I Will Do Everything In My Power To Bring Happiness To The Enchanting Beauty Who Can No Longer Smile.

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The Beginning of My Life as Sakakibara Tsubame’s Boyfriend.

After talking with Usui-san – since it was getting quite late – Shirao and Se-chan headed home. Afterwards, the four of us, including Usui-san, had dinner together… and then she, too, left early, saying she needed to rest.

After that, Tsubame and I spent some quiet time together in the living room. Her mother was in the kitchen, washing the dishes.

If someone were to hear just that, they’d think it was a completely normal scene. But I couldn’t call this “normal.”

“Tsubame, is it okay if I get up now?”

“No.”

I tried to sit up, but Tsubame held my hand and shook her head.

—Right now, I was lying with my head in Tsubame’s lap on the sofa.

You might wonder why? Honestly, I was wondering the same thing while being cradled like this.

After dinner, we were watching some animal videos on TV when she suddenly said, “I want to give you a lap pillow.” And that’s how we ended up like this. Well, I didn’t have any reason to refuse.

At first, she wanted me to lie facing her, but that felt a little too much for various reasons, so I said I wanted to watch the videos too, and turned my back towards her instead.

Whenever I glanced up, I could see her smiling down at me. As the one who recommended these animal videos, seeing her enjoying them made me genuinely happy.

And for some reason, as we watched, she would occasionally stroke my head.

When I asked her why, she simply replied, “Because I want to.” I didn’t dislike it… in fact, it felt so pleasant that I let her do as she pleased.

But still, there was a problem. It felt too good.

“If I stay like this, I’ll end up falling asleep.”

“That’s okay, I want to watch your sleeping face.”

“No… If I nap now, I probably won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

That was true, but… more importantly, it would be embarrassing if her mom saw us like this.

Wanting to end this lap pillow session before her mom returned, I voiced my concern. Tsubame let out a thoughtful “Hmm…”

Then, our eyes met.

“Shigure-kun, look up at me for a second.”

“Hmm? Okay.”

I turned my face upwards from where I was lying – and my vision was instantly filled with her. I quickly averted my eyes.

I agreed without thinking, but looking up at her from this position was overwhelmingly stimulating.

Because I looked away, I didn’t realize in time.

Warmth pressed against my cheek, and before I fully understood what was happening, her hand gently cupped my face.

“…Nn.”

Silky hair brushed against my neck, tickling me slightly. I heard a soft kissing sound, felt the gentle pressure of her lips – and then heard her chuckle quietly.

“…It’s a day off tomorrow. Want to stay up late tonight?”

Her smile looked mischievous, like she was plotting something.

“T-today’s been tiring for both of us.”

“I have shoots at two or three different locations in a single day. Shigure-kun did a lot back in middle school too, right? You’re not exactly lacking in stamina.”

“….”

I couldn’t deny that, so I fell silent. She gazed at me with that bright smile… and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

“M-my eyes are wide awake now, so… I’ll go take a bath.”

“Fufu. Okay.”

I felt like I was reaching my absolute limit, so I decided to escape.

Before leaving, I glanced back at Tsubame, and she smiled sweetly at me.

But even then, her expression still looked like she was up to something.

***

“…I messed up.”

I brought my change of clothes into the bathroom. As I was showering, I realized it.

Leaving at that timing… it totally made it obvious that I was thinking about it.

And honestly, the fact that I ran away was pathetic.

If someone asked me, “What should I do in that situation?” I would have told them, “Don’t hide your feelings. Communicate with your partner to avoid hurting each other.” And here I was, running away. Now I understood how those people felt… But seriously, running away is the worst thing I could have done.

I decided I’d apologize to Tsubame as soon as I got out.

Just then—

Knock knock.

“Shigure-kun?”

“T-Tsubame!? W-what’s wrong?”

Her sudden voice startled me, and my voice cracked. I glanced at the frosted glass… and saw a silhouette. A distinctly skin-colored silhouette. With… a lot of skin exposed.

