Chapter 578: Riding the Waves, Yumiko
After their shared moment, Yumiko lay nestled in Hachiman's arms, her head resting against his chest.
"So, we finally crossed that line, didn't we?" she murmured softly.
"Yes," Hachiman replied, holding her tightly. "Now, Yumiko, you're entirely mine."
He rested his chin on the crown of her head, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. Yumiko, too, felt a profound sense of tranquility as she lay there. While there had been some initial fear, Hachiman's gentle reassurances had quickly calmed her.
The pain was fleeting, replaced by a warm, comforting sensation.
With Hachiman's movements, Yumiko felt like a small boat adrift on the vast ocean, rising and falling with the waves.
At first, she had tried to resist, but soon she found herself surrendering completely. By the time the overwhelming tide subsided, she could only plead for respite.
The brave sailor, it seemed, had finally succumbed to the depths of the sea.
When Yumiko was completely drained and could no longer endure, Hachiman finally let her rest. He kissed her gently on the forehead and whispered, "You did well, Yumiko. Take a little rest now."
"Mm," Yumiko replied faintly, her voice barely above a hum. She used Hachiman's arm as a pillow and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
Not long after, a small, sweet smile appeared on her lips, as though she were dreaming of something wonderful. Seeing this, Hachiman's face softened with a tender smile of his own. He held her closer, then closed his eyes to join her in rest.
...
At 5:30 PM, Hachiman opened his eyes again.
As the haze of sleep faded, he tried to sit up but felt something soft pressing against him. Looking down, he saw Yumiko curled up in his arms like a cat.
Perhaps his movements were too abrupt, as the girl in his embrace stirred and woke up as well. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she asked, "Mmm... what time is it?"
"It's 5:30 PM. Time to get up. We should go have dinner," Hachiman replied.
"Ha~~ fine."
Yumiko yawned as she sat up from his embrace. Her golden spiral curls cascaded down her chest, conveniently covering her modesty, though glimpses of blush-colored skin could be seen through the strands.
Noticing Hachiman's gaze lingering, Yumiko rolled her eyes with a playful yet annoyed look.
"What are you staring at? Didn't you already see enough earlier?"
"Of course not. My Yumiko is so captivating—I could look at you for a lifetime and still not have enough," Hachiman teased with a grin.
Hearing his sweet words, Yumiko felt a surge of warmth in her heart, though her naturally tsundere personality wouldn't allow her to admit it easily.
"Yeah, yeah, you just know how to say things people like to hear."
Feeling slightly sticky, Yumiko frowned slightly, realizing the aftermath of their earlier activity. It was only natural to sweat after such exertion.
Glancing at Hachiman beside her, Yumiko tilted her head slightly before extending her arms toward him.
"Carry me to the shower."
Although she didn't actually feel pain anymore, Yumiko still leaned on Hachiman for support.
After all, the initial discomfort had only lasted a moment before vanishing like magic, replaced by warmth and comfort.
Even though Yumiko wasn't in pain anymore, it didn't stop her from being spoiled.
I've given my whole self to you. What's wrong with asking you to carry me to the shower?
Seeing Yumiko acting like a child, Hachiman couldn't help but shake his head with a faint smile. Still, he didn't refuse her request. Rising from the bed, he bent down and scooped her up in a bridal carry.
"Alright, let's go take a bath."
With that, the two bare figures entered the bathroom together. Soon, the sound of running water filled the space, occasionally accompanied by Yumiko's soft, involuntary murmurs.
Hachiman kept his hands strictly professional this time, helping Yumiko wash up without any funny business. The sounds she made were simply a result of his hands gently gliding over her skin, nothing more.
Before long, Hachiman emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, carrying Yumiko, who was dressed in a light yukata. Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, and her breathing was slightly uneven.
Hachiman swore to himself that they had only taken a normal bath. After all, if they'd actually done anything else, they wouldn't have come out this quickly.
He gently set Yumiko on the bed before pulling out a hairdryer and plugging it in. The soft hum of the dryer filled the room.
"Come here, let me dry your hair."
"Hmph."
Yumiko didn't refuse, though she responded with a typical tsundere huff. Seeing her adorable attitude, Hachiman chuckled quietly and got to work, running his fingers carefully through her hair as he dried it.
As the hum of the hairdryer filled the room, Yumiko's once-damp golden curls gradually dried.
The comforting warmth and the gentle touch of Hachiman's hands made her close her eyes in relaxation, a contented expression spreading across her face.
However, as her hair dried, the subtle scent of green apple from her shampoo mixed with her natural fragrance, drifting to Hachiman. It stirred something in him, and his thoughts began to wander.
Sensing his shift in demeanor, Yumiko reached out and pinched him lightly.
"Behave yourself, or the bath will have been pointless. Besides, I'm starving, and we still need to eat dinner."
"Don't worry, I won't do anything," Hachiman assured her, suppressing his wandering thoughts as he continued drying her hair diligently.
It didn't take long before her hair was perfectly dry.
"Alright, now help me get dressed," Yumiko instructed, shaking out her golden locks with a casual flick of her head.
Hachiman raised an eyebrow, his mouth twitching slightly at her demand.
"Seriously? You want me to help you dress, too?"
But he didn't refuse. After all, she was his girl now. He couldn't exactly walk away after everything that had happened. For his woman, Hachiman could be magnanimous.
Picking up her undergarments, he turned to the girl sitting on the bed.
"Raise your arms."
Yumiko complied without hesitation, lifting her arms so Hachiman could slip on her underwear. With practiced ease, he fastened the clasp at the back before reaching for her panties.
"Now, lift your legs."
Again, Yumiko obediently followed his instructions. Hachiman allowed himself a brief glance before carefully sliding the panties onto her, adjusting them into place.
After helping Yumiko into her underwear and bra, there wasn't much left to admire—after all, he'd already seen everything there was to see.
A white shirt, a blue-violet jacket, and black jeans…
As it turned out, Hachiman wasn't just skilled at taking clothes off; he was equally adept at putting them on. In no time, he had Yumiko fully dressed.
As for brushing her hair and applying makeup, he left those tasks to her. While Yumiko focused on her makeup, Hachiman took the chance to dress himself.
His process was far simpler—just throwing on clothes without much thought.
By the time both of them were ready, it was only slightly past 6:30 PM.
"Alright, let's go," Hachiman said, taking Yumiko's hand as they left the hotel together.
By now, the sky had turned completely dark. Neon lights flickered along the streets, casting colorful reflections on the passing crowds and creating a lively, vibrant atmosphere.
Eventually, the two chose a rather upscale-looking restaurant and stepped inside for dinner.