Chapter 70: Wishing to meet my lover in the water

Wishing to meet my lover in the water

[Aya’s Perspective]

“Ah, it’s so stuffy…”

“Are you okay, Aya? You can go out first if you want.”

Yukari, sitting across, leans forward. Despite being in a scorching steam bath, she maintains a cool expression. Yukari is truly something.

“Yeah, sorry… I’ll leave first.”

“Are you sure? It’s only been five minutes.”

“Yeah… I tend to get dizzy easily…”

Opening the door made of cypress, it’s like stepping into paradise. The air in the bathing area cools down the heat enveloping your body.

As if being invited, you head toward the bath labeled “Cold Water Bath.”

“Haah…”

My whole body feels lighter and I embraced by a sensation of floating. My hazy thoughts clear up and a pleasurable sensation gradually spreads throughout my body.

“It feels good.”

I leave only my head above water and try to float. I feel like a jellyfish gently swaying in the sea… my whole body is relaxed.

Just like when you’re embraced by Boyan.

Huh…

Dizziness is coming back.

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Need to cool down.

I slowly sink into the water with a “plop”.

I cautiously open my eyes underwater. The bathhouse lights on the water’s surface sway gently. Bubbles escaping from my mouth burst upon reaching the surface.

It’s not scary at all.

Boyan took care of everything back at that pool.

I wonder what Boyan is up to now.

I really want to see him.

My body gradually rises, breaking the water’s surface with my face.

As I slowly sit up, Kanappe is standing by the edge of the cold water bath.

“Ayaa~, no diving in the bath! What are you, a little boy?” Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

“Uh, sorry. I wanted to cool down.”

“Ah, Aya, you tend to get heated easily.”

Kanappe enters the cold water bath with a smirk. Even though she’s standing at the bottom, the water only reaches her thighs. Her long and graceful legs are quite envy-inducing.

“…I did mention I get dizzy.”

“Hehe, well, Aya does have a naturally high body temperature. Come on, let’s head to the outdoor bath once Yukari’s out.”

“What about Yukari?”

“Well, with her pace, she might not come out for another twenty minutes or so.”

“Yukari is strong…”

While staring at the sauna door and idly soaking in the water, Kanappe clears her throat awkwardly.

“Oh and by the way, how’s it going with Boyan?”

“Huh, Boyan is just Boyan.”

“No, I mean, you know, about sex.”

“S-Sex… huh…”

It was a rather explicit question.

As I glare at Kanappe, surprisingly, she returns my look with a serious expression.

She seems really curious.

“Well, you know, we haven’t really talked about that stuff much, Aya. But, of course, I’m curious. Hey, Aya~ just a little bit, come on.”

Though she uses a cutesy tone, Kanappe’s seriousness somehow pressures me.

“…Do I really have to say it?”

“Please, we’re close, right?”

“Ugh…”

Even with Kanappe, talking about this kind of stuff is embarrassing.

Some people are okay with it, but I can’t handle it.

And Boyan probably wouldn’t want this kind of thing shared without his consent.

“Okay, let’s start with this: What does sex feel like? Is it really amazing with Boyan?”

“Huh!?”

A strange sound escapes my lips at the sudden straightforward question.

The word ‘sex’ triggers memories flooding back on their own. Boyan’s heat, warmth, the touch of his skin. The sensations that fill me completely.

It feels incredibly good, satisfying.

It makes me feel cherished, valued…

“Ah, yeah… it’s that amazing, huh…”

“I didn’t say anything, though.”

“One can tell just by looking at your face, Aya. You’re such an open book.”

Kanappe smirks, her lips curling up.

“By the way, is Boyan’s body impressive too?”

“Huh, uh…”

I recall his large body enveloping mine. His fervent, gentle, hot embrace. Being pressed against his thick, firm chest is both uncomfortable and pleasurable. He lifts me effortlessly with his strong arms, holds me and I feel safe.

His surprisingly slender and soft fingers gently caress…

“His abs are chiseled.”

“They’re really chiseled? Well, Aya seems like the type who would like that sturdy kind of guy.”

Not just anyone can be sturdy like that.

Only Boyan, because I want him to hold me.

“Hey, what’s a guy’s… you know, thing like?”

“Huh?”

Asking me about that…?

Boyan’s…?

It’s hard and…

Wait, what am I thinking?

No, my head and my body are not right. I need to stop this.

“Is it different doing it with someone else than by yourself? Is Boyan skilled? Are fingers and the thing on a different level?”

She’s firing off questions one after the other without waiting for answers. Memories keep rushing in and my head feels hot.

“…I don’t know about that.”

“When he’s thrusting, do you involuntarily moan loudly?”

