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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Skinship
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"Ugh, it's sticky."
After wiping the water from my body, I squeezed out some sunscreen and rubbed it into my hands.
An unpleasant, sticky sensation met my touch.
I have to put this on? Should I just not bother?
[Reader?]
...No. It was too late.
The Author was watching me, nagging about what I was doing to my precious skin.
There was no way I could back out now.
Besides, it was true my skin was stinging a bit.
I couldn't *not* put it on.
"C-cold..."
[What do you mean 'roughly'! You have to apply it carefully!]
"..."
Why is she saying something so correct?
Her normal words, so unlike her usual self, slightly annoyed me.
No, well... it's sticky, so isn't it okay to apply just a little?
It's not like she's my parent.
Though, if I think about it, maybe she *could* be considered my parent.
It's certain that the Author created this body.
...Huh? Wait a minute.
"Author."
[Yes?]
"How did you create this body?"
A sudden question popped into my head.
The Author said she created this body.
So where exactly did this body come from?
That curiosity was cleanly resolved by the Author's answer.
[I just created it?]
"What do you mean 'just'..."
[I set up a character with these characteristics and created them.]
"..."
[Should I call it a unique creation? Not something that already existed, but something new...]
Goosebumps erupted on my skin.
I shouldn't have asked. I asked for nothing.
Am I truly human, or merely a doll?
Perhaps I'm a doll who believes herself to be human?
The famous thought experiment, 'brain in a vat,' came to mind.
The horrifying thought that even my past might have been created by the Author.
Just thinking about it made my head spin, and the terrible fantasy I'd tried not to think about reared its head again.
[...I don't know how lucky I am to have you! Oh? What's wrong?]
"...No, it's nothing."
No, that can't be.
Even if this body was created by the Author, she couldn't have created my mind as well.
So, while she might be able to alter my body, she wouldn't be able to change my mind.
There's no basis for this. But I am human.
With that thought, I suppressed the fantasy that had raised its head.
For it to slumber forever in the depths of the abyss once more.
"...Ahaha. It's so sticky and unpleasant, can't I just not put it on?"
[I told you to apply it! Every exposed part of your skin! No matter what! Apply it!]
"Alright."
Smile, you must smile. Arte Isys.
As usual, with composure.
Following the Author's instructions, sometimes offering my own opinions.
That's how I'll live in this world.
"...This feels gross."
I slathered on the sticky sunscreen.
Unlike my arms before I fell into this place, these snow-white, soft arms changed shape under my touch, becoming coated in the sticky liquid.
The slick, greasy sensation, combined with the stickiness, felt unpleasant.
"There, is that enough?"
[Not enough! You need to apply more!]
"What? No, where else could I possibly..."
[You need to put it on your chest and back too! You can't just let those parts burn!]
Anyway, it's not like anyone else will see it, so is there really a need?
Even if I get a bit tanned, it'll go back to normal over time.
I seriously considered the necessity of protecting areas already covered by three or more layers of clothing, then gave up.
I figured there was no need to argue with the Author over something like this.
"...It's heavy."
[I feel a strange sense of defeat... Did I make them too big for no reason...?]
"Seriously, why didn't you make them smaller? They're bigger than I thought and it's uncomfortable."
[Ugh...!]
I continued complaining as I slathered sunscreen onto my chest.
To be honest, I never thought this size was big before.
Having been immersed in so many 2D art styles, I thought 'large breasts' meant something more... how should I put it.
Like the size of a face? I thought that's where 'large breasts' began.
That was a crazy thought, wasn't it? Perhaps because I was so bogged down by those kinds of drawings? I didn't think they were very big.
But even this size was plenty big.
"Phew, I've applied it all. Now, shall we relax by the sea?"
[What? You haven't applied it all yet!]
"What? What do you mean..."
[Your back, your back! Don't you know your back is important too? Bikinis expose your back!]
"That's true, but... I can't reach my back."
What was she getting at?
Even if I wanted to apply it to my back, I can't reach.
My hands don't reach.
Well, you *could* say, 'can't you use your abilities to reach?' But I'm wearing a swimsuit right now.
The moment I use them here, I'll turn into a naked madwoman outdoors.
The area is small, so even a little use would tear it apart.
[If that's the case, there's a way! You can ask someone else to apply it for you!]
"...What?"
[Oh, here he comes! Come on, hurry!]
