands together.

“Okay, get plenty of rest.”

Mom, who thinks I got dizzy in the bath, said that with a worried look. Feeling even more guilty about that, I returned to my room.

“…Sigh. I just slept earlier so I’m not sleepy at all. What should I do?”

I think sleeping to distract myself would be best, but I’m not sleepy at all, so I muttered that while thinking about how to distract myself. Contacting Yui or Mana isn’t an option. Yui isn’t involved, but she’s still a girl, so it’d just remind me of what happened earlier and make me feel even worse.

【Yuuto-kun, are you free right now?】

While thinking about that and rolling around on my bed, at the worst possible timing, a message came from Yui. I feel bad for Yui, but I should pretend I didn’t notice… No, that’s not right. I’m the one at fault here, so I should reply properly.

【I’m free】

【Can I try calling you? …I’d prefer a video call if possible】

…The timing really is terrible. I would’ve happily agreed a little while ago, but not right now. …I just messed up with a video call a little while ago.

【Of course!】

While thinking that internally, I sent an affirmative reply. Immediately, a call came through. …My hair isn’t completely dry yet, but is that okay? My outfit… is fine too. Just regular pajamas.

“It’s been since school, Yui. Did you need something?”

Lying down on my bed while propping my phone up nicely against my pillow, I answered the call and said that.

“I-I’m sorry for calling so suddenly, okay? …Um, I don’t really need anything, but was that not okay?”

Yui asked that in cute pajamas—she must have already finished her bath. Honestly, if it were me from earlier, I might have thought “then don’t call,” but now that I’ve seen Yui in these pajamas, I’m totally fine.

“It’s totally fine.”

“Th-Then I’m glad.”

When I said that with a smile, Yui’s face turned bright red and she said that. Honestly, for Yui, calling a guy must have taken quite a bit of courage, so I smiled to make sure she didn’t think I answered the call reluctantly, and it seems to have worked.