(Words: 2565)
"Sorry, sorry, Nanao-san's just too beautiful, I couldn't resist..."
Although it was an apology, Sasaki's gentle, smiling demeanor turned it into a tender reassurance instead.
The girl wanted to correct him, to tell him to stop treating her like a girlfriend. But...
Glancing at her outfit and remembered what she was about to do, she hesitated for a moment, then decided not to press the issue further.
When a man and a woman are alone in a room, it is not a wise decision to rashly argue with a man.
While Sasaki's action had been a bit out of line, he hadn't crossed any major boundaries after all.
So, she chose to let it go, considering it an isolated incident.
If she made a big deal out of it, Sasaki might become difficult or resentful, leading to potential trouble later.
Better to satisfy him with something minor now than to face more significant issues during the massage.
With these thoughts in mind, Nanao turned back to the mirror, deciding to drop the matter.
!!!
Her sapphire-blue eyes widened as she noticed a faint, flower-petal-like red mark on her pale, slender neck.
The rationalizations she had just made crumbled in an instant as the sight of the mark filled her with frustration.
She turned around, glaring at Sasaki with an expression that clearly showed her displeasure.
Her interactions with Shou-kun had been limited to hand-holding, and even that had been rare.
Now, with her relationship with her boyfriend still so innocent, having another guy leave a mark on her body was something she simply couldn't accept.
Meeting her angry gaze, Sasaki sighed dramatically.
"Is it really that bad?
I just kissed your collarbone in the heat of the moment. It's not like it was on the lips. Nanao, you're making me feel really hurt by rejecting me like this."
Sasaki was considerate and liked her, but that wasn't a reason for him to act recklessly toward her.
They both had partners.
While he might be a playboy who didn't mind other girls leaving marks on him, she only had feelings for Shou-kun and would never accept such marks from another guy.
Therefore, no matter how charming or pitiful his words were, she wouldn't tolerate it!
"I have a boyfriend, Sasaki. Please respect that,"
She said, her rosy face now seemingly covered in a thin layer of ice, devoid of any warmth.
Her words were cold and unyielding, like stones from a frozen river.
Seeing her beauty wrapped in an icy demeanor, like a delicate flower encased in frost, Sasaki thought for a moment before deciding not to press further.
"Alright, alright," he sighed, pretending to be disappointed.
Then put the hairdryer back in its place and stepped back, giving her some space. "When you're ready, come over,"
After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the bed without any reluctance.
Seeing him back off so easily, it seemed he had only kissed her in a moment of impulsiveness.
Akane Nanao, who had been tense since the kiss, slowly began to relax.
Based on his actions, she didn't think Sasaki would force anything on her.
But he was still a guy, and the possibility of him losing control in a heated moment wasn't out of the question.
She had been faintly worried about that ever since entering the room.
Now, watching him walk away without trying to seduce or manipulate her further, those lingering fears gradually melted away.
He might act on impulse, but he knew how to restrain himself.
Realizing this, Akane Nanao felt fully assured that as long as she behaved appropriately and avoided any actions that might be interpreted as teasing or seduction, she could safely leave the situation.
With this in mind, she ran her fingers through her now-dry hair, slid on her slippers, and walked out of the bathroom, slowly making her way to the bed.
"…"
Under the warm, yellowish glow of the soft lighting, on a bed that smelled faintly of fresh linen, lay a young man, bare-chested and muscular, casually flipping through a magazine.
Recalling how he had gently dried her hair, the patient care in his movements, the affectionate kiss he'd placed on her earlier, and seeing this calming, almost domestic scene before her,
Akane Nanao couldn't help but feel as if she and Sasaki were like a newly married couple, still in the early days of their marriage.
Standing beside the bed, she felt a mix of nervousness and something else—a feeling she couldn't quite place, a sort of... anticipation.
Wait, anticipation? Where did that come from?
Shaking her head to clear away the fanciful thoughts that the scene had brought to mind, she knelt beside Sasaki on the bed, her smooth knees pressing into the soft mattress, causing a faint creak from the springs.
…It was her first time on a guy's bed, and Akane found herself far more anxious than she had imagined.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she slipped off her shoes and kneeled beside Sasaki, slowly extending her hands.
His back felt broad, firm, and warm—the first impressions she had upon touching him.
Her second impression was that it actually felt pretty good to touch him: firm, yet with a softness underneath, and pleasantly warm.
