"Haa... haa... haa... Yuri...!"
"Rest, how's this? Does it feel good?"
"There... urgh...!"
"Alright, here I go... Nnh!"
"Stop... if you do that, I'll...!"
"Rest... Rest... Restooooo!"
"A-Gua... IT HURRRRRRRRRRRTS!"
A finger was thrust deep into his back, and the sheer agony forced a scream from Rest’s lungs.
"Guuuuuwaaaaaaaaaah...!"
Groaning in pain, Rest lay face down on the bed while Yuri worked him over. She was currently straddling his back, leaning her weight into his pressure points with relentless vigor.
Yuri had offered the massage herself, wanting to reward him for all the exhaustion he had been carrying.
"Well then, I shall take my leave. Please, you two, take your time..."
Celestine had tactfully exited the room almost as soon as the session began. Thanks to her quick departure, they were now alone in the bedroom.
A young man and woman, alone on a bed... one might expect sparks to fly, but the reality was strictly therapeutic. Or at least, it was supposed to be.
"Does it hurt? That’s strange. The book said this was the most effective spot."
Yuri tilted her head at Rest’s cry of agony. She was dressed for mobility in a simple shirt and short shorts. It was a provocative outfit that left her thighs fully exposed and highlighted the curves of her chest, but fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Rest was currently face down and couldn't see a thing.
"Guh... no, I think it is working... in its own way...!"
Rest’s face was a mask of torture. Yuri’s massage—or rather, what felt more like a combination of structural alignment and intense acupressure—was actually quite effective. That was exactly why it hurt so much. It was a bizarre, contradictory sensation where the pain was so intense it felt good.
"Hmm... then maybe over here? I think this might be a good spot."
"Ouh...!?"
Rest’s entire body spasmed as she began kneading his shoulders. Fatigue had apparently been piling up more than he realized; even that spot felt painfully delicious.
"Oh, looks like I hit the mark with that one."
"A-Ah... just don't go too hard. I’m begging you...!" Rest pleaded fearfully.
He was well aware of Yuri’s monstrous strength. If she ever truly put her mind to it, she could probably snap his neck or pulverize his bones like dry twigs. He knew she had no such intention, but the thought of what might happen if she misjudged her own power sent a chill down his spine.
(What is this... why is my heart racing so much? Is it because a girl in thin clothes is sitting on top of me, or is it the primal fear of facing a life-threatening crisis!?)
"Excuse me for a moment with your leg... hup!"
"Ugh...!"
Yuri grabbed his leg, tucked it against her chest, and gave it a sharp pull.
"Ow! Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow, not there! That’s definitely not it!"
"Oh? Did I get the angle wrong? Then how about this?"
"Wait—!?"
Rest cried out again, though this time it wasn't because of the pain. As Yuri hugged his leg against her chest to twist it this way and that, his limb became firmly enveloped by the soft weight of her breasts.
A different kind of shiver ran down his spine. Yuri looked slender, but she was the type who appeared much thinner in clothes than she actually was. That supple, hidden volume was being transmitted directly through his skin.
"Hmm? You seem to be getting stiffer than before... or is the stiffness coming from right here?"
"Wait, stop! Don't look into that!"
He hurriedly cut her off as her hand began to move with suspicious curiosity, attempting to investigate the cause of his sudden "stiffness." The tone of the massage was dangerously close to shifting into something else entirely, but he managed to stop her just in time.
"Hmm, my clothes are getting in the way. Can I take these off for a bit?"
"Nuah!?"
Without waiting for an answer, Yuri suddenly began to strip off Rest’s pants. He tried to stop her in a panic, but Yuri’s raw physical strength was far superior to his own. His pants were slid off smoothly and discarded. He barely managed to keep a desperate grip on his underwear.
"Y-Yuri! This isn't funny!"
"It’s just a pair of pants, isn't it? Is there a problem?"
"It’s not a 'problem' per se, it’s just..."
"In that case, I’ll take mine off too. Now we’re even."
"—!?"
She dropped another bombshell. Behind him, he heard the distinct, soft rustle of sliding fabric. Given their current positions, he couldn't see what was happening, but if he took her words at face value, it meant Yuri had just stripped down as well.
"Hey... cut it out!"
"Ah, I knew it. This is much easier to do."
Rest shouted a protest, but Yuri ignored him, her voice sounding chipper as she resumed the massage. Now, with her lower half bare, she pressed her body firmly against Rest’s back and legs as she continued her work.
"Yeah, this is much better. If I’d known, I should have just done this naked from the start. Your body would probably be even more relaxed if we did this right after a bath."
"Is that really something a lady should be saying...? Has everyone just completely lost their common sense lately?"
"Ahahaha! It’s just that I’ve been holding back so much because I wanted to see you, Rest. We all have."
"Ugyah...!"
Yuri gave his hip joint a sudden, sharp stretch. At the same time, her soft, bare skin pressed flush against his own. She felt surprisingly supple and silky to the touch.
He felt his body threatening to grow "stiff" all over again, but he forced himself into a state of Zen, desperately pushing the sensation out of his mind.
"I’m starting to get the hang of this. Does it feel good, Rest?"
"............It feels good. Yes."
Without clarifying exactly what he was referring to, Rest squeezed out his answer with a faint, ragged groan.