I saw Yu Shiu slowly walking this way.
Was he wondering what was going on since no one else was around?
The Author told me to just ask Shiu, but there was one big problem.
"But Shiu's a man."
[That doesn't matter...! Even better!]
Better? What are you talking about? Are you crazy?
"If I ask Amelia or Dorothy..."
[They're not here right now!]
I paused.
Only then did I realize.
Right now, Shiu was the only one who could apply sunscreen for me.
Did they say they'd be back in an hour?
I couldn't just do nothing for that long.
...I decided to steel myself.
***
How did it come to this?
Shiu let out a silent scream.
Cold sweat poured down his body, and he simply couldn't calm down.
"I'm sorry for asking such a favor."
"U-uh?! N-no! I'm fine!"
Even to himself, the voice he uttered sounded incredibly awkward.
But Shiu couldn't collect himself enough to care about that. He simply couldn't comprehend this situation.
This situation where Arte was lying face down, her entire back exposed, and sunscreen was in his hand.
"By the way, what did Amelia write down?"
"It was nothing special...! Th-that... what was it again..."
Arte's unexpected, casually uttered question made his mind go blank.
What should I do? What should I say?
The note Amelia left didn't contain anything difficult.
"This is your chance to thoroughly enjoy Arte's back, so do your best!"
Only that one sentence was written.
When he saw it, he wondered what that crazy woman was thinking, but Amelia and Dorothy had apparently left for the villa for a bit.
And Arte was trying to apply sunscreen but had no one to put it on her back.
He didn't know the exact details, but one thing was certain.
This situation was Amelia's doing.
"...Haa. Looks like she's played another prank. I understand."
"U-uh... yeah. Thanks..."
Fortunately, he didn't need to come up with an excuse.
Arte was well aware of Amelia's usual behavior.
She seemed to have guessed that Amelia had caused another troublesome situation.
"Alright, please apply it quickly."
"U-uh..."
Gulp.
His anger towards Amelia instantly subsided, and embarrassment washed over him once more at the fact that the situation hadn't changed.
...So? Arte wants sunscreen applied to her back right now?
Dorothy and Amelia, who would normally apply it, said they'd be back in an hour, so he was the only one who could apply it.
That was the story.
It was rational. Since there was only one person to apply it, asking that person would be the correct judgment.
Except for the fact that he was a man and Arte was a woman.
He looked at Arte, who was still lying down.
Her long, extended legs, her firm chest slightly misshapen from pressing against the ground.
And her nape, visible because her hair was swept aside to expose her back.
Even her alluring buttocks, covered by the black bikini, yet all the more provocative because of it.
His mind became a chaotic mess.
"Please start applying it soon. I want to finish quickly and relax."
"O-oh, right..."
Right. I have to apply it. Yeah.
He decided to steel his resolve.
Yes, this is just applying sunscreen to her back.
There's no intention behind it... Really, there isn't...!
After applying the sticky sunscreen to his hand, he brought it to Arte's back, intending to finish quickly.
"Hiyak?!"
"?!"
W-what was that?
Where did that sound come from just now?
He hastily pulled his hand away and looked at Arte.
"...Ugh, well. It was a little cold..."
"R-right."
Arte, her face slightly flushed with embarrassment and her red eyes narrowed, mumbled an excuse in a barely audible voice.
...This is torture.
"I-I'll apply it again..."
"Okay..."
As he brought his hand closer again, Arte flinched.
If he looked at her face, it would probably be flushed with embarrassment. But he wasn't in the state of mind to look at her face.
The sensation of smooth skin met his fingertips.
Skin like that of a newborn baby.
Only someone who has tried it would know how difficult it was to touch that skin.
Feeling Arte's flinching reactions, he smoothed his hand over Arte's back.
"...Thank you."
"N-no problem."
"Shiu, are you going back to play in the sea?"
"...No, I'm just going to rest here for a bit."
"Is that so? Thank you."
For a while, he could only watch Arte, who was running towards the sea, stepping on the sand, while he hugged his knees.
Because he couldn't let Arte find out.
He was especially nervous about being caught because he was wearing a swimsuit.
Fortunately, Arte seemed not to have noticed, burying her face in embarrassment.
"How was it? Did you enjoy it?"
"Amelia?!"
"Oh my, oh my, oh my... I saw something good..."
The two who had clearly said they'd be back after an hour, spoke to him.
With sly smiles on their faces.