My Sex Friend Is My Childhood Friend? - 40

Chapter 40: Open-Air Bath

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“Ow, ow…”

The morning of the trip started with a headache. I drank too much the previous day because it was free. From somewhere, the cute chirping of birds could be heard, but with my raging hangover, I had no room to enjoy such elegance.

When I glanced to my side, Mahiru was sleeping in her yukata. Her chest was slightly exposed, and her alluring thighs peeked out from the slit around her waist.

Yukata are nice, aren’t they?

Thinking about such things, I opened the room’s window. From the still-dim mountain ridge, the morning sun leaked out like that classic American song, Moon River. Combined with the green scent that seemed to pass from mouth to nose, the ever-changing light made me almost forget the passage of time.

Maybe a bath will help with this hangover.

As I gazed at the scenery, Mahiru seemed to have woken up and pressed her body against my back.

“Good morning, Nagi-kun.”

Yesterday’s bride had awakened from a fleeting dream, returning to an ordinary college girl.

“Mahiru, do you want to take a bath? This ryokan’s open-air bath is supposed to be their pride and joy.”

Mahiru didn’t seem interested in listening. Our household succubus had sleepy eyes and was clearly in the mood.

“I’ll clean Nagi-kun’s with my mouth.”

With that, Mahiru knelt in front of me.

“No, I mean, the bath… I drank too much yesterday, so I don’t think I can get it up.”

Listen, when a guy drinks too much, things don’t work down there.

Mahiru didn’t listen at all. For about five minutes, she toyed with me, but my lower half was as calm and serene as a lord wishing for peace. Mahiru let go with a little pop sound. Then, she made a sad face.

“Hmm… Nagi-kun’s not reacting at all. Did you start hating me?”

Oh, come on, that’s unfair. I told you from the start it wasn’t gonna happen.

I didn’t have the energy to argue, so I took Mahiru’s hand and headed to the open-air bath. After all, we already came all the way to a hot spring inn and all we had done yesterday was shower. I wanted to take a proper bath. I felt like Mahiru was pouting and pointing at the private family bath, but it was probably my imagination. I sent Mahiru to the women’s bath and decided to enjoy a leisurely morning soak.

Yeah. I wanted to take my time bathing.  When I entered the bathhouse, there was one other person already there. The bath was spacious, so one other person wasn’t an issue.  I let out a sigh as I soaked up to my stomach in the tub. When I sank up to my shoulders, I saw a peculiarly shaped mountain in the distance.

It was Mountain Shirane, its peak already capped with snow. The breeze blowing down from the mountain felt refreshing. The water was cloudy white with a faint sulfur smell.This looked like the kind of hot spring water that could cure all sorts of things.

While soaking, I thought back to my high school days.  Mimura-senpai. The name suddenly came to mind. Back then, he was a third-year, but he was the one who saved me, a second-year whose graduation seemed like a hopeless dream.

I wonder what he’s up to now?

Bright, energetic, and everyone’s favorite. He must be thriving at some big trading company by now.  As I relaxed, Mahiru’s voice came from the other side of the wall. Apparently, the women’s bath was separated by just a single wall.

“Nagi-kuuun, there’s no one over here!”

Is that so? Well, even if there’s no one on your side, there’s another guest over here, so don’t make a fuss.

She’d become annoying if I engaged, so I decided to ignore her.  

“Nagi-kuuun!”

And yet, Mahiru kept calling me out.

“Nagi-kuuun!”  

Just like when she came over to my place, she kept shouting persistently until I responded. 

“Nagi-kuuun!”  

She’s persistent….

“Maybe you passed out? After all, I made you work hard this morning…”

Hey, you!

“But even when you tried, nothing happened, so you’re probably fine, huh?”

Hey! You laughed at the end, didn’t you?! You’re casually outing my ED! And if it’s “fine,” don’t shout it for everyone to hear!

Sometimes I wondered if Mahiru did this on purpose.

Still, how dare she? Just because the women’s bath is empty, she’s saying whatever she wants. When I get out, she’s getting punished!

See?  The shiny-headed Oji-san next to me was giving me a wry smile. That said… This bald old man. He was acting all smug like he was some kind of a stallion. He must be looking down on me because Mahiru had outed my ED.  It was starting to piss me off.

I decided to execute Mahiru’s punishment immediately. I called out to the women’s bath.

“Hey, Mahiru! Is there anyone else in there with you?”

“Nope!”

Mahiru answered innocently.

Heh, you fool. So carefree, unaware of the tragedy about to unfold.

I filled a bucket with cold water, guessing where Mahiru might be. Then, I climbed the wall separating the baths. I was going to douse Mahiru with this cold-water bomb.  

Let’s see…  

But when I glanced down, that shiny stallion Oji-san was climbing up too. 

No way, man. You’re an outsider.

I waved my hand to signal “no.” For some reason, Oji-san also signaled “no” back, shaking his head.  

I’m not letting some random Oji-san see Mahiru naked.

I tried to push him back down.

“Oh, the bucket…”

My hand slipped, and I let go of the bucket. It flew up above my head, and a cold-water bomb poured down on both me and Oji-san. We nearly ended up with two heart-attack victims.

For some reason, Oji-san waved at me as he left the changing room. Right by the entrance, there was coffee milk. Apparently, it was free.

As expected from a traditional ryokan. They’ve got everything you need.

“Phew, what a mess. I couldn’t relax at all.” 

I muttered while sipping the coffee milk. Then Mahiru came out from the women’s section.

 “Nagi-kun, sounded like things got wild in the men’s bath, huh? Did you maybe want to sneak a peek at me?”

It wasn’t me, it was some random Oji-san who almost got a peek at you. And the whole mess was your fault, you know. But I didn’t say anything.

After all, it is the duty of a knight to silently protect his princess, regardless of the era.

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