Feeling a bit embarrassed by her thoughts, the girl started to work her fingers over Sasaki's back, trying to massage him the way she thought she should.
But after a few minutes, she realized her third impression: His muscles were incredibly tough to massage—like trying to knead a tire.
It was almost impossible to make any real impact.
Though she wasn't weak, she was finding it difficult to keep up.
Her arms quickly began to tire, her fingers growing sore from the effort.
Noticing the girl's struggle, Sasaki, who had anticipated this, opened his eyes and smirked lightly as he teased, "Not even five minutes in, and you're already slacking? I won't be satisfied if you keep this up~"
They had agreed earlier on their walk to the shopping district that the massage would last for thirty minutes, and it was clear she couldn't just go through the motions.
Feeling a bit embarrassed at the thought of not living up to the agreement, Akane knew he was right, but it was truly hard work.
Without needing to guess what she was thinking, Sasaki could see her frustration and offered a suggestion, "If you're getting tired, you could sit on my waist. It'll make it easier for you to use your strength."
"No…" Nanao Akane started to protest, but Sasaki interrupted her.
"If you keep half-heartedly going at this pace, I might have to extend our time to an hour~"
"…"
She couldn't even manage five minutes without getting tired—how could she possibly last an hour?
Her hands would be completely exhausted by then.
But sitting on his waist?
That seemed way too intimate… Sitting on a guy's waist, having such close contact—it felt so wrong.
But what choice did she have?
this...
Knowing that she was feeling conflicted, Sasaki waited a little longer before speaking up again:
"Right now, we're in a service-provider and client relationship."
"I did my part and made sure you were satisfied earlier. Now, shouldn't you also do your part and ensure I'm satisfied?"
"..."
His words made sense.
But, that being said, asking a girl who has a boyfriend to sit on another boy's waist was really too much.
She wanted to voice her objection, but Sasaki, as if anticipating her thoughts, continued:
"Are you thinking that this request is unfair to Katase?"
"Ha~"
The soft, almost indiscernible laugh that followed didn't seem to have a specific meaning.
However, to Akane, who was already feeling conflicted, it sounded like Sasaki was mocking her.
It reminded her of how she had entered a hotel room with a guy other than her boyfriend and now bore a mark on her neck,
She interpreted Sasaki's laugh as ridicule—an insinuation that she was no longer pure.
As a sense of bitterness welled up within her, just as she was about to protest, Sasaki spoke again:
"What is there to feel guilty about?"
"You're giving me a massage in exchange for my help and advice. This is just a fair trade."
"Why are you making this trade?"
Caught off guard by his sudden question, the girl hesitated for a moment before answering, "To make Shou-kun see Tougou's true colors."
"Exactly."
"You're doing this for his sake, to help him."
"You're helping him by giving me a massage—what's there to feel guilty about?"
"..."
Sasaki's words left the girl feeling a bit bewildered.
But amidst her confusion, she could sense some logic in what he was saying.
However, she frowned, trying to focus on the main issue: "But this request…"
"My suggestion was meant to help you complete the trade more efficiently, so you can help Katase."
"Besides, you're in love with Katase, not me. Are you really afraid that by doing this, you'll start having feelings for me?"
"And, it's just sitting on my waist, not like I'm asking for anything inappropriate. Is it really that unreasonable?"
"After all, I did lay my head on your lap last time, didn't I?"
"..."
Sasaki's argument seemed so reasonable that Akane couldn't find a way to refute it.
Before she could fully process everything, the boy sighed and said, "If this suggestion is really that difficult for you, forget it.
Just pretend I never mentioned it."
"..."
The soreness in her hands, the lingering thoughts of Sasaki's suggestion, and her growing sense of guilt over his seemingly understanding attitude all weighed heavily on her mind.
Together, they acted like a lever, tipping Akane toward making a decision.
Finally, she decided to sit on his waist..
Feeling the softness and comfort of cotton fabric and the softness and warmth of a plump person suddenly touching his waist, Sasaki praised himself for his previous wisdom.
Even if her skirt was a little longer, there wouldn't be this feeling of a little bit of a line...
After sitting on Sasaki's waist.
She realized that the ice silk skirt she was wearing did not support her actions at all.
Before she could regret it, she heard Sasaki say:
It was only after she was in position that she realized the short ice-silk skirt she was wearing wasn't really suited for this kind of movement.
