Chapter 21 – A Pair of Couples’ Secret Meetings

We spent about an hour enjoying the open-air bath and the reclining bath.

Satisfied, Kazuki stood up and stretched with a big yawn.

“Ahhh, that felt amazing… I’m heading out.”

“Got it. I’ll stay in a bit longer.”

“What the heck? You were all hesitant at first, but now you’re really enjoying it.”

“I wasn’t hesitant. I just figured, since I’m already in, I might as well soak to my heart’s content.”

“Huh. Well then, enjoy yourself~”

Once Kazuki left the bath, I was alone in the wide tub.

Being in here by myself like this… it’s actually kinda nice.

“Fwehh~…”

“You sound like an old man, Hatsuse-kun.”

“Of course I do—this is what happens when you soak in a hot spring.”

“Hehe, I get it. It does feel really nice here, huh~?”

“Yeah. …Wait, eh?”

Uh… who am I talking to right now?

This cute voice right next to me… wait, what?

“…Yukimori?”

“Yes, it’s your Yukimori Shizuku~”

There I was, soaking in the bath—and sitting right next to me was a completely naked Yukimori.

Not that her being naked was a shock anymore.

But… wait, why the hell is she here?

“Asuka-chan got out pretty quickly too. I was lonely by myself, so I came over.”

“Ahh, I see—like hell! Wh-Where did you even come from!? Kazuki just left a second ago…!”

“There’s a hidden door connecting the men’s and women’s baths. It’s a bit tricky to open, and it just looks like part of the wall, so most people don’t know it’s there.”

You say that like it’s totally normal!?

And besides—Kazuki’s still in the changing room. I can hear him humming!

“Getting a little excited?”

“How could I not…?!”

“Hehe. I’m a little excited myself.”

You absolute pervert!!

And then—clang—I heard the door behind me slide open.

Kazuki. He was already wearing pants, so he wasn’t coming back into the bath… but still, Kazuki was right there.

“Heeey, Inori~? I heard you talking—what’s up?”

“N-Nothing! I was just singing to myself!”

“Oh, nice. You mean like, ‘ba-ban ba-ban ban-ban’? I used to sing that when I was a kid at the public baths—”

Kazuki was cheerfully chatting away behind me.

Meanwhile, right between my legs, there was a naked Yukimori.

She’d tucked herself into a small ball and clung to me so Kazuki couldn’t see her.

She looked up at me, smiling playfully, and whispered:

“Your heart’s pounding, isn’t it?”

“Shut up.”

He’s not that far from us. If I mess this up, he’ll totally notice.

“So then, I met this foreigner who said he was traveling around Japan. He told me how amazing traveling was—and ever since, I’ve wanted to go around the world too. …Hey, are you listening?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m listeni—hyyuh…!?”

“What’s up, Inori? That was a weird noise.”

“I-It’s nothing! Just a hiccup!”

“…Really?”

D-Damn it, Yukimori—she’s stroking my side! She knows that’s my weak spot… she’s doing it on purpose, isn’t she!?

“S-So hey, I heard someone in the women’s bath just now. Sounds like Toudou’s done. She’s probably bored being alone—why don’t you go hang out with her?”

“Oh, really? Alright, I’ll head over then.”

Kazuki turned away and left the changing room without looking back.

After a solid five-minute wait…

I finally let out a deep, relieved sigh.

“Bwahhh… Hey, Yukimori, you little—!”

“Don’t be mad. I didn’t think he’d come back either! I was just as surprised.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the one who barged in here in the first place.”

Good grief. That could’ve gone really bad.

Yukimori pulled away from me and sat beside me, relaxing again.

She rested her head on my shoulder and wrapped her arms around mine.

This looked like a romantic couple’s mixed bath.

“Haaah… this feels so good.”

“Yeah. But—are you okay with this? I mean, what about the stress you’ve built up over the week? With the others around, there’s no way you can blow off steam this time.”

“I’ve already thought that through, so don’t worry.”

“That’s what worries me.”

“What!? Why!?”

Just the fact that it’s Yukimori’s plan makes me twice as nervous.

But she didn’t seem satisfied—she pouted and started poking my cheek with her finger. Quit it, that tickles.

“Well, you’ll find out tonight. Don’t worry.”

“Can I really trust that…?”

“Or is the real problem that you can’t do anything about your current frustration?”

“I’m fine. And if anyone’s gonna have a hard time holding it in, it’s you. Did you forget what happened when you were too busy to release all that pent-up lust?”

“……”

Haha, where are you even looking? Face me, dammit.

Yukimori turned away with a sulky pout. Jeez, this girl…

“Then… should we do it now?”

“You’re not really in the mood, are you? I can see it in your eyes—there’s no lust burning in them.”

“As expected from someone who knows me so well. You saw right through me… But if you want it, Hatsuse-kun, I don’t mind.”

“…Right now, I’m more in the mood for hot springs.”

“Turning down a cute girl’s invitation for a bath? That’s cold.”

“But?”

“…Getting teased like this is kinda turning me on.”

“Hold onto that ‘til tonight.”

“Ugh, meeeanyyyyy!”

There was no innuendo—nothing suggestive.

We literally just enjoyed the hot spring together.

After that, we returned to our room separately.

I got back first.

But… huh? Kazuki and Toudou weren’t here.

“Hatsuse-kun, why are you standing there zoning out in front of the room?”

“Oh, Yukimori. It’s just… those two aren’t here. I figured they’d be back already.”

“…! Hmm… Could it be…?”

With a suspicious grin, Yukimori walked over to a passing inn staff member and asked:

“Excuse me. Could you tell us where Asuka Toudou and Kazuki Tomita are?”

“Yes, I’ve shown them to the room at the back with the view of the pond.”

“The room at the back? Understood. Thank you.”

Yukimori gave a polite bow, then happily skipped down the hallway.

I followed behind her, though I had a really bad feeling about this.

“Hey, Yukimori… don’t tell me you’re planning to peek?”

“That’s exactly what I’m planning. Problem?”

“Don’t you have any morals or sense of decency?”

“Hatsuse-kun… you really don’t understand anything, do you?”

“What now?”

“Asuka-chan and Tomita-kun are alone in a room. The back room, no less. There’s no way something isn’t happening.”

“…What are you getting at?”

“Not peeking would be rude, don’t you think?”

“…Can’t argue with that.”

Thus began Operation: Joint Voyeurism by me and Yukimori.

Immoral? Call it whatever you want.

Toudou likes Kazuki. Kazuki has at least some feelings for Toudou.

We’ve come this far. We deserve to see how this ends.