Sometimes slow, sometimes intense. Boyan’s movements inside, each time it’s so pleasurable I can’t hold back.

I can’t think of anything else.

“Hehe… Aya, you make sounds, don’t you?”

She says with a weirdly affectionate tone, pushing my embarrassment to its limit.

“Kanappe, isn’t that enough…?”

Looking at her with eyes that plead for mercy, Kanappe freezes with a bewildered expression. Then, for some reason, she lets out a sigh as if bored.

Ugh.

“You’re the one who bombarded me with questions, Kanappe!”

“Oh, sorry, sorry! Your reactions were so innocent and cute that I got a bit carried away. Ugh, I’m getting cold. Aya, I’m getting out of the water. Staying in the cold water for more than two minutes can give you a cold, you know.”

I want to protest that Kanappe was the one who started the questioning, but I hold back.

“I’m still completely fine, but I know Kanappe is sensitive to the cold. How about we go to the adjacent Jacuzzi?”

“Yes, yes! If you catch a cold, you won’t be able to have fun with Boyan.”

“…You’re such an idiot, Kanappe.”

“Wow, you’re so mean, Aya.”

While Kanappe bursts into laughter, I let out a sigh and move with her to the Jacuzzi.

I glance at her as she exclaims, “Jacuzzi is the best~”, beside me.

…Kanappe’s been acting a bit odd lately.

I wonder what’s up.

Occasionally, truly occasionally, Kanappe approaches things in an odd way. Even if I worry and ask, she evades answering, so I never really know the reason behind it.

It’s a bit lonely, I guess.

Just as I was about to ask her as usual, Yukari emerges from the sauna room.

“Sorry for making you wait! It just felt so good, I lost track of time.”

“Yukari, you’re late~ My skin’s practically soaking in water already. Let’s hurry to the outdoor bath.”

“Yeah, sure, just give me a moment. I need to freshen up first.”

As she says that, Yukari sinks her body into the cold water, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“Pfft… Yukari, you sound like an old man.”

“Oh, come on. It’s a women’s bath, after all. And… Oh, Aya, you’re laughing too much.”

Despite the angry tone, Yukari’s face becomes soft and gooey, making Kanappe and me exchange glances and burst into laughter.

“Aah~ Nothing beats the open air.”

As the three of us soak in the water side by side, Kanappe, with a towel on her head, lets out an amusing squeal.

“But seriously, it’s Saturday and we practically have the place to ourselves. The feeling of liberation is amazing.”

“Yeah~” The voices echo.

Not a single person is in the spacious outdoor bath. Somehow, it feels like whatever we do right now would be forgiven. If I were in elementary school, I’d undoubtedly be showing off my breaststroke.

“Aya~ Don’t go swimming just because it’s empty.”

“I’m not a child.”

“I wonder about that. Aya surprisingly acts like a kid.”

Engaging in this childish exchange with Kanappe, I notice Yukari, who had been quietly closing her eyes, let out a sigh.

“Could this be the work of that mysterious force…? It’s odd. I have given up…”

“Yukari?”

Yukari mumbles something under her breath.

“Hey, Aya, can I ask you something?”

“Uh, sure, go ahead.”

She turns to me abruptly, her eyes wide open.

Today seems to be a day of being asked a lot of things. I’ll just brace myself for that.

“What do you like about Boyan?”

Her voice is soft and deep.

Even with her gentle tone, Yukari seems earnest.

Oddly enough, even Kanappe next to me has gone silent.

I imagine Boyan’s face in my mind.

For some reason, I’ve been desperately wanting to see Boyan today.

Just thinking about Boyan makes my heart race.

He always makes me feel like that.

He tries to be manly in front of me.

He makes me feel reliable. He relies on me.

He protects me. I want to protect him.

But…

Even more so…

“…His calming presence, I think.”

I murmur softly and Yukari seems slightly surprised.

“Hmm, that’s unexpected… but not really, I guess. Boyan is that kind of person.”

“Yeah, always has been. Even if we’re not doing anything, I wish we could just spend time together forever.”

“It’s about trust?”

“Yeah… Boyan, he never does things that would upset me. I can tell he’s always thinking about not hurting me.”

“Ahh, Boyan really treasures you, huh? Yeah, yeah.”

“…Yeah, it comes through. That’s why I feel like I should convey the same level of feelings.”

“Hehe, Aya… you’re making such a good face right now.”

“Huh?”

Without realizing it, I catch my reflection in Yukari’s eyes. My face is unmistakably flushed.

Well, no wonder. I’m in a hot spring, after all.

“What do you want to convey, by the way?”

Yukari asks gently.

What I want to convey to Boyan.

What I still haven’t properly conveyed.

“I want to help Boyan create a warm family.”