“Tsubame? Did… did you need something?”

Please let it be my imagination. Please let me be seeing things. But her reply was not what I’d hoped.

“I thought… it’s been a while since we’ve bathed together.”

—For a moment, I wondered if I’d misheard.

“We couldn’t do it before, but now that we’re dating, it’s not a problem anymore, right?”

Her next words made it clear I wasn’t mistaken. Silence fell, and only the sound of the shower filled my ears.

She spoke first.

“Now that we’re finally lovers… I don’t have to hold back my feelings anymore.”

Her words sent a deep tremor through my heart.

—Tsubame and I were now “dating.” I had no real reason to refuse. Well, there was one – my embarrassment. But it wasn’t because I disliked it.

I thought for a moment… then made up my mind, remembering how I ran away earlier.

“…Okay. But, um… could you at least wrap a towel around yourself? And bring me mine too.”

“Okay.”

“And… sorry for running away earlier.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. You were cute.”

If we were both completely naked, I felt like the bath would end up being… not just a bath, so I made sure to clarify that.

Relieved that she accepted my apology so easily, I watched as the door opened slightly and she handed me a towel. I wrapped it around myself and took a deep breath.

“…I’m ready, Tsubame.”

“Okay, I’m coming in.”

My heart pounded violently as the door opened.

The first thing I saw was her face. Her cheeks and ears were bright red. Even Tsubame was embarrassed… She’d gathered her courage to come here. I was so glad I hadn’t rejected her.

Then, well… call it a man’s nature or just my lack of self-control, but I looked.

Her porcelain-white neck. Her arms and legs, slender yet toned like fine glass.

—And the towel, struggling to cover her large chest.

Seeing all of that, I forgot to breathe for a moment. She smiled as she noticed my gaze.

“…Want to see more?”

“If I… if I do, this definitely won’t just be a bath anymore.”

“Is that so?”

“Y-yeah.”

I forced out a reply and turned away. If I didn’t, my eyes would be completely drawn in.

“Alright then… I’ll wash your back, okay?”

“…Please.”

“Sit here.”

She guided me to sit on the bath chair. She sat down behind me, lathered up body soap in her hands, and began to wash my back.

I learned from Tsubame that body towels can damage the skin. Washing by hand is better. Having her wash me directly felt embarrassing, but since it was just my back, it was fine.

Her hands pressed gently against me.

“How’s the pressure? Not too ticklish?”

“Yeah… it’s good. Thanks.”

Her touch was perfect. Gentle yet firm, making me feel completely relaxed.

“…You’ve got some muscle here, Shigure-kun.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah. I noticed your arms before, but your back is well-toned too.”

“I never really paid attention. I’ve always moved around a lot since middle school, and did a bit of training too.”

I was never in a club, but I probably had more muscle than the average “go-home” club student. I’d helped out with heavy work too, so I did some basic strength training.

“That’s so like you.”

She smiled softly… and finished washing my back.

“Want me to wash your front too?”

“N-no, that’s okay.”

I’d accepted a lot today, but that would be too embarrassing.

So I washed the rest of my body myself. When I went to wash my hair, Tsubame offered to do it for me. It was embarrassing, but also nostalgic. It reminded me of when we were kids and bathed together at each other’s homes.

Of course… we’d both grown up far too much since then.

“Now it’s my turn. Could you wash my back?”

“…Alright.”

I hesitated for a moment, but it was just her back. I could handle it.

When we switched places, Tsubame undid her towel.

“………………”

My brain froze. I couldn’t process it. I knew she had a deceptively slender figure, but… seeing her from behind, her chest was still visible from the sides.

Her slim waist and her chest’s size combined… and she was hugging her knees slightly. I forced myself not to analyze it.

“…Shigure-kun? Something wrong?”

“Ah, no. Your back… it’s really beautiful.”

“Really? Fufu, thank you. I work hard even on places I can’t see.”

That wasn’t just a random compliment. Her back truly was beautiful.

