"It hurts, it hurts..." Umi cried out in distress, "Amamiya-kun, come in and help me up quickly. I can't get up!"
Hearing this, Amamiya glanced over at Shimizu.
"Can't," Shimizu replied from the sofa, looking perfectly lazy. "I've used up all my strength."
If only she'd spent less time playing on her phone, maybe she wouldn't be reduced to a mascot now!
Amamiya sighed helplessly and muttered under his breath, "So, I'm really going in?"
"Hurry up and come in!"
"…"
When Amamiya opened the bathroom door, he found Umi kneeling on the floor, tears welling up in her eyes. Her hair was tied up in a towel, and she was using her left hand to prop herself up while clutching her chest with her right, covering herself with the towel, looking utterly pitiful.
Amamiya slipped off his shoes and walked into the bathroom barefoot. "Give me your hand."
"Where's the soap?" Umi asked nervously, scanning the floor.
Is this what they mean when they say once bitten, twice shy? I'm not afraid of a little soap!
"It's right by your foot," Amamiya said.
"Eh?" Umi gasped, immediately insisting, "Pick it up first! And move it far away!"
Left with no other choice, Amamiya picked up the soap, then helped Umi off the floor and onto a small plastic stool.
"I'm heading out," Amamiya said, dusting his hands off, ready to leave the bathroom.
"Wait a second…"
"Hm?"
"Well..." The blonde girl covered her chest tightly and stammered, "I haven't finished my bath yet. If I don't clean up properly, you can't use the bath."
It was true.
In Japanese households, regardless of the size of the home, bathtubs are essential for relaxing. But to conserve water, families often share the same bathwater, meaning everyone must shower beforehand to keep it clean.
Amamiya raised an eyebrow and said, "Then keep washing."
"But what if the soap slips out of my hands again? The 'bad luck' debuff is still in effect," Umi looked up at him with big, pleading eyes. "Amamiya-kun, could you… help me wash my back?"
"…"
Amamiya narrowed his eyes and pointed at himself, "You seriously want 'me' to help you take a bath?"
"Just my back!" Umi quickly clarified, "I've already washed the rest!"
Amamiya thought for a moment before agreeing.
"Alright... Leave it to me."
If she doesn't care, why should I?
Besides, it's just washing her back—no big deal.
Amamiya's gaze naturally drifted downward toward the girl's exposed back. Although the front was covered by the towel, her back was fully visible. Her skin was as smooth as cream, glowing like polished jade under the bathroom light.
Then there were the delicate curves. Her back flowed gracefully from her shoulders, but her waist—thin to an almost impossible degree—drew his attention. It was so slim that it looked like it could be encircled with just one hand. Amamiya even wondered if both of his hands together could completely wrap around it.
This was what people call an "A4 waist."
How could this be possible?
She eats more than I do, so why is her waist so thin?
Where does all that food even go?
"... Amamiya-kun?" Umi tilted her head and looked over in confusion. "Why aren't you moving?"
"I'm moving now."
Amamiya took a deep breath, suppressing the subtle impulse that had stirred within him, and reached for the soap and towel to begin wiping her back.
"Ah..."
As soon as his hand made contact with her skin, a soft, trembling sound escaped from Umi's lips, like the delicate song of a siren, sending a shiver through him.
The corner of Amamiya's mouth twitched slightly. "What was that?"
Now I understand what it means to tempt someone into committing a crime.
To be honest, Amamiya nearly lost his composure—he was on the verge of stepping into dangerous territory!
"It's all your fault," Umi pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "That towel was too cold."
"..."
Sighing, Amamiya moistened the towel with hot water and continued helping her wash.
The bathroom fell into a brief, quiet calm.
Umi, arms folded tightly across her chest and stomach, her face flushed as red as a fire, sat obediently still. Normally, this beautiful gyaru was carefree and bold, often exuding a tough, confident energy. But this was the first time she'd ever asked a boy to help her wash her back, and she was, without a doubt, deeply embarrassed.
Amamiya noticed the soft blush spreading across the back of her snow-white neck.
"I'm finished."
Amamiya set the towel aside.
Umi sighed in relief. "You can leave now..."
Before she could finish, Amamiya suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"H-Huh?!"
The girl yelped in surprise.
'Is Amamiya-kun turning into a beast?'
'No way!'
'Not in a place like the bathroom... and Sister Shimizu is still outside!'
Bang!
The showerhead slipped, crashing against the wall with a dull thud.
"Huh?" Umi blinked in confusion before realizing what had happened. "The showerhead fell?"
If Amamiya hadn't pulled her aside, it would've struck her directly.
"So unlucky..." Amamiya muttered as he released her. His eyes lingered on Umi, then suddenly froze.
"What's wrong?" Umi felt a sudden chill across her chest. Looking down, her face turned beet red, steam practically rising from her head.
The towel was gone!
It must have slipped off when he grabbed her!
Amamiya silently looked away, mentally kicking himself.
At last, he knew where all the food she ate went.
All he could think was:
The moon is big and bright tonight.
Anything more would be censored by unspeakable forces. You'll have to use your imagination.
A moment later, Amamiya cleaned up around the bathtub and said, more seriously this time:
"Just soak in the tub and wait until the 'bad luck' buff wears off before you get out."
"Glub, glub, glub~"
Umi, her face still red as a tomato, hugged her knees, buried her face in the water, and blew bubbles.
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "Did you hear me?"
"Yes," she replied quietly, too embarrassed to look at him.
"I'm going out," Amamiya said.
"Wait a second." Umi wrapped her arms around her knees. "It's boring to bathe alone. I want—"
"You want me to stay and bathe with you?"
"Of course not!" Umi shot back angrily, her face flushing even more. "Who would bathe with a guy?! I was talking about my phone!"
"Is your phone waterproof?"
"I... don't think so."
"Then do you think it's smart to bring it near the bathtub?"
Umi: "..."
Normally, it wasn't a problem.
She usually played with her phone while bathing every day to avoid boredom, but today… perhaps it was better to give it a pass.
"Alright, fine," Umi waved her hand dismissively, "Amamiya-kun, just go already."
Amamiya sighed softly.
"When you need me, you want me to come in quickly. When you don't, you kick me out. That's pretty harsh."
"Exactly!" Umi proudly lifted her chin, exposing her elegant, swan-like neck. "That's how it is!"
"…"
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