When Sara-san began clearing the dishes after dinner, I was a bit persistent in offering to help.
Lately, she had finally started letting me help—perhaps she’d grown used to it, or maybe she’d just reached a compromise. Of course, that was limited to simply carrying the plates.
“Kazunari-san, I will be joining you shortly, so please go ahead and wait in the bath area.”
I knew it.
Since it seemed Sara-san intended to completely pamper me today, I figured it would turn out this way. I wasn't even surprised.
I could already sense the coming struggle—my own solitary battle.
But I would be fine; my reason would not falter.
...However, in reality, Sara-san was far too defenseless against a man like me.
Whether it was in the bath or when we slept, what if I were to misunderstand her intentions? What if I were to lose control?
It wouldn't have been surprising if things had taken a turn for the scandalous.
I didn't really want to think about such things... or rather, I had been trying not to. But no matter how pure and innocent Sara-san might be, there was no way she didn't at least have some knowledge of "those things."
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of asking her directly, so this was merely my own speculation... but perhaps what she didn't know was "what kind of creatures men are."
Sara-san had rejected men until now, and though it was embarrassing to say, I was the first man she had ever opened her heart to. In other words, she previously had zero contact with men even as friends, and she’d had no interest or concern regarding men themselves.
Therefore, she likely didn't realize at all that her actions could lead a man to "misunderstand." Fundamentally, she’d probably never even considered it. That was my theory, and I didn't think I was far off the mark.
That was precisely why I believed she was so pure and innocent.
There was no doubt that Sara-san was devoted to me out of pure affection. Even if it was something a bit embarrassing for her, like sharing a bath, she likely did it because she thought it would make me happy.
In other words, if I understood that from the start, then I just had to wish for Sara-san to remain exactly as she is, while I battled myself to ensure I didn't misunderstand or lose control.
Surely Mayumi-san had realized that too, which was why she told me all I had to do was be careful when she gave me that warning.
Alright, analysis complete!
The reason I suddenly thought of all this was just to reassure myself that I understood the situation.
It seemed like a lot might happen today, after all.
Phew... this waiting time was always nerve-wracking.
I sat on the chair in the bath area, waiting for the moment Sara-san would arrive.
I could already hear her moving around in the changing area, so she was likely getting ready.
“Kazunari-san, excuse me.”
The door opened.
After calling out to me through the door, Sara-san stepped inside.
I caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye to avoid staring directly, and I saw that she was wearing a bath garment this time.
Thank goodness. If she had done the bath towel thing from before again, I might have actually collapsed.
“I am sorry for making you wait. You aren't cold, are you?”
“I’m fine. It’s not winter yet, after all.”
I felt her palms.
Sara-san’s warm palms slowly touched my shoulders and the back of my arms.
W-What was she doing?
“You feel a little cold... I am sorry. Let us warm you up first.”
Sara-san picked up the shower nozzle, let the water run for a while to check the temperature, and then whispered, “It is fine now.”
Then, the shower spray hit my shoulders, moving slowly from left to right. The warmth was pleasant.
Next, she took my right arm and spread it out slightly to the side, directing the shower onto it as well.
“...Oh?”
Suddenly, Sara-san let out a sound of surprise.
“Eh? Is something wrong?”
I wondered what it was. There shouldn't have been anything unusual.
“...No, I apologize. It must be my imagination.”
I didn't really understand, but if she said it was her imagination, then I guess it was fine.
To be honest, I had my hands full just keeping my composure, so I couldn't afford to worry about other things.
However, despite saying it was her imagination, Sara-san still seemed curious. She continued to touch the area around my shoulders and upper arms—my biceps and the back of my arms—as if checking them, sliding her hands over my skin.
“U-Um, Sara-san, that’s a little ticklish...”
“Eh?”
It seemed she had been doing it unconsciously. At my remark, Sara-san let out a dazed sound and stopped moving.
Was she finally realizing that she had been stroking and petting my shoulders and arms? Though she remained silent, the hand touching me began to tremble.
“I-I am so sorry!! I was being so indiscreet...”
Sara-san pulled her hand away abruptly, and in her panic, she dropped the shower nozzle.
It ended up pointed right at me, and the water hit me square in the head, soaking me completely.
“Whoa!”
The sudden blast of water made me cry out, which only caused Sara-san to grow even more flustered.
“Ah! I-I am so sorry!!”
Sara-san hurriedly stopped the shower and picked up the nozzle.
“Uu...”
Even without looking at her, I could feel how dejected she was from behind me.
I needed to help her out.
“Um, Sara-san? Since we’re in the bath anyway, it’s no problem if my head gets wet. It just saves me the trouble of wetting my hair to wash it.”
“...Then, at the very least, would you allow me to wash your hair as well, Kazunari-san?”
Eh?
W-Well, I guess just having my hair washed wouldn't hurt.
“Uh, okay then, please.”
“Yes!”
Hearing a joyful reply for a change, I felt her presence draw closer.
It seemed Sara-san had moved in right behind me.
“Then, excuse me.”
I felt her hands.
Sara-san gently washed my lathered head.
Occasionally, she massaged my scalp with her fingers.
It felt so good that an involuntary sigh escaped me. “Phew...”
“Fufu...”
Sara-san’s soft laughter reached my ears.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, I am just happy. Being able to wash your body like this, and today even your hair... Kazunari-san, you accept everything I wish to do for you, don’t you?”
“...I’ve decided to accept all of you, Sara-san.”
“Yes. Being able to feel that firsthand makes me so happy.”
