Chapter 56: Mixed Bathing

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Translator: Soafp

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When we returned to the room at the inn, Nodoka Komori—who had been waiting alone—ran up to me the moment she saw my face, like a puppy jumping on its owner who had finally come home.

“How did it go?”

“It worked out.”

I briefly explained what had just happened, making sure to thank Nodoka for coming up with the sponsor plan.

“So, how was she?”

“How was what?”

“The idol. You saw her in person, right?”

“Well… she was kind of unique.”

Honestly, I wasn't that interested in idols, so I wasn't especially moved. Maybe it was also because she wasn't a top-tier celebrity you'd see on TV. Still, it was definitely not an experience most people get to have.

“That's it? Nothing like ‘she was cute' or anything?”

“She was cute.”

“Hm…”

I answered honestly.

Nodoka's eyes immediately narrowed.

The pressure was intense.

“Good for you, getting to meet such a super cute idol.”

“…Hey, why are you mad?”

“I'm not mad.”

That's the classic line of someone who's definitely mad.

But I couldn't figure out why.

“Your Honor Komori, the defendant has additional charges.”

Airi cut in at that moment.

Then she fully exposed what happened earlier—how Kokoa had casually touched me—without leaving anything out.

…Nodoka's gaze sharpened even more.

“Your Honor, the verdict?”

“Guilty!!”

“And with that, the defendant Ren is sentenced to imprisonment.”

“Hold on! Defense attorney! Where's my defense attorney?!”

“We don't have those in this country.”

“What kind of dictatorship is this?!”

Even in certain courtroom games, you at least get a chance to defend yourself.

What did I even do?

Branded with false charges, I was grabbed by both Nodoka and Airi—one on each side.

They wrapped white towels around my wrists like handcuffs.

“Come with us, prisoner 917.”

“That prisoner number came way too fast. Also, that's my birthday.”

“It's also the PIN for the savings account I just made.”

“Why would you share that?!”

“My bankbook is also my master's bankbook.”

“What kind of logic is that? Also, isn't that ‘master' currently being overthrown?”

And just like that, they dragged me to the private open-air bath attached to the room.

“Now then, prisoner 917. Choose: naked, or swimsuit.”

“…You don't mean I'm going in alone, right?”

“Of course not. It's mixed bathing. Right, Nodoka?”

Airi looked at Nodoka.

Nodoka flinched and blushed bright red.

“It's this big, so there's no way we'd let just one prisoner hog it!”

“You don't need to correct yourself from my name to ‘prisoner.' Also, if I pick naked, are you going in naked too?”

“Huh? W-well… if the prisoner insists, it's not like I'd say no…”

What kind of treatment is that? This prisoner has way too many rights.

I smiled bitterly to myself.

“Swimsuit.”

“You don't want to see me naked?! Then why even ask?!”

“I mean, that was obviously a joke.”

“I wasn't joking…”

Nodoka puffed her lips like a sulking child.

Oh, what's this.

That's a different kind of cute compared to her usual puffed cheeks.

“Alright then, Ren-kun, I'll help you change into your swimsuit.”

“No, no, I'll do it myself.”

“Helping prisoners change is a guard's duty.”

“What kind of guards are those?!”

Somehow, I managed to convince Airi and changed into my swimsuit on my own before entering the bath.

“We'll go change too. Stay like this until we come back.”

“Got it.”

The white towel that had been around my wrists was now used as a blindfold.

…Even though it was a famous ocean-view bath, I couldn't see the ocean at all.

Still, knowing it would be mixed bathing made me strangely nervous, and my heartbeat gradually sped up.

(A bath with girls…)

It felt like it had been a while.

Maybe because my vision was blocked, memories of Yuzuki resurfaced whether I liked it or not.

When would I finally be able to forget her completely?

Would that day even come?

I let out a wry smile at my own uncharacteristic sentimentality—when suddenly—

“S-sorry to keep you waiting.”

Nodoka's voice.

Then I felt her move behind me, and the knot of the blindfold at the back of my head was undone.

I casually turned to look at her—

“…What is that?”

The moment I saw Nodoka in her swimsuit, my body froze.

It wasn't the one she wore earlier at the beach—the one she bought at the mall.

Thin strings, almost like threads, held up barely-there white triangular pieces of fabric that just managed to cover her chest.