But before she could reconsider, Sasaki spoke up,
"Try it like this—does it help you apply more pressure?"
"..."
Hearing Sasaki's question, which didn't seem unusual, Akane Nanao, with a blushing face, didn't know whether to advance or retreat.
He didn't seem to notice that...
'If I stood up suddenly, would he notice that I was acting strangely...'
'But if I don't get up, it's too intimate...'
Before she finished weighing the pros and cons, Sasaki tilted his head and asked:
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"N-no, nothing's wrong."
Convinced that he hadn't noticed her embarrassment, Akane tried to push down her feelings of shame and awkwardness, and resumed massaging his back.
Though this position was undeniably uncomfortable, she had to admit it made the task much easier.
But even with this newfound leverage, she quickly realized she wouldn't be able to last the full thirty minutes.
After another seven or eight minutes, her arms began to ache, and her pace slowed down noticeably.
Realizing she was struggling again, Sasaki asked with a hint of exasperation, "Running out of energy already?"
Feeling like a student who had just received a poor grade, Nanao Akane lowered her head and blushed with embarrassment, nodding slightly, "Mm-hmm~"
She always saw herself as someone who wasn't fragile or weak, but failing like this was frustrating, though it wasn't entirely her fault.
After all, Sasaki's muscles were as tough as tires—how could she possibly keep up?
Picking up the phone beside him, Sasaki turned on the screen and checked the time, "There are still fifteen minutes left…"
"Hmm… how about this? Try using your feet instead."
"Huh?"
.
.
.
Akane Nanao was taken aback by Sasaki's unexpected request.
"Using your feet to massage, like they do in some massage parlors, you know? It won't tire you out as much..."
As a foot fetish guy, he couldn't ask for more.
Now the chance was her, so why not.
As long as you are not embarrassed, then nothing will be embarrassing.
Sasaki told her something strange in a serious tone.
"I see."
Nanao Akane had seen videos of this kind of massage before.
While it felt a bit weird, she could still accept his request rather than sitting on Sasaki's body.
So, after a moment's hesitation, she agreed.
Since she had just taken a bath and was entirely clean, Akane didn't feel the need to wash her feet again.
After giving a quick "I'm starting," she gingerly stepped onto Sasaki's back.
Standing on one foot on his back, she asked hesitantly, "Um, I might be a bit heavy, so…"
"Don't worry about it. Just make sure you don't fall off,"
Even if ten such Akane's came, they wouldn't be able to crush him to death so, Sasaki didn't take her reminder to heart.
"Oh well."
Since he said so, the girl no longer hesitated.
"Hmm~"
Hearing Sasaki's groaning, she lowered her head and asked:
"How is it? Is it uncomfortable? Do you want me to come down?"
"No, it's fine. It feels good. Just keep your balance and walk a bit."
As she had mentioned earlier, Akane Nanao was indeed a bit heavier than the average girl, which might have caused discomfort for most guys.
But to Sasaki, her weight was nothing—far from causing him any real strain.
What truly caught his attention wasn't her weight, but the fact that a beautiful girl with a generous figure was standing barefoot on his back in an ultra-short skirt.
It might sound a bit perverted at first, but for someone who appreciates the finer things in life, this was a rare treat.
Closing his eyes slightly to savor the moment, Sasaki started a casual conversation with Akane:
"So, Nanao-san, how did you come up with the idea of joining the baseball club? Few girls would join that kind of club, right? Is it just because of Katase?"
Stretching his arms out on the bed, he let Akane focus on balancing as she responded softly, "Mhm, Shou-kun was definitely a big part of it. But I also felt like I needed something to do, something to keep me busy."
"So, you can't sit still, huh? What were you up to before joining the baseball club?"
"Before? I was in the school's swim team," Akane replied, her voice tinged with a bit of nostalgia. "Don't be fooled by how I look now—I was the ace of the swim team, and I could have competed at the national level… But then…"
Thinking about the large, soft melons on her chest, Sasaki nodded lightly, indicating his understanding.
With those two soft, white cushions, it was almost impossible for Akane to swim effortlessly, like a fish in water.
Well, nothing was absolute—if one's physical strength is strong enough, even two solid watermelons wouldn't stop them from swimming.
And as it happens, Sasaki had ample supply of strengthening liquid.
But there was no need to mention it now; when the time was right, he wouldn't hesitate to offer it.
....
....