It’s the first time I’ve said it.

The first time I’ve put it into words.

That’s right, I’ve always…

Since I met Boyan…

“Wow, Aya, that’s an overflow of affection!”

Kanappe shouts out like a maniac.

“Wow, isn’t that a bit heavy?”

“Super heavy, I’m seriously cringing.”

Kanappe laughs, seemingly teasing.

But her expression seems a bit sad.

“Kanappe, what’s wrong…?”

“Huh? What?”

“What? Your face looks like you’re about to cry.”

“Seriously? I’m not Aya, so I don’t have the hobby of crying over someone’s jokes.”

Kanappe forces a smile to hide her true feelings.

Honestly.

I wish she wouldn’t underestimate our friendship since middle school.

When Kanappe’s language becomes oddly coarse, it’s when she’s trying to hide her true feelings.

Just like me, a clumsy soul.

“Are you okay? I’m here to listen… we’re in a bath, after all.”

“Hahaha, an open-hearted conversation, huh? Baring your heart and all.”

“Fine, then you don’t have to talk. Come here.”

I spread my arms and smile gently.

At times like this, I switch into mother mode.

“Uh, well… if I jumped into that chest of yours right now, I might be in trouble. You know, Aya’s boobs are so soft and fluffy, I might just fall asleep~ Just kidding.”

Kanappe giggles and laughs it off.

Still weird.

“Kanappe, just come here.”

Huh.

Why is it that after holding back all day, now that I’m here, tears are about to spill?

Ah, they’re coming.

“Why the hell is Aya crying? … Don’t come any closer!”

“But, it seems like you’re crying, Kanappe.”

I embrace her small, fragile body tightly.

“Oh well, that’s just like you, Aya…”

In my arms, Kanappe’s body curls up. Despite being in the water, she’s so cold. So I warm her up.

“I don’t want to make you worry, Aya… with my selfishness, I shouldn’t cry for my sake… it’s no good…”

Kanappe mutters in a whisper, but I’m not quite sure what she’s saying.

However, her feelings of frustration and helplessness come through.

“Kana, don’t say things like that about me. If anyone makes you sad, I’d be really furious.”

“You’d get mad for me?”

“Yeah. I’d punch them hard.”

I whisper in Kanappe’s ear, trying to reassure her.

Like Boyan always does for me.

“Why are you being so manly all of a sudden?”

Kanappe starts laughing and crying.

This might be the first time I’ve seen Kanappe express her emotions so openly.

Perhaps she’s decided not to hold back anymore. She pushes her head into my chest.

I gently embrace my adorable best friend.

“There, there.”

I slowly stroke her damp black hair.

Then, a splashing sound is heard. Yukari emerges from the water, her face submerged. Soon, bubbles appear and she surfaces with a sigh.

“Sigh… so that’s why the place is empty. There was a reason for this. Even I was caught up in it… fooled again.”

“Yukari?”

Uh-oh… Yukari’s behavior and words are strange too.

“Seems like everyone’s dealing with complicated love.”

At that mutter, Kanappe, who was crying against my chest, looks up.

“Yukari, don’t spill the beans, okay?”

She gives Yukari a stern look.

Yukari seems unfazed.

“I won’t say anything. You’ve let it all out, right?”

“I’ve completely let it out.”

“Kanappe, what’s going on?”

I feel like I’m being left out…

“Ughhhh, it’s because of you, Aya.”

“Me?”

“Because Aya… is going away, it’s making me sad.”

“Huh… I’m not going anywhere, Kanappe.”

“Yeah, that’s good enough.”

Kanappe wipes her tears on my shoulder.

“Aya, thank you.”

“No problem.”

I return the sentiment lightly, acting like I’m not concerned.

Just like Boyan always does for me.

“Aya, you can make the best family. I guarantee it.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

If it were the old me, I might not have been able to hug Kanappe like this. I might have been afraid of getting too involved and being disliked.

But…

Because Boyan taught me it’s okay to be genuine, even when facing opposition.

“Shall we head back soon? Before Aya gets overheated.”

“Yeah, Aya’s quick to flush.”

“That’s good enough.”

In the end, following Kanappe’s whim, Yukari and I disappeared into the sauna and I was left floating in the indoor bath, waiting around.

On the way back.

I glance at my smartphone and find a text message from Boyan.

Even though I was planning to send one myself, this is just like Boyan.

『Are you okay?』

Just that.

Yet, it’s strange how I can sense Boyan’s secret concern in those few words.

『I’m fine.』

That’s all I reply.

And everything’s conveyed.

I’m convinced of that.

I stuff my phone back into my pocket and playfully tackle Kanappe, then cling onto Yukari. We slowly walk the chilly path.