When I Started Doing Housework For The Cool Beauty In My Class, She Began Asking Me About The Dinner Menu Every Day. - Chapter 20: Preventing the Cold.

Preventing the Cold.

Sharing an umbrella with Fujisaki.

Since I asked her to step closer to avoid getting wet, the distance between us became noticeably shorter, which made me quite nervous. Matching my stride to hers caused us to bump into each other several times, making my heart race. Still, we managed to get home safely.

Normally, once we’re back, I’d catch Fujisaki in her usual defenseless, relaxed state, but today’s different—or rather, I won’t let it be the same.

“Fujisaki, don’t just collapse on the couch. Get changed and prepare for a bath first.”

“Ehh?”

“No complaints. You need to warm up your cold body, or you’ll catch a cold.”

I get that she wants to dive onto the couch as always, but warming up and changing clothes takes priority. Her repeated soft sneezes make it obvious she’s chilled through.

The best way to prevent a cold after getting soaked in the rain is to warm up.

Sure, giving her something warm to drink is important, but soaking in the bath and warming herself from the inside out comes first.

Without waiting for her to act, I took the liberty of preparing the bath while washing my hands—though I’ll apologize later. I don’t know what temperature she usually prefers, but today, it’ll be a properly hot bath to make sure she warms up thoroughly.

And one more thing—stop leaving your underwear lying around in the bathroom.

As if today’s unintentional “Drenchedsaki” and “Transparentsaki” moments weren’t already overwhelming enough. Isn’t that pushing it? Or… does she not even see me as a man?

“Can’t I do it later?”

“No, you can’t.”

“Ugh, I don’t wanna!”

While I’d like her to hurry and get changed for the sake of the laundry schedule, here she is, puffing her cheeks and throwing a tantrum. Even her sulking is admittedly cute, but still—just get in the bath already.

“If you’re that against it… I’ll just strip you down and throw you in myself.”

“Strip me…?! H-hmph… Do you even have the guts to do that, Shirayanagi-kun?”

I thought threatening her like this would prompt her to go willingly, but it seems today’s Fujisaki is a little different.

Though she was momentarily startled, she quickly recovered, her expression smug as if to say she knows I’d never actually do such a thing.

“Oh? What’s wrong? Was that all talk, then?”

Her teasing grin only added fuel to the fire.

Fujisaki, who’s grinning, or as I call her “Niya-saki,” has finally started provoking me.

She slowly circles around me, peeking at my face from every angle, teasing me from every direction.

It seems that threats only have an effect when there’s an actual sense of danger behind them.

Well, if that’s the case, then there’s no other choice.

If she can’t understand just by words… then I’ll have to take action.

“If you’re going that far, then I’ll do it. You’re ready, right…?”

“…Eh?”

“You provoked me, Fujisaki. You don’t mind, right?”

I catch Niya-saki, who’s been spinning around me, teasing me to the max.

She’s frozen in confusion and panic, looking very cooperative. I take advantage of this moment to quietly untie the ribbon on her neck and snatch it away.

“Eh… Eh? Shira… yanagi-kun?”

Fujisaki, even more confused, spins her eyes around. I then grab the button on her blouse… unbuttoning one, then two, and as I unbutton the third, her chest is about to be exposed.

Just before the black underwear she had shown me before would be revealed, my hand halts at the third button.

Fujisaki’s hands desperately try to stop me, but they’re so cold and weak. I could easily overpower her resistance if I tried.

“Have you decided to take a bath?”

“I-I’ll go…”

When I ask again, Fujisaki nods, her face flushed, her eyes moist, her breath ragged from her desperate resistance, and her clothes disheveled.

My honest impression: She’s so sexy. “Ero-saki”, for short.

After Fujisaki finally gave in, she promised to go to the bath and warm up her body properly. Once she did, I let her go.

It seemed that the direct approach worked, as she dashed out of the living room, leaving behind any reluctance she had.

***

While Fujisaki is in the bath, I leisurely prepare dinner, do laundry, and wait.

If she had rushed out like a crow’s bath, I would have had to start Round Two of the action, but it seems Fujisaki is following instructions and soaking properly in the bath.

Meanwhile, the chicken soup with plenty of ginger and green onions is ready. I tasted a little to check the flavor, and I could feel my body warming from the inside, so I thought it would be great for Fujisaki to try it as well.

As I waited, Fujisaki returned from the bath, looking completely refreshed.

“Phew, that was hot~. Shira~yanagi-kun, the water temperature was too hot~. Were you planning to use me as broth?”

Fujisaki, who was puffing her cheeks in complaint, had just finished the bath, and her blood circulation was good, making her flushed and incredibly attractive. She appeared in a tank top and short shorts, a completely defenseless outfit, unmistakably making her “Ero-saki”

However… since she was properly warmed up, I figured it might be okay for her to wear something light. But Fujisaki’s hair was still damp.

If she stayed like this, she’d catch a cold, and all the warming would be wasted.

“Hey, dry your hair properly.”

“Uwaa, it’s such a hassle~.”

“If you catch a cold, you’ll get sick.”

“Then you can dry it for me.”

“…Why does it end up like this?”

“Huh? Well, you know?”

I have no idea what she means by “well, you know?”, but I can tell she’s not planning to do it herself.

To be honest, why is she leaving this to the guy who just tried to undress her earlier? Doesn’t she feel any danger?

Well, I have a lot of things I could say, but now isn’t the time.

Drying her hair is a race against time because if she gets cold, it’ll be bad.

First, I need to deal with her damp hair.

“Come here. Stay still… hey, don’t shake your head and fling water everywhere. Are you a dog?”

“Hehe~. Beware, I’m a dangerous one~.”

“If you keep being naughty, I won’t feed you.”

“I’ve become such a good and obedient girl now…!”

Fujisaki, shaking her wet body and splashing water like a dog, calmed down when I used food as leverage. Fujisaki, who’s tempted by food instead of treats—such a good girl.

“Honestly… you’re such a handful.”

“Ehehe, am I really~?”

“That wasn’t a compliment… Anyway, once your hair’s dry, we’ll eat.”

“Shirayanagi-kun! Stop dawdling and hurry up with the drying!”

I was about to tell her to do it herself, but when she looks so relaxed and entrusts herself to me like this, I just can’t say no.

Damn it, Ero-saki…! Don’t look up at me with those flushed, sultry eyes. I can’t refuse when you do that. It’s too cute—it’s practically criminal.

But still… she’s really flushed.

…Well, it’s probably normal after a bath, right?