She finished rinsing my hair with the shower.
Next would be my back... or so I thought, but it didn't happen.
Just as I was wondering what was going on, I felt the sensation of two palms pressed firmly against my back.
And furthermore, between those two palms was another sensation... What was it?
“You are so warm... your back, which I love so much, Kazunari-san...”
Along with Sara-san’s voice, the sensation on my back shifted. Was that... her face? In other words, she was snuggling against my back with both her hands and her face.
“Sara-san?”
“Whenever I saw my group members washing each other’s backs in the bath during the school trip, I thought about how I absolutely wanted to wash your body once I returned, Kazunari-san. And now, with your back right before me, I feel that I have truly returned to you... Not through a phone screen, but actually being able to touch you... it makes me so happy...”
Sara-san explained her feelings slowly, stumbling a bit as she searched for the words.
It was only when you could no longer do the things you took for granted that you realized their value. When you could no longer see or touch each other daily, you realized just how precious those moments were.
That was why both Sara-san and I truly felt the weight of the happiness in simply being together like this.
While keeping her face pressed against my back, Sara-san moved her hands to gently stroke me.
It was a little ticklish, but I endured it.
“It is hard to tell when you are wearing clothes, but... look, it is still this broad even when I do this. Your back is so large, Kazunari-san.”
Sara-san spoke in a playful tone, pressing her face and hands against my back as if leaning against a wall.
“Kazunari-san... it does not have to be every day. Even if it is only when I wash your back in the bath like this... may I act a little spoiled like this again?”
“I’m usually the one acting spoiled, so if anything, I should be...”
“I apologize. I am a selfish woman. There are times when I wish to be spoiled like this, but usually, I still want you to rely on me more, Kazunari-san. So, for the rest of today, please let me pamper you to your heart's content; I want you to be spoiled. But...”
She leaned her body against me even more closely, as if entrusting her entire weight to my back.
“Just for now... please, let me be spoiled by you like this...”
Though we were in the unusual setting of a bath area, the air between us was gentle and filled with affection. Feeling her warmth against my back made me feel such love for her that, if not for the situation, I would have turned around and hugged her without hesitation.
“You truly are warm... Kazunari-san... I love you...”
The words spilled out in a murmur, and Sara-san’s gentle voice reached my ears.
Truly, Sara-san was endlessly kind, cute, and precious.
If Sara-san was going to be this sweet, I wouldn't even be reluctant to invite her to the bath myself.
Though, the words of such an invitation would likely be extremely dangerous...
The bath time, which I thought would be a battle with myself, had turned out to be a time of unexpected happiness.
Sara-san was currently in the bath, so I decided to get the futons ready in the meantime.
I knew that even if I laid them out with a gap between them, Sara-san would just fix them immediately. So, I laid them out right next to each other from the start... though as always, it was a staggering sight to behold.
As I was thinking that, the door to the changing area opened, and Sara-san emerged. She went straight to her trunk case, put some things away, and took something else out.
Noticing that I was watching her, she raised it to the side of her face to show me, holding it with her fingertips and giving it a little wave.
Yeah, no matter how you looked at it, that was an ear pick.
With a bright smile, Sara-san took my hand and guided me to the bed, then sat down on the edge. Since she was still holding my hand, she gave it a little pull, and I sat down right beside her.
Then she let go and patted her thighs.
“U-Um...”
“Kazunari-san, let us do your ear cleaning as well, shall we?”
Apparently, that ear pick wasn't for her, but something she had prepared specifically for me.
In other words, she was going to give me a lap pillow while cleaning my ears.
Realizing this, I didn't hesitate and slowly lowered my body. Sara-san placed her hand on my head to guide me into position.
Following her lead, I carefully rested my head on her thighs. Perhaps because of the thin pajama fabric, the soft sensation and warmth of her skin were transmitted directly to my face.
Maybe it was because she had just gotten out of the bath, but the gentle warmth felt incredibly comfortable.
“You mustn't move, okay? Just relax and make yourself comfortable.”
She declared this while stroking my head, then turned my face to the side. It seemed we would start with the left ear.
“I’m starting now.”
When I relaxed and entrusted my body to her, I felt the sensation of something being gently inserted into my ear.
She hummed a little tune.
Sara-san began the ear cleaning in a very good mood.
She seemed quite used to it, but...
“Sara-san, have you ever done this for someone before?”
“Actually, I had Natsumi help me before; I practiced on her.”
“Practiced?”
“Yes. Because I wanted to do it for you someday, Kazunari-san.”
Sara-san continued talking without stopping her hands.
I couldn't see her face, but her tone sounded bashful.
“I am happy the time has finally come to show you the results. However, from this point on, I have actually not practiced. I only heard how to do it verbally from my mother the other day, so I hope I can do it well...”
From this point on?
Was there anything else left to do?
While I was wondering about that, the cleaning of the inside finished, and she flipped the ear pick around.
“Since I haven't practiced this part, it might be a little ticklish, but please bear with me.”
She used the white, fluffy down puff to tickle the surface of my ear. It was ticklish, but it also felt good, so it wasn't hard to endure.
So this was the part she hadn't practiced...
“Yes, now for the finishing touch.”
“The finishing touch?”
“Yes. Please be a good boy.”
As Sara-san leaned forward, she brought her face close to my ear.
At the same time, I felt something soft...
“Fuuuuuuuuu~”
!!!!!!??????
...I would probably never forget this shock for the rest of my life.
And I still had one ear left to go.