The bottom was the same—tiny pieces tied at the sides with ribbons, barely covering what needed to be covered.

(A micro bikini…?)

It was my first time seeing one in real life.

The impact was overwhelming.

I couldn't move, just stood there with my mouth slightly open.

Nodoka stiffened, her ears turning red as she spoke.

“S-say something…”

“Why?”

“Y-you said you wanted to see it, didn't you? My… sexy bikini…”

Well, that was obviously a joke.

“Aren't you embarrassed?”

“Of course I am!! Honestly, I feel like being completely naked would be less embarrassing!!”

“Then don't force yourself.”

“I have to. Today, I'm going to push myself a little.”

Her expression was different from usual.

It wasn't just embarrassment.

There was determination in it.

“S-so, how is it?”

“Well… it's cute.”

“…Not sexy?”

“If I answer honestly, it might count as harassment.”

“Why do you care about that now?! Just be honest!”

“Well… I mean…”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly and continued.

“It's sexy.”

“…!”

Given how good her figure already was, and now in a micro bikini, it was only natural.

My instincts were on the verge of going out of control, barely restrained by reason.

“I-I see…”

For some reason, Nodoka smiled faintly and stepped into the bath.

Even the soft sound of the water seemed strangely alluring.

Soon, she sat down right next to me.

I subtly tried to move away.

“Hey! Why are you moving away?!”

She saw right through me and grabbed my arm, holding it tightly as if she wouldn't let me escape.

“Hey, things are touching…”

“I know! You didn't hold back grabbing my butt earlier, so what are you worrying about now?!”

“Well, yeah, but…”

Probably because it wasn't meant for swimming, her micro bikini became even more see-through in the water.

And the feeling of her chest pressing against my arm—

The fabric between us might as well not exist.

“It's just… too stimulating.”

“Oh? So basically… your ‘Ren' is… you know… in trouble?”

“…Yeah. Honestly, yeah.”

“I see. So your body is recognizing me as a girl.”

Saying that, Nodoka let go of my arm.

I thought she understood what I meant—but I was wrong.

“N-Nodoka?”

She suddenly climbed onto my lap.

Just like when she applied sunscreen to me earlier.

But this was completely different.

The problem was, this wasn't just a normal bikini.

I didn't even know where to look, with so much bare skin filling my vision.

“Hey, Ren. What am I to you?”

“Huh? A friend… right?”

“Just a friend?”

“…A close friend?”

“Do you think I'd do something like this with a regular guy friend, no matter how close we are?”

“Well…”

This wasn't just about now.

She would link arms with me as if competing with Airi, feed me with “ahh,” make me choose her swimsuits, show up wearing provocative clothes.

She even snuck into my bed and got flustered, and whenever I so much as interacted with another girl or even mentioned one, she'd get obviously jealous.

Was all of that really just because Nodoka saw me as her only male friend?

Was it just that, since she hadn't had proper friends before her high school debut, she still didn't understand personal boundaries?

That's how I'd explained it to myself up until now.

No—every time I almost started to see it as something more, I told myself I was overthinking it and brushed it aside.

“You're smart, Ren, so you should know, right? How to tell the difference between someone you just want as a guy friend… and someone you want as a boyfriend.”

“I-I don't know… I'm not a girl, so I can't say for sure, but… maybe something like… whether you want to kiss them?”

“I see… So the person you feel like kissing is the one you want as a girlfriend. As expected from someone with experience. Unlike me, who's never done anything before.”

Nodoka gently cupped my face with both hands.

Then slowly—but surely—she brought her face closer.

(W-wait, no way… is this—)

In an instant, my vision was filled with her delicate features.

Before I could stop her, she softly closed her eyes.

A moment later, with a quiet chu, a soft, warm sensation pressed against my lips.

“N-Nodoka…”

I froze in shock, but a beat later I grabbed her shoulders and gently pushed her back.

Our lips parted.

She touched her own lips with her finger and said,

“I gave you my first kiss.”

“You… when did you even start…”

“Who knows? I don't know something like that. I'm not that smart. But don't get the wrong idea—everything I've done, I did because I like you. Not as friends.”

Nodoka wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered into my ear,

“I'll only say this once, so listen carefully. I love you, Ren.”