Chapter 24 – Setting up the Stage

After eating a luxurious and extravagant dinner, we were relaxing and watching the TV in the room. Kazuki was laughing his head off at a comedy show.

Just the thought that this would continue for three more days—it’s nothing short of perfection. It’s too much happiness.

While I was nibbling on some post-meal sweets, Toudou stood up.

“I’m going to take another bath. What about you, Shizuku?”

“Ah, I’ll go too.”

Yukimori stood up as well and gave me a meaningful glance.

Aha. I see how it is.

“Kazuki, we’re going to the onsen too.”

“Huh? Nah, I’m good. Taking a bath after eating isn’t good for digestion, and I wanna watch the comedy show.”

“Don’t say sensible things only at times like this. Let’s go.”

“Ngh—hey, stop pulling me! Fine, fine, I get it…!”

We got our bath stuff ready and headed toward the bathhouse.

While we were changing—men and women separate, just like earlier—Kazuki kept grumbling.

“Jeez… it was getting to the good part, too…”

“Kazuki, you’re an idiot.”

“What now?”

“A couple who just started dating. They’re staying overnight. There’s no way nothing happens… you get it, right?”

“!? Wha—no, wait—hold on, that seems kinda fast…!?”

“You brought condoms, didn’t you? Time to man up.”

And now he’s trying to blame it on me. I’ll make sure to punch him later for something or other.

“Y-y-yeah, you’re right… o-okay. I’m a man too. I’ll do it!”

“Atta boy, good luck.”

“…Wait. That means Inori and Yukimori-san will be sleeping in the same room?”

“I don’t think so.”

Even Yukimori wouldn’t go that far with people sleeping nearby. Besides, she’s loud.

“Y-yeah, true… Sorry, Inori, can you turn around?”

“Huh? …Ah, right. Geez, you’re seriously too excited.”

“I’m a guy, okay!? Can’t help it!”

“Well, I get it, though.”

I sighed quietly and started undressing a bit away from Kazuki.

I entered the bath first to give him some space, and soon he joined me, thoroughly scrubbing himself clean.

Come to think of it, I was the same way the first time with Yukimori… Looking at it now, it’s kind of surreal.

“D-don’t look over here!”

“Aye aye, sir.”

Is he a virgin or what… Oh, right. He is.

After Kazuki had scrubbed every inch of his body, we headed back to our rooms.

By the way, Yukimori and Toudou had already finished their bath. Toudou’s main goal seemed to be washing up, not relaxing.

“Ugh… I’m seriously getting nervous now.”

“Don’t get too nervous, it might make it go limp, so be careful.”

“…How do you know that?”

“I looked it up online.”

“So even you search that kind of stuff, huh.”

“Shut up.”

Not like I could say it’s from experience. I did manage to pull it off, though.

Then, right in front of our rooms, the inn staff member who had been waiting bowed deeply toward us.

“Thank you for waiting. Mr. Tomita, this way please. Mr. Hatsuse, your room is over there. Allow me to guide you.”

“Got it. See ya, Kazuki. Go get ’em.”

“Y-y-yeah…! The techniques honed through years of virgin fantasy—time to unleash them…!”

Dude, don’t. That’s a guaranteed way to creep her out.

Look, even the staff lady is smiling awkwardly. Sorry about our resident virgin, seriously.

She guided me through the inn.

And… wait, stairs? Downward?

“Um—are you sure this is the right way?”

“Yes. At Yukimori-sama’s request.”

“Yukimori’s?”

Well, okay then… but still, why?

After descending the spiral staircase, I found a set of ornate sliding doors before me.

“Yukimori-sama is waiting for you inside. I’ll take my leave here.”

“Eh? …Uh, okay…?”

Left standing before the doors, I was a bit confused.

I am supposed to go in, right? Yukimori’s waiting inside…?

Frozen in hesitation, I finally heard a voice from beyond the door: “Come in.”

Guess there’s no turning back now.

“E-excuse me…”

I slid the door open slowly—and found a bizarre scene before me.

The first thing I saw was Yukimori. But she wasn’t in a yukata—she was dressed in a real kimono, partially undone, styled like an oiran courtesan.

The hanging scroll, the folding screen, the futon… The whole room looked like a private brothel from a historical red-light district.

“Welcome, Hatsuse-kun.”

“W-welcome? What… what is this?”

“What do you mean, it’s a ‘brothel play’. Apparently, this room used to be used by guests and staff a long, long time ago. It’s not used like that anymore, of course, but it has a lot of history.”

“I… I see.”

“And since it’s underground, no one can hear us no matter how loud we get♪”

“So that’s the real reason.”

So this is what she meant when she said she had an idea.

Sure, I doubt sound will carry from down here. She really went all out with the planning.

“Besides, I’m sure Asuka-chan and Tomita-kun wouldn’t want to be heard either.”

“…True. This is probably for the best.”

No one wants their noises heard during sex. I didn’t expect Yukimori to be so considerate about that.

“By the way, Hatsuse-kun. Did you bring the condoms?”

“Huh? Yeah, I did, but… we’ve never used these before. Are we really going to now?”

“Yes. There’s something I’d like to try.”

“Try…?”

“Doesn’t it turn you on… to see the number of times we do it?”

“You absolute pervert.”