Traveling With a Beautiful Girl - Chapter 8: Gal in Atami

“It’s going to be okay… It’ll definitely work out… I’ll be fine…”

The voice from the person to the left startled me. I was so focused on Nanase that I didn’t notice someone had taken a seat next to us.

(Is she a local high school student…?)

A girl around our age or slightly older was muttering to herself while praying with her hands together. Her doll-like features were as white as snow, with red eyes and golden semi-long hair, making her look glamorous. She wore an open-necked blouse with a red tie, a necklace emphasizing her chest, and small earrings sparkling in her ears.

A cream-colored cardigan was wrapped around her waist, and her healthy bare legs stretched out from a mini skirt that exposed her thighs. She was what you’d call a “gal.” ..Alright, I’ll slip away like the wind.

If I get caught up in the world of “gal-communication,” as a person who lived in the shadows, I’d lose my language and be turned into a speechless stone. A kind-hearted gal was a mythical creature. Exhaling as if to soak in the afterglow of the footbath, I called out to Nanase.

“Shall we go, Nana…..”

“You know, you’ve been quite noisy for a while.”

Wait, what!?

Without giving me time to react, Nanase confronted the gal.

“Hyauwa!?”

The gal reacted as if she had been splashed with cola while sleeping. After looking at me and Nanase, she made a face that said, “I messed up!”

“Sorry! I was loudI’m really sorry!”

The gal quickly bowed and clapped her hands together.

“If you know you’re being loud, can’t you just be quiet? You’re ruining the footbath experience with your cursing.”

Ah, she admitted she was enjoying the footbath. At Nanase’s relentless attack, the gal recoiled, saying, “Hee!”

“Scary! You’re so hostile even though we just met! You’ll scare off guys if you keep that up, you know?”

“Which one of us is being rude to someone we just met?”

Nanase’s temples made a sharp noise. I think they’re both at fault here.

“Unfortunately, I have no interest in romance, and if someone came after me, I would be the one to refuse.”

“Are? Isn’t this guy your boyfriend?”

“Buh!?”

What a bombshell this gal just dropped!

“…You have quite an interesting imagination. Maybe you should spend your time more productively by writing fantasy novels at home.”

“Did you just praise me? No way, I’m not that good~~~!”

“I’m indirectly telling you to go away… Are you so dense that you can’t understand that?”

“My mom says people who can’t adjust their conversation to match the other person’s level are stupid! I wonder who’s the real disappointment here?”

A noise that should never be made by human nerves rang out. It seemed that the gal had touched a nerve with Nanase, who takes great pride in her intellect.

“Is this the mouth that’s been spouting nonsense?”

“Kyaa! I’m being attacked!?”

The gal was grabbed by both shoulders and pulled back.

“Wait!?”

She used me as a shield! At that moment, a soft sensation pressed against my back.

(Is… Is that her chest… touching me…!?)

My heart felt like it was about to burst through my skin. The sweet smell of whipped cream filled my nostrils, and the temperature of my already overheated body from the footbath rose rapidly.

“Step back, Takahashi-kun. I have a duty to punish this ‘bitch. ‘”

“I’m not a ‘bitch’! I’m just a normal maiden troubled by love!”

“Self-proclaimed ‘maiden’ usually means ‘bitch.’ I’ll sew your mouth shut so you can’t go man-hunting for a while.”

“Eek! Scary, scary!”

“Hey! Both of you, calm down! I’m getting dizzy, dizzy!”

My body swayed back and forth. Nanase approached with a furious expression on her face. I couldn’t escape since my feet were in the hot water.

“Ugh, you’re so squirmy…”

Suddenly, Nanase’s impressive twin peaks came into view. To restrain the gal, Nanase leaned over me, embracing me in the process.

Her ample chest pressed against my face, and I was like, “Whaaaaat!?”

“Got you! Prepare yourself!”

“Hiieee!?”

Nanase, furious beyond measure, didn’t realize the position she was in. I could feel the warmth through her T-shirt, and the sweet smell of fabric softener filled my senses. My brain overheated from the overload of information from the opposite sex.

“Chok…ing…”

My feeble cry went unheard. Caught between two chests, this ideal situation turned into a hellish event for me, already feeling dizzy from the long footbath.

“Kareshi-kun, help me!”

The gal’s sudden shift in position finally cleared my vision.

“Puhah… Stop it, both of you… And I’m not… her… boyfriend…”

My vision wavered. I felt a sense of vertigo, similar to a headrush. My instincts screamed. I’ve reached my limit.

“T-Takahashi-kun!?”

Nanase noticed something was off and let go of me, but it was too late.

“Kareshi-kun!”

The gal’s voice faded away… and everything went black.