The next week was more or less the same, and it wasn't getting any easier. Our clothes were getting rank, reeking of sweat and dirt from all the trekking. I could feel the grime sticking to my skin under my shirt, the humid summer air only making it worse. But the worst part? We didn't exactly have a wardrobe to choose from. The girls had packed only one extra set of clothes each, which meant they had to figure out some way to clean them.
We were somewhere deep in Banff National Park, surrounded by towering pine trees and rivers that wound through the valleys. The air was crisp and fresh, but even that couldn't cover the stink we were starting to carry. Eventually, they made the call—Daisy, Yabe, and Liza decided they were gonna bathe in the river and wash their clothes.
"Turn around, boys," Daisy said with her usual no-nonsense tone, hands on her hips. "Ain't no free show."
Ethan and I nodded, both of us sitting with our backs against a big-ass tree trunk a few feet away from the river. My heart raced a little, though. I could hear the rustling as they started to undress behind us. Daisy, Liza, and Yabe—yeah, I wasn't blind, and neither was Ethan. They were all hot.
Daisy was in her 30s, with that thick Texan accent and curves that could stop a train. Her huge curves strained against her tank top most days, and I couldn't help but notice how her leather jacket hugged her figure just right. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back, giving her this wild, rugged look. She wasn't the type to shy away from hard work, and it showed in her toned legs and arms. Now, hearing her strip down to just her underwear made me bite my lip.
Yabe, on the other hand, was a whole different vibe. Half-Black, half-Japanese, with dark skin and silky white hair that fell down her back. She was quieter, more introverted, and shy as hell. But damn, those curves. She had moderate curves—and while she always dressed modestly, she couldn't hide that body of hers. Even under those simple clothes, she had this quiet allure about her. I could imagine her standing there by the river, her soft, smooth skin catching the sunlight.
And Liza, well, she was flat as a washing board—and she never let anyone forget how much she hated it. She'd complain all the time about being "small" compared to the others, but she had a certain cuteness to her. Long black hair tied back in a ponytail, and her bratty attitude that was as loud as her swearing. She'd probably be the first to call us out if she caught us peeking.
Ethan shifted next to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced over at him, and I could tell he was just as on edge as I was. His skinny frame was stiff, his face flushed as he stared ahead at the tree bark in front of us like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Dude," Ethan muttered, voice low. "This is like... straight out of an anime."
I snorted, trying to keep my voice down. "Yeah, no kidding. Typical fanservice shit. Girls bathing in the river, us acting like pervs, turning our heads to sneak a peek. Total anime cliché."
Ethan chuckled nervously. "Except, you know, it's real life. And if they catch us, we're dead."
I couldn't help but laugh under my breath. He wasn't wrong. Daisy, especially, would kick our asses if she caught us. But... curiosity got the best of me. Slowly, carefully, I turned my head just enough to steal a glance over my shoulder.
They were standing knee-deep in the river, the water flowing around their legs as they scrubbed their clothes on the rocks. Daisy was in just her bra and panties, her big breasts barely contained by the thin fabric. Her tanned skin glistened in the sunlight as she dipped her clothes in the water. She had this confident, unbothered way of moving, like nothing in the world could faze her.
Next to her was Yabe, her dark skin contrasting against the bright blue of the water. She wore simple, plain underwear that hugged her curves perfectly. Her long white hair was tied up in a messy bun to keep it from getting wet, and her curves were more modest, but damn, they were enough to make my heart skip a beat.
And then there was Liza, complaining, of course. "Ugh, this water's freezing!" she whined, splashing a bit as she tried to rinse her clothes. Her flat chest was barely covered by her sports bra, and she pouted like the brat she was. "This sucks. I wanna be warm and dry, not half-naked in a river!"
I quickly turned back around before they could see me, my heart pounding in my chest. Ethan had the same idea. He must've peeked, too, because his face was bright red, and he was trying way too hard to act casual.
"Dude..." I muttered. "We're gonna get killed."
"Totally," Ethan agreed, eyes wide. "But, uh... worth it?"
"No," I blushed, shaking my head. "I mean yes?"
We both sat there, trying to calm down, but the images of them in the river kept flashing in my mind. This really was like something straight out of an anime. I mean, who would've thought? Stuck in the middle of the apocalypse, and somehow we were living out a stupid fanservice scene like this.
"You ever watch High School of the Dead?" Ethan asked out of nowhere, trying to sound casual.
I snorted. "Hell yeah. Classic."
"This feels like that," he whispered, glancing over his shoulder again. "Like... fanservice everywhere, but also kinda tense, y'know? The world's gone to shit, but here we are, watching half-naked girls in a river."
I laughed. "Dude, it's the end of the world. You gotta take the little wins where you can."
Ethan nodded, grinning. "Yeah, I guess so. But for real, we're dead if they catch us."
"No shit," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my forehead. "But seriously, let's be careful. Daisy's got a mean right hook, and I'm not looking to get shot in the head."
We sat in silence after that, the sounds of the river and the girls splashing around filling the air. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful for what our world had become. But for a few minutes, it felt like maybe, just maybe, things were normal again. Even if it was just a stupid anime-like moment in the middle of all the chaos.
Still, deep down, I knew this kind of peace wouldn't last long.
Q: What is your favorite type of anime fan service?