“Okay, I’m going to wash it now.”

“Yeah, please.”

I lathered the soap in my hands and touched her back.

“Nn…”

“—S-sorry. Did that hurt?”

“No, it just tickled a little. Don’t worry.”

Her sweet little sounds made my hands tremble, but I continued washing gently.

“How’s the pressure?”

“It’s good… I might make some noises, but ignore them, okay? I’m not used to having my back touched.”

“O-okay.”

She let out small, faint sounds from time to time. I focused hard not to react to them.

As I washed her back, I realized once again how smooth and flawless her skin was. Her posture was perfect, her muscles balanced with just the right amount of softness.

“…You really are amazing, Tsubame.”

“Yeah. Mom and Usui-san always made nutritious meals for me. And I exercised properly.”

“…Everyone worked hard. You, your mom, Usui-san.”

“Mm. And now… I have you too.”

“Huh?”

Her unexpected words caught me off guard. I tilted my head in confusion, and she continued.

“I can keep working hard to stay fit… because I want you to think I’m beautiful. You make me want to become even prettier.”

“…I see.”

Her straightforward words made my already fast-beating heart pound even harder. I needed to return those feelings properly.

“You’re beautiful… so much that I can’t take my eyes off you.”

“…Thank you.”

Her ear, partly hidden by her hair, turned bright red.

Then—

“By the way… what do you think about how I’m spilling out from the sides?”

My face froze instantly.

“………………”

“Ah, judging by that reaction, it worked.”

I couldn’t reply, but she seemed to understand and let out a relieved sigh. My mind finally rebooted.

“W-was that on purpose?”

“I studied a lot of poses from magazines. This was from a gravure model.”

“I-I see.”

“Yeah. I don’t do revealing poses, but I can still learn about how to look feminine.”

She turned to glance at me with a mischievous smile. Her hair draped forward over her shoulders, creating an entirely different aura that made my heart leap.

“I want you to see me as a woman… as your woman.”

“M-my heart’s about to explode from how much I’m thinking about that.”

“Then I guess it worked. Want to touch? They’re heavy, you know?”

“I-I’m not touching them.”

I felt my face burning hotter and hotter with every passing second.

But… so many emotions were bubbling up inside me.

“I won’t touch them, but…”

—We’re finally lovers now. It should be okay if I let some of these feelings out.

“Can I… hug you? Just a little?”

“…!”

“Sorry. I know it sounds weird, but… I’m just so happy right now.”

“Fufu, it’s not weird at all. I was the one who asked to bathe together, after all. You can do anything you want.”

Her eyes widened, then she smiled and spoke softly.

“Do you want to hug me from the front? You don’t need your towel if you want.”

“N-no, that would… really be too much. Let’s stay like this.”

“Okay.”

I took the showerhead, rinsed my hands, and gently rinsed her back.

Then, I wrapped my arms around her from behind, pressing my chest against her back. For a moment, I wondered if touching her stomach like this was okay, but she didn’t seem to mind. She was confident in herself.

“Shigure-kun, you can hold me tighter.”

“No, this is… this is enough. Any closer and it would be… dangerous.”

“…?”

If I got any closer, I really wouldn’t be able to hold back. I didn’t say it out loud, but pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the feeling of her warmth.

“Both our hearts are racing.”

“Yeah… Well, how could they not in this situation?”

“That’s true. Hugging like this… it’s something only lovers can do.”

She placed her hand on top of mine, squeezing it gently.

“I’m looking forward to everything from now on. I don’t have to hold back saying I love you anymore.”

“…Sorry it took so long.”

“Don’t apologize. There’s something else I want to hear more.”

Her voice echoed softly through the bathroom. Feeling her warmth and heartbeat, I felt overwhelmed with love.

“I love you, Tsubame.”

“Mm, I love you too, Shigure-kun.”

As I spoke those words, she replied with the same, tightening her grip on my hand.

“I’m glad we could bathe together. Let’s do it lots more from now on.”